Help!! Problems getting blood!

[lgvincent]

I gave a OneTouch UltraSmart meter with the UltraSoft lancet device to a friend yesterday and she can't get blood even at the deepest setting. Does anyone have any suggestions? Her fingers are bruised, they hurt, and she's getting no blood. Can someone help?

[Evermont]

I'm sure others have more to say about this - but I found that when my fingers are cold this can be difficult. The solution is to run them under warm water for a minute. This works very well. Might as well hit 'em with soap while you're at it.

[Hikeandbike]

Like Evermont says, warm water and hang arms down for a bit and message fingers downwards. I had problems at first and both of these work well.
Rich

[Leslie_df]

Hello,

A further extention on what Hikeandbike said about hanging arms down, I've done a little 'windmilling' of my arm to force the blood to my fingers. As with everything, moderation. This method has been my last resort, after the warm water and Ect.

Leslie_df

[valc3]

Also try briskly rubbing hands together. If she can't get blood from her finger tips, have her try the heels of her hands.

[shockme]

very sharp knife?..........................maybe a different lancet device? trish

[lgvincent]

very sharp knife?..........................maybe a different lancet device? trish

Come on, I'm really hurting right now. Please don't be mean, okay? I don't recall being mean to you. If I have, I apologize.

The UltraSoft is a nice device. It's the least painful one I've ever used. I think that maybe the device is defective.

[notme]

You honestly don't even need the device. You can just use the lancet. I have resorted to that before. I doubt it is defective if bruises are occurring. I would suggest running hands under warm water, shake your hands down at your sides. You can also milk your fingers a bit before you poke it. All of these work when I am cold and have a hard time getting blood.

[parrotletzoo]

Perhaps a better brand of lancet? Softclix seem to draw the most blood with the least amount of pain for me.

[Mich]

Lowell,

Maybe she pushed the lancet into the holder too far and it really isn't going that deep. I tend to do that rather than have it go deeper than I want. She shouldn't be getting bruising from the Ultrasoft, poor thing. Owie!

I use all of the above methods to get my finger circulation up a bit and also sometimes gently slap the table with my fingertips before poking.

Mich

[Handybear]

Besides the previous advice, are you using the sides of the fingers? I found that
a. It is much less painful
b. It gives you two places on each finger
c. I get the blood drop much easier.

[lgvincent]

Perhaps a better brand of lancet? Softclix seem to draw the most blood with the least amount of pain for me.



I gave her several boxes of the softclix lancets.

[Jill-O]

It really helps me to wash my hands in real warm water first and rub them around w/ the soap and water. It seems to really improve the flow of blood.

[shockme]

Come on, I'm really hurting right now. Please don't be mean, okay? I don't recall being mean to you. If I have, I apologize.

The UltraSoft is a nice device. It's the least painful one I've ever used. I think that maybe the device is defective.

i am sorry if i offended you lowell. i have a bizarre sense of humor sometimes....i apologize. trish

[lgvincent]

i am sorry if i offended you lowell. i have a bizarre sense of humor sometimes....i apologize. trish



Thank you. I'm the one who should apologize. My whole world is falling apart and I'm a little emotional. I know I've always tried to use humor but I'm really serious about things right now and I'm unable to take the humor that I've always used in the past. I'll try to do better in the future but for the moment, I'm really hurting so am really sensitive. I'm sorry.