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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: northernguy on February 28, 2009, 03:00:31 pm

Title: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: northernguy on February 28, 2009, 03:00:31 pm
I went for my labs this morning.  Am I the only one who can't look when they do the blood draw?  It makes me woozy, I'm such a wuss  ;D
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Canadaguy on February 28, 2009, 03:22:20 pm
I hate having blood drawn ..... even my hiv tests have been a challenge .... fainted several times due to stress and the sight of it makes me pass out. I have not done labs yet .... exactly how much blood do they take???!!!
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Ann on February 28, 2009, 03:42:26 pm
Canadaguy,

Once again, you have not yet been confirmed as hiv positive. Have you read ANY of the responses you've had in the Just Tested Poz forum?


Northernguy,

I look, but look away just when they stick the needle in. Then I look again. Watching the needle go in gives me the heebie-jeebies. :P

Ann
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: J.R.E. on February 28, 2009, 03:45:26 pm
I watch- it doesn't bother me.  Maybe it's because I use to stick myself with a needle years ago.


Ray
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: veritas on February 28, 2009, 03:47:48 pm

yes
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Cliff on February 28, 2009, 04:08:13 pm
I watch.  I like seeing the little tube get filled with me red stuff.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: bocker3 on February 28, 2009, 04:10:52 pm
I can't watch the needle go in my arm.  I have no problem once the blood starts flowing though.  Of course, I used to draw blood, many moons ago, it is MUCH easier from the other end of the needle.   ;D

Mike
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: HollyStar on February 28, 2009, 04:18:14 pm
I do not look. My heart rate goes up and I get really nervous, even after five years of doing it. I also have them use a small needle, so it doesn't hurt as bad. If the person doing it is good, I usally calm right down. I try to remember their names but I never do, lol.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: emeraldize on February 28, 2009, 04:39:40 pm
I always look and it doesn't bother me. 
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: clsoca on February 28, 2009, 04:42:16 pm
I really never gave it a thought. It's no big deal for me. I have been told that I am an easy draw
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: lonewolf on February 28, 2009, 04:53:00 pm
I am a woose.   Don't look till they get the little tube thingi in.  Then sometimes watch as they fill all those vials. 
Awhile back, I had HELLgatha, who just put a needle in, and then kept changing tubes,  she was stretching, so the needle was moving around, now that kinda freeked me out.    I stupidly make the comment to her, that gee she was filling every color of vial they had with the exception of one color.
Would you believe, she pulled out the last colored vial and filled it with my blood, then promptly threw it into the waste basket next to the chair.    So much for "medical profesionalism".   
Wow,  hopefully no WW in AMI will read this one!!!   Anyway,  my  Dr and I kinda chuckled about that one.   I wonder if HELLgatha  knew my blood was a bio-hazard or not,  lol.   
But over all, no problems for me,   I got big horse veigns,  and if we don't cry, we get a Sponge Bob Square pants bandade too!!!
LOL - Hugs, Bruce
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: leatherman on February 28, 2009, 04:57:40 pm
after nearly 18 yrs, of at least 6 blood draws a year, each with at least 6 vials
that's 648+ vials of blood that's been sucked outta me.  ;D

this approximate total also doesn't take into account several times when 8 to 12 vials have been drawn at once, nor all the blood that was taken during the 2 times (9 days, with at least some blood taken every day) that I was hospitalized with pnuemonia or PCP.

knock on wood, only 4 times in all these years did I ever end up with a bruise. ;) and I would venture to say that I watched every time - except for two. Both of those times were when I was awakened in the hospital in the middle of the night by some (surely demonic :D) nurse stabbing a needle into my arm taking blood at the ungodly hour of 3 o'clock in the morning.  :D ;D
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: sharkdiver on February 28, 2009, 05:20:38 pm
OH definitely yes. IV's? even better (especially when they are poking around to find a good one)!
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: 072508 on February 28, 2009, 05:40:34 pm
I think its fun to watch.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Assurbanipal on February 28, 2009, 05:42:12 pm
Sometimes ...

