Blood taken, Do you handle it ok?

[mattp]

Originally Posted by XD ESP! XELR8

I suffered from a PE (preliminary embolism)

G'day Dave,
The P stands for pulmonary, so basically a pulmonary embolism is a clot (embolus) that has shot off to the lungs (pulmonary), which I'm sure you know but just thought I'd chime in in case.

In terms of all the responses to needles, the needle phobia is often a conditioned response, but the physical part with the going pale, feeling nauseated or faint etc is called a vasovagal response and is not uncommon at all. It's a bit like an overwhelming of one component of the nervous system, and doesn't mean you're a big sook, it's just how you're wired. Mostly those affected go deathly white, feel nauseated and every now and then faint for a few seconds, and every now and then someone will pee themselves when they pass out, which is unlucky. It's always good to warn whoever's taking the blood or doing the procedure etc, so they can lie you down first and save you (and them) the fall!
Cheers,
Matt

[Franco Cozzo]

Wost needle ever for me:

Ingrown toenail with soft tissue infection throughout toe.

Anaesthetic needle going into the toe...

Most painful thing in my life I have ever experienced, I've had it done once on my left foot and 3 times on my right in my big toe.

Oh lord it hurts so much.

[Esteven8]

I don't mind blood tests, I'll quite happily sit there and watch the whole thing. However I did get one where the nurse (must have been a trainee ) took 6-7 goes to get into a vein without collapsing it. Ended up with epic bruises on both arms as a result.
But oddly if I cut myself I tend to get very pale and lightheaded the second I see the blood start to flow.

[sneaky]

had a blood test a few weeks ago, was fine for the blood being taken. got the bill the other day, $105 for 5 mins work taking the blood..

[qdda5]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Wost needle ever for me:

Ingrown toenail with soft tissue infection throughout toe.

Anaesthetic needle going into the toe...

Most painful thing in my life I have ever experienced, I've had it done once on my left foot and 3 times on my right in my big toe.

Oh lord it hurts so much.

My 14 year old son had the same issue with his toenails. He sat there in the chair, had the needles and barely flinched when he had them.
I couldnt believe it. The nurse asked him if he was ok and he said yep Im fine.
Got the photos saved for his 21st .
Me personally, i hate them but dont worry too much and get over it.

[Esteven8]

Originally Posted by sneaky

had a blood test a few weeks ago, was fine for the blood being taken. got the bill the other day, $105 for 5 mins work taking the blood..

Lol, they'll bleed you dry any way they can.

[mik]

Speaking of blood taken , it was my turn yesterday, the poor young nurse has trouble finding a vein after 4 or 5 attempts in each arm , she finally found one in my hand, why do they say after giving blood to not lift any heavy weights??

[Feathers]

I have the blood work request here from my Endocrinologist. He's taking me off all my meds for 3 months, and then I have to get the blood done a week before I go back to see him.

Do NOT want!!

[greenfoam]

I have to have my blood taken monthly too sometimes its been 11 vials per session. Add onto that because of my condition I need to eat like a wild animal, I have big fat veins but even though they are very exposed and in your face, they also slide all over the place and it usually takes 4 to 5 stabs into my muscle to get a needle in... Not much fun. But you get used to it. There's one girl that can stab them first go all the time but she's usually in the lab since she's the scientist, mostly I just get a nurse and they aren't so skill full at grabbing wiggly veins

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Wost needle ever for me:

Ingrown toenail with soft tissue infection throughout toe.

Anaesthetic needle going into the toe...

Most painful thing in my life I have ever experienced, I've had it done once on my left foot and 3 times on my right in my big toe.

Oh lord it hurts so much.

Had this a few times too. The needle is not the worst part, it's when the anaesthetic goes in...

[satria]

I hate needles, I'm not a big bloke but i think I'm tough enough when it comes to most things. I'm not really scared of a lot of things that people are normally scared of but put a needle and a tube for blood near me and i feel like fainting. I just don't know why, I've seen some gross blood related things when i was younger but nothing extreme so i wouldn't think they would have mentally scarred me. I could be wrong though.

