getting stressed

mig
mig Member Posts: 7,154
edited 6. Jul 2011, 15:23 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello all,Didnt sleep too good last night thinking about blood test due on wednesday,last blood test at my health center it took the nurse on duty 5 attempts to find a vein,she said i should have drank more fluids then it would be easier,hope she not on duty wednesday.Mig

Comments

  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning Mig

    Try not to worry if you can (easier said than done). Normally I am fine with blood tests and they have no problem fiinding a vein but a couple of times when I have been at the hospital I have been very tense and all my veins have gone away and hidden. :roll: Maybe you were just unlucky last time - and hopefully it will be a different nurse this time round.

    Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

    Lots love Tilly xxx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Mig

    I also have trouble with the nurses at the health centre. They always always have two attempts at eavh arm before they draw blood. And then it seems to take ages to fill the bottle.

    I had one the other week for pre op at the hospital and she got it first time and only touched the surface too.

    I will have my fingers crossed that the nurse you see tomorrow will beable to do it first time.

    Take care
    Juliepf x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It all comes down to the skill of the individual involved. Like all people in a particular job, some are good, some are not and some are truly awful. I now have no trouble with blood tests, I didn't like them much at first but after years of fortnightly ones you get used to them. I never, ever, look at what they are doing. Good luck, I hope it goes better than you are anticipating. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It can help if, while you're waiting, you keep tensing then relaxing the arm. If the problem is due to overuse of veins thanks to years of this stuff mention it in advance and they might use a butterfly clip which is easier. Good luck.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi mig

    Another tip along with more fluids is to make sure you are warm, keep your arms snug in a cardi or something, that helps also.

    Do they use a butterfly needle? If not, then ask them to try that,it is easier to get blood.

    Hope this helps

    Janie
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm with DD on this. Sometimes I have perfect blood tests, not a flicker of pain, occasionally I have some nasty scratches and last month the sleeve of my jacket was covered in blood following a blood test and it seems to be the same people who do the good and same people who do the painful ones!

    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • mig
    mig Member Posts: 7,154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi,blood done no problem,told the nurse what happened last time while we chattered she d done it without me realizing,thanks for all the tips.Mig
  • Poppyg1rl
    Poppyg1rl Member Posts: 1,245
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Great Mig!
    So pleased it went well! Ive had 'Fatima Whitbread' nurse before throwing a javelin (syringe) into my arm for a blood test and the bruise!!!! It took 2 weeks to go. For that reason if I see 'Fatima' nurse at the clinic I turn around and go to the hospital for blood test instead :grin:
    Glad it was a good experience for you xxx
    'grá agus solas'
    'Love and Light' translated from Irish. X
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well done MIG!!!

    I panic so much about blood tests that my teeth chatter and l sake all over so you have ALL my sympathy...

    Pretty sure that started because of an insensitive and inept nurse!!

    Love

    Toni xx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Mig
    Im so glad it went well, I have come to the conclusion, that when you are really worried...for some strange reason it seems to go ok.
    I hope the results are good
    Love
    Barbara
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Mig I am so glad all went well.

    juliepf x
  • mig
    mig Member Posts: 7,154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks for all good wishes,im sure it helped get me thru it.so glad i found this site.Love to all Mig