Passing out and convulsions after bloodwork

[Zandy595]

Has anyone ever passed out and convulsed after having blood taken? It just happened to DS16. Scared the crap out of me.

 

[sparklynails23]

Lots of people pass out at the sight of blood. It's a vasovagal reflex. Don't know anything about the convulsions. Did he hit hir head?

 

[indimom]

Has anyone ever passed out and convulsed after having blood taken? It just happened to DS16. Scared the crap out of me.

Is he okay now??? I bet that scared the nurses too...

 

[Zandy595]

Lots of people pass out at the sight of blood. It's a vasovagal reflex. Don't know anything about the convulsions. Did she hit her head?

No, he didn't hit his head. He was still sitting in the chair where they took the blood. He just slumped over, turned red and started convulsing. He woke up and was extremely pail about 30 seconds after it happened. He never looked at the blood or needle.

 

[blana]

DH passes out when he sees blood. When we got our life insurance policies, he ended up hitting the floor when he turned his head & saw the vials sitting beside him. The nurse thought he had had a grand mal seizure. (Her words.) After a thorough check up, it turned out to just be his reaction to seeing the blood.

 

[Lynne M]

It's not that uncommon, I used to work in a blood donor center and it wasn't a normal week if we didn't have at least one poor donor pass out. Google "vasovagal episode" for more information. It's nothing to worry about, it's just a physiological response that some people have to the sight of blood, or many other possible triggers.

I know it's scary as heck when it's your kid, but really, it's OK. About all you can do is make sure they're sitting or laying down when they're getting blood drawn, so they don't fall and hurt themselves if they get lightheaded.

 

[Lynne M]

Even if he didn't see the blood, just the thought of what's happening squicks some people out so much that they pass out.

 

[luvmy3]

I've never convulsed, at least not that I know of, but I have passed out after a blood draw.

 

[Lynne M]

My blood center days were long ago, so I can't remember if I ever saw anyone seize after passing out, but a little googling showed that about 8% of people will have seizures during a vasovagal episode.

 

[Zandy595]

Is she okay now??? I bet that scared the nurses too...

I tried to get him to eat something, but he's nauseous. He's lying down now.

This was at a lab, no nurse. They got him some water. They didn't even have any juice or cookies to bring his blood sugar up.

 

[Plum85]

I work in a hospital and once it happened to a young girl. We had never seen it before but we got her checked out and was told it was nothing to worry about. She didn't 'seize' as much as her body went rigid and contorted into a funny shape. If he's been checked out I wouldn't worry. It can be blood sugar induced too I think

Hope you're both ok.

 

[Lynne M]

Juice and cookies wouldn't have helped. There wasn't enough blood volume removed to affect his blood sugar levels.

Vasovagal syndrome is a blood pressure/heart rate problem. In really basic terms, your brain sends a signal that causes your heart rate to slow way down, and your blood vessels to open wider, which makes your blood pressure drop suddenly. The combined effect is that the blood supply to your brain suddenly drops, and down you go.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Has anyone ever passed out and convulsed after having blood taken? It just happened to DS16. Scared the crap out of me.

My 15 dd will do that because of medical stuff. It is vasovagal syncope. They aren't "true convulsions" although they look like it!

A true convulsion is the inability to stay awake after the episode. How is he doing?

My dd has had this for a long while and she uses "visualization therapy" to get her through stuff.

In addition blood draws need to be done lying down from now on and make sure you have a cup of water handy and to go slow and tell your DS to BREATHE.

Even so it still happens to her esp. when the attending person is not listening. She has learned to be direct with them and TELL them what she needs. Most of them are compassionate and comply however sometimes you get the person that says..."oh you'll be fine"....well, no she won't.

Last time she passed out was in the chair at the oral surgeon's getting the heart nodes on. Yea, that med person got the scare of her life.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Vasovagal reactions are something seen in hospitals and clinics a lot. It is not a problem with the heart - in fact, it means your system is working pretty well, actually.

Straining** stimulates the vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system, or opposite of the fight/flight reflex. In other words, it slows things down, including the heart rate, sometimes to as low as 20s.

