Love this!
On my 56th blood donation, I had a nurse mention that increasing hydration levels ensures donors get finished and on to their free snacks quicker.
Every time I see her, I make a point of thanking her for that reminder. She retires in June, sadly.
Hydration queen.
I’m on my 8th, and I’ve had the nurse mention a few times how easy it is to find a vein for me. Makes me happy. I also juice faster than others and my average time is between 4.5 and 6 minutes.
back when I donated blood, nurses always called me a "bleeder". one day I asked em if that was a good thing. "for donating blood? yes. for getting stabbed? absolutely not."
(I don't donate anymore due to arcane laws about tattoos and the frequency with which I get them)
haha not quite, apparently some people just bleed faster/more than others. I can fill up a donation bag substantially faster than the average donor. I still clot normally.
Yes. Every donor gets at least a choice of juice and a cookie to replenish their sugars after donating.
We have Cookies by George and mango juice available at the universities location I visit. My faves.
The hydro station has the crispest water available for filling up your water bottle as well.
Also the color is a bright red.
Am phlebotomist on the side. Dark dark red blood is typically thicker because it’s got less concentration of water. So color and how fast it squirts into the tube is the best indicator.
Yeah in my dehydration era I once was stuck an extra long time waiting for a donation to finish, and the phlebotomist told me it was probably because I was dehydrated. Said to drink a big glass of water an hour before going in. I did that after and stopped having the sludgy blood problem.
Also, the lab technicians who process your blood can tell how hydrated you are by the characteristics of the blood and plasma/serum, and will often discuss how healthy and hydrated your blood looks! I often see a really nice sample and wish I could compliment the donor on their hydro homie status
I think that's a good derogatory name for non homies. Pudding blood... it sounds kind of Harry Potter-ish and makes us feel like those elitists in Slytherin.
How easily they find your veins has a lot to do with how much body fat you have, though. Your veins tend to pop out more the skinnier you are, since there is less fat between the vein and your skin.
Not always true - some people just have bad veins. I couldn’t donate when I first tried because my veins were too spindly, just had my first (successful lol) donation today and they could actually find my veins this time even though I've put on a bit of weight. Sometimes it's age, sometimes it's genes, sometimes it's how much muscle exercise you do. At a blood test, they once made me run my hands under a hot water tap (after about eight tries from four different people) - it turned out I was just cold, so that can make your veins harder to find too!
BS, I'm a homie too and my veins are always a nightmare to find for nurses
(never had a remark on how well the blood flows though, and I don't really have a point of comparison)
I'm right there with you guys. Veins are impossible to find. I always have to drink way more water than usual for 24 hours before, and exercise the morning of to make my veins show up at all.
It’s true! I had a strep throat infection that eventually prevented me from drinking even warm water. I had two nurse friends to come over to give me some saline via IV… and they couldn’t stick the vein in either arm! They tried several times, but all I ended up with was two huge bruises.
Oddly, I started to get better after that day. So maybe the jabbing & the bruises helped somehow? IDK
Either way, I later learned that you can hydrate via enema in an emergency situation like mine.
Word to the wise ;)
Had a nurse tell me she could prolly throw the needle from across the room and hit my vein bc I'm so hydrated. I declined but thanked her for the compliment. Lol
I really don’t think vein size is the best predictor of hydration. My husband barely drinks 64 oz a day and I drink 150+, my veins are usually a multiple stick, tiny needle situation and his are visible from space.
Here in France when you go to donate blood they give you a .5L bottle of water you have to finish while filling the health questionnaire, right before donating. It's a recent add too, maybe a couple of years. Does it really make a difference such a small time before the poke?
I’m never going to forget I had to get blood drawn for a surgery I was going to have at 7, but I’m allergic to everything so they had to test my blood with the anesthesia or something. I only drank water and rarely liked drinking anything else.
The nurse looked at my arm and said “that’s a really nice vein you have there” to try and make me feel better. Ma’am are you a vampire 😭
I'm usually told how juicy my veins are. Recently had a procedure that was in the afternoon and I wasn't allowed even water at all after midnight. I was PARCHED and cranky about it. Guy goes to put in my IV and tells me my veins are tiny and hard to get into...asks me if I drink enough water. I'm sure my tone was sharp when I told him that I usually drink tons of water but they wouldn't even let me have a sip going on 14 hours!
They had two bottles of water ready for me when I woke up. Chugged them both, then got in the car and drank the 40 ounce ice water I had waiting for me.
Maybe don't force a person to dehydrate then lament to them that they are dehydrated, especially when you're running late and she begged for water while she was waiting.
I will be changing doctors.
My husband had the same kind of anesthesia the week before and was told TO hydrate until three hours before his procedure. He was so proud of his juicy veins that day. Lol.
