I am supposed to be having blood drawn for tests (diabetes and thyroid tests). It is supposed to be a fasting blood draw. The last time I had blood drawn I was 4 years old. I don't remember it well. How is the procedure done? Is it painful? How long does it last? Anything else I need to know? For some odd reason, I am apprehensive of having it done in the inside of the elbow and i don't know why.
2007-10-10 08:10:51 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
It really depends on the nurse taking the blood and your own arm. I have had time that I didn't even notice that I had been stuck, and other that I wanted to smack the nurse.
As for the procedure: Usually they take a large rubber band and wrap it around your upper arm. This will help expose your veins. They may have you pump your fist or squeeze something. This will be done until they locate a suitable vein. Then the nurse takes a blood needle (which is slightly larger then a shot) and uses it to enter your vain. Depending on the amount of blood they may put it in IV type plastic tube (which is slipped in threw the needle so you don't feel it. However, if it is a small about of blood they probably wont. Then they will remove the band and draw the blood.
Depending on how much blood they need it could take anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute or two. In the hospital, I had a test that took three bottles that were the size of a Tabasco bottle. It seemed to take forever. HOWEVER, this is not the norm. I would say 30 second to a minute is average.
As for how painful: For me it only hurts when the first stuck me and when they take out the needle, so no matter how long it takes, it hurts the same.
Don't worry about it. It's not any worse than getting a shot, and since you know you need it done it's just something unpleasant that you have to do. Just tell the nurse that you are apprehensive. She will help you threw it.
On a personal note I find that it is easier for me if I DON'T look. I don't know why, it just makes me feel less Apprehensive, but that is just me. My wife loves to look. Sometimes I think is a vampire ;)
2007-10-10 08:25:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What they will do is take a piece of rubber tubing that they call a tourniquet and tie it around your arm. Then they will get you to make a fist so that the vein will rise up to the surface and place a needle in it with a device used to fill up a test tube about half full. When it is done, then they will take the needle out and get you to put a little pressure on it. That is all. Nothing to it and it only takes about a minute. Remember not to eat anything until after the test is done.
2007-10-10 08:33:03 · answer #2 · answered by Karen K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless they have trouble finding your vein, you should be fine. The whole process only takes a couple of minutes, if that. To make it easier to find your veins (and thereby less painful for you), drink lots of water before you go. Being properly hydrated increases your blood volume, which helps keep those veins nice and plump. If you're dehydrated, they'll have a hard time finding or accessing the vein. No need to worry about having them stick your elbow, it's usually done just beneath the bend, so it's more like your forearm anyway.
2007-10-10 08:23:04 · answer #3 · answered by OhKatie! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will sit down in a chair and stretch your arm out. The pflebotomist will put a tournquet on your arm above your elbow and feel your veins to decide which one to use. Then they will clean off the area with an alcohol pad and pick out the tubes for your specific labs. They will then put the needle in your arm and put 1 tube into the needle after another until they are finished.
By all means if you are afraid to have a needle stuck in your antecubital (front side of your elbow) tell them. They can put needles about anywhere there is a vein and will stick you somewhere else.
RN
2007-10-10 08:38:21 · answer #4 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is normal to be apprehensive but don't worry too much about it. Yes they do stick a needle in your arm but they only need to draw about 10 mL of blood, that's about 2 teaspoons. It will be over in just a couple of minutes and then they will put a cotton ball or bandage on it. I won't lie there is a little bit of a pinch but all in all it isn't that bad.
2007-10-10 08:19:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They stick a needle in the inside of your elbow. They put a rubberband type thing around your arm to help restrict blood flow to that area. This whole process take like 2 minutes and no longer.
2007-10-10 08:16:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a couple of times! I didn't have blood drawn from my arm till I was 15 also!
2016-05-21 00:18:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just had mine done last week. It is not painful at all if you have a good nurse & good veins. The needle goes in, the blood comes out, you're done in 5 seconds.
Good Luck!!
2007-10-10 08:33:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its only a few minutes and doesn't hurt. not a big deal
2007-10-10 08:19:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