It does mimic a seizure, and in that respect can scare staff a bit (especially if they're new at it), cause for a few seconds, you're not exactly sure what it is, and have to treat it accordingly anyway. But after 30 seconds or so, the patient comes around, and then you know what it is. (The process can be seen, and other things ruled out also, if the patient is on a cardiac monitor.)

In the hospital after procedures it's so common that doctors often write standing orders to treat it if it takes longer than usual to come around.

**Straining includes the maneuver a person does when he or she reacts to pain or other unpleasant stimuli. Like a pressing on your innards, holding your breath, similar to straining for a BM, etc.

 

[DizBelle]

I tried to get him to eat something, but he's nauseous. He's lying down now.

This was at a lab, no nurse. They got him some water. They didn't even have any juice or cookies to bring his blood sugar up.

The juice and cookies are only for donating blood when your blood volume is depleted enough to warrant it. Drawing a vial or 2 shouldn't cause a need for juice and cookies. Of course, if you want juice or cookies, you can bring your own.

 

[Muushka]

For all who pass out when you have your blood taken, how can you avoid it?

As someone who has drawn too many people to remember, this is my suggestion.

First, if you simply don't like it, please don't add any more drama to the situation than necessary.

But if you have a true aversion to it (I could usually tell because they were the ones who didn't say a word, petrified), please tell your health care worker that you have a history of passing out when your blood is drawn. If a really quiet one didn't tell me, I would ask. If yes, I would lie them down to eliminate the falling on the floor! Then while taking the blood, I would attempt to talk with them about their subject of choice. Most would happily talk to take their minds off of it. A few would remain silent, I would leave them alone, but watch carefully. I never had a fainter faint on me when we took these measures.

Oh yes, and most importantly, don't hold your breath during the procedure!

My personal hall of famer passer-outer? A 250 or so lb man who was doing fine, took a deep breath, snapped the tray that the arm sits on in half and slid to the floor in slow motion. I can still see it! He was fine after a few whiffs of smelling salts.

 

[ols386]

For all who pass out when you have your blood taken, how can you avoid it?

As someone who has drawn too many people to remember, this is my suggestion.

First, if you simply don't like it, please don't add any more drama to the situation than necessary.

But if you have a true aversion to it (I could usually tell because they were the ones who didn't say a word, petrified), please tell your health care worker that you have a history of passing out when your blood is drawn. If a really quiet one didn't tell me, I would ask. If yes, I would lie them down to eliminate the falling on the floor! Then while taking the blood, I would attempt to talk with them about their subject of choice. Most would happily talk to take their minds off of it. A few would remain silent, I would leave them alone, but watch carefully. I never had a fainter faint on me when we took these measures.

Oh yes, and most importantly, don't hold your breath during the procedure!

My personal hall of famer passer-outer? A 250 or so lb man who was doing fine, took a deep breath, snapped the tray that the arm sits on in half and slid to the floor in slow motion. I can still see it! He was fine after a few whiffs of smelling salts.

DS (who is 32 I might add) had blood drawn recently, and he is petrified to have this done.

He said he told the lady who was drawing his blood that it really bothered him, and said that she was really nice about it and talked him through it.

He said he was just a little woozy afterwards, but in a short time afterwards, felt fine.

So whomever is drawing the blood, CAN make a difference, I think.

 

[Bilberry]

I've had blood drawn many times for testings, sometimes stomach related tests, and other times for heart health. One time I went to the lab when the gut was acting up. I needed 6 tubes filled. I didn't pass out, but came pretty close as everything went fuzzy there for awhile. Ended up camping out in the car for a bit to regain my bearings.

 

[Zandy595]

DS had to fast for 12 hours before the blood draw, that's why I thought it might be a good idea to bring his blood sugar up. But then again I'm not a medical professional, so I don't know what I'm talking about.

He ate lunch a couple hours ago and is doing fine now.

The lab tech didn't seem too worried about the episode. I think he just wanted us out of there so he could move on to the next person. He told me to go get him something sweet to eat.

 

[Chelley00]

DS19 does this. My big hulking 6' 4" 210 lbs won't go get his meningitis shot for college because he knows he'll pass out and shake like crazy