A patient of mine FAINTED when I drew his blood this morning.

[Aristus]

Now, I'm a pretty damn good phlebotomist; I've had eleven-year old kids give blood without flinching. My classmates in school called me "Painless" because of my discomfort-free blood drawing technique.

Guy comes in today to get a cholesterol check. I gently insert the needle into the anticubital space and draw the blood. Next thing I know, his eyes roll back into his head and he slumps in his chair. Fortunately I got the blood I needed. I patched him up, and then stretched him out on the floor with his feet elevated.

Then I went to get the doctor, who pronounced the guy 'okay'. I'm pretty new to medicine, but I could have freaked out a lot more than I did.

Still........

[Spinzonner]

1. I used to work with an ex-nurse

who couldn't 'handle' needles and having blood drawn.

Guess that's why he was an EX-nurse.

I always wondered how he even got through nursing school.

[Radio_Lady]

48. This happened to my daughter when she didn't eat prior to the test.

I was with her. She had a seizure right there on the floor and they rushed me out.

I understand it's relatively common to have this happen.

[tammywammy]

2. I hate getting my blood drawn

I'd like to meet you if you're so good. I have teeny tiny veins. It'll take 10 min for them to find one that's so-so and try to draw.

Oh, and I'm scared of needles (even though I have body piercing).

But I've never fainted. It'll happen sometimes, it was probably more psychological on his part and nothing to do with your technique.

[Aristus]

4. Yeah, I AM pretty good. I don't mind tooting my own horn since

there are a million things I CAN'T do.

I'm really good at getting "stealth" veins. Without having seen you and your veins, it sounds to me like the best course of action would be for a butterfly-needle draw from the back of the hand. If you don't need to draw too many tubes, it's a good way to get someone whose veins are shy.

[tammywammy]

7. They finally resorted to the butterfly the last time

I had to have 2 tubes filled, it took awhile, but wasn't bad. Thankfully the nurses are pretty good at my doctor's offices. They're patient and will wait, or go and come back later. My mom has had a nurse just jab her and I guess she was fishing around hoping to hit something.

I feel bad for the nurse most of the time. They'll apologize because they're not finding one, and I'm like "It's not your fault." I just know if I'm going in for a physical, 30 min will be spent trying to get blood.

Edited to add, the worse needle experience I've ever had was getting an IV. The nurse did 5 sticks before just going for the back of my hand. That was the worse feeling in the world, okay not as bad as a spinal tap, but pretty damn bad. I had a minor surgery a couple of years ago, and I was scared to death of getting an IV because of the previous experience. I just told the nurse what had happened to me before, and she was excellent, first stick.

[Pithlet]

30. I had a horrible IV experience, too

I don't' know what happened, but it was so painful I nearly fainted, and blood squirted everywhere. I'm still nervous about IVs. I never was, before.

My veins are also small. They usually have to use a butterfly. I tried to give blood once and they couldn't do it because of the large guage needles they have to use. I tried a second time a few years later, and the person must have been as talented as the OP, because he was able to do it.

[Patiod]

36. ow ow ow ow ow

Just had an IV last week prior to surgery, and not only was it the most painful part of the entire experience, but it hurt the worst in the next few days. Bruised hand, and bruised inner-elbow where they drew the pre-surgery blood test.

Versaid doesn't suck, though. Nice and stoned out of my gourd.

Ow ow ow ow ow

[TheProphetess]

5. I have the same problem

My veins are very small and I always have problems when I need to give a blood sample. I have never fainted but I have developed a needle phobia of sorts when I know I have to give blood. Too many bad experiences.
:scared:

[Aristus]

19. When I get a patient who is leery of having his or her blood drawn,

and are apologizing for it, I just tell them my Army story: As many long-time DU-ers know, I was a tank crewman in the Army. So I spent my time in the service around these big, tough, beefy macho guys, right? Bite bullets out of the air and all that. Well, you get them into a room where they have to give blood or get a shot, you never saw a bigger bunch of babies in your life!

"No, man! It's gonna HURT!"

I just tell my patients that story, and they kind of smile and relax a bit. After all, if a big tough tanker is afraid of needles, there's no shame in being a little afraid yourself.

