Need to have blood taken, I'm terrified

[ForYouIWillll]

Any advice. I'm scared but need to have blood taken

In the next hour

Don't look. You'll hardly feel it.

Thank @WhatWouldDominicDo I'm not going to look but feel sick at the thought of it. I know I am ridiculous but I am shaking

And keep talking to the blood taker about something else during the procedure. Brexit, Mexit, Covid, the weather. Anything.

It's barely a scratch and over in seconds. I'm being treated for cancer currently and having blood tests all the time, it's fine! Good luck!

Honestly, it takes less than a minute. You'll be fine.

It’s over very quickly. Just tell them you’re nervous when you go in. Do general chit chat & you’ll be fine. Good luck

Breathe out? Breathing usually helps take tension away. I agree it would best if you didn’t watch.

I find it stings when they squeeze stuff in; taking stuff out you only have to cope with the slight scratch; it’s fine.

Don’t look while they do it and keep chatting to the taker of said blood. It distracts you.

Just tell the phlebotomist you're anxious and they'll talk to you as they do it to make you feel at ease. My DH hates needles so I went with him when he had to give a blood sample. He was surprised when she'd finished and he felt fine. He expected to pass out which he had done in the past.

If they have a couch in the nurse's office, ask to lie on it rather than sit in a chair. You're much less likely to feel sick or faint if you're lying down and it's easier to avoid accidentally seeing the vials of blood, too.

Also, have something to eat or drink first, if it's not a fasting blood sample.

if not too late...

• don't look
• stings a bit. Stops stinging as soon as they have finished.
• tell the nurse you are scared. Many are and they know how to help you.

If you will be needing another one, buy a cream called emla. Its a local anaesthetic cream used when cannulating children, for tattoos etc and numbs the skin. My mum has a needle phobia and manages fine when she uses it. Best of luck.

Drink water prior, watch a video on your phone, tell the blood taker you are anxious, good luck.

I find its more of a dull ache rather than actual sharp pain.

Hope you got on OK. I'm a regular for blood tests (up to every 8 weeks from fortnightly) thankfully I'm fine with them. Having my blood pressure taken on the other hand

I was like this until recently. I got there and the guy said "sharp scratch" and it was all over before I even had time to start telling him I was anxious and ask how much it would hurt!

I was amazed. I was just like, what, is it over?

I've had to have several blood draws since then, I'm fine with it now.

How did it go OP?

Thank you everyone. I done it! I was shaking and felt sick but I closed my eyes and thought of having a gin and tonic when I got home. It was like a tiny scratch. Thank you again for all the replies they really did help.

Good to hear your ok OP. Well done!

I had my first blood test a couple months ago and was really worried about it. Honestly, there was nothing to worry about. It’s literally just a sharp scratch and it’s over in a few seconds :)

That’s good - I have to have blood tests every 6-8 weeks due to medication monitoring. You get used to it. I’ve been having them for 16/17 years now. It’s just part & parcel of my life. Now you’ve had them done it won’t be so bad next time.