So I discharged myself and walked out of Casualty today.....

Dinkie

Because they needed to take some blood and once I saw the needle I flipped and had a complete panic attack. I was shaking really, really badly.

Now I'm at home, still very sore (was sent to a & e by my doctor) but still too scared to go back because 1. the needle 2. Because I wasted their time.


Can anyone give me a way to deal with this in future? I'm telling myself, that if it was bad enough, I would have allowed them to take the blood, but I'm not sure.....

BizzyLizzie

Aw I know how you feel, I used to get really really scared of having blood taken or injections or anything. I used to get really woozy and dizzy and feel sick and my hearing would go and other dramatic stuff like that But I just said to myself that it's something I'm going to have to deal with in my life so I couldn't let it control me like that. So the next time I needed to have a needle near me, I knew I was going to feel all those things I mentioned above, but I just let it happen. I just told the doctor what happens to me and he told me to lie down. And then, if I fainted, what about it! I'd be fine again in a few minutes. I still get a bit woozy sometimes, but i'm not worried about it now. Just try your best to bite the bullet and let them do it, I know it's hard but it really really pays off when it's not hanging over you

squishykins

When I was like 4 I was unconscious from a particularly bad asthma attack, and I had to get a drip. The intern collapsed the veins in both arms, it then had to go in through the neck. The next time I had to get an injection I attacked the nurse and ran away (but it was ok cuz I was little :P). On good days I close my eyes and squeeze my bf's hand, on bad days I just don't show up :P

However I've been tattooed twice, and loved it XD

coletti

Dinkie wrote: »

Because they needed to take some blood and once I saw the needle I flipped and had a complete panic attack. I was shaking really, really badly.

Now I'm at home, still very sore (was sent to a & e by my doctor) but still too scared to go back because 1. the needle 2. Because I wasted their time.


Can anyone give me a way to deal with this in future? I'm telling myself, that if it was bad enough, I would have allowed them to take the blood, but I'm not sure.....

Yell them your fears and you might be surprised...they've heard it all before and are often surprisingly good at helping you.

Eviledna

Hi Dinkie,

Listen, don't worry about this reaction, it's very common and many people (including myself) suffer from it. It's called a vasovagal response:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response

Needles are your trigger. The thing to note is that you actually can't control this reaction, it's what is known as an "autonomic" response, think of it as automatic, just like breathing or blinking.

So you must account for it. It's ok to have, and medical professionals are well aware of it, they see it every day!:)

As the post above says, go back to casualty, explain that you get this response, and try clencing your legs together or squeezing someones hand before you get the needle. This helps to stop your blood pressure dropping. Also, get them to lie you down before hand, and they will probably talk to you while they take the blood. Concentrate on what they say, respond in detail and this will help take your mind off the natural reaction to your trigger. Before you know it the blood test will be over and you'll be just fine.

Even if you get a little faint (or even a lot!), tell yourself that it is completely normal, and you are just one of many, many people that have this vasovagal response. Go back in to the hospital and get the test, and remember, you'll be just fine and you're just very normal;)

Dinkie

Thanks,

Went back to the doctor and asked him to take the blood and I dropped it up to the lab. The surgery was quieter, and the doctor talked me through it. Still went into shock as it was taken as per usual...

If I ever have to go back to casualty again, I'm going to bring someone with me.

Thanks OpenBake, am going to look at that link now. At least I know there is a reason for it!