[KristiePickle]

I just started my 4th IUI cycle and the everyday blood test are killing me. I guess I have small veins that like to move. Today they tried poked around in both arms then finally got blood from the side of my wrist. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process easier? Every month I go I pray the IUI works just so I don't have to do anymore blood tests! Hopefully this time, as of CD 11 I have 4 follicles. (2 mature, 2 hopefully will mature.)

[slobin]

Kristie,

One thing that can help is to drink tons of water a while before the blood draw b/c that pumps up your veins a bit. Also moving around- swing your arms around, stretch out, do some jumping jacks, etc. This will also bring bloodflow into the veins.

Your cycle sounds promising and I wish you the best!

[Gemmabean]

Kristie,

Sometimes they take blood from the back of my hand, when the inside elbow won't work.

The irony here, is the reason the inside of my arm doesn't work is because I have a lot of scar tissue because I use to donate regularly for babys because I'm a universal donor. O-

It hurts a lot less if you don't watch

I'm also wondering about BW daily, I've had 2 IUI and only BW to confirm I wasn't pregnant after first IUI. Do you have US 3-4 times each cycle too? Maybe your doc prefers BW to US, it's probably a lot cheaper. Does he/she use the BW to determine follicle size? or ovlation?
hmmm.

Also, try this, tell whoever draws blood, you are a "difficult stick." They will get the blood drawing expert to draw your blood and they are generally very good at it.

Good luck Pickle!
GB

Originally Posted by KristiePickle

I just started my 4th IUI cycle and the everyday blood test are killing me. I guess I have small veins that like to move. Today they tried poked around in both arms then finally got blood from the side of my wrist. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this process easier? Every month I go I pray the IUI works just so I don't have to do anymore blood tests! Hopefully this time, as of CD 11 I have 4 follicles. (2 mature, 2 hopefully will mature.)

[KristiePickle]

slobin - Thank you for the good ideas. It's a 1.25 hour drive to the clinic so I'll make sure I drink lots tonight and on the way in tomorrow.
Gemmabean - Doesn't everyone have to go get bloodwork everyday till the surge? On CD 11 I go in and they do BW and US. Then everyday after that I still have to go in for BW. If I don't ovulate by CD 14 or 15 they will do the US again. Last month that is when they made me do the injection so I would ovulate. Cost wise...I'm Canadian so it doesn't matter. All the BW and US and doc visits, and IUI's are covered. However, they charge $200 for "spearm washing". Plus the meds. My husband's work plan doesn't cover that. We could write a cheque but instead we use mastercard so we can get free grocery points! Might as well get a little something from the deal.
Does everyone else have to get the BW or do your clinics do something different? Just curious. I'm interested to see what type of treatment everyone else gets. My clinic is good. That is why I drive so far. There's a clinic only 5 minutes from my house but I've haven't heard very good things about it.

[jenedens6102]

Kristie,
I have had three IUIs and I never had blood work done for any of them. I was instructed to use OPKs at home and call my RE office as soon as I got a surge, then I'd go in the next morning for an ultrasound. Depending on what they saw they either did the insemination the next day or two days after the surge. I've not had any blood work done for IF at all. Now I'm thinking maybe I should have been?!

[July Butterfly]

I'm not doing any daily b/w, but I do have 2 days of b/w for the clomid challenge that I'm currently doing. Also, they tested my progesterone at the end of my last cycle, which indicated that I ovulated. I should be having one u/s next Monday, with an IUI later that week. That's pretty much it for me, unless you count the HSG I'll have done on Thursday. Isn't it funny how different doctors do different things?

[jt1214]

I usually go for BW and U/S on Cycle day 12 or 13, then IUI a few days after and PG B/W after 2WW.

I hear if you are on injectables they do BW every other day or so. I am on to that if this Clomid Cycle does not work.

[slobin]

Kristie,

It's great that they are doing frequent BW. Maybe though you could go to a closer lab for the bloodwork and the results would be faxed to your RE (to save the drive). Do you have a Quest Lab or similar near you?

[KristiePickle]

All your reply's are interesting. My clinic monitors the LH? level and when it jumps that means you will ovulate in the next 24 hours ish. I wish I could go to a local clinic for BW but they are slow because I think they are government run. They could take a couple days to get the results. My clinic has the results immediately (within a few hours) since the lab in right in the clinic. Today wasn't as bad. They got it in one shot this time. For my American friends...I wonder if you don't have to do BW everyday because of your heath care system. It would probably be a lot of out of pocket expense. Thank you for all your advice ladies. It means a lot having others to talk to about this stuff.

[ctdougherty]

Hi Kristie, I also have small veins and was once instructed to ask for the small (natal) needle. Since then I always ask them to use the small needle. It only makes the process take a couple seconds longer and it is much less painful or likely to leave a bruise.

[Lou lou]

Kristie,
I just had my first IUI and had no bw done for it. Now I'm worried. I did have to go in on cd3 for baseline u/s. Then I had to go on cd12,13 and on until I was ready to Ovidrel trigger on day 17!! The ultrasounds stink so bad. Feels violating to me. Plus she always presses into this one spot at the end that kills.

I wish I had advice on the vein issue. I liked Slobin suggestion of going to a closer lab.

Good Luck
Lori

[ara79]

i am doing my 1st iui this cycle. i have to go in on days 7,9,11 and so on for bloodwork and ultrasounds. is this not the norm? they are checking hormone levels and to monitor my follicles.
amy

[CryingInside]

I have extremely difficult veins to find for IVs and blood work. A couple of things to try is definately drinking alot of water, that will make the veins big. Also, deep breathing is VERY IMPORTANT. If you are holding your breath as most people do when they get nervous your veins will dissapear fast. Breath deep and long, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Hope that helps next time.........

[Just~A~]

I had b/w on about days 7, 9 and 11 as someone else mentioned. I'm sure it's monitoring hormone levels. But for my RE, she wanted to control the LH surge until she felt the follies were ready, so I took another injection to prevent OV. Then the hcg trigger when ready.

So, unless the Canandian RE controls your ovulation, I can understand he/she monitoring your LH daily.

~A~