Hated needles as a kid, but then sold my blood plasma twice a week for 6 months during a bad financial stretch in college.  That brings down the fear factor after a while.   
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: RapidRod on February 28, 2009, 07:57:13 pm
I always watch.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Winiroo on February 28, 2009, 08:14:59 pm
I always watch. I have good veins and depending on the amount of viles its relatively quick. Meanwhile I chit chat with the person sticking my arm and thank them afterward if I think they did a good job.
I think the worst part of getting my blood drawn is that rubber band. It hurts my arm.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: lonewolf on February 28, 2009, 09:31:00 pm
Ya, Wendy,  I am a "chatty cathy" too when they are taking my blood.    In most of their little booths, they have lots of pics of kids,  pets, yards, etc, so always focus on them,  not me.  Actually all the people in the lab have been great,  even HELLgatha is actually nice,  just abit more, well, army sargentess type.
I always thank them too,   I am sure they appreciate that.

Hugs, Bruce
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: WillyWump on February 28, 2009, 10:26:46 pm
I am drawn to watching the needle go in,, but once that blood sarts filling up the tubes I have to turn away. But whats even worse for me is after all is done and I get up and "accidentally" see all the tubes of blood that just came out of me... I get woozy over that.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: rondrond on March 01, 2009, 02:34:04 am
Yes.
 My veins are so deep or ''roll' so bad that I have to show them where to stick it in. Otherwise, I would wind up a pin cushion with no blood drawn as they are not 'supposed' to stick you unsuccessfully more than 3 times. (true or no, I don't know, but that's what they tell me)
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: komnaes on March 01, 2009, 08:47:54 am
I go to one of the local clinics that is part of a comprehensive day patient center of the largest hospital in town. They have this one unit that specializes in nothing but drawing blood for all sort of tests so whenever I go for blood draw there are always dozens of folks waiting; it also means a single nurse (there are usually around 10 of them) can do 50-60 patients per morning.

And of course most patients are elderly folks and it can take forever, and sometimes my nurse can already be in testy mood no matter how hard she tries not to (always a she). So this one cold morning it took this nurse a while to get my vein out so to speak and it really hurt! Now I know better - it's not necessary I know but I will drink a bottle of water right before my turn and just generally swinging both my arms (you never know which one) to "warm up". The last few times it took no time for the nurses to draw enough and no pain at all.

So, to answer your question..  ;) .. I didn't look in the past but now I dare.

Hugs, Shaun
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Ann on March 01, 2009, 09:33:28 am
Shaun, I also have to make sure I'm well hydrated and I also do the warm-up type exercises with my arms before a draw and I also rub my arms. I learned to do this the hard way... after a few times when they had a really hard time finding a vein. I get my bloods done in the same clinic where I see my doctor and there's one nurse who really knows my veins and normally gets me the first time. He's great and I always ask for him, or another male nurse who's very good with a needle. I avoid the other nurses if I can, because they never seem to get it right the first or even second time.

Ever have someone "dig" for a vein? I do NOT allow that to happen. I've even taken hold of a nurse's hand and pulled them away from my arm if they start doing that and don't stop when asked to. I swear, some of them think they're operating a JCB instead of a syringe. >:(

