I'm a Pin Cushion!

[HappyLoveMama]

Okay, so no, I don't see a mw but I do see an OB. Having said that, I did the initial pre natal blood work at 7 weeks. They saw my thyroid was low with that so I had to retest in 6 weeks and I was about 14 weeks. Few weeks before that, I had to go for the 1st half of my NT blood work at 12 weeks. Then, the 2nd half at 16 weeks (last week). THIS week, I had a bruising issue and they wanted to retest my iron - so I went today for that.

I have to get my thyroid tested again in 2 months - which will be in December. Then I go for my Glucose screening in January. Hopefully, that is it, depending on my thyroid.

I'm switching up arms each time I go but man, I started to think today, my vein will freaking collapse! I'm half joking but in all seriousness - I'll be okay, right? LOL I mean - is this just too frequent? Whats done is done - in the past. I know going forward - I only have to go once in December and once in January, so with that, I feel it's less frequent now.

[Jenne]

You should be fine! I have hypothyroid and have to get tested several times a year plus other blood work. On the drastic end, even if for some unexplainable reason your elbow veins are shot (think of all the people in their 90s and their multiple sticks over their lifetime!) there are hand, leg, neck veins they can tap. Also, thyroid issues are serious for you and for baby. Making sure your thyroid is regulating properly or you are on meds for it is critical to baby's development and your body's health.

You'll be just fine!

Jenne

[mylilmonkeys]

My husband donates plasma twice a week, often in the same arm. His veins are fine. He has a friend that has donated plasma about 2 times a week for years and years, no problem. My dh has found that rubbing a little comfrey cream on the area really helps heal the bruising quickly.

[HappyLoveMama]

Thanks! Its just crazy how much I've gone and I am considerably a healthy person! If it weren't for my thyroid monitoring and the 2 tests for the NT, I guess it would not have even crossed my mind...

I got a good break now until December - then I go in January, and possibly again in February for my thyroid once again.

Just switch up the arms!

[kythryne]

I had blood draws done every few days - and at the end, every day! - for several weeks when I was going through IVF. I used a comfrey/arnica cream sometimes to help speed healing, but even without it my veins were just fine.

If you're bruising after the draw or finding the needle really painful, try asking them to use the tiny butterfly needles, and/or ask them to check out all the easy-to-access veins to see which one is going to be easiest to hit. (For instance, the vein in my left elbow is more prominent than the one in my right, so that's the arm I offer by default unless I'm getting draws so frequently that I have to switch arms each time.) Most phlebotomists will be happy to do whatever they can to minimize the discomfort for you.