First blood test today, don’t like needles have emla cream but no idea where to apply

[Rebeccao]

I’ve never had a blood test and have no idea where they take blood from! Can anyone point me in the right direction of where to apply the cream

Mine have always been taken from the inside of my elbow

They've always been the inside of elbows for me too. Good luck OP, I sympathise.

Back of both hands and crease of both arms/elbows. They will decide the best vein when they see you. Drink plenty and keep warm, it’ll help the veins come up

@Pinkflipflop85

Mine have always been taken from the inside of my elbow

As in the crease of your elbow?

Aw bless you, mine has always been the inside part of your arm where the elbow is too. I had had blood taken before so knew I could cope with that but now having a c-section and have never had a cannula in my hand which the idea of is really freaking me out. Just turn your head in the opposite direction and count back from 10 or something til it’s done. Good luck!

Thank you! Good luck. I was a wreck before the Covid jab and that didn’t hurt at all so hoping this is similar

Not sure you’ll see this in time, but the cream should go on about an hour before. Very thickly, and you should have been given special dressings to go on top.

Have you got someone to do it for you? Might be a bit tricky to get the 2nd dressing on yourself?

I used it on DS last week and it was great. He’s needn’t phobic and has some sen issues, but had his head turned the other way and didn’t even feel it - much less traumatic than previous times!

I used to hate needles too and am still not a fan. I would ask to lay down when having bloods taken, I always do as I’m a bit of a fainter and they usually are pretty good at occupying you if they know you’re nervous.

It’s honestly not as bad as it seems and barely any feel to it. X

Thanks so much for the advice, would you put one on the elbow area and one on the back of the hand?

@oreosoreosoreos

Not sure you’ll see this in time, but the cream should go on about an hour before. Very thickly, and you should have been given special dressings to go on top.

Have you got someone to do it for you? Might be a bit tricky to get the 2nd dressing on yourself?

I used it on DS last week and it was great. He’s needn’t phobic and has some sen issues, but had his head turned the other way and didn’t even feel it - much less traumatic than previous times!

Would you advise one to be used back of hand one on elbow? Thanks xx

@sarah13xx

Aw bless you, mine has always been the inside part of your arm where the elbow is too. I had had blood taken before so knew I could cope with that but now having a c-section and have never had a cannula in my hand which the idea of is really freaking me out. Just turn your head in the opposite direction and count back from 10 or something til it’s done. Good luck!

Not sure if you've already had your c section or not but this might help. I've had three sections at two different hospital trusts. All three times I've had a local anaesthetic prior to having the cannula in my hand and it's been easy. I was really freaking out about that too but honestly it was fine.

I'd suggest both elbows rather than hands. I've had loads of blood tests and I've never had blood taking from my hand. They sometimes try both elbows though.

Yes do both but it will probably be the inside of your 3lvow, you should be able to see your biggest vein

Elbow

Thanks so much for all your replies! I’ll do both elbows an hour before. It’s a weird one think partly fear of the unknown but know this will be the first of many x

Inside elbow usual choice but it really is nowhere as bad as you imagine if they are good at it you will hardly feel it

This works for me, though I appreciate it may not work for you...

I tell the nurse I don't like blood test but if he/she could tell me when it's about to go in, and when it's about to come out, and in between distract me with conversation while I look the other way.

If you haven't got a special dressing to go over the emla cream then cling film would do. I was told to run in a thin layer then put a thicker layer over it and cover with clingfilm so it didn't wipe off. Not for blood tests but probably same principle.

I'd also do the insides of your elbows.

@toughdaay that's a good tip about asking for local anaesthetic, I've had a cannula in my hand in 4 different hospitals and they've never offered a local anaesthetic, though to be fair I didn't find it painful so hopefully that also provides some reassurance.

Good luck OP. I am hoping that you will find that if you are getting your blood test done in a department which does them regularly then the practitioner will be so adept that you won’t feel a thing. My gp does walk in blood tests and the people they have doing them are amazing, I have honestly never felt a thing and I am a big fat coward.

for being brave.

@toughdaay no it’s still a week and a bit away! Thanks I wasn’t sure if they could do that but I think I will ask. I’d heard of people asking for smaller ones. If it just felt like getting blood taken I’d be okay with it but just don’t like all the faffing about they have to do to get it in 🙈

@Rebeccao hope you got on okay. My sister is petrified of needles too and the covid vaccine was the first one she’d had in years. She nearly fainted even waiting in the queue before it then turned completely grey in the car home. She said the actual vaccine was fine but I think she’d just worked herself up into such a panic about it 🙈 That will be me getting the cannula in haha