Apparently i have a pretty rare blood type so my wife has been pushing me to donate (she gives blood fine), I'm just constantly trying to push myself to do it but i know I'll probably just look like a big chicken when I'm there.

One thing that has been helping me recently is the need for a root canal and a crown so I've been to the dentist 4 times now and have 3 appointments to go, each time i get 2 anesthetic jabs to numb me up and I'm dealing with them fine which makes me fairly confident it's the blood not the needle that makes me queezy.

[NickyN]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

Had this a few times too. The needle is not the worst part, it's when the anaesthetic goes in...

The anesthetic? By then I'm woozy in the head, trying to breathe and turning pale.

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Wost needle ever for me:

Ingrown toenail with soft tissue infection throughout toe.

Anaesthetic needle going into the toe...

Most painful thing in my life I have ever experienced, I've had it done once on my left foot and 3 times on my right in my big toe.

Oh lord it hurts so much.

Wow, reading this made me curl my toes......

Originally Posted by greenfoam

I have to have my blood taken monthly too sometimes its been 11 vials per session. Add onto that because of my condition I need to eat like a wild animal, I have big fat veins but even though they are very exposed and in your face, they also slide all over the place and it usually takes 4 to 5 stabs into my muscle to get a needle in... Not much fun. But you get used to it. There's one girl that can stab them first go all the time but she's usually in the lab since she's the scientist, mostly I just get a nurse and they aren't so skill full at grabbing wiggly veins

After my 5 pokes to get a line in and lab work I had several more last week....not good. 11 vials would have on fainting.

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Wost needle ever for me:

Ingrown toenail with soft tissue infection throughout toe.

Anaesthetic needle going into the toe...

Most painful thing in my life I have ever experienced, I've had it done once on my left foot and 3 times on my right in my big toe.

Oh lord it hurts so much.

I had a local gp have 3 goes at an ingrown toenail on my big toe, each one with 3 needles, 1 in each side and 1 in the end.
Grew back each time so off to a surgeon I went. Also done under a local but haven't had an ingrown toenail now in over 25 years. Basically he cut a v out of the side of the toenail base along the side.

Most painfully needles ever.
But, trying to pass a kidney stone lifts the level of pain experienced to a new high which is yet to be beaten, although gout came close.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Any time I get a jab I burst into loud, uncontrolled hysterical laughter. No bloody joke. The nurses all roll their eyes when I tell em... Then go and get the doc after they make sure they are not seeing / hearing things... A doctor has been summoned on a few occasions now mid blood draw to actually assess the reason.

I'm stumped... Guess it tickles?

You should see me when I get a whole bunch of holiday shots... Tears rolling down my face. Should get a video if it some day... Wonder if there is a name for my condition?

Ok... got a flu shot done yesterday... If you hear him just before he says to relax he says, 'You're not laughing, whats wrong?' He still remembers me from last year....

Till he jabs me ;)

Starts when any needle goes it, stops about 5 seconds after it's pulled out... you should see me when they need to draw 3 vials.....

[Thornie]

I had to get 6 vials taken one day, the only time in mylife I've had blood taken, i found it fascinating watching it pump in each time my heart beat.

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by RaTTuS

I had to get 6 vials taken one day, the only time in mylife I've had blood taken, i found it fascinating watching it pump in each time my heart beat.

I'm just finishing 2 weeks off work on leave, although the first week will now be sick leave. Had gout acting up so went to the dr again, got new scripts plus repeats and while I was there he took 6 vials of blood.
For an unfit, unhealthy eater all test results were good except high iron levels.

Looks like I now get to ensure I don't eat food high in iron now.

[Moby Vic]

I've donated more than 7 gallons of blood, so needles don't bother me much. Plus they give me cookies!

[Crazy Dazz]

I CANNOT watch the needle going in. It doesn’t bother me at all, doesn’t hurt, and once its in I have no problem watching the blood.
The trick I find is to help myself to the juice packs and fruit cake beforehand, and consume them as the blood is being taken. Then a strong coffee afterwards.

[NickyN]

Nope not me. I can't even look at the tray with the needle/injection thing, I turn away and read whatever I see or close my eyes.

It's the apprehension, I tell you.