Has anyone ever had an IV? If so describe me the feeling?

Question

I am having oral surgery done and I have never had an IV before, is there any pain or anything?

Answer 1

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, the oral surgeon gave me nitrous oxide (the laughing gas they use at the dentist's office) while he was starting my IV and that helped with the pain a lot. Another oral surgeon who did a prcedure on my jaw had a liquid he put on the area prior to sticking me for the IV that made it numb. If you're really nervous, ask you oral surgeon about either of those things. But really, and IV is not a biug deal. It hurts like a pin prick and then some heat in your arm when they stick you with the needle, but that's it, and since you've never had an IV before, you will have good veins that will make it easy to find a vein and get the IV in quickly. If they do it in your elbow area it hurts a lot less than in your hand; the worst place is the thumb or the wrist because there is a nerve right there. Like I said, you've probaly got really good veins since this is your first IV so it should be a snap to get the IV started. Good luck!

Answer 2

An IV is just having a needle placed in the vein, then the needle is removed and a synthetic catheter which was around the needle is left in the vein to give fluids and medications through. When used for sedation as with a dental procedure the catheter is usually pretty small, but in operating rooms and emergency room settings the catheter is larger. The introduction of the IV is like a shot, after the needle is out the catheter usually is not noticed unless they place it in an area where it pushes on the skin a lot, then it may have a pinching feeling. The removal of the catheter may have a pulling uncomfortable sensation.

Overall it is not bad at all. If you are relaxed it doesn't bother you much. It is more uncomfortable if you are tense. I get more than one IV infusion a month for medical treatment and hardly notice when they put it in. You will find the more often you get injections/IVs the less painful it gets because you are relaxed.

Answer 3

I've had more IVs in my day than I'd care to remember (even a midline once that ran all through the vein in my arm and up into my chest cavity). I can say definitively that of course an IV will hurt. It's a needle piercing the flesh; there's no sense in lying to yourself. However, the actual perception of that pain is entirely dependent upon how freaked out you are by the process. If you're scared of needles and work yourself up about this minor ordeal, then you'll be too anxious to get an objective sense of what is actually happening, and the fear will feed your subjective experience of pain. That tainted memory will make you even more scared the next time you need one. It's a vicious circle.

If on the other hand you relax and get used to the idea, then the fear has no part in the equation, and you realize that the brief twinge of the needle sinking in is no more painful than being pinched in the arm by a three year old.

So relax! You'll be fine, I promise.

Answer 4

sometimes they'll give you a local numbing anesthetic which stings briefly. I'd suggest you ask them for it if you are nervous, it helps. Aside that its just a brief sharp poke. Its a bit uncomfortable but not horrible, Just try to relax and close your eyes. You'll either have the IV in your hand or your elbow vein like when you get blood drawn. After the IV is in they push some saline through it with a plastic syringe which can feel a little cold. the needle comes out and a thin plastic tube remains in your vein. it connects to a larger tube that goes to the IV. Once everything is taped and secured the IV bag starts running. you might have another cool flushing sensation, its just because the IV fluid is usually cold. Soon after the IV is started they give you "happy drugs" you'll pass out in nothing flat. Getting the IV out is easy. Relax you'll be ok.

Answer 5

Usually the site where the IV will go is numbed with a surface anesthetic. The needle is inserted and you will feel a pressure to the skin and a pinch that feels really hot for about 3 seconds.
When they start the prep work breath slowly and deeply in and out. When they are about to insert the needle take in a deep breath and as the pinch feeling starts blow it out slowly.

The medication will start working really quickly and you feel that everything just fades out. When you wake up you can't believe that any time has passed at all! Remember to breath slowly and evenly when you wake up- sometimes twilight anesthesia makes you feel a little nauseous as you come out of it and the breathing helps steady your system.
Good luck and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Answer 6

The only real pain with an IV is as it is inserted. It feels a bit like the prick you feel as they draw blood.

Depending on what is given in the IV, and how long it is administered, there can be a sort of dull ache as a cold IV fluid enters the arm. If you experience this, ask the nurse for a heat pack that will soothe this discomfort.

Personally, I find the worst part is them taking off the tape to remove it! Ouch, pulls those hairs! LOL

Answer 7

Yeah, I've had several. Depends where abouts they put it on ur hand or arm, it can be painful. They don't use a hard needle, it's soft, flexible plastic but it can hurt putting it in. Once it's in u should be ok though.
When I had an epidural (with my first baby, about 16 years ago) they put one in my right wrist, on the inside of the arm just below the thumb. That was the most painful place they put mine.
But just a few months ago I was hospitalised, and though it took them a few goes to find the right place, once it was in there were no problems, mind u, I was on morphine, so maybe that had something to do with it.

Answer 8

I've had a ton of them and it depends on the person giving it. Most of the time they know their stuff and where the best place to put it is. If you have ever had blood drawn and they were able to get the needle in easier in a certain place, then I would let the person know...but if you don't, it's just a little bee sting type feeling. kind of like a bug bite. it doesn't hurt but for a second. Good luck with your surgery!!!!

Answer 9

If you stuck a needle in your arm you'd say 'ouch' but it woldn't be a continuous pain. That's all the pain you will have from the IV when you have the oral surgery ... and that is FAR LESS PAIN than you could have if you had a 'local anaesthetic.'

Answer 10

I have had an IV about 6 -8 times in my life(im 16) for various reason, anyway Its burns for the first minute or two. then atfer that, nothing.