Blood Tests

sassy_one

Hi all


This is a rather embarrassing thread to need to be posting but here goes.


I have had a few health problems that have come and gone over the pass few months, some have been liveable with others not quite so much.

I saw my GP the other day whom has advised I need a number of tests to be carried out at this stage to try and find the cause and rule out serious conditions.

I have one problem, although not being the only test I will be having, the one I'm most worried about is the Blood Test

I have always had a problem with blood tests and needles since a very small child and I'm no better now, maybe even worse being I am able to refuse them now

I have a great fear of blood tests and needles and just can't get my head around it, so much so, in the past for a simple blood test I changed my appointment 8 times before in the end, having to cancel it!

Now, after a long talk about this with my GP, who has been fully aware of this, they have said I will be offered a sedative tablet one hour prior to the blood test and then just before the blood test, which will make me sleepy and not fully alert, this as well with gas and air.

All this set aside, I'm still in fear of the test.

When I have had them in the past, I have fainted and also lost consciousness, banging my head and then being rushed from the GP centre to hospital by Ambulance.

I also feel faint with any thing clinical too, so just walking into the room to have the test and seeing the needles/swabs etc makes me want to be sick and faint, I get all dizzy too.

Although my GP has no answers as to why I feel like this against them, he believes I also have a great fear of them and the body goes into some kind of shock mode.


However, time has now come and I want too and need to have these blood tests to stop feeling like rubbish.

Is there anything else I can request?
I would rather be put to sleep for it, and am prepared to sign any wavier for such but the GP said this is to high risk for such a simple test to be carried out.

I'm not just 'feeling' like I don't like it, so I can't just go in and hold a brave face for a few minutes, I also come over faint/dizzy/feel sick and do lose consciousness for a few moments.


Any advice as what I can do to make this as easy as possible would be great.

I am sorry for posting such a stupid thread but it just shows some people take things as granted, as I know many people can just have a blood test and think nothing of it! :eek:

jenniewb

This sounds really quite serious. Have you tried any professional therapy? It sounds like a proper phobia and there are forms of therapy which can help you with that. May be worth asking your GP for them- its probably a bit late in the day to do that now as it can take some weeks or even months to deal with phobias but it can be done.

I am not sure when your last blood test was- it sounds fairly recent (and happened a few times?) so saying that many blood taking nurses are actually very gentle, the pain is not really significant in comparison to what they actually do...etc wont really help- but just for what its worth, its never as bad as it seems in my experience.

Have a word with your GP about how much this is freaking you out and how worried you are even with the pills, there may be other options available but just from what I can see, its like you have an issue that doesn't go away- even when the problems near enough resolved (your out cold when having the blood taken) it just transfers itself onto something else, so now your afraid of the same problem but in a whole new way. I would say for this reason that you really need to get some professional help with this. Just my point of view.

sassy_one

jenniewb wrote: »

This sounds really quite serious. Have you tried any professional therapy? It sounds like a proper phobia and there are forms of therapy which can help you with that. May be worth asking your GP for them- its probably a bit late in the day to do that now as it can take some weeks or even months to deal with phobias but it can be done.

I am not sure when your last blood test was- it sounds fairly recent (and happened a few times?) so saying that many blood taking nurses are actually very gentle, the pain is not really significant in comparison to what they actually do...etc wont really help- but just for what its worth, its never as bad as it seems in my experience.

Have a word with your GP about how much this is freaking you out and how worried you are even with the pills, there may be other options available but just from what I can see, its like you have an issue that doesn't go away- even when the problems near enough resolved (your out cold when having the blood taken) it just transfers itself onto something else, so now your afraid of the same problem but in a whole new way. I would say for this reason that you really need to get some professional help with this. Just my point of view.

Thank you Jennie


I have not had any professional help on the matter, no, but I will seek advice from my GP on this, I think it was thought when I was smaller I simply was being a 'kid' or 'playing up' but my school was very worried and one time even refused to give me one of my injections.

The last time I went to hospital due to my asthma and had severe breathing difficulties I was admitted almost instantly upon arriving at A&E, the nurse wanted to put a IV line in, she said just as a precaution in case I need emergency treatment, I refused then she got a doctor to come and speak with me.

I landed up going faint just laying on there bed, broke out in a sweat, feel 'light and empty' inside and was told I looked very pale and white, so the doctor said they would leave the IV line for now and just carry on with oxygen and seriods.

