Having Blood Drawn

[chell]

Does anyone else get physically ill after having blood drawn?

I just had one vial taken yesterday and I'm sick! This happens every single time. It doesn't even matter how much or how little they take (besides a finger prick).

My stomach is all messed up and I've got a terrible headache. Why? I just don't understand it. It's not from stressing over the process or anything like that either.

 

[Grog]

I went through a phase about twenty years ago, that lasted for a couple of years, where anytime I had blood drawn (or donated blood), I would get sick afterwards. I would get tunnel vision, break out in a sweat, feel nauseated and get chills. It didn't matter if it was a pint or one small tube. The doctor wasn't sure what was causing it, and it stopped happening as suddenly as it started.

 

[chell]

Thanks Grog! I feel so much better knowing that I'm not the only one. I'm glad that yours went away.

 

[browneyes]

Are you anemic?

 

[chell]

Nope

 

[chell]

I guess I'm just a big ole sissy because my vein still hurts REAL bad!

If only the nurse would believe me when I tell her I'm allergic to needles and pain!

 

[floridaminnie]

I become faint. My is just from the stress of it all and my blood pressure drops which isn't good since I have low blood pressure to begin with. A drink of water and some deep breaths and the "spell" passes.

 

[RNMOM]

If you vein still hurts, maybe you should have it looked at. DH donated blood and started complaining of discomfort in that arm. A couple days later he had a streak running up the arm into his armpit. He had to take antibiotics for several days! Even though we are very careful, anytime you puncture the skin an infection can occur.

 

[CamColt]

Ive passed out twice from it. I have this thing about veins. I cant look at them without getting queasy so the thought of them digging around for a vien just puts me over the edge. My legs are getting weak as I type this, LOL!

 

[DaisyDebbie]

I don't have good veins at all. Sometimes they get the blood first shot sometimes not The last time I had a HUGE bruise
I ask them to use the baby needles, they don't hurt the vein as much I get faint also.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I used to get very nervous about having blood drawn, but a couple of months ago I was in the hospital for blood clots in my lungs and they were drawing blood from me every 6-hours (sometimes more) for 4 days. I was a human pin cushion. One time they came in and needed 10 vials, I didn't think they could get that much out of me, but somehow they did! I still go in once a month to have blood drawn, as I'm on Coumadin (for 6 months to a year) for the blood clots. But after going through all that in the hospital, once a month is a breeze!

 

[Christine]

This reaction is very common. Having blood drawn causes a "vagus nerve" reaction is a lot people and you kind of get panicky and "shock like" feelings. It's definitely set off by anxiety. A lot of people eventually get over it, like if you get pregnant (they do a lot of bloodwork in the beginning) or if you have a medical condition where you're forced to have blood drawn frequently--the reaction will stop.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

at each blood draw that I started drinking extra water before the appointment and asking for a warm compress and a butterfly needle if the first stick isn't successful. I don't mind the first stick so much but I hate it when they poke and poke and poke. Hey, I'm NOT a pin cushion! The butterfly needle works everytime.

I don't know about feeling sick the next day though, surely they didn't take enough blood to reduce your blood volume?! Perhaps you're just super sensitive or something.

The fainting and vagus nerve stimulation thing happens to the guys in my family. If they're not sitting down when they have blood drawn or get an injection or immunization they drop like rocks. Poor babies.