Severe blood test phobia

[Vegansausageroll]

I have had a blood test phobia for most of my life. I had a lot of medical interventions as a young child and I guess it’s caused some sort of trauma. I physically cannot have a blood test. I used to get so anxious I vomit and have to be held down. This is compounded by the fact that I have horrendous veins that they struggle to see and then I faint. Every. Single. Time. The last time I tried was about 8 years ago. I’m too shaky and terrified to even attempt again - I just refuse . I can’t explain why. I’ve got a high pain threshold, am not generally highly anxious, fine with other unpleasant medical things like smears and dentists - no white coat syndrome. It’s just this. I can have injections ok (just a regular dislike) but absolutely not cannulas or blood tests.

The problem is I’ve been having a few health issues and the doctor would like to try to rule a few things out but I just can’t do it. I’ve literally resolved that I will just die if it’s anything serious, which I know is completely ridiculous but I can’t help it. I’ve even avoided having a baby as I couldn’t physically cope with the blood tests or any interventions such as a drip.

I’ve tried therapy and hypnotherapy and it didn’t help. It’s actually ruining my life now and it’s so ridiculous I can’t even talk to anyone about it. When I’ve spoken to friends they kind of chuckled in a ‘oh yeah I’m scared of needles’ too kind of way.

Can anyone relate? Or any words of wisdom?

I can absolutely relate! I've put off having them for months before and My midwife wrote 'SEVERELY NEEDLE PHOBIC' across the top of my blood test form in massive letters when she tried and failed to take blood during my first pregnancy and had to send me to hospital to have it done 🙈 my top tips for making it easier are to drink lots of water beforehand and ask to lay down while they do it. And don't watch. I've also been advised to ask for a butterfly needle that they normally use on children as my veins are so fucking hard to find, not sure of that helps or not but worth a try.

My daughter is severely needle phobic.

After 5 years of really needing tests she finally got up the courage to go.

My advice is to always ask the surgery who is the most experienced nurse for difficult veins. They might not be difficult but this nurse will have the most experience.

Always ask to have bloods taken laying down.

Tell them you are needle phobic when you are booking in, ask them to make a note of this, and ask for a longer appointment.

On the day drink lots before hand,

Ask the nurse to explain to you exactly what she will do and not to do anything without telling you.

You get to say stop at any time and you can walk out if you need.

We had an amazing nurse the day my daughter finally managed to have bloods taken. She was slow and explained everything. And was really skilled at putting her at ease. And really skilled at taking blood.

My daughter said she hardly felt it and it was the fear that was worse.

I'm not phobic (well it's a blood and veins phobia really rather than the needle). I do faint if I'm not careful. I have to lie down and stay down. I can't look or look at the blood after. I use hypnotherapy I learned from giving birth.

Don't look! Take someone with you like you're a child. Ask to go to the (blood) phlebotomy clinic at the hospital. They will put you in a chair that tilts you down, they are super experienced at finding veins. They have a crash team on hand which I found out when I collapsed giving blood at my maternity booking in appointment.

You might just have to put up with the vomiting and fainting. Just have a sick bowl on hand. Tell the nurse what happens so they can be prepared. Obviously lie down. Be very careful about getting back up again.

Just want to say I understand. I have developed a phobia of gynae exams etc.

Anyway after a million crappy blood tests I will only go to phlebotomy now to have blood taken. I know this won't address the phobia but they are really good at it and quick and the most painless.

This is what helps me..
Use emla cream where your best veins are (I have one).
Always lie down and make sure well hydrated.
Clench and release everything feet, thighs, bum etc and keep doing this until it's over. This keeps the blood pressure up - low blood pressure is what causes the faint. Slow it down gradually.
Ask them to tell you when "its out".
Take water for when it's done.
Take your time getting up.
Talk all the way through it - blether rubbish to nurse.
This all helps me to get through it.

Yup- I can relate. But I have similar for most invasive medical procedures.
Mine was due to childhood reasons.
The first blood test I had to have as an adult I cried hysterically whilst waiting to be called. Sobbed and shook in the chair. Wailed and cried. But knew I needed to have it done as I was quite ill and wasn’t at the stage that I wanted to die rather than have it done.
what helped was not looking at all at anything. Making sure the nurse knew just how bad I was (although they could see for themselves). Going with my husband. And most importantly singing / humming very loudly whilst it was being done. Any tune. Just to take my mind off.
Since then I have had 2 life threatening medical emergency’s where you don’t really get a choice. You end up in hospital and they get on with putting the drip in. It was literally put drip in and perform emergency surgery or I die in screaming agony. After that I have got a little bit better and learned to cope better.
Its so hard though, I sympathise but I do urge you to find a way through somehow because it does ruin your life.