I feel stupid, about it, after all, it's just a blood test, but I cannot face it.
When I was smaller I was given a 'pin sample blood test' by a GP, as I refused a blood sample, and even then they had to get three GP's presents and I was crying.

I have a number of suspected health problems, a few which I have been told could be serious if left un treated, and the GP did say, which would be worse, the blood test of facing those illnesses, but right now I'm just don't want the blood tests.

I wish I knew a way I could just walk in, have it and back out, even if it meant I needed a rest for a bit after! - sounds so easy but for me, it really isn't.


I have almost fractured my skull when I was having a blood test in my teens, had to have a CT scan and X-Rays, just because the person doing the blood test was not a ware I was so sensitive to it, I landed up fainting on the floor which was stone.

Over the years it has just got worse, but I know I need to face this now or forever be like it

jenniewb

Sounds really rough- hope you get somewhere with your GP, you definetly have grounds for some form of help/psychological therapy. Like I say, its never easy, but if it were easy you'd have done it yourself years ago, the difference is this time the pain and stress is all working towards something at the end and this in itself can take away alot of the hellishness of it. It makes a huge difference I think when you are able to work on a problem with help and support, not being alone.

Good for you for realising you need to face it- sounds like its getting harder as time goes on which I think must be normal- you have your own fears and then your own negative experiences to combine with that. Its normal to be afraid to a certain degree of injections, most people are. But to be terrified and put your health very much at risk really isn't good.

Good luck with your GP.

sassy_one

jenniewb wrote: »

Sounds really rough- hope you get somewhere with your GP, you definetly have grounds for some form of help/psychological therapy. Like I say, its never easy, but if it were easy you'd have done it yourself years ago, the difference is this time the pain and stress is all working towards something at the end and this in itself can take away alot of the hellishness of it. It makes a huge difference I think when you are able to work on a problem with help and support, not being alone.

Good for you for realising you need to face it- sounds like its getting harder as time goes on which I think must be normal- you have your own fears and then your own negative experiences to combine with that. Its normal to be afraid to a certain degree of injections, most people are. But to be terrified and put your health very much at risk really isn't good.

Good luck with your GP.

Thank's Jennie

It's good to know I'm not a complete baby, although I feel like it sometimes posting this thread

I will speak with the GP and see where it takes me.

duloch

sassy-one wrote: »

Thank's Jennie

It's good to know I'm not a complete baby, although I feel like it sometimes posting this thread

I will speak with the GP and see where it takes me.

I sort of understand how you feel except my problem is hospitals and visiting people. I get the same symptoms as yourself and either end up fainting or having a panic attack. I feel very stupid and get myself in a massive state but I really cant control how I feel and act. This has only started about 2/3 years ago but even thinking about a hospital now makes me feel abit funny. Its not a nice feeling at all. You have my sympathy and best wishes!

Humphrey10

sassy-one wrote: »

I also feel faint with any thing clinical too, so just walking into the room to have the test and seeing the needles/swabs etc makes me want to be sick and faint, I get all dizzy too.

I hate blood tests too though it's not as bad eg no fainting, when I go for a blood test I tell them I don't like them, then they hide all the needles etc so I don't see them when I go into the room.
If all the clinical stuff in the room (not just the items they are going to use for your blood test) is a problem, it might be possible to get the blood test done in a different room, usually they are used to people not being good with needles etc so are quite accomodating.

belfastgirl23

I think on a very practical level you need to make sure that if anyone is taking blood tests again you're lying down so you don't fall/faint and injure yourself.

Would it help to have headphones on or something? I do usually look to the other side as they do it, I'm not phobic but I'd rather not see it.

Rescue remedy might also be helpful?

but it does sound like a much deeper seated issue that you really need some professional help with.

Oh and btw I had hypnosis to get over fear of flying. I still feel a little nervous before getting on a plane but used to dread it for weeks or even months beforehand and have actual panic attack symptoms boarding. I think the hypnosis helped considerably.

ellay864

I used to be terrible with needles and would also go faint. I'm a lot better now but I think it's because I do take 'precautions' I always ask them to have me lying down when they take the blood. I seem to be better from one arm in particular so I ask them to use that one (even though sometimes the bed is in the wrong place to get to my right side!) and I ask if somebody else can come in. I find that if there's a nurse/receptionist in literally holding my hand and talking to me I can get through it. Makes me feel a right wuss but I've stayed conscious so as far as I'm concerned it's a result
And I agree with the comments about seeing all the equipment - I've asked that it's moved out the way of my sight, and thats where the extra person comes in - they can be a physical barrier and a better way to distract if you try to look round