[tammywammy]

60. That's a great story!

I knew it would help me relax a bit, if I knew all those macho guys were also afraid of getting their blood drawn.

[Cannikin]

3. I used to be bad about that. I grew out of it finally.

[bluedonkey]

6. Better get used to it

I have no problem drawing blood,but don't come near ME with a needle wanting my blood.I faint every time!I have to lie down and even then I'm out for a few minutes.It's hilarious,really!

[calico1]

8. I will have my blood drawn but I can't watch!

I turn my head. If I am donating blood I will also turn away. It makes me queazy to watch.

[tammywammy]

12. Since I have such a hard time having blood drawn for tests

I haven't ever given blood. And I would really like to, but considering my situtation, I haven't.

My mom's a lot braver than me. She has tiny veins too, but gives blood once a month.

[hobbit709]

9. My veins

stand out real good until the needle gets within about an inch, then they disappear. I think my body knows it's not supposed to have any leaks.

[tjwmason]

10. I enjoy it

Well maybe that's going too far - but I don't have any problem and have donated blood a few times in the past.

What I can't stand is needles near somebody else. My little sister was going to do some charity work in Kenya and so needed a pile of innoculations - she wanted somebody to hold her hand, and so I was there staring out of the window making sure I didn't see anything nasty. Can't even watch it on television :scared:

[Spinzonner]

11. Should have slapped him around

and told him to be a man.

Did your drill sergeant impression.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Hi, Aristus...Here's a trick you might try when faced with tiny veins:

Keep a couple of pouches filled with raw rice. Heat them (or just one) in the microwave for a 10-20 second period, and then place over the desired spot. You might be surprised at how well veins respond to heat. This is a trick we nurses at the Red Cross use to get the veins to show up...And it nearly always works. Our pouches are about 4 x 6 inches, BTW. Or you could use the tiny pouches that the hospitals use for the babies' heels, to warm them up before blood draws there. These are disposable.

[Aristus]

20. What a great idea, CalPeg! Thanks! :-)

I'll have to try that. One thing I never, NEVER do is slap the vein to make it stand out. I don't think my patients could handle that.

Thanks again for the tip! :-)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. Hey, Aristus!

You are most welcome! Heat works wonders. I've had so many donors tell me that they have awful veins, but once we put the heat on them, those veins come poppin' out! (normally!)


:toast:

[khashka]

14. LOL!

At least you didn't freak out.

This is one of those really weird situations. Some people loose it at the very thought of blood, some people don't much care, and some people find it fascinating.

I'm in the latter category, but I understand people in the others.

Sounds like you did good.

It must have been as surprising for you as for him :)


Khash.

[Nikia]

15. I have passed out from having blood taken

After thae last time, I read up on this. One of the websites says that about 10% of Americans have had this problem and almost 75% of these people never or rarely go to the doctor for this reason.
I now lay down when I have blood taken and lay there for a few minutes afterwards.
Fainting while having blood drawn really is a horrible experience. I have fainted for other reasons too and fainting from a blood draw is by far the worst.
It is good that you are good at drawing blood though. I always can tell if someone did a job by the amount of brusising that I have. The ones that I tend to consider good and also less painful leave me with little bruising. There are other people who have left me with very bad bruising, one almost the middle half of my arm.

[Aristus]

21. The secret is to slide the needle gently under the skin, instead of

jabbing nervously at the vein, the way so many students did when I was in school.

Just as there are people who can deal with being stuck with a needle, there are some who should never, EVER be allowed to do the sticking.

[EC]

16. I do that

just the site of a needle, makes me go into shock...my doctor even told my dentist not to let me see a needle...I even faint if I see it in movies or TV....

On Edit: it's not the sight of blood or anything like that, it's the fact that our protective layer (the skin) is being penetrated by a foreign object...it seems primative....

[Nikia]

17. Another thing, don't use smelling salts right away

They used these on me the first time I passed out from a blood draw when I was 15. I woke up screaming because I thought that I had died and gone to hell because of the smell couple with being hot and losing consciousness.

