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What happens during a blood test - reassurance needed

Hope

Today I had that dreaded doctor's appointment, but it went better than expected. I was concerned because I have been experiencing stabbing sensations in the left side of my chest, and was worried in case there was something wrong with my heart. You know that never ignore chest pains advice? Well, I was petrified I was going to die, and I am only 26 years old. But the doctor checked my blood pressure, which was completely fine, as was my oxygen saturation. She took my heart rate on my front and back, and said my heart sounded healthy.

The doctor said that she had no concerns from the tests and from what I was telling her, but offered me the chance to have a heart trace EEG and a blood test at the doctors nexr Monday. She told me that she is not concerned, and thinks that the tests will show nothing is wrong, but that it will help put my mind at rest, so I accepted the tests. But I am worried about the blood test - what do they involve, and how can I reassure myself?

Parents

  • 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. :)

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  • 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. :)

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