Like most Sickle Cell patients, nearly all my veins are used up. I have only a few areas in my hands where an IV can be put in; and when I’m receiving blood, it’s even more difficult to find a large enough vein for the blood.
During my 2015 hospitalization, the first vein used to receive two units of blood, worked just fine. But when it was time to give me a third unit, my vein went bad five minutes into the transfusion. So the third bag of blood was hanging there with an invisible ticking clock next to it. As I’m sure you know, the blood has to be used within a certain period of time before it goes bad.
So, frantic to get this last unit of blood in me before it’s too late, one nurse tried unsuccessfully to put a new IV in me. Looking all over for another spot, she called for another nurse, and another. Thankfully they hadn’t yet stuck me a second time, but were frustrated in their failed efforts to find a proper sized vein. Finally, one of them asked, “Where’s the Vein Finder?”
“What’s a Vein Finder,” I asked.
“I know where it is,” another nurse replied. “I’ll run and get it.”
Having no idea what they were talking about, I watched and listened with confusioned intrigue. A little bit latter the nurse hastily returned with this wheeled pole that had an articulating arm on it with a square device on the end of the arm.
“So what is this thing?” I asked.
“It’s awesome,” my nurse replied enthusiastically. “Just watch.”
So they plugged in the “Vein Finder”, wheeled it beside my bed, adjusted the arm, and angled the device over my hand—where the last of my good veins are located. They then flipped on the device, which projected a rectangular green—laser-like—light onto my hand. Then, like some kind of futuristic holographic map, every twist and turn of every vein, artery and capillary in my hand was instantly revealed.
Within seconds, all the nurses simultaneously exclaimed, “There it is!” and pointed to the perfect vein. There mine as well have been a green neon arrow pointing to my vein with a sign, “Stick Needle Here!”
Without any effort, delay or mishap, the nurse was able to put the right sized IV in my vein. Within minutes, my third unit of blood was flowing smoothly into my hand. It was like magic. I’ve never been so happy to receive an IV. It was/is an amazing piece of technology that kept me from being needlessly stuck over and over and over again in search of the ever elusive “perfect vein.”
I don’t know how widely available these devices are. During my most recent hospitalization—when the nurse was having problems finding a vein on me—I asked if a Vein Finder was available; much to my sorrow, there wasn’t. Hopefully the day will come when every phlebotomist, ER, and hospital nurses’ station will have these wonderfully magical devices at the ready.
I feel bad it’s taken me so long to write about this experience. Every person who is frequently hospitalized needs to be informed about this device. If I could afford to buy a portable Vein Finder, I would take it with me to every doctor’s appointment and ER visit. Since that option is available to very few people, at least we can be armed with the knowledge of its existence. I hope this helps.
The image below was taken off the internet. What is shown is very similar to what my hand looked like when the Vein Finder was used on me. Except, my veins aren't even close to being as straight as this person's.
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