[Xithras]

18. It's happened to me twice.

I'm not sure what causes it. I'm fine if I don't look at the needle, but if I actually see it go in I'll pass out.

[Withywindle]

23. I do that all the time!

Very squeamish. And a little anemic. Very low blood pressure. They don't let me give blood anymore.

[BeFree]

24. Fainted? Really?

Are you telling me that you are that gorgeous? Like drop dead gorgeous?

Ummm, you don't do mouth to mouth resuscitations, do you? 'Cuz if ya do, I might have a little extra blood....

[Aristus]

45. Yeah, I'm gorgeous. Drop Dead Gorgeous, in fact.

But there's the whole 'you're a guy, I'm straight and married thing'............

B-)

[KitSileya]

25. Still, indeed.

I remember after I signed up for donating blood again (I had a disastrous attempt at 18, when I was still thin as a stick - I fainted, was out for about 5 minutes, and was put in 'quarantine'.) and I was telling my roommate about signing up, how much blood they'd take and how much blood we have in our bodies - and she simply fainted at the thought of it. The mere thought of drawing blood had her out cold and me struggling to cushion her fall. Given that she was 5" and 30lbs heavier than me, that wasn't an easy task.

As for donating blood - I have difficult veins. One time, they had 5 attempts before they succeded. If it weren't for the fact that they're having trouble keeping their blood bank stocked, I think they'd give me the heave-ho. But I've never fainted - I don't like watching the needle pierce the skin, but I can watch if I have to.

[hickman1937]

26. I only have one vein in my arm that anyone can get blood from,

and it's not a very large target. I've found, over the years, if I express confidence to the blood taker,relax, and look away, they relax, and get the blood. I see a young person keep tapping on my arm(inside of my right elbow) and keep tapping, I tell them that, "ya, it looks small, but the needle usually seems to just go in." I don't tell them about the multitude of times of rolled veins, hugh bruises from bad sticks, and the time my hand blew up like a balloon(vein rolled, again!) when I was in labor. I don't know why, but it works.

[tammywammy]

Yes, relaxing is the key when you have little veins

And if the nurse isn't "finding" one, I'm more than happy to wait until after the exam. You know try for a while, leave and come back and try again. And also a good joke about how this happens every time is always good.

[hickman1937]

37. I was drunk one time, so relaxed that the paramedics were

saying, "you really can't go to sleep now because we have to see if that door hit your head" and they still couldn't find a vein. They were so afraid of hurting me further, that they couldn't get a needle in. I had a broken shoulder, and scapula on my good vein side, so they were trying the other. They rolled it. They apologised all the way to the hospital. An ER Doctor came up to me, looked at my arm, and said "don't worry" as he slipped the needle in a vein that I still can't see on my left arm. His attitude made me realise that calm has a lot to do with success.

[tammywammy]

29. oops, dupe

[BigMcLargehuge]

27. it's not you

it was the patient. That happens to me too. It's nothing we can control.

[liontamer]

28. Some men just faint

it has nothing to do with you.

[Karenina]

31. Just imagine

how Mother Earth feels... :shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

68. like buromama

[The Donkey]

I've never fainted giving blood,

But I sure got woozy once. I'm like a few others here - I just turn my head now and I'm okay. If I'm donating blood - I can look after a minute or so, just not at first.

It's weird, too, because I have no normal aversion to my own blood when I get a cut or a scrape. It's not the pain thing either, since I've been fine through broken bones and dislocations.

I usually just apologize ahead of time before giving blood just in case now, but I'm generally okay so long as I don't peek at first.

[mondo joe]

32. I fainted manytimes giving blood though I don't think I'm squeamish

I'm not squeamish about blood or anything else I can think of.

It has nothing to do with pain - in fact it's just a mystery to me.

But from the time I was abuot 18 I would faint giving blood. I think I could do it now (at age 40) but I always just look away to play it safe.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

34. Hi, mondo joe!

I always tell my squeamish donors: "You don't have to look, but I do!"
And then they relax, laugh, and look away, while I get the vein...I think that some people feel freaked out by needles and all that because the body wants to protect itself. Unconsciously, we fear blood loss because we feel it might be uncontrollable, and then we'd go into shock or maybe die. That's my theory, anyhow...

