Nurses tramatised me.....

[Kisa]

I have a huge fear of getting my blood taken. When I go to get blood drawn, I get shakey, teary and VERY anxious. No, I'm not squeemish about blood. I've had my blood drawn 3 times that I can remember and each time it was an extremely unpleasant experiance.

The first time, the nurse who took my blood was a brittle old woman who I estimated was around 78 years old. I have no problem with shots, so I was not nervous in the least. I thought it would be a slight pinch, then nothing, then a funny feeling as the needle slipped out again, then nothing again. Not so!
First, the old woman set up all the stuff, tied the torniquett around my arm, TOOK OUT HER BIFOCALS, then put on gloves and poised the needle above my veins. O.O I got a bit nervous. She told me not to worry, then stuck the needle in a vein. The blood flowed, then stopped suddenly.

Lady: Hmmm... Well that's strange. Maybe I missed it.

Oh lovely! The old biddy whio I thought couldn't see straight really can't see straight. Whatever confidence I had in you is long gone now.
She pulls the needle out, ready to have another go, when blood starts gushing out of my arm!!!!!

Lady: OOPS! Hee hee! I guess I accidentally poked through it!!

She sticks the needle back in and giggles more.
Well I'm glad you're having fun. I'm in hell watching blood ooze from my arm while an old lady skewers my veins but if you're having fun, I'm ok with it.... -_-
I wound up with a HUGE nasty bruise on my arm. I couldn't fully bend my arm for a week.....

The second time, The nurse kept stabbing my arm in the same general area over and over and kept yelling at me because, "Your veins are too thin!". Sorry for having thin veins? Funny how the old lady could find my veins and commented on how good they were, while you can't find them.I looked like a heroin junkie for a few days. NOT FUN!

The third time, I was understandable tramatised from the last 2 times and was very scared. I told the nurse this, Her response?

Nurse: Oh stop it! It's not that bad!

I wasn't looking for pity. I wasn't looking to be coddled. I wanted her to know I was scared, so she would take things at an appropriate pace. She wiped my arm and, before she could come close with the needle, my hand coved the spot she cleaned. I didn't mean to. It just happened. She got pissed, slammed the needle down and rolled her eyes.

Nurse: Now I have to start ALLLL OVER!!

I apologised and reminded her how scared I was. It had no effect. She poked the needle in my arm and I broke down and cried. I was shaking and anxious and I wanted it to be over.

Nurse: You're getting worked up over nothing! It's a teeny poke! Are you crying?!! For christs sake! *huffs*

When it was over, I was still stressed, but I was starting to calm down.

Nurse: I'd hate to see how you handle child birth.

First of all, I was not tramatised by child birth. This has nothing to do with my pain tolerance. If you gave a damn enought to listen, you would know that I'm scared of having my blood drawn.
When I got out to the waiting room, I broke down again because of how rude she was to me. I told the receptionist the jist of what happend and she was a lot nicer.

Nice Lady: Don't worry hun. I don't like her either. Everyone is scared of something.

She gave me a sucker which helped because:

A) I'm legally an adult and it's funny having someone give me a sucker to calm me down
B) I like sweets when I'm upset (who doesn't!)

And that's why I'm afraind of having blood taken...

[Seshat]

You're not afraid of having your blood taken. You're afraid of being in the hands of incompetent phlebotomists.

Take control. If a phlebotomist is incompetent, get up, demand to see another phlebotomist in the practice, or take your referral/blood request back and go to a different lab.

You don't have to put up with incompetent medical staff any more than you have to put up with incompetence in anyone else you hire.

[Kisa]

The worst part is, all 3 incidents were in different places. The first was in a lab that took and tested blood for many offices. The second was in the out-patient park of a hopsital. The third was in a lab that operates in tandem with my usual doctors office. Maybe I'm cursed?

[Micer]

-hugs- With crappy phlebotomists? Yes. Wish I could send you to the lab I go to, both of the gals working there apologize at the first wince, which doesn't help because I apologize for wincing and than it turns into a sorry party pretty damn quick. I'm kinda iffy about needles, but I find it helps if I just turn my head away and try to focus on something else - out of sight, out of mind.

