are you afraid to take a blood test too?

Question

i have to take a blood test on saturday...again. last time, the dr. himself took my blood since i made a huge scene. (crying, moving, etc...) it was so embarassing, but i can't help it! and he used a big needle on me, and since my veins are small, he kept jamming it around in my skin, trying to get some blood. it hurt like hell... all the answers that said " you won't even feel it," totally lied!

ok, here's the real qustion: are you afraid to take blood tests too?... and what do you usually do to stay calm and refrain yourself from kicking the doctor, like i did. (lol...)

thank you! oh, and merry early christmas!

i took a blood test a month ago, and when we got the results, the doctor said i might have hyperthyroidism or something like that... basically , it's a thyroid problem.

Answer 1

I used to freak out when they drew my blood. And it doesn't surprise me that it hurt like hell when the doctor did it. He doesn't do it for a living and probably hasn't done it since medical school. Nurses and lab techs do it ever day, all day.

For starters, understand that it has to be done. And won't take very long. Ask them to use a butterfly. It's a smaller needle. Also, make sure you are very hydrated. Sometimes it hurts because you are dehydrated, not that your veins are small. But let a nurse or a tech do it. They do it more, and therefore are better. Just tell them you are nervous and to please keep everything out of your sight. Then jsut try to relax, realize it won't take long and you can go back to your life in less than a minute if you just get it over with.

In time, you will not dread it so much. But I hoped you learned from your outburst last time. You can cry and move and everything, but in the end, you still had to do it. Just get it over with. It may suck, but it will suck for less time.

Answer 2

I'm really sorry to hear about your experience. I really don't know what to say in terms of being afraid of a nurse or doctor taking a blood sample. Once, I went in for a blood test and I thought they were going to fill 1 or two of those test tubes at most, instead, they did about 5 of those test tubes! All the while, when they were switching out the test tubes, the needle was being moved around and jostled. Ugh.

Usually a doctor or nurse can get that needle in pretty quickly, especially if you go to a testing lab that does that kind of thing all day long. Be sure to tell the doctor/nurse that you have small veins, they may be inexperienced and not realize this unti lthey poke you =*(

As far as trying not to kill the person poking you with a huge needle, I would say staring at something else away from the action is a good idea. I picked out a nice medical chart the last time they did it. As I recall, I learned a little about anemia that day.

Answer 3

I HATE blood tests.. Lucky me, I have a thyroid condition that requires a blood test every month.

For me, I tell the nurse ahead of time that I am a HUGE chicken when it comes to getting it done. They are usually pretty nice and start talking to me, asking about my family and things while they tie that rubber tube thing around my arm. I look away and hold as STILL as humanly possible. It hurts when the needle goes in, and while they are filling all of the little viles, but I'm just that much happier when it's over.

My advice to you, do that. If you squirm, it hurts A LOT more. Make sure to keep your arm limp instead of tense. That also makes it hurt more. And the best piece of advice, just breathe.


And Merry Christmas to you too!

Answer 4

I don't like to take blood test but am not afraid of it! Usually, the thought of the needle going in is more frightening and painful than the actual act itself. To stay calm when the needle goes in, I usually look away and make some small talk with the doctor or nurse. That way, it's done even before you know it.

A Merry Christmas to you too!

Answer 5

I have the same problem. I have a phobia now, because when i was young they had to use an entire hospital room staff to hold me down and they ended up tearing my vein. Then later at a different clinic they couldn't find blood in the vein in the middle of my arm, then stuck the head of a needle in the middle of my forearm and left it in to see if any blood would come out. Nothing worked so they cut a hole in the tip of my finger and squeezed the blood out. Needles to say today i am quite scared of getting blood taken. So what Ive learned to do, is tell the people at the clinic that you have a fear of needles and need to use their bed/bench. There should be a back room. You go in there explain you sensitivity to the nurse/ attendant and they lie you down. For me i then put my headphones on and listen to music, relax and use deep slow breaths.

Answer 6

Actually, I am afraid of needles, especially giving blood because the needle stays in so long. And it's embarassing for me too, i'm 22 years old.

Just tell the doctor before hand that you are afraid of needles and always have been, that gets rid of the ebarassment. Then look away, before the nurse even starts-

Or do what i do, just keep telling yourself "childbirth will hurt a lot more than this".

Answer 7

Definitely petrified of needles, so like you, I too have a hard time when it comes to blood samples and tests. I try my best to be distracted, like looking away and not anticipating the pain. Also, I ask the nurse/doctor/medical technician to not tell me if they're about to do it. Because bruising occurs when you're tensed while someone is withdrawing blood, I usually breathe slower. In the nose and out the mouth.

Answer 8

No I am the guy that freaks out the people drawing my blood because i get queasy if I can not see it. Not sure why but I have to watch the needle enter my arm and watch the blood fill the veils.

If the Doc or nurse or whoever is drawing your blood knows what they are doing you should feel a little prick and then nothing. diggin around in your are is stupid. I have had people try to do that to me and I actulay told one girl to either stop and get some one else or just let me do it. I said I can do it just watch and she started screaming for backup not sure why. needless to say I was pissed after about 10 minutes of her digging around in my arm with out getting a drop of blood.

Answer 9

I'm not scared. i was born with the big veins that run in my dad's family. Plus i learned to drink water before a blood draw, it makes the veins a bit bigger and easier to see. To stay calm, i rely on the breathing technique that i learned through people who endure pain. Just close your eyes, picture something peaceful, breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply. Then breathe out of your mouth slowly all of the way. By doing this you relax your muscles and you're not as tense and when you're not tense, you feel less pain.

hope this helps, and Merry early Christmas to you also.

Answer 10

Dear God YES. My brother had one and he has a high pain tolerance and he said it hurt. I've heard many stories of doctors or nurses having to fish around for some blood. I would most probably be like you and squirm and cry. I also hate needles which greatly contributes to the problem.