What happens during a blood test - reassurance needed

I have had a nightmare week at the doctors.

Firstly, my confidence was breached. When my dad went for his asthma clinic, the receptionist told him he could tell me that my blood test results are fine. It was good news, initially, to hear from my dad that the results were fine, but I did not want my dad to know I had been to the doctors. My dad did not know the reasons for the tests or the results, just that I had been to the doctors. I had been trying to cover my tracks because I did not want my parents to know. The doctor had tried to phone me, and I had heard the phone ring about three times, but did not answer it because I only answer the phone if I know who is calling. I had expected the blood test results in a letter because the nurse had told me this could be done after I had requested it, but the receptionist told later told me that they don't send results out by letter!

Secondly, I don't think the receptionist behaved responsibly. When I phoned the doctors up, ensuring my dad was out of the house because it is confidential, the receptionist read the results out to me and put her own spin on them. Blood count and thyroid were both good, liver was satisfactory (what that means I don't know), but blood glucose was borderline or 'slightly elevated'. I immediately started to worry, thinking that I might be on the slippery slope to diabetes. The receptionst tried to reassure me by saying that everyone's levels are different, and the glucose was elevated by only a minute fraction. She also said she had heard the doctor speaking in the same room as her discussing my results, and saying that he was not too concerned, and that re-testing me or giving me the results might just cause more anxiety. The receptionist said that more testing might be needed, but then she retracted this by saying the above, that the doctor had later decided this was not necessary. This all left me feeling really confused and anxious. I requested a phone call from the doctor on Thursday afternoon - this was on Wednesday.

Yesterday the doctor phoned me in the afternoon. Before he phoned I was shaking, my heart was racing, and I felt quite ill inside, really worrying that I might get diabetes. He told me my score was 6.5, which is every so slightly in the glucose impairment range. He said they normally monitor glucose over the next couple of months in cases like this, just to ensure everything is fine. But he said that because my result was only just in the upper end of normal, or slightly elevated, he wa not too concerned and further tests might not be necessary - it could just be a fluke result. He then clarified whether or not it was a fasting test, and I told him that it was not - I had had a huge bowl of cereal before heading out to my appointment at 9.10 am. I ate breakfast at just after 8 am: oats, wheatabix, milk, banana, strong tea. On hearing this he went, ''aah, then that explains it, then your result is completely normal and I have no concerns''. So all that anxiety for nothing!!! I feel so angry, and I still feel anxious now. I requested a fasting blood tesr just to put my mind at rest, and one has been booked for 8 am on the 12th of May. I also asked the doctor to explain the results in writing. I am still waiting for my ECG result.

A few other concerns I have been having include achy,cold feet and lower legs, particularly when it is cold, but I have reynolds (as does my Mum), and I mentioned this to the doctor. I booked an appointment for ext week to get my legs and feet examined. At the appointment I will also clarify the 6.5 glucose reading to put my mind at rest.

Am I right to feel annoyed? Should I complain? They know I have Asperger's, and I feel they have handled my treatment in an irresponsible way,  creating more problems then thay have solved.

Yeah, the reality is never as bad as the anticipation.

I now have  bit of a bruise where the needle went in, it is not too bad, but I feel the need to cover it up. This is annoying because it is now t-shirt weather!.

I meant to say ECG as opposed to an EEG lol. I hope I get the results back soon, but my anxiety levels have improved.

I'm glad it went OK.  If nothing else it's at least two more things that you know you can cope with should you have to again.  You've made me realise how lucky I am that I can cope with needles easily, even if tablets can terrify me.

Today I had the tests. The first test was the bood test, taken by a nurse. I slept really badly last night because I was worrying about it, but felt surprisingly calm just before the procedure at 9.10 am. It helped that I had had a full breakfast, and a cup of strong tea and a cup of water, so I was well hydrated. Also, my support worker went to the doctors with me, which helped. She did not actually go into the nurse's room with me, on my request, because I get stressed the more people there are around me.

The nurse warned me it would feel like being stung by a stinging nettle, and it did feel a bit like that. The pain, it has to be said, was not much worse than having a vaccination, just slightly longer in duration. I looked away from the needle, and the nurse talked to me, which helped. I did not feel too faint, just slightly light headed, but got over this quickly. Annoyingly, though, the nurse said I might need to be called in again for another test because she was not sure if she had taken enough blood. I hope I do not have to go in again, but if I do, I now know what to expect.

The second appointment - the EEG - was with the same nurse. Thankfully I only had to remove my t-shirt. I was covered with sticky pads, about 10 in total. I was shivering and trembling because I was nervous, but the nurse talked me through some deep breaths, and I soon felt more relaxed.

However, I was expecting the results of the EEG  today, but was told they need to be looked at by a doctor, and then they will write to me. Does anyone here know how long this is likely to take? Until I get the results I will still be feeling anxiety, but I try and remember what the GP said last week about not having any concerns.

Should I phone the doctors if I have not heard anything within a week? And how long does it take to process a blood test?

Regarding whether you're likely to feel faint, I think it's very unlikely that you'd feel faint due to losing such a small volume of blood.  It's nothing like the same as giving blood.  It's being nervous that's more likely to make you feel faint.  Personally, if it's a procedure that you're going to find difficult I'd make sure that there's time to go somewhere for a coffee or something afterwards rather than having to travel straight home.

I think that whether you have to strip to the waste for the ECG will depend upon what kind they do.  A normal three-lead ECG I don't think that you'll need to.  Perhaps wear something with short, loose sleeves though so that, to try to put it mildly, there's more chance of getting the electrodes to the appropriate places without having to actually fully remove it.  (The electrodes are just sticky pads that the leads clip onto, nothing scary).  They can also do 12-lead ECGs which I think they may well need you to take your shirt off for.  I'm fairly sure that you're OK with the trousers though.  You could try ringing to ask whether you're likely to need to remove clothing or not, or frame it as "is it easier if I wear a sleeveless top?" or something.

