I went for the iron infusion this morning at a hematology/oncology practice. Many of the people in there were receiving chemo. Anyway, the medical tech had a hard time getting my IV in and did that thing where the needle is in your vein and they pull it out a little and then dig deeper to try and get it placed properly. This last time someone did this to me I fainted. It was the only time I've ever fainted actually. I tried so hard to just sit and take it but she finally gave up and was like, I need to go in your other arm.
She was about to poke me again and I had to stop her because I felt my face going hot like I was going to faint again. I had shed some actual tears like a fucking FOOL. The concept of fainting just really scares me!!! The two other women in the room were so nice, reassuring my ridiculous self. They were both receiving cancer treatment. I really felt moronic!!!!
DO NOT feel stupid. Are you kidding, with my medical issues there are times I'm in the hospital dehydrated with barely a vein in sight. I have yet to faint & would be upset if you knew you may again too, but yeah it shouldn't be hurting.
I had to actually kick a nurse to stop her from forcing it in when I screamed and was hysterical crying. If you have to go again explain "sometimes they have vein issues with me" and they'll either get you a new tech or someone who is known to get even the most difficult veins.
Quite frankly, that was a smart move and I wish I had done this too.
I was in the hospital with an IV. The vein blew and I was stuck a dozen times trying to get another one started. They finally started poking my feet - which f#$%ing HURTS!. It was imperative that they get a line in, as I was septic and needed my antibiotics delivered this way. So I understood their need to get the line done now.
They finally got their act together and installed a PICC line. Next day, phlebotomy came in to do a vancomycin level on me and tried on all my blown out veins. I told her that she needed to get the nurse and draw from my PICC, but she refused and proceeded to stick me again. She finally gave up and got the nurse, but not before she had made 3-4 attempts.
Oh.....and I don't have a needle phobia - or I didn't until I had this hospitalization!
Quite frankly, that was a smart move and I wish I had done this too.
I was in the hospital with an IV. The vein blew and I was stuck a dozen times trying to get another one started. They finally started poking my feet - which f#$%ing HURTS!. It was imperative that they get a line in, as I was septic and needed my antibiotics delivered this way. Â So I understood their need to get the line done now.
They finally got their act together and installed a PICC line. Next day, phlebotomy came in to do a vancomycin level on me and tried on all my blown out veins. I told her that she needed to get the nurse and draw from my PICC, but she refused and proceeded to stick me again. She finally gave up and got the nurse, but not before she had made 3-4 attempts.
Oh.....and I don't have a needle phobia - or I didn't until I had this hospitalization!
Phlebotomy cannot pull from a PICC line like home nurses can for draws. I've had a PICC and TPN have to be done in hospital& when I went home to gain due to my inability to eat.. I never understood why, but usually it's a little butterfly needle they use when you've had bad veins and i THINK phlebotomy in general. Don't quote the latter because I'm always like I have bad veins let them know on my intake sheet, ped's needle or the smallest they can possibly do to minimize the poor NYC hospital ER's nurses from having to run around even more than before.
Post by textbookcase on Aug 29, 2015 13:36:45 GMT -5
Aw, don't feel embarrassed! It's always a pain in the ass to get needles into my veins and I have come close to fainting before when they are digging around. It's the worst! I have thrown up before when having blood drawn. I feel you!
Quite frankly, that was a smart move and I wish I had done this too.
I was in the hospital with an IV. The vein blew and I was stuck a dozen times trying to get another one started. They finally started poking my feet - which f#$%ing HURTS!. It was imperative that they get a line in, as I was septic and needed my antibiotics delivered this way. So I understood their need to get the line done now.
They finally got their act together and installed a PICC line. Next day, phlebotomy came in to do a vancomycin level on me and tried on all my blown out veins. I told her that she needed to get the nurse and draw from my PICC, but she refused and proceeded to stick me again. She finally gave up and got the nurse, but not before she had made 3-4 attempts.
Oh.....and I don't have a needle phobia - or I didn't until I had this hospitalization!
