Hi everyone.

Ever since I got my date I have been worrying about weird things about the surgery. I have terribly hard veins to find. It's so bad I was sent home when I went for blood work bc they couldn't get one. I had to come back another day. For my stress test, egd etc they have done the IV in my hand. Has anyone had the IV in your hand for surgery? Thanks

Yes all the time

My IV was in the top of my left hand and was a little uncomfortable. Have a nice little scar left behind too.

I too have trouble with iv or getting blood. I have like no veins. Lol.

The hospital anesthesiologist has done it all, can even numb the spot for the IV so he can definitely get it. It'll be fine. Nurses don't even try to do it on me anymore, just call the anesthesiologist.

Oh and they couldn't get it at the top of my hand where the IV is suppose to go for a surgery so they had to do it in between me arm where it bends. SUPER annoying because I'd set the machine off every time I even got out of bed because Id set off the flow.

Mine was in my left forearm

I would make sure you tell everyone you are a hard stick. Also make sure you drink lots and lots of water the day before surgery. It will help hydrate you. You can also ask for a warm compress to help make the veins pop up. You are the patient and if a nurse comes in and does not take her time finding a vein politely ask for someone else.

I am a really really hard stick. I have had to get IVs in my foot before. I had a bad experience with the hospital that did my weight loss surgery. I have something called a medi-port in my chest for iv access. I receive monthly iv medication and I was not going to have then start an iv every time. They got me all set and the anesthesiologist said they would not use the port during surgery and they had to start and iv. He said they would knock me out using the port and do the iv when I was asleep. I said fine no problem. I woke up to find that they tried 11 times to get an iv started. I have a theory that they invited all the student nurses and doctors down to try to get an iv on a hard stick patient. Thank fully I was fully asleep and did not feel the needle that many times.

As long as you go into it knowledgable you will be fine. Remember you are the patient and don't deserve to be stuck multiple times. For me when they would try to use the numbing medication my veins would go into hiding. Best thing you can do is drink a lot of water the night before. If your doc says nothing after midnight - I would be drinking a bottle of water at 11:45.

I have my bypass tomorrow and I'm more nervous about this than anything. Last time I had surgery they stuck me 7 times trying to get IV and I was awake the whole time for that. I talked to anesthesiologist last Friday to warn her. I hope they took me seriously and bring in the professional to start with.

Mine was in my right hand and it was uncomfortable as hell too !!!

Thanks so much for the responses and advice. I try to drink tons of water before and have run my arm under warm water but never thought of asking for a warm compress. I will definitely ask and am going to bring one with me to the preop bloodwork. When I woke up from my last surgery I had bandages on both forearms and my right hand. The IV was in my left hand.

I have my bypass tomorrow and I'm more nervous about this than anything. Last time I had surgery they stuck me 7 times trying to get IV and I was awake the whole time for that. I talked to anesthesiologist last Friday to warn her. I hope they took me seriously and bring in the professional to start with.

Good luck Jacqueline! I'll be sending good thoughts your way!

Good luck Jacqueline! I'll be sending good thoughts your way!

Thank you! I'm very nervous and of course having nothing but Clear liquids isn't helping. Not to mention the wonderful magnesium citrate I have to drink in a few hours.

Mine was on the back of my left forearm....seemed weird but really was a great spot. Didn't get caught on things, I had full use of my hand and elbow, best IV I've ever had

Mine was in the top of my right hand. I have wicked deep veins as well, even when I was thin they had trouble getting a good vein. I had no pain until after it was removed, and that was just from the cath poking every time I bent my hand.

I have my bypass tomorrow and I'm more nervous about this than anything. Last time I had surgery they stuck me 7 times trying to get IV and I was awake the whole time for that. I talked to anesthesiologist last Friday to warn her. I hope they took me seriously and bring in the professional to start with.

Good luck tomorrow! Hope you have an easy recovery!!

I was dehydrated from the preop cleaning out...so it took many sticks until the finally got my right hand just below my index finger. They even tried with ultrasound to get in a vein...no luck. Wasn't painful, just was afaid they wouldn't get to do my surgery because I was dehydrated so bad.

Best of luck to you!! Just breathe through it and you'll be fine!