But otherwise my veins hate me too (I get the too thin/too deep bit too), first time I went in there for my initial blood work they wound up poking me twice in both arms and at one point wiggled the needle when I went dry and stuck it straight through a vein - they quickly swapped to using a baby needle on me after that point.

And the last time I was there for my 3 hour blood glucose they pretty much used me as a pin cushion - both arms, which lead to them not wanting to poke my arms again for the last two draws, so back of the hand time, followed with in the wrist. Halfway scared that next time I'm in there (failed my test, so further monitoring for me... wooo ) they're going to tell me to take my shoes off and try a foot.

[Bright_Star]

Why didn't you make an official complaint? How you were treated was wrong! After she messed it up the first time, I would have told her to STOP & have demanded someone with more experience OR have walked right out.
Too may people assume cause they're in the presence of the medical community that somehow they're not allowed to speak up.

[Blade_Raver]

I don't like getting my blood drawn either..

Here's how I deal with it:

1) Expose arm, rest it.
2) Close eyes and think of something positive.
3) Relax.

I end up feeling the initial stick and some pressure in my arm for a while.. as long as I keep my eyes closed it doesn't hurt or bother me.

Had a phlebotomist pull 8 vials of blood out of me and it was almost painless when I used the above method.

I know it's probably easier said than done, but I hope it helps Kisa.

[emt_cookies]

The first lady was probably laughing due to stress if that helps. It sounds strange, but some people handle stress that way. That's why some people who are laughing at a funeral are not trying to be disrespectful.

Everyone needs to have a lot more time inserting needles into veins whether it's drawing blood or starting an IV. Medics start out doing IV starts almost right away whereas I've heard some nursing schools in the area have that skill in the last year of a 2 year program.

[Kittish]

I'm terrified of needles, so having blood drawn is a major problem for me. If I actually SEE the things, they're not going into me! Period, end of discussion. The last couple of times it needed to happen, the techs were really good about working with me.

Second to last time, the tech brought in another assistant to help distract me (she sat on my opposite side from where the work was going on), the assistant talked to me and had me curl and relax my toes alternating my feet. This does indeed provide a fair bit of distraction, because you have to think about it to alternate sets of toes.

Last time, the tech was alone, but I had someone with me at the clinic, and my friend did basically the same thing at my request, and the tech sensibly kept quiet and got done with what he was doing as quick as he could.

Somewhat off topic: Where I live people are required to have health cards to work in a number of industries. When I went to get my card, it turned out that part of it was an innoculation for.. I forget just what, but apparently it was standard practice. I wasn't prepared for it and flatly FREAKED when the nurse pulled out a vial and syringe and started getting them set up. I literally jumped out of my chair and backed away, babbling something fairly incoherent, then RAN out of the place and rushed home as quick as I could. Full on panic attack. Turns out the innoculation was actually somewhat optional (provisions in place to exempt people who claimed religious objections), so I officially opted out of it.

[Der Cute]

This is where you be assertive. "Phlebotomy people, I have a BIG issue with needles. I need something to distract me while we do this, and I can only take 3 sticks max. If we can't get it by the third stick, I'll be back later. Also - my veins are thin, don't like to present and just are a pain in the arm. Please use a butterfly, those work best."

I've had to have blood taken from me since I was 8. I personally have no problem with it, because MOST of the people doing it are good. I don't flinch. But the best places/labs I've had it done had cartoons all over the walls to chuckle at, squishy balls to clench, and a happy vibe. Since I've had this done most of my life, it seems that in recent years my arm/elbow veins are playing hide and go seek. They used to be very easy to find. So now, whenever I'm in a lab, I tell them, use a butterfly - on my hand.

Butterflies are shaped like ones, and if you request a child/infant butterfly, the needles are much smaller/thinner. They slide into the hiding veins easier. There is the needle w/ the butterfly wings on it, a line out to the vial, and the connection to the vial. If you hate BLOOD, don't look - duh. Needles, well, you have to be distracted.

My BFF hates needles. He's 55. (by now I'd have expected him to "get over it" but that's my logic speaking). I love him to death, so we go into an ER or such and we have to talk about other things like baseball, welding, math, anything to keep his brain busy while he gets poked.