[mondo joe]

35. It's really a mystery to me - I don't FEEL anything about the blood draw -

not consciously anyway.

It's so uncharacteristic of me to faint, much less to faint over something so inane, much less to not know why.

<sigh>

[Aristus]

46. Oh wow. A great new joke to use. Can I borrow that, CalPeg?

I love it! :7

[CaliforniaPeggy]

54. Oh, my dear Aristus!

It would flatter me no end if you used it! Especially since I'll never get to use it again! I retired the end of last week, lol!

It was a fun job, and I'll miss the donor part of it, but the rest stank, frankly...

So please, use my line! That way, it will continue to make patients/donors relax and the blood will flow easily!

[Aristus]

55. Thanks, babe.

:thumbsup: I'll take good care of it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

58. What a nice response!

You are a genuine doll, you know that? Your lovely phrase just touched me enormously...


:pals:

[Aristus]

67. Aw SHUCKS!

:blush:


:loveya: back atcha! :-)B-)

[Nikia]

38. When do you faint or feel woozy?

Of the times that I have fainted, it has always been after they have the needle in. I get a woozy sensation sometimes though when they are playing with my veins a lot or thave the turniquet on a long time before going at it. I also fell woozy and have fainted when I feel the blood leaving my body. I have never felt woozy having vaccinations or shots, just having blood taken.
Does a particuliar sensation feel uncomfortable?
Do you have any warning?
For me, I feel really hot and sick to my stomach before fainting when I have had blood drawn.

[mondo joe]

53. It's always after the needle is in. And like you I feel hot - in fact

I break out in a sweat - and feel sick to my stomach.

No trouble getting shots. I've caught cat puke in my hands, I've watched babies being born, and most every other thing with no fainting or queasiness.

It's just the blood draw that does it!

[BiggJawn]

33. The young woman who stuck me yesterday...

..was a PRO. In and out and I didn't feel a thing!

I really hate the ones who stick ya, miss, and then go "digging" for a vein. I've bruised down to my wrist before..

[Aristus]

47. I do have to "fish" for a vein occasionally. Sorry.

:blush:

[BiggJawn]

65. I have "rollers". I understand.

Glad I only get stuck 4X a year, just the same...:-)

[hickman1937]

39. I had a good friend who's sister was a nurse in a burn unit

at U of M hospital. We were at dinner one night, and I had a band aid on my hand where I'd cut myself badly at work. I was trying to change it under the table(it got dirty) when my friend Dee(the artist) said "let Janey(the nurse) look at it" Janey took one look, and turned white. She said "I can't stand blood." She worked in a burn unit for God sake! WYF? 20 yrs ago, and I still don't understand it.

[CatWoman]

40. I'm one of those squemish people, Aristus

I can't stand the sight of blood, and/or the thought of a needle poking me :scared:

[blue neen]

41. It's not your fault.

I have fainted quite a few times from blood tests. Then I go into seizures, which really freaks out the poor phlebotomist (I do have epilepsy). Then I wake up and have no idea what happened.

[MountainLaurel]

42. Perhaps a prior bad experience

Has caused him to be real squicky and needle-phobic?

Due to a shitty phlebotomist at a blood drive (He moved the blood bag so much that the needle shifted in my arm, resting against the wall of the vein. Everytime my heart beat, the needle vibrated against the vein wall. After about 15 seconds of that, I freaked and passed out.), now I can't even get my finger pricked without getting dizzy.

[AlienGirl]

43. Some people just faint easily

I am prone to fainting for all sorts of reasons--it was explained to me as vasovagal syncope, where anything that sets my vagus nerve off (low blood sugar, standing up fast, getting a needle stuck in me, or whatever) will make me pass out. It's unpleasant but not dangerous, and I just get up and resume doing whatever I was doing. :shrug:

The funniest time was when I fainted after getting my tongue biopsied, and upon awakening quipped to the nurse, "At least I didn't choke on a pretzel!"

