Ick. Blood draw today

[Anonymous]

I suppose this is just a complaint, but I have a blood draw today and I am super nervous. I know it barely hurts, and I am so much less afraid of draws than I used to be, but ugh! I've had a lot of water, I slept enough last night, but if feel like throwing up from nerves (on top of my morning sickness). When you're laying there and they put the tourniquet on.... I just want to pass the freak out.

[Anonymous]

Can you listen to music before/during you have your blood drawn, to relax you? I don't really get nervous, but generally they don't mind if I listen to music with headphones while they're taking my blood.

[Anonymous]

I used to pass out so I know how you feel! Pregnancy cured of me of that, though. Just ask to lay down and make sure you continue to breathe deeply through the draw. A phlebotomist once told me people get dizzy because they inadvertently hold their breath. Sometimes I make them talk to me to keep my mind off what's happening. Oh, and don't look!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to pass out so I know how you feel! Pregnancy cured of me of that, though. Just ask to lay down and make sure you continue to breathe deeply through the draw. A phlebotomist once told me people get dizzy because they inadvertently hold their breath. Sometimes I make them talk to me to keep my mind off what's happening. Oh, and don't look!!!!

OP. One of the best phlebotomists I ever had (during my three hour glucose test) insulted me saying what a baby I was for being afraid and he'd had calmer kids etc, etc. At first I was indignant - for one thing, I don't carry on during draws, and for another - hey wait! The draw is done! I probably do hold my breath, despite concentrating on trying to breathe.

Thanks also, PP for the music suggestion. My iPod has taken a walk somewhere, but maybe I'll try to think of a song to hum. Like Eye of the Tiger or something equally goofy.

[DS63]

Anonymous wrote:I suppose this is just a complaint, but I have a blood draw today and I am super nervous. I know it barely hurts, and I am so much less afraid of draws than I used to be, but ugh! I've had a lot of water, I slept enough last night, but if feel like throwing up from nerves (on top of my morning sickness). When you're laying there and they put the tourniquet on.... I just want to pass the freak out.

Live one week as a cancer patient...you will lose the fear of blood being drawn

[Anonymous]

My firstborn was a preemie and they had to feed him intra-veinously for the first few days of his life - I cried when I saw the nurses in the NICU struggle to insert the needle in his tiny, tiny arm. He was too frail to put up a fight but I could hear his very soft cry, like a little kitten. Even remembering it brings tears to my eyes.

But personally, I reserve big-time nerves for the pap smear... that I have put off for years. Ugh. HAVE to schedule that.

This too shall pass.

[Anonymous]

I fainted during a blood draw 4 years ago (I was pregnant and hadn't eaten because I was so nauseous) and ever since then I get anxious before a blood draw. My brain says that it won't hurt, I won't faint again, but my body tells me differently by shaking, sweating and doing all of that other anxiety stuff.

I always ask to lie down instead of sit in a chair now, you're not likely to pass out that way.

[Anonymous]

I just try to look away from the needle.

[Anonymous]

DS63 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suppose this is just a complaint, but I have a blood draw today and I am super nervous. I know it barely hurts, and I am so much less afraid of draws than I used to be, but ugh! I've had a lot of water, I slept enough last night, but if feel like throwing up from nerves (on top of my morning sickness). When you're laying there and they put the tourniquet on.... I just want to pass the freak out.

Live one week as a cancer patient...you will lose the fear of blood being drawn

Not necessarily true. I have a life-threatening fear of needles and had to be sedated when I was had a serious illness and had to have blood drawn. I never lost the fear at all. That said, most people can be desensitized but are fortunate enough to have no reason for that much b/w. For most, music and distraction help, and you also can get a script for fast-acting anti-anxiety medications for numbing agents.

[Anonymous]

OP. It went fine! They let me stay in the exam room to lie down and the tech came to me. The tech (Risa, you're a wonderful worker) was amazing and I didn't even feel the usual pinch. The sound of them screwing the lids on my tubes of blood was kind of gnarly. And when I felt woozy afterward - a Dum Dum! Seriously, that helped so much I am going to be packing one of those for blood tests now.

Thanks all!