Ann
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: maddalfred on March 01, 2009, 10:29:26 am
Sometimes I do and sometimes not, not afraid of needles or any of that kind of thing. I usually make small talk with the nurse while in the process in case HE/SHE has any reservations or feels nervous about it. I have only had a few times that I felt the nurse was exceptionally rough, but no biggy.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: pozniceguy on March 01, 2009, 11:18:38 am
Yes I always look..... the nurses at one of the Hospitals that I have used for convenience ( instead of  my ID Dr's office )  run a " training" program for " blood suckers"  ..  I have such prominent veins in most parts of my body that they bring in the "students" to show them all the good places to  "look" for veins.  I think six  vials is the least amount drawn , occasionally as many as ten.....I sort of just chat ..no big deal once they get started...... even with very prominent veins  I sometimes get a picker that has to try more than once.....they never get a second session with me.....
.I was so angry with one person  ( a Foreign born Dr trying to get his license in the US )   that I pushed him and his "trainers away and called for the head nurse....had him banned from drawing blood until he passed at least two more practise sessions on himself and his colleagues  my "bruise " at the injection point took weeks to go away.. after that episode  the Hospital wrote me every time I went in there to be sure I was "happy" with their service.

Nick
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: BT65 on March 01, 2009, 11:29:44 am
Being a former junkie, when they first started doing labs years and years ago, when they would put the needle in, I would hold my breath waiting for the rush.  Damn, never happened.

Anyway, sometimes I look and sometimes not.  Getting blood drawn is no big deal, as long as it's done right.  I've had some techs who I've just wanted to shout at "give me the damn needle, I'll do it!"
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: blondbeauty on March 01, 2009, 11:48:18 am
Yes. But not the first few times. Now I always look. It is better if you hold your breath when the needle is going to enter your vein. Then you may start beathing again. You donīt feel anythig if you do it that way.  ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: aztecan on March 01, 2009, 11:58:13 am
I don't look when they stick in it, but watching the blood flow is cool! ;)

I have very attractive shade of deep red blood.

HUGS,

Mark

Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: rondrond on March 01, 2009, 12:18:18 pm
Being a former junkie, when they first started doing labs years and years ago, when they would put the needle in, I would hold my breath waiting for the rush.  Damn, never happened.

Anyway, sometimes I look and sometimes not.  Getting blood drawn is no big deal, as long as it's done right.  I've had some techs who I've just wanted to shout at "give me the damn needle, I'll do it!"

 :D  Both Katie and I are ex junkies and we both related to missing the 'rush'. Katie will supervise and only give them one chance. If they miss, she will say "give it to me, I'll do it"  For some reason, they insist that they have to do it, even with you telling them that you know your veins. ...and Katie is a bruiser.

I don't look when they stick in it, but watching the blood flow is cool! ;)

I have very attractive shade of deep red blood.

HUGS,

Mark



 :D  Wooing your blood. I hate it when they get three vials and need six and the flow stops. I fortunately know how to get it going again and practically have to act like Obama getting the stimulus passed to get them to listen to me.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: next2u on March 01, 2009, 01:06:26 pm
i NEVER look!

the time before last i fainted. i faint about once a year. i can't look, i can feel the vertigo coming on. then i start wondering about alien human hybrids and weird govt experiments.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: BM on March 01, 2009, 04:03:31 pm
Before I got PCP, I couldn't stand needles, but after my fortnight in hospital that included one morning when I had 30+ samples taken at the one time, a test for TB (big, BIG bottle of blood), and a lumbar puncture, they really don't bother me any more! Also, my hospital uses a great little contraption: the needle is on the end of flexible tubing so that when the little collection tubes are changed, the needle doesn't get moved and hence there's no pain.

Getting cannulised (a venflon put in), is another matter, however! That is often REALLY sore!
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: minismom on March 01, 2009, 04:10:41 pm
You all have just confirmed what an odd child Mini is.  Not only does she look, she tells them which arm to use, how many vials they'd "better" take out, and where to put the needle.  Once they tie her off, if she doesn't think the vein pops up enough, she tells them to try the other arm.  She also tells them that they have one chance, and then it's HER turn to try it out on them. ;D  She stamps her own lab slips and asks the receptionist how she's doing, if so-and-so is working, then chats it up with the other people waiting.

The last couple of times she's gone into the room without me. :(  The first time she screamed then started laughing - she wanted to "scare" the blood lady.  And, if they don't have the proper "treat" when she's finished, ie Barbie stickers, she raises a fuss.