Phlebotomy cannot pull from a PICC line like home nurses can for draws. I've had a PICC and TPN have to be done in hospital& when I went home to gain due to my inability to eat.. I never understood why, but usually it's a little butterfly needle they use when you've had bad veins and i THINK phlebotomy in general. Don't quote the latter because I'm always like I have bad veins let them know on my intake sheet, ped's needle or the smallest they can possibly do to minimize the poor NYC hospital ER's nurses from having to run around even more than before.
Yeah, I knew that phlebotomy can't pull from my PICC line. I told the phlebotomist that I had been stuck all over the day before and I'd prefer she get a nurse to draw from my PICC. She ignored me and proceeded to stick me. My best guess is that the nurses would have given her a hard time if they had been asked to get the blood, as I had issues with them during my stay too.
Even a little butterfly hurts when your veins are toast.
Next hospital, I broke the phlebotomist's 6 month draw streak.
I find that I cry when I'm really anxious. I had to have dental work recently and was an absolute mess. I apologized profusely but unless I have Valium to ease my anxiety, it's just what happens.
Post by thatgirl2478 on Aug 29, 2015 15:05:52 GMT -5
Don't feel stupid!! I almost fainted when the nurses tried to set up my IV for my c section! It took 2 nurses and the anesthesiologist to get it placed. They blew out both hand veins, 2 lower arm veins and finally got it situated on the outside of my lower left arm.
Post by Monica Geller on Aug 29, 2015 15:09:10 GMT -5
Aw. I totally relate! I had to have blood drawn at a clinic at the major cancer hospital here one time (they thought I might have a rare blood disorder...nope, just migraines). Anyway, they drew like 15 of those vials. I DID pass out. They put me on a gurney and wheeled me through the waiting room like I coded or something. I felt like the biggest idiot (came to while this was happening). All of those people were there for chemo and other treatments and I passed out on a blood draw.
I about fainted when a new phlebotomist at a teaching hospital tried to draw my blood a few months ago. She blew my vein digging around and thankfully the teacher overseeing saw me go pale and stepped in with a cold rag before I actually fainted. I was embarrassed but it happens.
Post by balletofangels on Aug 29, 2015 15:20:46 GMT -5
I feel you. I have zero vein access. They are all scarred and blown from years of illness. I also have zero PICC access, so at the very least I need a central line. I guess protocol says they have to try a traditional IV. My last surgery was delayed an hour while they searched and poked, even with a note on my file. Ended up with a central line and that sucked awake. I guess last time I was drugged up.
DO NOT feel stupid. Are you kidding, with my medical issues there are times I'm in the hospital dehydrated with barely a vein in sight. I have yet to faint & would be upset if you knew you may again too, but yeah it shouldn't be hurting.
I had to actually kick a nurse to stop her from forcing it in when I screamed and was hysterical crying. If you have to go again explain "sometimes they have vein issues with me" and they'll either get you a new tech or someone who is known to get even the most difficult veins.
Wait, you kicked a nurse? And you are older than 10? Wtf?
bab. Don't be embarrassed! It happens all the time. Seriously.
The general rule is that a nurse gets to try twice before getting someone else to attempt. You can always ask that they stop, take a break for a few minutes, or ask them not to "fish around" if they don't hit the vein right away.
If they have warm packs, maybe next time put one on the spot where they found a vein today. It will help make the vein plumper and easier to feel.
I always require an IV nurse or an anesthesiologist to put in my lines. My veins are there but blow at the touch of a needle. I've encountered a couple nurses who were determined to get an IV in me and I've had to tell them they couldn't try anymore. It sucks and I'm sorry.
Post by messykitchen on Aug 29, 2015 15:54:58 GMT -5
Don't feel bad! When I was in labor they had such trouble getting an IV in me they had to call a life flight guy in to do it. It was AWFUL, and I was sobbing. And not because of the labor.
I about fainted when a new phlebotomist at a teaching hospital tried to draw my blood a few months ago. She blew my vein digging around and thankfully the teacher overseeing saw me go pale and stepped in with a cold rag before I actually fainted. I was embarrassed but it happens.
