# need help \[diabetes and IV questions\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 7, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777 "2015-10-07T02:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DEEDEE42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@DEEDEE42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DEEDEE42)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/1 "2015-10-07T02:35:22Z")
I am type 1 diabetic and i went and saw my neurologist today because i sufer from severe migraines constantly on a daily basis and she sent me to the emergency room for intravenus medication and the hospital was unable to get the iv port started even though i had good veins and i was well hydrated what could be causing this i am normally an easy stick for and iv port and blood work? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/2 "2015-10-07T03:14:05Z")
IANAD, and it would inappropriate to diagnose someone based on a description of just their symptoms. If you have a primary care physician you should contact him or her, and if not, you should get one. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/3 "2015-10-07T03:30:07Z")
You should also learn how to use punctuation. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/4 "2015-10-07T03:31:16Z")
**Moderator Action** Welcome to the SDMB, **DEEDEE42**. Questions involving medical issues belong in our In My Humble Opinion forum. I will move this thread for you. As the forum name indicates, any replies you receive there are just the opinions of some online folks and should not be taken as the equivalent of professional medical advice. Also, please use more descriptive titles in the future. I have edited the title for you as well. Welcome to the SDMB, and best of luck with your issues. ---
**Author:** ![brovolone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brovolone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brovolone)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/5 "2015-10-07T03:31:35Z")
How many different staff members tried to hook you up to an IV? How many failed attempts? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/6 "2015-10-07T03:33:59Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > You should also learn how to use punctuation. This is neither helpful nor friendly towards a new user. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are not required here (or a lot of folks would be in big trouble, myself included). ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/7 "2015-10-07T04:44:44Z")
> [@brovolone](#): > > How many different staff members tried to hook you up to an IV? How many failed attempts? And where did they try? Last time I was in hospital I had the first catheter placed in my right forearm. Next day it had bruised and anesthesiologist was unhappy with it. Placed a new one in my left hand. Anyway, between hands and arms, there are at least 6 places to try. There are more after that. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/8 "2015-10-08T15:35:26Z")
Inexperienced technicians have a very difficult time hitting my veins… But experienced technicians can almost always get it on the first try. With that said, you can help the inexperienced types by telling them it is ok, keep trying, try the other arm, take their time, etc. That relaxes them and then they usually get it. If they are hurting you and can’t get it on the second arm, ask for another technician. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-diabetes-and-iv-questions/733777/9 "2015-10-08T16:09:31Z")
FWIW, my wife–though not diabetic–is a tough stick, too. She always tells the tech to use a “butterfly needle (?)” and it works like a charm.