Hello everyone! I am scheduled for sleeve on April 23 and was just wondering if any of you had a very difficult time with the lab or IV sticks?? This is actually the part I am most nervous about as the last time I had blood drawn took 2 1/2 hours and about 30 tries curious to know if any of you were in the same situation and how the outcome was. My last surgery they put my IV in my neck but they were pretty hesitant to do so. Thanks for any input!!

I'm a very difficult stick, as well. I've woken up after surgery with central lines in my neck. I'm so over it, though. It's just my fact of life. Ask them if they have a Doppler. If not, ask for their most experienced person. It's your right! Ask for the anesthesiologist. He/she is probably your best bet. Good luck to you! But don't make yourself sick over it...it's your fact of life, as well!

Unfortunately, I can relate. I think a lot of obese people can. There's just more tissue to get through which makes us harder sticks. There was a time I refused to have blood drawn, (a period of about 30 years), I was SO phobic. (Bad experience as a kid I never recovered from as an adult). Compound that with the fact that you'll be necessarily dehydrated the day of surgery, (I had 2 days of "bowel prep", a bottle of mag citrate the 2 days before surgery) then nothing, not even Water after midnight the night before surgery. To say I was dehydrated was an understatement. Good news is, they can give you a tiny shot of anesthetic before they place the IV. They'll also usually give you a Valium before they get started if you need it. Ask for these things if you need them! Ask for the anesthesiologist or their most experienced IV person! It finally took the anesthesiologist to get mine in. Must have gone bad and they had to do it again as I still woke up with it in the other hand but I was out by then! I figured I gave them permission to take out 80%-90% of my stomach. I wasn't going to allow myself to get worked up over the IV it takes to get there! Besides, once they get it in, the "cocktail" that follows is oh so good! And being on the way to recovering your health? THAT is priceless!

Edited March 13, 201511 yr by bikrchk

I think your best bet is to just be calm about it, no need to get worked up, its going to happen regardless... it will also make the person doing the IV more comfortable, which makes things easier as well. Try to hydrate as much as possible the day before, drink double what you normally would in water and avoid caffeine the day before as well. When you do get someone that finds a good vein remember where it is and let the person know that is where someone was able to get you before. Breathe! Dont forget to Breathe! haha. Hope this helps

Thank you guys for the input! I really appreciate all your advice!