I had to have blood drawn today to check if my new medication is affecting my liver adversely.

 

 

 

It was the single worst thing that's EVER! happened to me, or ever will, and I am seriously

 

thinking about killing myself to avoid having it done again in one month's time, and a month

 

after that, and a month after that, and one more month after that, at which point I wont have

 

to take this damnedable pill anymore.

 

 

 

So, any help? Are there any ways to reduce the pain of having a needle stuck two inches along

 

one of your veins and left there for 30 seconds while your blood pumps out? I mean, are there

 

certain vitamins you can take that make your blood coagulate faster, or prevent bruising? My

 

mom said to drink alot of water for a couple days before the appointment, because I've had to

 

have blood taken once before and it was awful. I've been dreading it so much that the pain

 

was probably all in my head, but I swear I can still feel the needle and it's been hours since the

 

appointment ...

 

 

 

Ugh ... I get shivery all over just thinking about it. I wouldn't object if they gave me a knife and

 

said, "Okay, just cut yourself and bleed into this bowl!", or if they could draw blood from my

 

upper arms, or my feet or something. I've always had this phobia about my wrists and elbows,

 

I don't think there's a name for it, and I've bever met a person with the same problem. Whenever

 

I accidentally bang my wrist on something, I frantically squeeze my wrists to make the arteries show,

 

to make sure I've still got blood pressure in them. When that nurse stuck the needle into my

 

elbow I lost it, I closed my eyes and started hyperventilating, I just ... ugh ... I can't ... can't stand it.

 

 

 

Please advise, I think I'll go insane if they have to do it again.

Is it more pain or more squeemishness? If it's pain take some over the counter pain medicine beforehand if you can, see if that helps any.

That's a good idea, I thought about that but didn't end up doing it. I'm rather thin, so it's

 

not hard for them to find a vein, and really it's just thirty seconds, but ... I can't ... the needles,

 

I just can't stand it. Even the thought of having to have a needle inserted into my arm in that

 

specific spot brings me to the verge of tears. I can have immunization-injections into

 

my upper arms, muscles, etc., without problems, it's just that one spot on my elbow where

 

they take blood from. I'll stop because I keep repeating myself now, but I think I wont sleep

 

for 48 hours before my next appointment. Maybe if I put myself into a state of half-awareness

 

it wont be so bad.

May not be allowed to medicate before the blood test, check out first. Otherwise just take some music with you, some nice soothing music could do the trick. Keep your mind off it, as it is most likely all in your head, I have had my share of needles, and it's not that bad. (Unless you get a crap nurse and hard to find veins like me, she had to put it in and out and wiggle it around about five times).

It's having the needle inside. I can't stand that either.

 

 

 

I guess you'll just have to take it. I try to avoid hospitals and medicine at all costs. You could try to find alternative treatments for whatever condition you have. As long as you get the medicine from wherever you get it from, you'll have to play by their rules, wich includes needles sticked into your veins. I guess it would work as well to bleed into a bowl, but they'd never even consider that. Facing hospitals and the like i always get the feeling that a patient is merely an object.

 

 

 

May i ask what your medication is for?

Er ...

 

 

 

That's a rather personal matter. I can say, though, that one of the potential side-effects

 

is liver damage, and apparently (I asked the doctor) the only way to check for potentially

 

dangerous loss of liver function is (hey hey) blood work.

 

 

 

EDIT: I've been watching this speech given by Stephen Colbert at The White House, that link

 

in the locked thread halfway down, and it turns out laughter really is the best medicine, he made

 

me laugh a few times and suddenly I don't feel so paralyzingly anxious, though that will

 

probably return soon enough.

Er ...

 

 

 

That's a rather personal matter. I can say, though, that one of the potential side-effects

 

is liver damage, and apparently (I asked the doctor) the only way to check for potentially

 

dangerous loss of liver function is (hey hey) blood work.

 

 

 

EDIT: I've been watching this speech given by Stephen Colbert at The White House, that link

 

in the locked thread halfway down, and it turns out laughter really is the best medicine, he made

 

me laugh a few times and suddenly I don't feel so paralyzingly anxious, though that will

 

probably return soon enough.

 

It's because your mind's taken off of it. It reminds me of this story (about NLP but it relates):

 

A boy asked his mother, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâWhat is NLP?ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

His mother said ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâI will tell you in a moment, but first you have to do something so you can understand. See your grandfather over there in his chair?ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâYep,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ said the boy.

 

 

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâGo and ask him how his arthritis is today.ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

The boy went over to his grandfather. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâGranddad,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ he said, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâhowÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s your arthritis today?ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâOh, itÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s a bit bad, son,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ replied the old man. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâItÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s always worse in damp weather. I can hardly move my fingers today.ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ A look of pain crossed his face.

 

 

 

The boy went back to his mother. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâHe said it was bad. I think it hurts him. Are you going to tell me what NLP is now?ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâIn a minute, I promise,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ replied his mother. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâNow go over and ask Granddad what was the funniest thing you ever did when I was very young.ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

The boy went over to his grandfather. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâGranddad,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ he began, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâwhatÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s the funniest thing I ever did when I was very young?ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢

 

 

 

The old manÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s face lit up. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâOh,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ he smiled, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹Ãâthere were lots of things. There was the time when you and your friend played Father Christmas and sprinkled talcum powder all over the bathroom pretending it was snow. I laughed ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Ãâ but I didnÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢t have to clean it up.ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢ He stared into the distance with a smile.

