Question:
No matter how many times I switch spots on my arms there's always that one particular spot that I know I could hit in the dark during an earthquake if I had to. I try to reserve that spot for times when I'm under pressure or pressed for time for one reason or another and use other areas when I've got time to screw around. How do you know when a vein has had enough? Are you no longer able to draw back blood? Or are you no longer able to hit it at all? I've yet to find a spot like this one and I'm trying to prolong it's life for as long as a vein can hold up under the circumstances. You'd think with two damn arms (and two legs for that matter) I'd be able to find another vein that is almost as special as this one. I haven't given up looking but I am losing hope. I suppose the day that I can no longer hit it will be a sure indication that it's had enough but after it's had enough, will it ever be the same again? I don't know, just some thoughts that are running through my head on this fine spring evening...

Answer: -My prime spots are getting suspect..... I am under the impression that once the start giving out , regardless of the rest, they will never return to the major pumpers the once were. I have started to use very high guage needles 29's so that I can run the needle in some smaller veins. buyt these delicate veins become tough to hit as the night wears on. -I have several AWESOME veins that i can choose from. since i screwed up my left arm (dunno what i did, but for like 2 weeks its been REAL painful just to straighten it out, all the way from my shoulder to my wrist, centralized in the crook of my arm where that big vein is) i found that i have big easily hit veins on the inside of my wrists just above my thumbs, on the inside of my ankles just crossing my ankle bones, the tops of my feet are a bit harder to hit but doable in a pinch, and the tops of my hands where you would normally get an IV put in. i tie off just below my calf muscles to hit my ankles, and put the pressure cuff on my forearm just below my elbow to hit my wrists/hands. i found out that a little pressure in the cuff is better than alot, and the veins dont give out as quick. If you are careful, and use a little needle (i'm using 28g b-d's), your feet shouldnt be all that bad. just watch close for the little *ah i missed* bubble, and if you see or feel it missing, STOP and find another to finish in. i've had to use 3 different spots at times (before i knew what i was doing) to finish one hit. -I have big veins on the top of my right forearm but they are a little deeper than I'd like and unless I'm overheating or exercising they can be a to hit. And they tend to bruise too. I'm steering clear of my legs and feet for as long as possible. As a woman I'm lucky not to have any spider or varicose veins in my legs yet (I have a friend that is covered in them and now she won't even wear shorts in 90 degree weather) and I'd hate to do anything that might bring them on. Needles probably wouldn't help in preventing varicose or spider veins, if anything, I think it might just bring them on.