I am getting blood drawn next week and I am super nervous. Yes, I have gotten blood drawn before, and it HURT!!! Thankfully, I learned that getting it on the hand is less painful than getting it done on the forearm or the wrist, which is probably the most painful. I don't need, or want, any, "Don't worry, it's not 'that' bad, " because it 'is' bad and I 'do' worry. I am not asking this question for compassion or empathy, but advice. What are some things I can do to numb the location beforehand, and what are some things I can take that would calm me down before the torture (bloodwork) begins. Also, I don't know, but when people like me go to get blood drawn is there anything the phlebotomoist can apply to the location or give (pills) to relax the patient's nerves?
2007-09-27 17:05:34 · 5 answers · asked by ItsScriptural 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Usually when a phlebotomist draws blood, they go for the hand or antecubital (the inside bend of the elbow). When they draw blood from the wrist, it is usually for an arterial blood gas and, yes, sticking an artery is quite painful. If your doctor has ordered this blood work, talk to him and tell him of your great fear of getting stuck. Ask him to order Emla. It is a topical numbing agent that needs to be applied about 30 minutes to an hour before the stick. Apply it to both areas in case they miss one and have to stick you twice. We use it on babies before we give them their immunizations and it definitely helps.
2007-09-27 17:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by Beckers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Linda is right -
In your hand??? That is the most painful of all!
You can ask them if they can get enough blood from a finger to just prick the finger - if not I would go for the inside of the elbow. Easier to find a vein there.
The bigger the vein, the less sticks they have to make
2007-09-28 00:14:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your finger has lots of nerve endings, and it will hurt there. The arm tends to have less nerve endings ... my preference.
Simply look away (not at the needle), grit your teeth, pinch yourself. This will distract from the needle prick.
How do I know? My sister is a lab tech. When she was in school, I was the class guinea pig. The class would pay me for letting them take samples.
2007-09-28 08:34:49 · answer #3 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's really nothing you can do. Each phlebotomist has his/her own magic touch--sometimes it hurts really bad and other times you'll be surprised how very little it hurts! It's all in their technique, NOT yours. The inside of the elbow seems to be the best spot to draw blood as far as discomfort is concerned.
2007-09-28 00:11:50 · answer #4 · answered by Linda 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
probly not its just painful :P
2007-09-28 09:28:10 · answer #5 · answered by Danish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