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¹ÃâThen there was the time I took you out for a walk. It was a lovely day and you were singing a nursery rhyme you had just learned. Loudly. A man went past and gave you a nasty look. He thought you were being too noisy. He asked me to tell you to be quite. You turned around and said to him, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¢â¬ÅIf you donÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢t like me singing, you can go and boil your head.ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬ÃâÃ

the roaccutane will be worth having needles every month :P

if they do it with a needle, a tube, and vials, it's not as bad because the only thing taking the blood out it the pressure in your arm, whereas if they use a syringe and pull the blood out, it is much more painful. If they do it with the syringe, ask them you do it the other way, and if they already do, it's just mind over matter. Take a good book or have a conversation with a friend while they do it, and whatever you do DON'T LOOK AT THE NEEDLE.

 

If you become anxious/nervous in the waiting room, meditate for a while. (not the crossing your legs thing, just relax your breathing, ie count to 5 with the inhale and then the exhale, so you control and slow your breath.) This will help calm you down, and if you are calm you are less likely to feel that bad.

I had blood taken twice, and felt hardly any pain. :-k

 

 

 

On side note maybe you can ask them to put you under anaesthetic?

Listen to music, or read a book or something very absorbing while they do it.. and when you're bored and doing nothing other times, find a way to occupy yourself.

as someone who served as combat medic in the IDF my left arm veins was pierced quite good during my service(by others and also by myself) as part of the training.

 

My advice, concentrate,feel the pain,control it, try even to enjoy it :D

 

it doesnt realy hurt that much after all :wink:

I had blood taken twice, and felt hardly any pain. :-k

 

 

 

On side note maybe you can ask them to put you under anaesthetic?

 

for getting blood drawn? there are many complications associated with anesthesia, and it is given by IV usually, so it involves a needle on the inner elbow... plus you need to get someone to do it, and it can be expensive, and you end up sleeping for hours... really not worth it.

Oh god... I hate getting blood taken :?

 

When I was 11 I got Mono and had to take blood taken, it hurt like hell. It probably won't hurt as much now since I was 11 and was really sick, but still. 4 weeks later (I think it was) they wanted me to come back to take more blood to see if the Mono was gone, I refused to go :lol:

 

 

 

Now, a few weeks ago my mom was going to a blood drive, and insisted I go with her, but I locked myself in my room until she left :oops:

 

 

 

When I was tested for some reason they did it in the OTHER arm I asked them to do it in (I asked for right, they did it in left -.- ) and took two tubes of blood. And I think they used a syringe. I closed my eyes.

Well if getting blood work is anything like getting a tattoo, don't take aspirin , ibuprofen or anything as it thins your blood and will make it hurt more. I had blood taken for the first time last month and it was horrible, not painful though, I was very anxious, and as the nurse was attempting to the find the vein I glanced at the needle and saw the blood rushing into it and I passed out. Me, i'm 6'4 240 pounds, all state linebacker and pitcher passed out because of a little blood. I was embarrased, to say the least. I had to have 5 tubes taken, so once I woke up they had to take more. It didn't hurt, it was just the fact of me watching them take the blood out of me.

Try saying the alphabet in your head or something to pass the time. Even though i have to jag myself twice a day,due to my dia-beetus,I still hate getting blood tests from my arm

Just try not to think about it. Even before when I was going to get my wisdom teeth I was a little nervous. I knew nothing would go wrong but its just one of those reactions you have.

 

 

 

Try and keep yourself busy and don't really think about it. When it happens it will happen, and it won't take that long.

Well, when-ever I'm having an injection of some type, I normally try to keep my mind off it whilst it's happening. It usually helps a bit. But they've never hurt that much to me.

 

 

 

I can be squimish with injections/ blood being taken, but it doesn't usually hurt much. Just lose yourself in a world of your own (If you get what I mean :| ).

 

 

 

If you are in pain, maybe just ask for painkillers (I know this has been suggested before, but ohwell). :o

Get veins/arteries like these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That way, not only are you already used to seeing your veins, but there's pretty much no penetration at all :-w :P .

Don't look at the needle. I find it easier if I look away completely from about 10 seconds before they put it in until 10 seconds after they take it out. Not sure why but I find it easier if I don't see it.

I remember once, when I came back from a trip to Italy, they had to give me Tuberculosis shot, the one that forms a bubble beneath your skin. Well, the nurse must've been stupid or something because she did it wrong somehow and it was half in, half out of my skin and sprayed the medicine everywhere. It hurt. Just dont look at the needle, try saying some calming words in your head, or bring a CD player.

Oh hey Kashi. Try having a needle stuck into your toe about an inch into your toe (most of it) then having injections into it. Twice. Totaling about 3 - 4 minutes of pain. With residual pain.

 

 

 

I just had a granuloma taken out.

Oh hey Kashi. Try having a needle stuck into your toe about an inch into your toe (most of it) then having injections into it. Twice. Totaling about 3 - 4 minutes of pain. With residual pain.

 

 

 

I just had a granuloma taken out.

 

 

 

What's that?

Oh hey Kashi. Try having a needle stuck into your toe about an inch into your toe (most of it) then having injections into it. Twice. Totaling about 3 - 4 minutes of pain. With residual pain.

 

 

 

I just had a granuloma taken out.

 

 

 

What's that?

 

 

 

I'm not too sure actually. I think it's like a growth of skin. It was where my first ingrown toenail was.

Oh hey Kashi. Try having a needle stuck into your toe about an inch into your toe (most of it) then having injections into it. Twice. Totaling about 3 - 4 minutes of pain. With residual pain.

 

 

 

I just had a granuloma taken out.

 

 

 

What's that?

 

 

 

I'm not too sure actually. I think it's like a growth of skin. It was where my first ingrown toenail was.

 

 

 

Oh no I have 2 ingrown toenails(they healed but theres like a scar) will I have to have it?