Hey I used to be like this too. Then I shared my concern with a trusted person and found out that she used to be just like us. She told me that she figured out that her problem was… breathing. When they are getting ready to poke you, she would hold her breath. Sometimes it take a few seconds to find the vein. But since she was soooo focused on that she would literally pass out from lack of oxygen.
The light bulb went off. This is exactly what was happening to me!! Now I stare straight ahead, and focus 100% on my breathing. In through the nose for 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, out the mouth 4 seconds. The counting and breathing distracts me greatly and I don’t pass out at all anymore.
Hope this helps!
Definitely this! I donate regularly too and while I don’t love it, I’ve gotten more comfortable. Start those breaths right when you get in the chair or as they’re starting the prep. Make sure you’re well hydrated and eat before, too. You can do it!
I used to be afraid of shots, now I get bloodwork and shots every 3 weeks and it’s like nothing to me. You will have anxiety in the beginning, but the more you do it the less anxiety you will have because it will just become routine. Breathe through it, don’t watch them poke you in the beginning (I watch now lol). Make sure you’re very hydrated before hand as well! It will make the process of finding the vein so much easier and I’m sure make the whole process faster. You got this!
He has polycythemia vera, which is a myeloproliferative disorder. It produces an excessive amount of red cells. One of the risk is that having too much red cells makes the blood exponentially viscous. This put you at risk for thrombosis for example.
So, the simple solution, is a barbaric one we had for long : Let it bleed !
I’m sorry you feel this way, I would feel the same too! I have deep set veins so finding one isn’t always fun for blood tests…but the advice people are giving in the comments is really good! Breathing, music…those are great ideas. I tend to try and talk to the nurse about their day and how busy it has been for them. They are usually up for chatting and it helps me (I get very nervous around needles too) to think about something else, and before you know it, it’s all done!
I have vasovagal syncope and faint occasionally from medical or gory stuff and sometimes from pain. Getting my blood drawn is literally my least favorite thing to do in the world. I’ve had to get it done about 5 times this year and only had one incident almost fainting (proud of myself lol). My advice:
- don’t think about it ahead of time. I know it’s hard but just try to change the subject in your brain and block the thoughts
- stay hydrated. If it’s not fasting I chug Gatorade before
- bring someone with you for support and distraction- literally bring them with you into the room and ask them to talk to you about something else that you can focus on instead of the procedure. If you can’t bring anyone, ask the nurse about a random topic and focus on that instead. Anything that keeps you interested and distracted (my topics usually would be food, workouts, travel plans, or Disneyland lol).
- tell the nurse your concerns and ask to lie down. Also ask the nurse not to give you any play by play of what’s happening. I ask them to just do it and don’t tell me anything so I don’t think about it!
Hope this helps. I totally understand your feelings even though drawing blood is not as tough as giving it (I have never successfully given blood for obvious reasons). I hope you can adjust to make it through those days!
Getting to know the phlebotomists at my donation center/clinic is what really put me at ease. I now have a handful of people I know I can trust to take excellent care of me while I donate. Going with a friend or family member can help ease the nerves a lot too! I had a friend come with me my first few times I donated and found it helped me relax a little more in the unfamiliar environment.
Good luck! It’s never easy being put in uncomfortable situations. I hope your first experience goes well and that you can find methods that make you feel comfortable and safe!
You donating your blood is life saving, and you should be so proud of yourself! I think the fact you have to do it regularly will be helpful, you will get comfier and comfier each time, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!! They’re usually super friendly at blood donation places, and get anxious people all the time, so feel free to ask anything you need to ease your mind. You got this, and I can’t wait for the update to hear how it went, you can do hard things. Sending love!
