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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

  • 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!

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  • 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!

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