When I told her yesterday that her blood work is Tuesday, her immediate response was, "Cool! It's about time!"

Now, when I have to have labs, they lay me down, I break out in cold sweats, my blood pressure goes up and I start to shake.  I HATE needles!

Mum

Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: madbrain on March 01, 2009, 06:07:16 pm
I never look. I used to faint every single time as a kid whenever I had a blood test.
But that doesn't happen anymore since I went from 95 lbs at 18 years old to about 150 lbs today. I don't faint anymore, but I still don't like to look.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Winiroo on March 01, 2009, 06:28:10 pm
One more thing. I prefer the butterfly needles. They dont seem to cause as many hematomas.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Oceanbeach on March 01, 2009, 07:23:41 pm
After all these years, I know which veins give a better draw.  I heard a loud pop once from my arm and the Nurse acted like it wasn't nothin (happens all the time) Oh Yeah...  We had a new guy once and he was shaking so bad, you could connect the dots and it would read "Home Sweet Home".   ;D  Have the best day
Michael
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: newt on March 01, 2009, 07:34:18 pm
for sure, at the nurse's packet

But seriously, I am over being squeamish about needles, I've had so many blood draws

- matt (undetectable 4+ years) the newt
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Scotian on March 01, 2009, 07:41:04 pm
I usually don't look. Unless I suspect something out of the ordinary is happening. Fortunately, my blood flows quickly, so it doesn't last long. I prefer the person doing it to just make 'idle chat' about the weather, work etc. A few times i had someone who would talk to themselves...like " i've never had to draw this many viles'  or " that's a tricky little vein, let's see if we can get it"....THAT  I don't like! I want whoever is on the other end of the needle to at least 'appear' to know what they're doing.   ;D
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: AndyArrow on March 01, 2009, 08:22:05 pm
I never used to look ... but once I started to have esophageal dilations every week where I was given an IV I started learning which veins were the best ones to use.  Now, I tell them which arm & which vein they should use. 

The worst part of it for me is pulling off the band-aid as it takes my arm hair with it.  ;)

AA
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: red_Dragon888 on March 01, 2009, 09:26:02 pm
Yes, not only I look but I ask to feel the warm test tubes.  It feels like a tube of fresh hot blood. ha ha ha  ha haaaa... ;)
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Texan38 on March 01, 2009, 10:00:40 pm
I looked once and I too felt woozy. Since then, I always look the other way!
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: freaky_dream on March 02, 2009, 01:17:20 am
Yeah I look and it doesn't bother me. Had my first labs a couple of weeks ago and they took 10 vials of blood(for various tests such as testosterone, thyroid, and the usual HIV tests. The phlebotomist just attached this device that stayed in my vein and then popped the vials in to fill them up with blood. It's more having to wait for them fill up that bothers me then having given up all that blood. Last time the drew blood for some STD tests they left me pretty bruised. My arm looked like those of a junky  :o . But I will admit that injections bother me less then taking blood.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: minismom on March 02, 2009, 06:38:27 am
Wendy, they still use a butterfly needle on Mim.  If a bigger needle isn't needed, why use one?

One phlebotomy student had the "luck" of drawing Mim's blood.  I thought I was going to pee my pants.  She was quite the nervous type.  Everytime she got the needle close to the vein, Mim would bend her head so she could look the lady in the eyes, and  tell her, "You only have one chance...You only have ONE chance."  The poor thing finally handed the needle to someone else, telling them she couldn't find a vein (yeah, right).  I did fuss, not too harshly, when it was over and tell Mim she shouldn't have given the poor girl such a hard time.  Her answer, "But mom, it wasn't YOUR arm she was aiming at."  End of discussion.

Mum
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Winiroo on March 02, 2009, 10:00:29 am
Wendy, they still use a butterfly needle on Mim.  If a bigger needle isn't needed, why use one?

