Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

I have asked this before but when you go for blood tests, if you are petro like me, what do you do to get through it?!? I have to go for one tomorrow morning and I am freaking out! Sometimes I faint and other times I literally throw up...I am sooooo scared!!!!!! Any advice?!

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

STOP BEING A BABY!!!!!!!!

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

Do I really have to come hold your hand???? I'll take ya out for a sandwich afterwards!!!

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

Oh god I hate them too- the last one I said to myself I can do this just look and I swear when I looked the room began to spin and the nurse said r u ok? i said why she said you just suddenly got really pale!!!! I said uh yea Im kinda dizzy so they gave me oj when they were done. My advice what I tell myself- just go do it, youll be ok and most of all dont look and when you feel the needle pinch make a fist with the opposite hand/arm and shake your opposite leg. works for me- then Im ok.

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

I used to hate them, however, unfortunatley got very used to them last year.
Where I go, I look out the window at the cars going by. I dont even look @ the "nurse".
Just close your eyes and dont look. It helps me a lot.

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

I ahve one tommorow morning too...Hang in there...thats all I can say...I have convonced myself since they dont hurt its nothing..but thats me...I have no doubt your fears are real, I hope someone has some better advice/coping skills!

I'll be thinking of ya!!

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

I am the same as you nychic...i am PETRIFIED!!!
What I do to not get freaked out is to avoid having to get them altogether!
I havent made a dr. appt in years, cuz i'm too scared..
although, recently i had to have to small surgeries, one on my arm and one on my leg, and they had to numb the area with a needle..about 15 needles!! It hurt like heck, but it was probaly all in my head.
What i did to relax was wear a walkman, distract myself with a magazine also, and chew on those little gummy fruit things... I feel like i'm going to pass out too, so the sugar helps me!
good luck

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

ME TOO!!!!!!!

I just had to go for my 1st preggo blood test (7 viles ! ) and I freaked out instead of being happy I was preggo. I told my Dr. about my severe fear of needles and blood tests (I faint, carry on like a baby, I even once bit my DH so hard it broke skin during a PPD test ) I also have severe anxiety days even months before that tasts until the test is over. Well, he prescribed EMLA cream for me It works WONDERFULLY!

You put it on 2 hours b/4 your test (the effects last about an hour) and it numbs the entire area where they are going to stick you. I was still a bit nervous about the test but I really have to say after using the cream- it wasn't bad at all! I didn't feel a THING! I also told the nurse about my fear b/4 the test and asked to lie down and had her use a baby needle- which takes longer, but it is so tiny that I'm sure it helped me not feel it. I had my DH blocking my view of the needle and viles and the nurse kept talking to me. I watched the clock on the wall- it took 15 minutes from start to finish but it didn't seem all that long since I didn't feel ANYTHING!

I would highly suggest you ask your Dr. for a prescription for this cream. It really has saved my life when it comes to needles.

Many

Good luck!

Lora

Message edited 8/15/2005 8:15:36 AM.

Re: Blood tests...anyone else petrified?

I've only had 1 blood test, it was about 7 years ago and I passed out, LOL.
I am deathly scared of anything remotely related to doctors.