I have PV and have been getting phlebotomies about every 3 mos for past 4 yrs. It never went well. Always difficult to get the blood out and also to find a viable vein. Here is what finally worked for me and I insist on this every time I go now. I ask for them to put in saline solution before they begin taking blood out and also that they use an ultrasound machine so that they can get a good vein which will result in a good blood draw. Maybe these measures might work for you? Good luck!
Joanne

I talked to my scientist friend that lives in NC yesterday and she agreed about the ultrasound. I think I'm going to message their cancer institute that I go to that's close to where I live and ASK if they have an ultrasound machine that can insert my IV line. And if they say "no, we don't have one", then I want to ask them if I can have my 2nd treatment at their main location that's in downtown Orlando. Thanks SO MUCH for your helpful comments. All of my veins near the surface of my arms almost immediately clog the IV needle, and I don't want the misery of what happened the 1st time happening again. Heck, I was the one that had to mention that my blood wasn't flowing into the IV line, which didn't make me a Happy Camper at all. Thanks again, Roxy

Roxanna, you need to INSIST on the ultrasound - it makes a world of difference for some patients - me being one of them! They always come up with a reason like “we only have one available for the whole hospital, etc etc.” I have heard all the excuses. Now I simply say I will wait til one becomes available. An ultrasound finds the vein immediately and the phlebotomy (which used to take several hrs while they poked and prodded me and only got 1/2 of the amount needed) now takes about 1/2 hour and I get the full vial filled!
Hang in there, insist, and good luck! Let us know how you make out!
Joanne3

Yikes. Stresses me a bit just to read this.

Good luck with your procedure, and hope you are able to find a way because the phlebotomies are lifesaving for us.

My 2nd treatment is schedule for Jan 9th. I am going to message them through my Patient Portal to ask if they have an Ultrasound machine to locate "deeper veins". Using veins that are visible (when inserting an IV line), they always get clogged, meaning the IV line even to withdraw 5-6 vials of blood for tests, not even the Phlebotomy treatment. So in the ER 3 weeks ago when I was diagnosed with the RSV Virus, the IV line they inserted to do routine blood draws kept clogging. They had one Tech that was not a "PICC Nurse", but knew how to use an Ultrasound machine to find deeper veins. That worked great, and was actually LESS painful that inserting an IV line into a visible vein. I am sending a message to the Cancer Institute that I go to in order to find out of they have an ultrasound device at their location. If they say no, I want to ask them if I can go to a larger location that's part of their network for the 2nd Phlebotomy (as my blood clogs in shallow veins). My 1st treatment was a disaster, and after almost 6 hours, they were only able to withdraw 360ml's of blood, but that was 320ml's via the IV line, then four 10cc syringes to "suck out another 40mls. I don't want that to happen again!