One phlebotomy student had the "luck" of drawing Mim's blood.  I thought I was going to pee my pants.  She was quite the nervous type.  Everytime she got the needle close to the vein, Mim would bend her head so she could look the lady in the eyes, and  tell her, "You only have one chance...You only have ONE chance."  The poor thing finally handed the needle to someone else, telling them she couldn't find a vein (yeah, right).  I did fuss, not too harshly, when it was over and tell Mim she shouldn't have given the poor girl such a hard time.  Her answer, "But mom, it wasn't YOUR arm she was aiming at."  End of discussion.

Mum

LOL that is too funny

I have fairly small arms and I bruise easily, bleed freely and take forever to clot. So small needles = better for me definitely.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: northernguy on March 02, 2009, 11:14:28 am
Shaun, I also have to make sure I'm well hydrated and I also do the warm-up type exercises with my arms before a draw and I also rub my arms. I learned to do this the hard way... after a few times when they had a really hard time finding a vein...
Ann

I never even thought of staying hydrated, does it help find a vein?   I'm usually the opposite, because having the blood taken makes me nervous I know I;m gonna have to go to the washroom, so I don't drink anything beforehand.  Imagine my panic when I discovered the hospital removed the bathroom near the lab for some stupid reason! I couldn't find one on the entire floor and nobody working there seemed to know where the closest one was  >:(  Luckily they don't usually a problem finding a vein.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Imnew2this on March 02, 2009, 09:59:43 pm
Being extra hydrated helps finding veins a ton!  I'm a health care professional and we always encourage our hard to stick patients to drink extra water the night before and the morning of the lab draw.  Also, using those squeeze balls in your hand for 20 minutes or so before the draw will help a lot, along with washing your hands in warm water right before going to the lab.  And finally, let gravity help by dangling your arm for several minutes before the draw.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: tendai on March 03, 2009, 08:40:32 am
i turn away for the prick but i can watch while the blood goes in
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: AlanBama on March 03, 2009, 12:06:26 pm
I can watch, but prefer not to.   I can watch them take it from someone else with no problems, but there's something about seeing SO MANY tubes get filled from my arm, it makes me a little light headed.

At our clinic, they use butterfly needles, which are great.   But for YEARS and YEARS my phlebotomist in Atlanta never used one, just the kind that is attached to the end of the vacuum thing....he was the best I have ever known, could slip that in, didn't fool around, never hurt me, and certainly never bruised me.  He also knew how to 'code' those lab slips, so that I never received a bill from Medicare.  If he was ever out, and someone else had to do the draw, I invariably received some type of bill for some test that 'wasn't covered'.
 
I am quite fond of the wrapping tape they use now, as opposed to a bandaid.   They just apply a cottom ball, and wrap it with that clingy tape that's easy to remove and doesn't snatch any hair.

Now with BIG needles (and other torture devices) such as bone marrow aspiration, and liver biopsy, I recommend that you don't look.  :o
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: poz1970 on March 03, 2009, 12:40:34 pm
I use the time to read any poster about some new up and coming disease on the doctor's wall :-)

J
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 03, 2009, 12:58:43 pm
I have enough lipo in my arms that finding my veins is as easy as pie.

Do I look?  I guess if I'm really bored, but ususally I'm chatting with John the phlebotomist.  He has really nice tattoos on his arms.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: leatherman on March 03, 2009, 01:13:36 pm
I'm a health care professional and we always encourage our hard to stick patients to drink extra water the night before and the morning of the lab draw.
thanks for those tips. ;) I've been going to the hospital lab for my bloodwork for 16 yrs and no one has ever mentioned any tips at all.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: positively_me on March 03, 2009, 10:45:39 pm
Like others on here, I get really nervous and woozy feeling.  My heart races and my palms sweat.  I, too, prefer the butterfly needles.  There is something about when they take the tube out and replace it with another one that makes me nauseated. I think it is the pushing the tube into the needle part...I don't like that pressure feeling. 
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Winiroo on March 03, 2009, 10:55:36 pm
Those huge horse needles they use for needle aspiration biopsies are unpleasant and IV's suck too but I am compelled to look every time.