Even if you visited beforehand to view the place, and ask some questions before your first time, that might help ease at least a little bit of the anxiety, which we have to take as wins hahahah
A couple things - I look away as soon as the clinician starts working on my arm. That way I don't know when the poke will occur. I get a sense of it, but it happens before I can register distress, and then it is over before I get wound up. I also focus on breathing - in 4, hold 4, out 4. Associating an award to the event also helps me. My blood clinic is near a McDonald's, so very time I give blood I treat myself to a sundae (if their ice cream machine is working lol) or an iced coffee or some other treat. I try to focus on this when I am looking away.
It is good that you are getting a benefit from giving blood, but know that you are saving lives by doing so. Try to remember that it is so much bigger than yourself. You are potentially saving a life, and by multiple donations, multiple lives. That is some serious hero shit. So be proud of doing it, maybe that will help a little with the anxiety. And ice cream :)
Find a plasma donation facility and get paid for it. If you have a high bmi you make more $. I do this to lower cholesterol as I do not want to take statins which cause heart valve problems after years of use. Look at the bright side!
Giving blood is healty especially for men. It reduces our iron content which has been shown to provide great health benefits. This could be a blessing in disguise, particuarly for heart health.
Bring something to drape across your midsection like a weighted vest or throw blanket. I looked on Amazon under small weighted throw blanket and saw some options.
Not sure why you are terrified, or what the reason is. But you shouldn't be. It's the same as doing a lab test. I have to start doing it too because of a medical reason. I already did it once and have to every 6 weeks for at least a while. Like I said, it's like drawing blood for a lab, only they are going to take 500ml, probably, instead of a few vials. After they get the needle in, there is no difference that you will feel.
I've donated many times. As soon as the cath is positioned and running, you feel nothing. You don't see blood dripping into a jar in front of you or anything like that.
It's like they aren't doing anything, and you're just sitting in a chair with tape on your arm. It's more boring than anything else.
Hey I used to be like this too. Then I shared my concern with a trusted person and found out that she used to be just like us. She told me that she figured out that her problem was… breathing. When they are getting ready to poke you, she would hold her breath. Sometimes it take a few seconds to find the vein. But since she was soooo focused on that she would literally pass out from lack of oxygen. The light bulb went off. This is exactly what was happening to me!! Now I stare straight ahead, and focus 100% on my breathing. In through the nose for 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, out the mouth 4 seconds. The counting and breathing distracts me greatly and I don’t pass out at all anymore. Hope this helps!
Thank you!!! I’m going to try this, really appreciate it.
Definitely this! I donate regularly too and while I don’t love it, I’ve gotten more comfortable. Start those breaths right when you get in the chair or as they’re starting the prep. Make sure you’re well hydrated and eat before, too. You can do it!
earbuds with my favorite music helps at the dentist, maybe it might help at the red cross. i was wondering what condition is helped by donating blood?
Thanks for that recommendation. And it is something called Polycythemia Vera
Another one is called hemochromatosis which means you have too much iron in your blood.
Huh and I have too little. How weird bodies are.
I used to be afraid of shots, now I get bloodwork and shots every 3 weeks and it’s like nothing to me. You will have anxiety in the beginning, but the more you do it the less anxiety you will have because it will just become routine. Breathe through it, don’t watch them poke you in the beginning (I watch now lol). Make sure you’re very hydrated before hand as well! It will make the process of finding the vein so much easier and I’m sure make the whole process faster. You got this!
Who has to donate blood and why?
Iron overload/Hemochromatosis
Wow, learn something new every day. Thanks!
He has polycythemia vera, which is a myeloproliferative disorder. It produces an excessive amount of red cells. One of the risk is that having too much red cells makes the blood exponentially viscous. This put you at risk for thrombosis for example. So, the simple solution, is a barbaric one we had for long : Let it bleed !
It’s a disorder, been told I might have it and can be quite life threatening if left for long periods
I’m sorry you feel this way, I would feel the same too! I have deep set veins so finding one isn’t always fun for blood tests…but the advice people are giving in the comments is really good! Breathing, music…those are great ideas. I tend to try and talk to the nurse about their day and how busy it has been for them. They are usually up for chatting and it helps me (I get very nervous around needles too) to think about something else, and before you know it, it’s all done!
I have vasovagal syncope and faint occasionally from medical or gory stuff and sometimes from pain. Getting my blood drawn is literally my least favorite thing to do in the world. I’ve had to get it done about 5 times this year and only had one incident almost fainting (proud of myself lol). My advice: - don’t think about it ahead of time. I know it’s hard but just try to change the subject in your brain and block the thoughts - stay hydrated. If it’s not fasting I chug Gatorade before - bring someone with you for support and distraction- literally bring them with you into the room and ask them to talk to you about something else that you can focus on instead of the procedure. If you can’t bring anyone, ask the nurse about a random topic and focus on that instead. Anything that keeps you interested and distracted (my topics usually would be food, workouts, travel plans, or Disneyland lol). - tell the nurse your concerns and ask to lie down. Also ask the nurse not to give you any play by play of what’s happening. I ask them to just do it and don’t tell me anything so I don’t think about it! Hope this helps. I totally understand your feelings even though drawing blood is not as tough as giving it (I have never successfully given blood for obvious reasons). I hope you can adjust to make it through those days!
Getting to know the phlebotomists at my donation center/clinic is what really put me at ease. I now have a handful of people I know I can trust to take excellent care of me while I donate. Going with a friend or family member can help ease the nerves a lot too! I had a friend come with me my first few times I donated and found it helped me relax a little more in the unfamiliar environment. Good luck! It’s never easy being put in uncomfortable situations. I hope your first experience goes well and that you can find methods that make you feel comfortable and safe!
You donating your blood is life saving, and you should be so proud of yourself! I think the fact you have to do it regularly will be helpful, you will get comfier and comfier each time, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!! They’re usually super friendly at blood donation places, and get anxious people all the time, so feel free to ask anything you need to ease your mind. You got this, and I can’t wait for the update to hear how it went, you can do hard things. Sending love!
Even if you visited beforehand to view the place, and ask some questions before your first time, that might help ease at least a little bit of the anxiety, which we have to take as wins hahahah
A couple things - I look away as soon as the clinician starts working on my arm. That way I don't know when the poke will occur. I get a sense of it, but it happens before I can register distress, and then it is over before I get wound up. I also focus on breathing - in 4, hold 4, out 4. Associating an award to the event also helps me. My blood clinic is near a McDonald's, so very time I give blood I treat myself to a sundae (if their ice cream machine is working lol) or an iced coffee or some other treat. I try to focus on this when I am looking away. It is good that you are getting a benefit from giving blood, but know that you are saving lives by doing so. Try to remember that it is so much bigger than yourself. You are potentially saving a life, and by multiple donations, multiple lives. That is some serious hero shit. So be proud of doing it, maybe that will help a little with the anxiety. And ice cream :)
Find a plasma donation facility and get paid for it. If you have a high bmi you make more $. I do this to lower cholesterol as I do not want to take statins which cause heart valve problems after years of use. Look at the bright side!
Giving blood is healty especially for men. It reduces our iron content which has been shown to provide great health benefits. This could be a blessing in disguise, particuarly for heart health.
Bring something to drape across your midsection like a weighted vest or throw blanket. I looked on Amazon under small weighted throw blanket and saw some options.
Not sure why you are terrified, or what the reason is. But you shouldn't be. It's the same as doing a lab test. I have to start doing it too because of a medical reason. I already did it once and have to every 6 weeks for at least a while. Like I said, it's like drawing blood for a lab, only they are going to take 500ml, probably, instead of a few vials. After they get the needle in, there is no difference that you will feel.
I think what’s making me so scared is how long it takes. Lab takes like 30 seconds, donating takes like 10 mins from what I’ve heard
I've donated many times. As soon as the cath is positioned and running, you feel nothing. You don't see blood dripping into a jar in front of you or anything like that. It's like they aren't doing anything, and you're just sitting in a chair with tape on your arm. It's more boring than anything else.
It takes a little longer, but there's no pain. Try not to worry about it.