I'm serious about the 3 strikes rule. Once I had a phle who hit me 14 times. FOURTEEN. After her tries, my dad came in, poked and got the vials. Hehe. Dad would wake me up around 630 am and tell me - ok I need to take this to the lab. I'd roll over, stick my arm out, he'd get the blood, and I'd roll back and go to sleep. I think though that I'm the OTHER end of the spectrum of needles.

Try reciting a poem or song. Try thinking about super positive stuff. Once the tourniquet is on your arm, start pumping it to get ready while they prep and set up their stuff. And DEMAND the butterfly.

[midnightaurora]

I'm bad with needles. Either the blood-draw site hurts for much longer than normal, or I have every symptom of fainting except loosing consciousness. My Dr. monitors my cholesterol and some other stuff, so I get blood drawn every 3 months or so. Before the person (I can never spell phlebotimist) even asks me what arm I want, I tell them I'm bad with needles, and go through my "after you prep me, don't tell me when you poke me, and keep me distracted" spiel. I've yet to find someone who isn't understanding. Sometimes they've been confused as to why I go through the spiel, but as long as you're not requesting something they can't do, they should do it. And if they don't, politely request that you see someone else.

And I agree with Der Cute. Butterfly needles are wonderful.

[Lady_Pigeon]

*HUGSHUGSHUGS* I HATE needles, Kisa. I also turned into a sobbing mess the first time they needed to draw blood--BEFORE they stuck me! I was having a full panic attack. Hubby told me later, "If I tell you something, will you never get blood drawn?" *deep sigh* Of course not sweetheart, go ahead and tell me how the lady WENT THROUGH THE VEIN AND HAD TO REPOKE ME!!!

The second time went a little better, some crying but I calmed down quickly. The third time I had a nice young man keep me calm and distracted, so I like him the best.

That last nurse? Not cool at all. Just because Dr. House is a cute jackass doesn't mean all health professionals have to act that way. Take her out back and and

[Primer]

Had a phlebotomist pull 8 vials of blood out of me and it was almost painless when I used the above method.

When I was in my early 20's, it seemed I was getting Lupus panels drawn about every 6 months. Never did figure out what was going on with me. I have finally gotten to where I don't scream too loudly when I get a bad phlebotomist, but I wish I could carry one of the good ones I've found around in my pocket. I always have to look away during the stick, but watching the blood go into the tube is not a problem. About 2 months ago, she had the tourniquet on (which to me hurts worse than the needle) and was standing there talking to me, with my face turned away, as I was waiting for the stick. She pulled the tourniquet off, and I was thinking, "huh? she hasn't stuck me yet." I looked, and she had already pulled the needle out! I never felt a thing, besides the tourniquet.

Kisa, hopefully you will get one soon who is just as good!

[LadyAndreca]

I wish I could see the phlebotomist that works with my gynocologist's office all the time. (I get various things checked every 4 months or so, as my regular doctor is monitoring several things.) I didn't have to ask him to use non-latex anything because he doesn't use latex to begin with. His office was nice and warm and comfortable. I never felt the needlestick he did, and it was actually kind of disorienting how fast it all was.

Second best I've ever met was my mother, who did all my blood draws until I left for college. She claimed the title "the friendly neighborhood vampire" at one hospital for being the night lab tech with the coldest hands, though...

[bainsidhe]

First time I had blood drawn was when I was in college. I pretty much never went to the doctor and I assumed everyone in the university health center were highly trained & experienced professionals. It took three people, two arms and multiple sticks to finally draw blood. I kept being told I had deep veins that were hard to find. The last needle was in my arm a good 5-10 minutes. They called in another nurse and slowly, slooooowwwwwllly pushed a little more....a little more....until a gush of blood filled the tube.

The next time I had blood drawn was when I donated plasma. So I informed the tech I have deep and difficult veins and told him only my left arm would work and....*stick* goes my right arm and it was over. Tech told me my veins were easy to find, no worries. No one has ever had a problem since.

[Kisa]

So I informed the tech I have deep and difficult veins and told him only my left arm would work and....*stick* goes my right arm and it was over. Tech told me my veins were easy to find, no worries. No one has ever had a problem since.

It's he same with my nurses. That one couldn't find them, but the other 2(and all my doctors) told me what nice veins I have. You can see them before tying me off