Last time I had a IV put in firemen where in the ER learning how to do them. Three cute guys. I told them I was HIV positive before they started. One guy try twice and failed and one of the others got it in on the third shot.
I don't know if they where nerved up because of my status or if they where that way with every person they worked on. It did not bother me though. They where nice and joked around the whole time. I am sure they where glad I did not treat them badly for messing up.
I'd bet me telling them I am HIV positive and cautioning them on safety made them more aware of the dangers of their job.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: tokyodecadence on March 04, 2009, 02:30:39 am
Those huge horse needles they use for needle aspiration biopsies are unpleasant and IV's suck too but I am compelled to look every time.

Last time I.................



That's such a cute GIF avatar! hahaha! <3



But yeah, I look. My mom's a doctor (a geneticist, no less). Blood's kind of her thing. It doesn't bother me one bit, in fact, it' usually fun to screw with the phlebotomist. "....so you come here often?", that sort of thing. Lame, I know. I ain't got no shame. Or fear of anything other than a massive shortage of coffee. :/
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: ga1964 on March 04, 2009, 12:46:30 pm
I can't watch the needle going in because it seems to intensify the pain.  Once the needle is in, I can watch the rest of the draw with no problem, even the removal of the needle.  Luckally, the nurse at my ASO is fantastic about hitting the vein the first time and I barely feel a thing. 

The last time I had an IV put in, I should have known things were not going to go well when the nurse put a diaper under my arm before trying to insert the IV.  After several minutes of excruciating pain, she finally got it in and when I turned to look at it there was a pool of blood in the diaper.  I asked the nurse if she planned on leaving me any.  She will never stick me again.

I have now adopted a "Three Strikes" rule for anyone putting a needle in me.  I understand that there are new nurses that have to learn how to insert needles and I'm willing to give them a chance, but if they can't do it within three tries, I tell them to go find someone more experienced.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: betonet on March 04, 2009, 01:24:27 pm
I get very very unpleasant feeling. I never watch. But never though about it why I don't watch it. Next time definitely will give it a try :)
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: MarcoPoz on March 04, 2009, 01:28:25 pm
I have veins like ropes and I LIKE to watch: 1) to make sure they haven't messed up and 2) I LIKE it ;-)  I'm also the guy who falls asleep while being tattooed...

Great---did I just 'overshare'?  LOL
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: YaKaMein on March 04, 2009, 01:57:11 pm
Of course, I look! How else would I critique their technique?
No reason to miss mine [good veins] ... they get one try only! Then, I do it myself [been there, done that].
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: tokyodecadence on March 04, 2009, 02:07:03 pm
I'm also the guy who falls asleep while being tattooed...

Great---did I just 'overshare'?  LOL


....and here I thought I was the only one who did that! It tickles.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: lusopt on March 04, 2009, 03:10:30 pm
I never look, if i do my arm runs from the needle.  :P
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Winiroo on March 04, 2009, 10:24:32 pm


That's such a cute GIF avatar! hahaha! <3


Thank you
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: fearless on March 04, 2009, 10:40:19 pm
I've gotta look. I like to know what is going on.

My nurse is great though, she just rips the needle in and never misses. i have teeny weeny little veins hidden deep below the surface - before my surgery had a nurse the doctor used to do it - he was a nightmare.

The weirdest experience I've ever had was when the needle point was right on a vavle in the vein. the needle started vibrating rapidly and the blood flow pretty much stopped. Didn't hurt, but it sure looked weird.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: jampdx on March 09, 2009, 07:39:42 am
I was always scared of needles until working in ER's and now it's fascinating... some sort of mental shift.  I just had a draw last Monday and the lady and I got to talking, she forgot two things and I had to hold the sucker with my other hand, the tube was full, I was yelling for her, we were laughing so hard.  Some morbid skit or something.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: mjmel on March 09, 2009, 07:51:25 am
Yeap, I sure do look and even instruct if the blood drawer doesn't seem too confident. I mean, after all, sometimes you get a trainee ... sometimes you get an experiened one. Doesn't phase me after being stuck so many times.