Tucker

[purr]

44. I have the type of veins you'd LOVE..

huge veins close to the skin. I had a nurse tell me that if I did drugs I wouldnt have a problem (omg). No one ever took more than one time to get a vein head on. Nothing like being pregnant and having blood drawn every other week :)

I'd love to be a phlebotomist, but I'd be afriad of not being able to get the veins and hurting someone in the process. When my 2 year old was in the hospital with the rotavirus, they could not get her veins. Took this one girl 10-15 tries before she gave up, and only after seeing how pissed off I was. I was more pissed about my daughter being in pain from her and having to hold her down while she was as sick as she was.

Only ONE phlebotomist got it right the first time and he was the one who put the iv in her arm and took the blood in the er. I asked for him each time she needed her blood drawn and he wasnt in. I know this probably isnt an easy task, but at the point I was at and my daughter had enough poking and prodding I was quite upset. The girl THEN realized to do a finger prick and she got the blood she needed.

[Aristus]

49. Every other WEEK? What kind of office did you go to?

At our office, we do an OB panel right off, and then a Quad-Screen a few weeks later, and that's it.

Every other week. Sheesh! Even I would get squeamish at that! :eyes:

[purr]

50. Gestational diabetes runs in the family....

also I had numerous surgeries on my cervix so they need to monitor me for any changes..

I hate family genetic problems. When I was in the hospital couple months ago for an irregular heartbeat due to stress, they drew blood every 6 hours to check for any damage to my heart. I was only in there for 24 hours thank god. I didnt even wake up for one of the drawings at night.

[Aristus]

51. Oh. Gotcha.

:blush::dunce:

[Bouncy Ball]

52. I love you painless blood drawers.

I've had quite a few of you. You ROCK hard.

[SarahB]

56. For me...

I have had this happen and I'm not at all squeamish. I'm in nursing school and work in the medical field and I don't do sticks (yet, but will in a few short months), but I do see plenty of them (as well as plenty of other stuff far more "icky").

For me, I tend to have low blood pressure and if my blood is drawn with low blood sugar too (I've learned to eat snacks before it), I will get faint and dizzy. It's physiological, not psychological.

[Not_Giving_Up]

57. I don't look when needles come near me

I'm a chicken, just can't do it. I have horrible veins that collapse and roll...I'm still healing bruises from a hospital stay three weeks ago from the blood draws and muliple IV locations.

[samplegirl]

59. i use to pass out every single time

but somehow.......i dont anymore. Yet my mother was getting blood
drawn the other day........and i got quessy like i was going to.
I guess the key is never watch.

[tammywammy]

61. okay, I have one more story to tell you

This guy I used to work with at a coffee shop, played basketball a ton. His body fat was so low that his veins stuck out on his arms. One day he came into work, and was talking about his doctors appointment the day before. Okay, his veins stick out, and the nurse missed. He was stuck like 3 times trying to get blood.

[TorchTheWitch]

62. I faint each and every time

I get blood drawn even if it's just a little bit. Every single time. I'm pretty sure it's an anxiety thing. I always have to warn the nurse ahead of time that I'm going to drop like a wet snot and be prepared. They often don't believe me, but I always end up proving it. Occasionally I've fainted just getting poked with a needle.

[Fridays Child]

63. You must have been drawing Mr. Fridays Child's blood.

He has to have his drawn lying down because he passes out at the sight of his own blood--nobody else's, just his own. :eyes:

[curse10]

64. that could have been me- I'm hemophobic

I can't handle it.

[nutshell2002]

66. It's called a "vasovagal" response

And it has nothing to do with th technique employed to draw the blood or one's state of mind. Stimulation of the vagus nerve drops the heart rate and blood pressure, leading to nausea, sweating and sometimes, fainting. Really not a big deal, unless you fall and traumatize yourself...

[orleans]

69. maybe his blood sugar was low?

or maybe he was WATCHING you draw blood.
i used to be able to look but the older i get the queasier i get. i always turn my head away and try to think lalala thoughts.

if you have to do it to him again, tell him "Look over there!" and point to the opposite side of the room--then draw his blood when he's not looking.

be a little sneeky.:hide: