Fear of needles?

Personally, I don't have one.. I have absolutely no problem with needles.. I've grown up being stuck to test my blood sugar 3 times a day since i was 7 years old, and I have multiple piercings (currently I only have my nose, and 4 on each ear.. but total, i've had 7 on each ear, my nose,my bellybutton, and my lip.. 3 of which i did myself..) and a tattoo on my wrist... and i willingly get a b12 shot once a month, instead of a daily vitamin..

But I know a lot of people who do.. My little brother has to take a growth hormogne injection every day, because he has growth hormogne defiency.. and he still is terrified of them, even though he's taken them majority of his life.

And my best friend passed out getting her nose pierced.. she's terrified of doctors.. not sure how she managed to build up the nerve to even walk into the piercing place.. haha.

But anyways.. Basically with surgery, or metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, whatever... even just getting tested for it, a lot of blood is drawn, and what not.. so this is basically what happens, to ease the nerves of some people:

Getting blood drawn:
(keep in mind some nurses who draw the blood do these steps slightly out of order..)

*They'll put a rubber thing around your arm.. if you know you're going to have blood drawn, wear a shirt with sleeves thatcan berolled up, so they can put it over that.. otherwise it pinches your skin alittle bit.. if not, it's not that bad.. its bareable.. and definatley will distract you from the needle..

*they'll put gloves on, and wipe off the area with a rubbing alcohol pad... then pat it dry with gauze. they'll feel around for a good vain to use, too.

*they'll pull the needle/tubing out, and take a capoff.. they'll pull out a few tubes too, that the blood goes in...

*then they'll either count, or they'll just do it... they may ask you.. but they'll push it in.. and just leave it there... switching tubes out of the plasticthing that is hooked onto the needle.. (i don't know the terminology... sorry.. haha.)

*when it's done.they'll stop, they'll take gauze, press down, pull the needle, out, and put a bandage over it...  and you're done.


Getting an IV:

*they'll put on rubber gloves, clean off your arm/hand/wherevertheivisgoing with a rubbing alcohol pad.. pat it dry with gauze, or let it air dry... they'll take the needle that is attached to tubing (usually... and the needle is usually a bitthinner than the one you get blood drawn with.) and takethe cap off.

*they'll feel around for a good vain t ouse,lightly pressing on your skin.. (although i'm not entirely sure why.. i can't imagine it helps much.. theres no way it's easy to feel any vains... unless you can see them like on your wrist.. in my experience, anyway.. haha.)

*they'll push it in carefully,  and tape it down.. you honestly don't feel it unless you bang it against something orpresss on it.. unless it's in a really awkward spot where if you bend your elbow or wrist you mayfeel it a little.. but that's only happened to me a few times.

Taking blood sugar:

*This is something you do yourself, typically... but this is basically what you do:

*put a clean lancet in the thing that you stick yourself with.. test it to makesure its in properly..

*put a test strip in the meter.

*wash your hands.. some people wipe off their fingers with rubbing alcohol... i don't.

*press the tip of it to your finger(or arm or wherever you do it..) and don't press hard against it, don't ahve it too far away.. just keep it resting on your skin.. if onyour finger, like i do, have it towards the tip, on the side of the finger..

*hit the button. it'll prick you really quickly.. and thats it. pull it away and blood should be on your finger.. you only need a little dot.

*press the test strip to the dot of blood.. wait for it to fill up.. and in a few seconds the number will appear on the screen.


no big deal. (:

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Keep in mind no one is perfect.. if someone is drawing blood or putting an iv in, don't be surprized if they can't hit a vain the first time.. they may have to move it while it's in your arm, or try again. You want to try and do what they do? good luck!

Tips for getting through it:

*personally, it helps me if i watch... but i've been told that is borderline insanity.. peopel are surprized when i say that.. that holds true for not only blood drawing, iv's, etc.. but tattoos and piercings too.. haha.  but... anyways..

*don't look. hold a conversatoin with someone, orlook at some small detail of something...

*don't hold your braethe either... remember to breathe.

*hold someones hand if you're really feeling anxious. squeeze if you need too.

*try and stay relaxed..they're not out to get you. remember why you're having it done and why it's important.


And if youra parent with a child going through this? If they want to look.. let them look. I have seen two other kids before who wanted to look, and the nurses didn't let them, or their parents didn't let them, and the kids spazzed out.... i was in the room with one of them.. i eventually just blurted out "let the girl look" and everything was perfectly fine..  and the girl (and mom.. and nurse..) thanked me for that, later.. --- but if your child isn't bordering crazy liek me? (; haha. i hate to say bribe... but it works... say they can get a cool sticker afterwards, or if they're a big girl or boy and let the nurse do what she needs to do (draw blood, iv, etc...) that they'll get to watch a movie with you when theyg et home... or oposite: say big girls and boys have t oget this done sometimes.. tell them if they're mature about it then it'll make them a big girl/boy.. (all of this depends on the age ofthe chidl, obviously..)


Hope this helps. (: have a great day/night.

-ashley.

P.S. sorry for any spelling/grammar errors.. it is 2:35am as i'm finishing this up now.. I can't sleep. I'm heading to the hospital tomorrow morning (or today i guess.) for a 6month follow up from my VSG and i have to get up at 6am anyways... so i'm not asleep now.. what's the point in sleeping? lol. alright. bye(:

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