A couple of weeks ago I had some blood work done. I had never had blood drawn before and it made me feel like I might throw up. I think my doctor wants me to repeat the blood test in a few weeks. What can I do so I won't feel sick again? Getting blood drawn, whether it's for lab work or for a blood donation , can be unsettling for lots of people.
Others don't want to see blood leaving their bodies. If you're nervous or scared, it can help to look away or talk to someone to distract yourself. You might feel a slight sting when the needle goes in or comes out. Drawing blood usually takes only a few minutes. What To Expect After Blood Tests When the needle is withdrawn, you'll be asked to apply gentle pressure with a piece of gauze bandage to the site.
This helps to stop the bleeding and may help prevent swelling and bruising. Make sure that you do not bend your arm, as this may cause bruising. Hold pressure until you are asked to remove your hand. The phlebotomist will check for continued bleeding and apply a bandage if it has stopped. If this happens, you generally become aware of it within a few minutes because a painful deep swelling can be felt and sometimes seen. Tell the collector if this happens as it is necessary to apply firm pressure to the area for at least five minutes.
Almost inevitably you will develop extensive and sometimes spectacular bruising on the lower part of the arm over the next two to three days because the blood leaks to the underside of your arm with gravity. While this may appear dramatic it is not dangerous and will gradually disappear over a couple of weeks.
There are some rare complications but you have to be unlucky to suffer one of these. For example, you may have a tiny branch of one of the sensory nerves of the arm actually running over the surface of the vein. Rarely, the needle will hit this tiny nerve on the way into the vein. This may cause a short, sharp electric-shock type pain. This may be all that happens; however in some cases tingling type of pain may persist for one to four weeks, as the nerve heals.
This is inconvenient and may be unpleasant but it eventually heals up. Another rare complication is for a small clot or thrombus to form in the vein at the site where the needle was inserted. This is noticeable as a small firm lump just under the skin. The lump may or may not be tender and will go away over a couple of weeks. Finally, there is the possibility of infection developing at the site of the needle puncture.
This is extremely rare and would be noticed as developing redness and pain. Most times, discolouration and tenderness around the needle puncture site are the result of bruises that are healing but if you are worried contact the person or clinic where you had the blood collection done or visit your doctor. Finger-pricks A small number of blood tests require just a finger-prick. A very small sample of blood from your capillaries can be obtained from the fingertip or earlobe, or from the heel or big toe of a newborn baby.
Warming the skin with moist, hot compresses for about 10 minutes helps blood flow to the area. The skin is then pricked with a lancet. The tube is then guided into a larger vein close to the heart, from where blood can be drawn.
Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Tips on blood testing. Updated January 3, Deacon B, Abramowitz J. Fear of needles and vasovagal reactions among phlebotomy patients.
J Anxiety Disord. Fear of blood draw is associated with inflated expectations of faint and prefaint reactions to blood donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; National Cancer Institute. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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