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Original poster

Blood test from artery, have you had this?

40 replies

crappypatient · 29/08/2023 17:49

To check arterial blood gases? I find them really painful and wonder if others do.

Generally I'm not bad with needles and venous blood tests!

OP posts:
LavaMonkey · 29/08/2023 17:51

Yes, they are fucking horrible.

The didn't manage to get the blood because I was so tense.

They put the needle in at 100% downward angle as far as it could go, several times.

Fucking horrible experience.

Give me a regular blood test any day of the week.
But blood from an artery? Nooo

Namechangedagain3 · 29/08/2023 17:51

Yes. They only managed it on the third try. One of the most painful things I’ve experienced

Parentingmishaps · 29/08/2023 17:51

Yes they are known to be painful.

OldTinHat · 29/08/2023 17:55

Yes and I passed out from the pain.

Salacia · 29/08/2023 17:59

Famously painful - I normally (outside of an emergency situation) give patients the option of a local anaesthetic (especially if they’ve got to have repeat samples). Not everyone takes me up on it (I’ve had a few old boys argue that a needle to help with the pain from a needle is is a waste of both of our time) but it’s something I’m happy to do (as a doctor who has also had a few myself!).

Spacecowboys · 29/08/2023 18:02

As it is a planned sample, ask for emla cream ( applied 30-60 mins prior), to take the edge off the pain.

guiltyfeethavegotnorythym · 29/08/2023 18:05

Yes they are painful , it's not just you . The docs are generally very kind ,if they can't do it they will get someone else rather than use you as a pincushion .

ChocHotolate · 29/08/2023 18:23

Yes, they are very painful; I've never had one done but I have taken blood this way. The wrist is tricky because the nerve and the artery pass very close to each other which can cause increased pain. Usually the bigger the arteries the less painful if only because they are harder to miss. You can ask for local anaesthetic prior to this blood sample being taken

Zanatdy · 29/08/2023 18:24

Yes very painful

GlitchStitch · 29/08/2023 18:25

Yes it was agony. I'm usually fine with needles, don't even flinch at normal blood tests. But if I was told I needed one of those again I would be terrified.

Allmarbleslost · 29/08/2023 18:32

Yes. Painful and a massive bruise afterwards!

friskybivalves · 29/08/2023 18:38

Absolutely agonising. Had to have a series of them taken after I was in a bad fire. Still have scars on my wrist from where they dug so deep without anaesthetic. Normally, I'm quite stoic about needles but this procedure was something else.

Alargeoneplease89 · 29/08/2023 18:40

Yes, they are painful but luckily doesn't take long.

IchWill · 29/08/2023 18:41

I've had it done. Was a little bit painful, but I didn't find it as painful as others are describing. I'd not be scared or bothered if I had to have another one.

Hopefully you'll not find it painful too.

Greybeardy · 29/08/2023 18:58

Yes they can be more painful than a venous sample. Local anaesthetic works really nicely for it though - ask them to use some if you need to have it done again.

Reallybadidea · 29/08/2023 18:59

I've had a 5kg baby without pain relief and having an arterial blood gas taken was significantly more painful. I have no idea why they didn't use local and I would insist on it in future.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/08/2023 19:15

I had to have several blood tests in last year and couldn't believe how little a normal venous blood test hurt- was more like a covid vaccine

35 years ago when I last had one they really really hurt ,

MachinesOfGod · 29/08/2023 19:16

ABG’s are just vile. As a HCP who takes them, sorry! There’s no nice way of doing it, unfortunately.

countbackfromten · 29/08/2023 19:30

There is a nice way to do it, give some local anaesthetic and give it time to work! Anaesthetist here, small bleb to the skin, infiltrate down and give the local anaesthetic some time to work. Makes such a massive difference (I use an insulin syringe with a tiny needle if easily accessible or a 25g needle if not).

Same for large cannulas!

countbackfromten · 29/08/2023 19:33

Also I think we massively overuse arterial blood gases but that is a pet peeve of mine!

WhoWants2Know · 29/08/2023 19:43

I remember having it done and it taking several tries, but I can't actually remember it hurting more than a regular blood draw. What I do remember is opening my eyes later on and seeing an impressive spurt of blood on the floor that must have happened in the process.

CrossStitchX · 29/08/2023 19:44

Yes, at 37 weeks pregnant I was hospitalised with a serious chest infection and had a few of these. EXCRUCIATING. Far worse than a normal blood test.

ShortColdandGrey · 29/08/2023 19:47

Yes, I have had this done and the doctor truthfully told me it was going to hurt. He was correct and I passed out while swearing at him 😆

mauricemossmylove · 29/08/2023 21:04

yes, mid asthma attack, disgusting pain

StrawberryWater · 29/08/2023 21:08

Yes, they’re fucking horrible. 😭

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