Regretably, with my past experiences, I wouldn't count on any medical professional to have read my records.  Let alone to remember them and act appropriately.

I've never had the slightest problem with them finding my veins.  They usually comment on how easy they are to find instead.

I am also getting increasingly anxious about the Electro-cardiogram. Will I have to strip to my waist? Will I have to take my trousers off? I don't wear a bra because I find them uncomfortable, but feel really uncomfortable about being half naked. I know that nurses are used to this, but I just feel embarrassed and nervous. I have had to remove my top before when I had concerns about a lump in my *** (it was benign) some years ago, and was petrified then as well. I am really worried about what will happen - two procedures I have never had before in one appointment, and I am feeling really worried now.

Would it be a good idea to explain I have Asperger's? I think they should know as it is on my records, but I am wondering if I should mention it?

Well done getting to 26 without any blood tests, thats very impressive! I tend to be very childish about it when I have blood tests, I end up rocking in the waiting room while getting more and more nervous, I'm shaking when it's my turn and they always know I'm very nervous so I must make it obvious and then I hum (or make some kind of noise) all the way through it but I don't know why because it really isn't very painful at all. I guess it's the anticipation of it that's the worst. But you'll be fine, as the others explains, it just a short sharp scratch and then you don't tend to feel any other part of it at all, just make sure you look away from it too. 

I do remember one time the nurse was practically chasing me around the room because she had to use my other arm and I couldn't look away from it without seeing medical equipment (because it was all set up for the left arm) in the end she made me lye down, so im pretty sure you can't be worse than that and if you are that bad, let the nurse know you want to lye down for it!

Hi - you could ask the person who does your blood test to use a small needle.  Professionals do these tests every day so it's nothing new to them, but can be a new experience for the patient.  They are over with quickly (under a minute) and they put a small plaster or similar on the skin where the needle was inserted.  Also, don't take aspirin for at least 24 hrs before your blood test.  It thins the blood, making it difficult to clot.  And, as has already been said, if you feel squeamish, then look away. 

I've had lots of blood tests, and the only issue I have ever had, was that they couldn't find a vein. Phlebotomist (if that's the word?) told me a good tip is to make sure you are hydrated before having a blood test, as apparently it makes it easier to find the veins. So don't worry, I've never had a painful test, but do make sure you're hydrated, just to make it easier ;) 

Look away when they do it if your squeamish.  Your support worker and the doc (or person who takes the blood) will keep you distracted with small talk.  Go with it.  Maybe think of something to ask/tell them? 

Thank you for the explanations. Yes, I am more nervous about the procedure itself than the results, which I have good reason to believe will be fine. In any event, I am doing what's best for my health by not ignoring something and seeking medical advice. I have never had a blood test before, and I am worried I will feel faint.  Thankfully I do not need to fast beforehand. Is it a good idea to eat something afterwards like a banana or biscuit, a bit like people do after giving blood?. I think I will ask to lie down during the test because I do have a fear of fainting. I am also worried it will hurt because I do not like needles, but if it does not hurt as much as the TB vaccine I had at school once, it can't be too bad. That vaccine felt like being stung by a bee, it was horrible, but I did not pass out.

If it does hurt, what would be a coping strategy I could use? I am very squeamish when it comes to blood, but I know that most people have to have blood tests at some point in their lives, and I guess I have to overcome my fear of them!.

Thankfully my support worker will be with me.

I was terrified the first time I had a bllod test and I think some of it has to be not knowing what to expect but the Phlebotomist or the nurse doing them are usually very nice if you explain how nervous you are.

Basically what will happen is they'll ask you to take your coat off and roll your sleeve up if you're wearing a long sleeeved top. They'll then put something around your arm, usually a piece of elastic with a clip or a latex-type strip that they'll tie. It'll be quite tight because they need to make the veins stick up and your arm will go a bit tingly. They'll poke around and once they find a good vein they'll stick a needle in your arm which will draw off the blood into little tubes. There is a slight sharp scratch when they put the needle in but it shouldn't hurt for long.

Once they've drawn off the blood they need, they'll take the needle out and cover the hole with cotton wool or a swab and get you to hold it on tight for a while. They'll tape it on and tell you how long you have to wait for the results and you'll be able to go home. It's over really quickly once they find a vein and if they have trouble, they'll usually call someone else from the surgery to have a go.

If you're worried about fainting or anything like that, let them know and they should let you lie down on the table/couch whilst they do it. It might also help to look away when the needle goes in too.

Hopefully you'll be fine. :)

I'm glad the appointment went OK and that your heart seems healthy.  Is it the actual tests that you're worried about or the results, or both?

When I've had blood tests (more times than I can count) they've not been any big deal.  Basically they insert a needle into a vein on the inside of your elbow, and then connect this to small vacuum containers which automatically draw up a sample of blood (no syringes).  If they have to take multiple samples for different things then they may use multiple containers, but the system is designed so that these can be changed without disturbing the needle so you only get poked once.  They put a tourniquet around your bicep at the start, which I think that they then release as they take the sample so presumably it's to control the blood flow a bit.  I've usually been in and out of the room in two or three minutes.

If it's the needle that you're worried about, I've never it going in to be painful really.  The people who do these things are probably very well practiced.  And the only other bit that hurts at all is pulling off the nasty tape they use to hold a cotton ball on afterwards (not that it bleeds much or for long).  The only time that I hated blood tests was when I had to fast before (which is only necessary for some things).  Passing the coffee bar at work in the middle of the morning when I hadn't had breakfast was not easy!