Oh OP I feel your pain. We did ours last week and my husband's blood squirted everywhere like a sodding fountain and filled up quickly. Mine, was like taking blood from a stone, it took me absolutely ages and my ring finger was sore for a few days after. BUT it's all worth it in the end when you receive a text to let you know you're all clear... phew.
Best of luck with yours
Mrs |
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The last time I did a home test I ended up crying, there was blood splattered everywhere like a crime scene and it still only made it to the minimum marker on the tube. But I still called it a day there and then.
I feel your pain. |
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"Does anybody else find filling the home test kits with blood hard work? Four holes and about half hour of massaging my finger. Think I'm doing something wrong. "
I'm usually on about four holes and half an hour as well (I'm sure there's a bad joke in there  ), so unless we're both doing it wrong, I'd say it's fairly common.
And annoying.
And messy.
And a bit "ouchy".
But worth it of course. |
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It took me a few goes to figure it out but now I have a system that works.
I put the receptacle on the toilet with the lid down because it's about the right height (and easy to clean) for my arm to hover over while I'm standing up. Then I squeeze/massage from my elbow to my finger.
It used to take me twenty minutes now it takes five. |
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Type 1 diabetic here coming in with some top tips
1. Be hydrated. 2-4 pints of water a couple of hours before you want to test
2. Be warm. The warmer the hands the better they bleed.
3. Take sample from side of finger not middle of the pad |
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I've always struggled with getting a testable sample.
When I was doing it for the covid samples during the plague, the guidance said to do some exercise for a few minutes before you lance.
Raises your heart rate. But then again I still struggled so read into that what you will |
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"Type 1 diabetic here coming in with some top tips
1. Be hydrated. 2-4 pints of water a couple of hours before you want to test
2. Be warm. The warmer the hands the better they bleed.
3. Take sample from side of finger not middle of the pad"
Started doing the side of my thumbs and great tips thanks! |
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Fill a receptacle with fairly warm water, dangle your arm into it and get your hand nice and warm, by dangling your arm lower, your hands will fill with blood. Then quickly press the lancet onto the end of your finger. Sometimes ear lobes are a good alternative, but don't dangle your head in warm water  |
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Make sure you’re well hydrated.
Make sure your hands are warm (could have a hot bath beforehand)
It can help to take the sample from your ring finger or little finger and to stand up with your hand/arm pointing down.
Prick the finger, wipe the first drop of blood that forms and then ‘milk’ the finger from the base towards the tip. |
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"Type 1 diabetic here coming in with some top tips
1. Be hydrated. 2-4 pints of water a couple of hours before you want to test
2. Be warm. The warmer the hands the better they bleed.
3. Take sample from side of finger not middle of the pad"
Perfect advice.
Might be helpful to remember to milk the whole finger, knuckle to bleeding site. If you just squeeze the fingertip where you’re bleeding it stops the blood, you need to move it the blood into location |
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"Does anybody else find filling the home test kits with blood hard work? Four holes and about half hour of massaging my finger. Think I'm doing something wrong. "
That just means you have some diseases. Ask them to test for other stuff too, you’ll get there in the end. |
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Have a hot shower. Really hot. Keep your arm low to let the blood pool down in your fingers. Turn off the shower, keep your hands low, dry them and prick your finger. Guaranteed to fill the receptacle very quickly.
The shower will look like a murder scene but it washes off quickly. |
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