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A myRAteam Member asked a question ๐Ÿ’ญ
Nanaimo B.C. Canada

My Rheumy has me getting bloodwork done every 6 weeks.Now my left arm vein has scar tissue from having it done so much so the phlebotomist is taking blood from my right arm vein which is at an angle so she uses a butterfly needle which takes longer. So I'm rebelling by only going every 2 months now.

June 30, 2016
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Answer Summary

Members shared how often their rheumatologists require bloodwork for rheumatoid arthritis monitoring, with schedules ranging from every two... Read more

Members shared how often their rheumatologists require bloodwork for rheumatoid arthritis monitoring, with schedules ranging from every two weeks for newly diagnosed patients to every three to six months for those stable on treatment. Several members offered practical advice for managing difficult veins and preventing scar tissue, including drinking plenty of water beforehand, alternating arms with each draw, requesting blood draws from hands or feet when needed, and massaging the area afterward to help break down buildup. A recurring theme was the importance of staying compliant with regular monitoring despite the inconvenience, as bloodwork tracks medication effects on vital organs like the liver and kidneys and helps doctors catch problems early.

A myRAteam Member

Once a month and if he doesn't ask me I tell him to order it up and tell him since you're ordering it up make sure you get everything you want tell him that you want to complete work up on your vitamins you want to complete work-up on potassium your prostrate, liver, kidneys, a complete cbc series and if he asks you why you want all this say you want to Baseline and everything so if you check this month the month you could see how your markers are going up and down on everything in your system not just one thing yeah that'd be shocked when you ask for something like that they're not used to people asking for that but more people are doing it as they're getting smarter about keeping themselves healthy that's why people are starting to live longer and that's why they're trying to raise the Social Security age from 65 to 70 - 75 now...
How to help everyone God bless you all you know I love you all

June 30, 2016
A myRAteam Member

Every 8 weeks. I drink a lot of water day before which helps. Unfortunately scar tissue does build on the veins.

June 30, 2016
A myRAteam Member

Every 2 - 4 weeks at the moment. I always get them to alternate arms to reduce risk of scarring. You can also get them to take from hands and feet. My doctor tells me to massage the area afterwards this again help break down the scar tissue........ Apparently? ๐Ÿ˜œ

June 30, 2016
A myRAteam Member

every 3 months, but sometimes he has me skip and I wait 6 months.

July 5, 2016
A myRAteam Member

I have blood drawn every 2 months and always from the same arm. Have for years. I sure hope I don't develop scar tissue.

July 3, 2016

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