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Who's done self phlebotomy? Need tips

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pengu

New Member
My setup is similar to this persons, except sitting and arm on table



I've tried countless times, every time I can only get 30-50ml before blood all but stops flowing, using an 18g. Even tried 16g but made no difference. I'm holding the needle steady so it's not because of it coming loose.

What am I doing wrong?

- can't donate, rejected cause marks on veins
 
Make sure you're really hydrated. I have better luck later in the day after I've got plenty of fluids in me. Pop an aspirin and chug some water, maybe take a hot shower even if you really struggle.

Skip the tubing, just put the 18g on a barrel and pull the plunger out. Insert needle and aim into a cup. You need to be really still. Moving the needle around at all screws it up. Get it in and flowing and then be still. Should take 10-20 minutes for a pint.

I think it's not recommended, but I have better luck using the vein about halfway between elbow and forearm. It's actually the same vein as at the elbow, just further down the arm. I have great veins though, literally almost as big as my pinky finger.

Make sure to have someone around in case you pass out. Also I have absolutely no medical training or background, so don't consider this as professional advice. It's just what I've found works for me.
 
You’ll never get anywhere with a 18g. You need a 16g and steady hands. Drink plenty of water and pop some acetaminophen or drink some beer :D To thin the blood. Make sure your tied at the arm tight and have something to squeeze in your hand to keep the blood flowing when pressure starts dropping.

Move the needle as little as possible and you should be done in 5-10min for a pint. Best to do everything naked. Blood is hard to get out of clothes. I always feel weird naked with blood everywhere in a bathroom lol
 
All Nats McGee said:
You’ll never get anywhere with a 18g. You need a 16g and steady hands. Drink plenty of water and pop some acetaminophen or drink some beer :D To thin the blood. Make sure your tied at the arm tight and have something to squeeze in your hand to keep the blood flowing when pressure starts dropping.

Move the needle as little as possible and you should be done in 5-10min for a pint. Best to do everything naked. Blood is hard to get out of clothes. I always feel weird naked with blood everywhere in a bathroom lol
Click to expand...

Where do you get the 16's? I've never been able to find any. Would definitely speed things up.

Yeah, bathroom looks like a murder scene after if you're not careful. Been going to my garage the last few times and laying down a spread of paper towels around the draining cup
 
Perrin Aybara said:
Where do you get the 16's? I've never been able to find any. Would definitely speed things up.

Yeah, bathroom looks like a murder scene after if you're not careful. Been going to my garage the last few times and laying down a spread of paper towels around the draining cup
Click to expand...
I got mine at healthy kin. Get the BD brand. They use to carry the 14g BD’s mainly used to harpoon fish.
 
It is way easier when you get a peristaltic pump in the mix. I use an aquarium dosing pump to accomplish this.

Dropbox - Phlebotomy.mov - Simplify your life

When I went to first go to Red Cross to donate blood, I answered the questions honestly and was put on a permanent deferral. The question was about testosterone, and at that time, it was even doctor prescribed. I eventually got the deferral lifted through an appeal, but Red Cross looks for reasons to not take your blood. I gave up on Red Cross and just started doing it on my own after they gave me crap about my blood pressure every time and wouldn't take it (white coat... it's fine everywhere else). The doctors around here are also too ignorant or apathetic to order a phlebotomy. I had one that didn't even know how to write the order. Also had another say "well even if your hematocrit is high, we can't do anything about it."
 
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Perrin Aybara said:
Where do you get the 16's? I've never been able to find any. Would definitely speed things up.

Yeah, bathroom looks like a murder scene after if you're not careful. Been going to my garage the last few times and laying down a spread of paper towels around the draining cup
Click to expand...
Blood Draw Kit K-Shield Advantage Blood Bag BK-64A Each/1

Keep the bag and flow tube beneath the arm. Keep the elbow slightly bent, and be patient. If flow stops it’s usually the needle alignment inside the vein (needle opening being up against the vein wall). Usually adjusting the angle of the elbow bend will get it going again.
 
A couple ideas:

18 ga should be fine I would think.

BP cuff makes a good tourniquet. Use a manual BP cuff rather than an auto cuff. That way you can adjust the pressure as needed. Too much pressure can occlude arterial flow. You shouldn't need much pressure to get flow from the iv cath.

If flow slows or stops, maybe try slightly withdrawing the iv cath. it may be up against a valve.

If adjusting the cath doesnt help, try a saline flush. Release the pressure in the bp cuff before flushing the iv.

Hope those ideas help. Please maintain sterility!

Russ.
 
Not sure if this was covered but dnt stick w a dry needle and tubing. Connect tube to sterile syringe with saline flush in it and push to fill the tube and needle with saline. Disconnect it and then connect to a 50ml syringe and pull slowly to fill the 50ml barrel.

And yes, always a good idea to have someone around. I did pass out once, freaked my wife out!
 
pengu said:
I would like to try your setup. can you please share where you got that pump device? and what other materials are needed? is the tubing connected to the pump device separate?
Click to expand...

Here's a link to the exact pump (down below), but I think I got the one I have off eBay. That was around 6-7 years ago. The tubing is just aquarium tubing off Amazon. The needles are 16g BD's that I had trouble finding, but got them off shopmedvet.com. I kind of juryrigged the connection between the needle and the tubing with a valve of sorts (a bag of them off Amazon). You can probably come up with a better "coupler." However, I ran into issues where I'd get bubbles in the line, slowing down the drain. What I found is if I used plumbers tape to seal both ends of the valve, I get a solid flow the entire time. Again, I've probably over-complicated it a bit, but I have something that works, so I never really changed it. If you'll notice my tape setup. I will fold up a small strip of paper towel or something and then tape over it in the area where I can best guess the valve will be laying flat. Then I will take a second strip of tape and just put the end of it in place. This way once I get the needle inserted, I can with one hand get the valve laid and taped down. The reason I put the paper towel folded up underneath is so the needle when taped down goes in at an angle. I'm very careful about sterility, as well. Also make sure you have the right side of the pump in your arm. It'd take a lot of air to cause harm, but it's just a pain in the ass to get set up and then find out you need to swap tubes. I have to do this every 10-12 weeks. I know it's time when I start getting these little headaches in random areas of my head. I've just done this way too many times now. Also, if you start having to do this with regularly, make sure you get on a good iron supplement. This kills your ferritin stores, and you will go anemic (I learned the hard way). But you'll also need labs over time to make sure you aren't getting *too much* iron. Everything is just a pain in the ass, really. If it works you can donate blood, do it. I gave up on Red Cross.

Sea Side Aquatics Single Adjustable Dosing Pump
 
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