I'm probably the whitest person around here. When I fainted getting blood drawn during my pregnancy, the nurse commented that I was "so white it is impossible to tell when you aren't ok!"
OP: I fainted in 2 of 4 of my blood draws during pregnancy.
Post by fluffydamn on Aug 29, 2015 17:03:03 GMT -5
I feel you on the embarrassed part. I had an allergic reaction the other day at work and panicked. Thank god I work at a hospital and they were able to help me. Still embarrassed going into work today.
Post by whitemerlot on Aug 29, 2015 19:56:30 GMT -5
I had a anxiety attack at the dentist last time I went. I have a mouth injury and I had totally psyched myself out by the time I got in for the appointment. The dentist was so, so nice, but it was embarrassing.
I about fainted when a new phlebotomist at a teaching hospital tried to draw my blood a few months ago. She blew my vein digging around and thankfully the teacher overseeing saw me go pale and stepped in with a cold rag before I actually fainted. I was embarrassed but it happens.
I'm probably the whitest person around here. When I fainted getting blood drawn during my pregnancy, the nurse commented that I was "so white it is impossible to tell when you aren't ok!"
OP: I fainted in 2 of 4 of my blood draws during pregnancy.
This is going to be me. I start shaking with anxiety before I even get called in to get blood work. And I'm so pale that a) I don't have colour to lose and b) you can see all my veins through my skin so it's not even like I'm a hard stick.
I have to lie down whenever I get blood drawn. Even then, I've fainted afterwards and always feel super nauseous. The fact that you were even able to sit up during it makes you tougher than me.
They wanted to keep me in the hospital for another 30 days on a liquid diet when I had pancreatitis and my numbers kept spiking even after surgery. They'd reached the point where they would have had to insert the IVs into my feet because there was nothing left in either arm. You can bet your ass I argued for a release to home if I swore to follow dietary restrictions rather than have them poke me. And I've passed out in the dentist chair 3 times so far due to a vasovagal syncope. I never had a problem with blood draws or the dentist before this happened but now I flinch at blood draws (and I'm certain to tell them where my one good vein can be located, no matter how often they've drawn blood - on me or the thousands of other people they've done) and I'm terrified to be tilted back or have the dentist use a rubber dam because I just know I will pass out.
Don't be embarrassed. It happens to the best of us.
Post by mrsukyankee on Aug 30, 2015 5:43:39 GMT -5
Totally normal. I feel faint when I give blood almost every time. It's your blood pressure dropping, which happens around needles and stress. And fearing fainting even more so normal and adds to the pressure so makes it more likely to faint. If you feel that way again, makes sure you clench and release your leg muscles (you can cross and uncross your legs) - that seems to help me.
Aw, don't be embarrassed! People faint. It happens. I'll tell you my fainting story, and you can laugh at me and take your mind off of it:
Third day at my very first job as a nurse. In the NICU. I did my shadowing experience at the same NICU, so I knew everyone, and was hired to keep working there when I graduated. My mentor/preceptor is showing me how to do a particular procedure. Not gory, not particularly gross (all things considered). I'd done it as a student, but she was still showing me as part of my official employment training. NEVER had any issues with seeing or doing this before.
Suddenly I'm getting tunnel vision and I need to sit down. All the chairs on the unit are elevated higher than usual because they had elevated desks so you can stand. I sit in one of those (super smart ). The seat is about my waist level. Next thing I know I'm waking up on the floor, face up, getting blow-by oxygen through a neonatal bag-mask system. The tiny little mask that they use on 2 lb baby faces? That's about an inch from my face. All my co-workers are around me, had immobilized my neck, and took me to the ER, and were all telling me, covertly, "no really, are you SURE you're not pregnant? you can tell me. I will keep it quiet, but you have to tell someone if you are, so are you SURE?"
I apparently sat down in a super high chair, and then passed out - slumped forward from sitting 4 feet up, and hit head the tile floor head first. Smooth, right? lol.
So go easy on yourself. People who work in phlebotomy know that loads of people get light headed around needles and blood-work stuff. It's all good.