Im the same! Except I use my right hand aswell. My poor 4 fingers have been used continously for 9 years now oops
I have started using the muscle that is near my thumb, it doesn’t hurt as much, and I get what I need. But I do avoid my index fingers, pinky and thumb…These don’t seem to give me the sample I want.
I use 8 of my fingers ( not the thumbs) and I use 1 finger a day. This way they get 7 days rest between prickings. I also try to prick on the sides of the finger not on the pad, it hurts less and I can get more blood. When I have trouble getting enough blood, I usually change the lancet because it is probably dull.
Totally avoid the thumbs! Avoid the index fingers too, but occaisonally have to resort to those. Prefer ring fingers.
haha nice, yeah my two fingers have been getting pretty worked over the past few years!
i usually dont prick my thumbs or pinkies i can never get blood out of my thumb, and my pinkies never stop bleeding. and i don’t prick the left side of my left middle finger 'cause theres a wart there, and if i poked that i think i would cry. (TMI sorry)
i use my index, middle, and ring fingers. Never my thumb or pinky though
I tend to use ring fingers and pinkies the most. No thumbs. I usually use the tops and sides of my fingers, but I think I need to stick to just the sides.
Good idea giving your fingers a long rest! Maybe I will try this.
People!!!
You don’t have to prick just your fingers at all !!
I prick a spot 2.5 inches below the pinky knuckle that connects to the palm. I am an exclusive palm pricker!! I am now trying to work it on the right hand so the left can heal. You can prick areas on your palm where your thumbconnects to the palm and on your forearm. I am toooooooo chicken to go back to pricking fingers useless blood is needed. I wouldn’t suggest to anybody to prick their thumbs or index finger because they are in use on both hand 95% of the time.
I hope this helps…
Yes, I avoid that 40% too! I figured the more nerve endings, the more it would hurt. Ring & pinkies mostly- Bad enough I have my lancet pen on the #1 dial cause I am so sensitive. Yes, the sides as well. One finger a day 2x a day and about 3-4 bandaids a day! Don’t want to pick up the flu or infection, especially at work! I tried the top of my arm, between wrist & elbow, also elbow & shoulder-I cant get much blood out…skin too tight. Tried back of leg few times…about 5 inchs above ankle… had to walk around a little to get blood out! Guess the fingers are the best.
Eek, the idea of pricking where my thumb meets my palms gives me the heebie-jeebies!
I just don’t like the idea of pricking anywhere but the sides of my finger tips. Funny how we all are different that way. Pricking the sides of my finger tips doesn’t hurt, but I have it in my head that using my palms, arms, or anywhere else would.
Geez, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to force myself to stop using the same fingers! I think it’s not only habit, but I’ve also noticed that the ones I use all the time seem to hurt less. But yeah, no doubt, I do the same thing.
Eric
We all make changes in many of our Life decisions. When I was younger, I had my favourite 4. Now I use them all for my blood tests.
I have always used my ring and pinky fingers on both side of them. The others tend to hurt. I guess I’m not as tough as I thought. hahaha. I’ve been doing this for a while though.
Since I play guitar my left hand is out. I use only the sides of my right ring and pinkie, the middle is too hard to get blood out of. Test 7 to 10 times a day. I use an Accu-Chek Soft Clix to lance. I think it forms less callus over time. Started using it because somebody here said it hurt a little less, but I’m not sure that’s true. For me if it doesn’t hurt I don’t seem to be able to hurt any blood and have to lance again… strange.
I too avoid thumb and index fingers, and I think it’s beacause my parents told me they would hurt (due to more nervesin these fingers) but don’t think I’ve ever tried them -in 24 years of D!
I also tend to prick my left hand the most, and I will only change to the right hand if I am very mindful in that moment. I prick pretty close to the center, but as many of you say it’s less painfull on the sides I might try this (if I’m mindful enough to remember)
I can definetly see scares of past pricks, and I’m sometimes surprised by blood pouring out from the opposite side of where I’ve pricked, giving me the option of two sites to draw blood - pretty amazing!
the opposite…right handed so i poke my left middle three.
occasionally i poke my right hand, but it just doesn’t flow…lol
I have found occasionally that using my MIDDLE finger gives me the most PERSONAL satisfaction…don’t ask me why, ‘cause if you don’t know, I’m not tellin’ ya
Eric
lol oops… already posted here. I should read through topics more often…, well the good news is that the wart is gone so i have another surface prime for its pricking potential!