I've been wondering if this has an effect at all?

My veins are impossible to find - they couldn't get my blood sample in pre-assessment and I have to go back tomorrow to try again.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I have my surgery booked for this Saturday.

I'm worried about them not being able to get an IV in or something.

Yes, they always start with my right arm, figure they can't find anything, so they go to my left arm, can't find anything, then go back to my right arm and are eventually successful. One person actually used the top of my hand with no problem. If they are experienced, they can usually get a vein.

Mine are not usually hard to find or take blood from, but on my surgery date the nurses had a really hard time getting an IV started. It was terrible. My blood pressure was also super low. I dont know if this had anything to do with me being on a liquid diet prior to the surgery, or if ironically enough I didn't drink enough water the day before. Next time, before any surgery, I will drink a lot of water the day before.

I do too. The anesthesiologist was finally able to get one IV in before surgery, and she got the other in (on the other hand) after I was already under. I came out with some bruising and what looked like some puncture spots, so I'm guessing it wasn't easy for them. Glad I was not there for the party.

I have small veins, and they are very deep, and the fact that they have you will have gone without any Water on board for 12+ hours before surgery doesn't help things. But one way or another, they WILL figure it out. I heard of someone recently where they went in through her foot. Where there's a will...

They will find a vein eventually, mine are hard to find also, so bad they pricked my finger and milked it into a tube for a blood test. Can we say fun ????. They finally used a very small butterfly needle to get blood. You'll be fine.

Mine are very hard to find and they roll. The jabbed me 4 times before they were finally able to get a line in. Part of the reason it was so bad for me was because my surgery was at 2:00pm and was not allowed anything to drink since midnight the night before. I was terribly dehydrated which made finding a vein difficult. They tried with 3 different nurses and finally one of the or nurses was able to get one in.

Thanks guys,

I will drink as much as I can before the cut off point

I had my blood taken today for assessment, drunk all day and they found a vein first time!!

Let's hope it's like that on Saturday!!

Hope you're all losing well

I've been wondering if this has an effect at all?

My veins are impossible to find - they couldn't get my blood sample in pre-assessment and I have to go back tomorrow to try again.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I have my surgery booked for this Saturday.

I'm worried about them not being able to get an IV in or something.

hi Anne..I have awful veins too....My left arm is useless in getting any bloods out of! My right arm is very faint with viens..but after clenching my fists..before I sit in the chair helps..but dont worry as while youre under theyll find the veins they needs.. to give you fluids ..these surgeons are hood at finding veins.

Yes, they always start with my right arm, figure they can't find anything, so they go to my left arm, can't find anything, then go back to my right arm and are eventually successful. One person actually used the top of my hand with no problem. If they are experienced, they can usually get a vein.

this sounds exactly how I was ..when having my pre op bloods...in the end they done back of hand. Us women eh? Haha

I remember when I had my endoscopy I was pricked 7 times by 3 different people! And they finally got it on my right hand. I was so bruised a coworker asked me if someone grabbed me by the elbows lol.

I'm hoping this is NOT the case the day of the surgery lol

Grateful_love when is your Surgery? Mine is in 5 days....im so ready! Like you I had an Endoscopy last week. Where they found I have got a hiatus Hernia...and a hole ...so i be fully re plumbed! Haha...I just hope they put in other canulas while Im under...as my veins are so hidden it takes them ages to find them too

I shall use all your tips!!!

Starting to get very nervous now!

I hope your surgeries go well / and or you're losing weight well

I had the same problem. But eventually they find a vein. Don't worry they will find it & you will be on your way to a life changing Journey!! Good Luck & prayers for a speedy recovery ????????

@ginger--I have my last weigh in/surgery pre-screen on 2/5/15. Then everything gets submitted for approval and then I schedule.

I still haven't told anyone but one friend (who's doing this with me) and my husband. I'm not quite sure how to tell work and HR. I think I might be a sneak about it and just email them and tell them I'm having stomach surgery lol. I just feel like it's no ones business and I don't wanna hear all the negativity.

Dear Grateful_love.....yes I understand..ive only told close friends and one did reply " how can it be normal to have most of your intestines taken out" ...i just replied..well its best if you read up...youll find...no intestines are taken out..its just re routed. Trouble is people dont educate themselves......as for your work...why not say that you had an Endoscopy and they found I have a Hiatus hernia and theyre going to repair the hole that it makes? As theyve found this with me...so theyre goung to repair it while doing the bypass....as I was originally booked for the Sleeve but after the surgeon found that...I have to have bypass. Which I dont mind at all. So some people who know im going into hospital I tell them the "hernia repair".....GOOD LUCK! XX

My veins are extremely difficult too. In the past I've been stabbed quite a few times, and we almost always end up in my elbow area and not the hands. For my endoscopy there was a miss on each hand before the landing in the elbow too.

The nurse explained to me that on my hands, she could see them, but the most visible weren't straight enough for the IV. The straight ones were very deep and less visible.

If you can remember where they found your vein for the blood work you can always ask for them to look at that spot to see if they can use that one. They may not be able to, but it is worth asking!