Why can't I get blood from my fingers?

[JimG]

Not at all stupid. I've tried every setting from halfway to deepest on "my" pricker, and went straight for the deepest on the one I'm borrowing.

My turn for potential stupidity - am I wrong in assuming deeper setting = more blood?

A deeper setting will go deeper into the finger. A shallow setting may not go through enough of the upper layers to reach the blood. So, in a way, deeper setting means more chance of hitting the blood.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you can find a lancing device that works for you @debs248

Do you ‘feel’ the device impacting your skin? Are you holding the pricker relatively firmly against your finger (not pressing hard, but ensuring a positive contact)?

 

[Inka]

I've tried what I think is milking from the palm downwards but no joy, not 100% sure I'm doing it right though as I've not seen anyone else do it.

Don’t milk from the palm @debs248 Milk from the first finger segment (that is, the segment before your first knuckle, closest to the palm). Put index and middle finger of hand 2 behind your middle finger on hand 1 (ie on the knuckle side), then use the thumb of hand 2 and press it and slide it down from the first finger segment to the middle of the 3rd finger segment (top of your finger).

Also, make sure your hands are warm (not too hard in this weather), give them a downward shake before milking, like you’re trying to shake water off your fingers. Make sure you prick the side of your finger pad and press the pricker against your finger before activating the lancet. Once you’ve pierced a hole, hold your finger still and carefully milk it again to increase the amount of blood at the hole.

Finally, ensure you have a good quality pricker like AccuChek. Some are rubbish and don’t propel the lancet properly.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

One key thing, @debs248, not particularly emphasised in the advice so far (but implicit when a couple of remarks have said milking "down" and shaking hand "down"): keep your hand being stabbed as low as is practical and finger pointing down. There is a temptation, as the stress of not getting that drop of blood takes over, to end up with hand and finger raised - in my case hopefully peering at it and mentally willing a usable drop to appear! Let gravity help.

 

[debs248]

A slightly different technique which I don't think has been mentioned in this thread, I have only seen it a couple of times on the forum: if you get a tiny drop of blood on pricking a finger and from past experience you are pretty sure it won't be enough, rather than 'milk' the finger from below, place your two thumbs either side of the puncture and gently pull apart. This has often been very successful for me. Worth a try!

Intriguing! Not heard that one yet, thanks 🙂

 

[Captainmartin]

I’ll second the AccuChec pricier, I love mine and you don’t need to mess around with individual lancets

 

[rebrascora]

Hi. Are you having any success with any of these suggestions yet?

Have you watched any You Tube videos on testing to see if that helps?

Did the doctor or nurse who did the finger prick test at the surgery get blood OK or did they need a few tries. Just trying to establish if this is a physiological problem in that perhaps your circulation may be poor or your skin unusually thick or it is just technique or perhaps a mental problem in that you are shying away from doing it yourself because you are anxious. Is there someone in your household or a friend who can do it for you until you get the hang of it? Do you normally bleed easily if you cut yourself?

Drumming your fingers on a surface can also stimulate blood to them if it is a circulation problem, ideally with your hands below heart level so gravity is helping.

l will confess that I generally get blood very easily, so this is not something that I have difficulty with myself, but just very occasionally I don't seem to prick quite deep enough and I don't get enough blood. I find if I wait a few seconds and then gently squeeze again instead of increasingly applying more and more pressure straight away, that is more successful. I believe blood rushes to the site of a puncture wound to seal it, so those few seconds can just be enough for extra blood to arrive. If you leave it too long it seals it, so it is finding that balance and not rushing it.

 

[SB2015]

I hope that you have found a solution @debs248 and also that things calm down a bit around you. I am another fan of the accucheck fastclix. Easy to use and no faffing with single lancets.
Let us know how you are getting on.

 

[debs248]

Having made a decided effort to keep hydrated I have done a couple of successful tests today. It's still a bit hit and miss but it proves there is blood there to be found!

Thanks for all your advice and support everyone

Edit: BG levels coming down nicely so far which can only help with the stress