I had a neat dragon tatoo done in Chicago and then had some sloppy bad work done around the dragon at a local palor. (Didn't realize it till bandage was off.) I mention my now ugly tatoo if the person approaching me with the needle is looking a bit nervous. (I can always tell) It's a tactic i use to keep them from being overly amped on the task--if ya know what I mean.

The worst one was when this one lady's hands trembled slightly throught the whole procedure. hee hee

Mike
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Lou-ah-vull on March 09, 2009, 03:11:12 pm
I used to be absolutely frightened of injections and would almost pass out if I witnessed them.  Ever since my diagnosis in October 2005 I have grown used to the quarterly injections.  Now I can watch and talk to the lab technician at the same time.  Talk about dramatic change!

Gary
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: mudman8 on March 09, 2009, 03:53:51 pm
I look away at the needle insertion but watch the blood fill the tubes. I always flinch even tho I've been thru much rougher stuff.

Don't worry I'm a wuss too.

I remember walking past a biker bar in AZ and the window had some T shirts, One I wanted was "Hey, Woosie Boy!"  too funny.
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: AlanBama on March 10, 2009, 05:49:21 pm
The lady who drew mine yesterday had NO clue what she was doing.   She had to stick me twice (using butterfly needles) and still could not get the blood to flow correctly.   Hello?  Has anyone seen my veins?  I am practically ALL veins.

I think she was trying to fill about 6 tubes.....it took FOREVER, because the blood was just dripping into those big old tubes.   I know I sat in that lab chair for at least 20 minutes.   I started to say "honey, just step back and let me do it".   She asked 2 or 3 times if she was hurting me (those who know me know that I am the type that says "NO, I'm fine" even though it does hurt).

While I'm up on my soap box, did anyone see the health care meeting President Obama held?  Practially everyone was represented....insurance companies, drug companies, hospitals......but I did not hear from ANYONE representing patients.  Perhaps they were there, and just did not have an opportunity to speak.
I'm just real frustrated with health care right now, so it's probably not the best time for me to comment on all of it.

 >:(
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: rick21007 on March 10, 2009, 07:50:06 pm
I have great veins.  I  tell the lab tech that children can practice on my veins.  I always look and ask for either a sucker or a sticker afterwards.   Some techs are more skilled than others. Gotta get my labs done Saturday.  I used to go to a lab in the town where I live.  Don't think they ever had an hiv patient before.  You'd have thought I had the black plague.   Same lab had drawn my blood for my hiv test back in December of 06 and the medical director of the lab was called to draw my blood--nofuckingshit!!  Boy did I feel special.  He even came to the front desk and wrote out my cash receipt for the blood draw.  I wondered if they disinfected the chair where I sat in the waiting room.

rick
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: minismom on March 10, 2009, 08:04:52 pm
Mim had the Good Lady last week.  She was in and out in no time.  The Good Lady (that's what Mim calls her, like it's her name) said that she likes taking Mim's blood because her veins are easy to get to.  Like you, Alan, she's all veins.

I asked Mim if she looks when they poke her and she said, in her very Mim way, "Of course I look.  How am I supposed to know when they're done if I don't look?"  Gee, mom, Duh!

Mum
Title: Re: Do You look When They Draw Blood?
Post by: Snowangel on March 10, 2009, 08:15:57 pm
I always look and it doesn't bother me at all.

I recently took the lady I help out to get her blood drawn.  She is deathly afraid of needles so I hold her hand.  The lady taking the blood smacked her in the face with the rubber tourniquet, I thought I was going to pee myself, we were all laughing so hard.  It made the draw a little easier at least.