My husband has the exact same phobia/reaction. It's the blood going into a vessel/needle or drugs being put into his blood stream that used to make him faint.

Well, he had cancer last year and he had no choice but to push through to get his cure. The things that helped him (& I will add there is a certain level of lasting trauma from those who didn't respect his boundaries and requests during all this) but equally those who were fabulous.

• practice the routine If possible (I'm a nurse so could do this easily but your surgery may be able to accommodate)

• breathing techniques
• insist on someone good, experience d and patient
• hydrate hydrate hydrate
• visualisation.
• my husband got to know how many seconds it took for bloods and at what point he started to feel extra woozy so then know right, I've got 45 seconds and counted to take his mind off it, this worked really well.

If it comes to it and concerns are high then you may be offered something to help calm you e.g medicines.

Good luck

Yes I can relate, I never liked blood tests my whole life. I have a phobia of veins, blood and anyone touching that part of my inner arm. I got a blood clot last year and was forced to have all kinds of tests and cannulas, then went on warfarin for a while. It was extremely traumatic, I had to have bloods done every day, then several times a week. I bawled my eyes out getting these done. I know how you feel but I don't really know how to get round it. I always just explain to the nurse that I'm extremely anxious and my veins aren't good, they usually try to be as gentle as possible. I think it really depends on who is doing it, some people can take your blood without you feeling anything.

Have you asked or looked into if there's another way?

For example, you can get mail order (private) tests for loads of things where you lance your own finger and collect it in a tube. No reason the can't do that if it's possible for your particular test, same blood same lab.

Or it's possible to take blood from the back of your hand, and theoretically somewhere in your leg I think.

Would it help if it was done outside of a medical setting, e.g. A nurse coming to your house?

Is there any way of getting blood (imaginary or otherwise) that you would be okay with?

Or is it the testing that you're afraid of? Would you be okay with someone taking blood and not testing it (e.g. Blood donation)?

Thank you so much, I am blown away at the amount of replies.
I will hopefully be able to trial and practice some strategies. I will read them through again later as unfortunately my phobia is that extreme that even reading some of the replies provokes a physcial reaction - pounding heart, chest pain, feeling faint and I’m lying down! It’s honestly the strangest thing and nothing like say having a phobia of spiders as it is partly an extreme physical reaction too.

Drink plenty and eat before you go.
Have you tried EMLA cream ?

I can't offer any advice on the phobia I'm afraid but I do have very deep, thin veins. I have blood taken from the back of my hand with a butterfly kit. If they could go straight to that option it would save failed attempts in your arms.

I was like you OP but had no choice but to get past it when I wanted to have children and couldn't. Until then, nothing anyone said or recommended did any good. I could not do it even when I was very ill.
Just so happens that I have terrible, terrible veins and a blood condition. Figures 😂
What helps me is to drink lots and lots of water and breath very deeply when it's being done. Laying down is also best, especially if they have to have a few goes. I also never ever look. I cannot. The only time I've ever looked is when my child was having a blood test and they had to stop and put me on the bed 🙄
I've never seen the needle. I'm ok to see the tube/s of blood afterwards but never anything before that point.
Even with my shit veins, I know a blood test does not really hurt. Unless they 'dig' around chasing a moving/collapsing vein and they really shouldn't be doing that. But knowing that and being able to do it are two different things. You have to be ready to push past those physical reactions. Accept them but resolve to try anyway. Find a good collection place, ask around/seek recommendations, and stick with it. It makes a difference.

My DD is like this and ALWAYS faints, as do other family members. I did lots of reading and found something called vasovagal syncope, where your body over reacts to certain situations/triggers. Usually when people are scared their heart rate and blood pressure increase but in people with vasovagal syncope their body reacts by massively dropping their heart rate and blood pressure in that fear situation. Hence fainting.

There are some exercises you can do where you clench and hold your muscles to force the blood up from your legs and back to your brain. You need to practice the exercises but it should help the response to scary triggers.