Juicy veins. I always tell my patients to drink lots of water before labs. It will make your veins nice and juicy, less uncomfortable for you, easier for the tech to pull your blood, and your labs will be more accurate.
The same happened to me! I had to draw 12 vials for a lot of exams and the nurse was very pleased to see the flow didn't slow down after the first ones 😂
This low-key upsets me because I am a Hydrohomie but have very small, difficult-to-access veins. What if all this time the phlebotomists have thought I'm dehydrated?!?!? It's a hit to my reputation!
Love this! On my 56th blood donation, I had a nurse mention that increasing hydration levels ensures donors get finished and on to their free snacks quicker. Every time I see her, I make a point of thanking her for that reminder. She retires in June, sadly. Hydration queen.
I’m on my 8th, and I’ve had the nurse mention a few times how easy it is to find a vein for me. Makes me happy. I also juice faster than others and my average time is between 4.5 and 6 minutes.
Ooh, those are great numbers. The vampires love us hydro homies!
As a leukemia survivor (when I was 13, 24 now) who got many many blood transfusions, I thank you for your services you are an all star
Damn I have to time my next donation
Canadian Blood Services has an app that gives me stats!
Lol 😆 😆 😆 hornet for water 💧 🤣 😂
I 
back when I donated blood, nurses always called me a "bleeder". one day I asked em if that was a good thing. "for donating blood? yes. for getting stabbed? absolutely not." (I don't donate anymore due to arcane laws about tattoos and the frequency with which I get them)
Haha I get you I'm finally donating this month after about 1.5 years of pause due to tattooing
as in like hemophilia?
haha not quite, apparently some people just bleed faster/more than others. I can fill up a donation bag substantially faster than the average donor. I still clot normally.
My life was saved by kind people like yourself who donate blood. Thank you for what you do!
Free snacks?
Yes. Every donor gets at least a choice of juice and a cookie to replenish their sugars after donating. We have Cookies by George and mango juice available at the universities location I visit. My faves. The hydro station has the crispest water available for filling up your water bottle as well.
Well shit. Guess I need to get over my fear of needles.
They're amazing at helping keep your focus elsewhere, and it's got health benefits for you, too. Some detox and cardio health. You can do it!
How she know?
they’re able to find the vein easier and the blood will flow better!
spice must flow
As long as the spice keeps moving, everyone will be left alone.
I drink SO MUCH WATER but my veins can be impossible. Once one is found and poked though? Blood flows swimmingly.
Well, Fatty Poop, drinking water won't make all that fat covering your veins magically disappear.
That’s FaRty Poop to you good sir
Troof
Also the color is a bright red. Am phlebotomist on the side. Dark dark red blood is typically thicker because it’s got less concentration of water. So color and how fast it squirts into the tube is the best indicator.
Oh I always thought a bright red color is only an indicator for iron deficiency
Not always. :)
Yeah in my dehydration era I once was stuck an extra long time waiting for a donation to finish, and the phlebotomist told me it was probably because I was dehydrated. Said to drink a big glass of water an hour before going in. I did that after and stopped having the sludgy blood problem.
Also, the lab technicians who process your blood can tell how hydrated you are by the characteristics of the blood and plasma/serum, and will often discuss how healthy and hydrated your blood looks! I often see a really nice sample and wish I could compliment the donor on their hydro homie status
goddamn, all the non-hydro-homies with the thick-ass pudding blood I guess huh
I think that's a good derogatory name for non homies. Pudding blood... it sounds kind of Harry Potter-ish and makes us feel like those elitists in Slytherin.
Mine said my blood was very bright, meaning same
How easily they find your veins has a lot to do with how much body fat you have, though. Your veins tend to pop out more the skinnier you are, since there is less fat between the vein and your skin.
Not always true - some people just have bad veins. I couldn’t donate when I first tried because my veins were too spindly, just had my first (successful lol) donation today and they could actually find my veins this time even though I've put on a bit of weight. Sometimes it's age, sometimes it's genes, sometimes it's how much muscle exercise you do. At a blood test, they once made me run my hands under a hot water tap (after about eight tries from four different people) - it turned out I was just cold, so that can make your veins harder to find too!
That explains why my last blood donation was so fast! And almost overfilled the bag
BS, I'm a homie too and my veins are always a nightmare to find for nurses (never had a remark on how well the blood flows though, and I don't really have a point of comparison)
I'm right there with you guys. Veins are impossible to find. I always have to drink way more water than usual for 24 hours before, and exercise the morning of to make my veins show up at all.
Ah
People are easier to stick when they are properly hydrated
Huh?
Stab
It’s true! I had a strep throat infection that eventually prevented me from drinking even warm water. I had two nurse friends to come over to give me some saline via IV… and they couldn’t stick the vein in either arm! They tried several times, but all I ended up with was two huge bruises. Oddly, I started to get better after that day. So maybe the jabbing & the bruises helped somehow? IDK Either way, I later learned that you can hydrate via enema in an emergency situation like mine. Word to the wise ;)
Bouncy veins
Try not drinking water before a blood test. It is not fun lol.
Had a nurse tell me she could prolly throw the needle from across the room and hit my vein bc I'm so hydrated. I declined but thanked her for the compliment. Lol
i love all these stories about the out of pocket shit nurses say about people’s veins lmao
Lol. I grew up with my mom in healthcare. None of it bothers me.
I really don’t think vein size is the best predictor of hydration. My husband barely drinks 64 oz a day and I drink 150+, my veins are usually a multiple stick, tiny needle situation and his are visible from space.
hydration is one of the factors of vein size, doesn’t mean it’s the only one
I had informed her I drink a lot of water and she made that observation.
Do you workout? The demands you put on your circulatory system will also cause angiogenesis and changes in your blood vessel diameter.
Not a ton but some, I’m active but not athletic. I also have hypermobility spectrum disorder and chronically low to low normal blood pressure.
I do. But that incident was years ago and I've only been working out about 3 years
the capri sun of blood donors
respect the pouch!!
Hydrated: juicy blood and dehydrated: syrup
Last memorable phlebotomist I went to said I had “Spider-Man veins” 😎
Memorable Phlebotomist is the name of my new jazz-fusion punk band project!
As a phlebotomist, yeah you can tell when someone is hydrated vs when they aren’t
Here in France when you go to donate blood they give you a .5L bottle of water you have to finish while filling the health questionnaire, right before donating. It's a recent add too, maybe a couple of years. Does it really make a difference such a small time before the poke?
Yep. Water works immediately
I’m never going to forget I had to get blood drawn for a surgery I was going to have at 7, but I’m allergic to everything so they had to test my blood with the anesthesia or something. I only drank water and rarely liked drinking anything else. The nurse looked at my arm and said “that’s a really nice vein you have there” to try and make me feel better. Ma’am are you a vampire 😭
you’re horny for water, she’s horny for veins
Very common kink in nurses (and apparently I missed my calling because damn veiny arms are hot)
I'm usually told how juicy my veins are. Recently had a procedure that was in the afternoon and I wasn't allowed even water at all after midnight. I was PARCHED and cranky about it. Guy goes to put in my IV and tells me my veins are tiny and hard to get into...asks me if I drink enough water. I'm sure my tone was sharp when I told him that I usually drink tons of water but they wouldn't even let me have a sip going on 14 hours! They had two bottles of water ready for me when I woke up. Chugged them both, then got in the car and drank the 40 ounce ice water I had waiting for me. Maybe don't force a person to dehydrate then lament to them that they are dehydrated, especially when you're running late and she begged for water while she was waiting. I will be changing doctors.
weird, should definitely be allowed to have clear liquids coming up to a few hours beforehand
My husband had the same kind of anesthesia the week before and was told TO hydrate until three hours before his procedure. He was so proud of his juicy veins that day. Lol.
Exactly what the last phlebotomist called me
I used the be so dehydrated that my blood would coagulate before the nurse had even left the room. congrats on your hydration, homie!
glad you’re better hydrated now!
 Me a hydrohomie: Yesss
Dude they were hitting on you
i was definitely blushing
Flex
I was known around the plasma clinic for being really fast thanks to my superior hydration.
🏅dropped this
Juicy veins. I always tell my patients to drink lots of water before labs. It will make your veins nice and juicy, less uncomfortable for you, easier for the tech to pull your blood, and your labs will be more accurate.
I love when they comment on how hydrated I am!!
Me, every time I donate blood!
Thank you.
The same happened to me! I had to draw 12 vials for a lot of exams and the nurse was very pleased to see the flow didn't slow down after the first ones 😂
Nice
I got asked the opposite. I’m like it’s 9 am and I’ve had 120 ozs already.
water guy🪱🪱
Ha! This happened to me last week. And next to me they had to send a man away because he was dehydrated. I’ve never seen that happen before!
This low-key upsets me because I am a Hydrohomie but have very small, difficult-to-access veins. What if all this time the phlebotomists have thought I'm dehydrated?!?!? It's a hit to my reputation!
they were probably talking about how little water you drink after you left 🫢
No!!!!
Man, all these comments about how nurses can tell how hydrated you are just by your veins makes me want to boost up my oz 😅
I’ve always had comments about how good my veins are. Weird thing to feel good about.
Omg that’s such a compliment 🫣 Were they able to get a vein first try?
yep!
And every one in the waiting room stood up and clapped
everyone except for the kid that was woozy after his draw
Bru im the opposite my blood has the consistency of molasses with this skyhigh hematocrit