Feeling faint at drs

I’ve never heard of white coat syndrome but omg I can defo say I have that! I didn’t half get poked around on Tuesday! At least you are able to take your own blood pressure! Whenever I take it I always end up blacking out and fainting and it takes ages to recover (especially in hot weather). I hate the strap thing puffing up, it’s like my arm gets strangled and then I just black out! I am just so squeamish lol! 

Medical appointments for myself make me very anxious, I have to try control my breathing (in through the nose/out through the mouth) and the last nurse I saw mentioned something known as “white coat syndrome”. It’s as it sounds; a fear or apprehension towards doctors and nurses prodding and poking you, doing tests etc. I go in with raised blood pressure and leave with relatively normal blood pressure, they usually have to test it several times to get an accurate reading. I would say that anxiety around health care settings is pretty normal especially if you experience high anxiety anyway. 

Ouch I’m sorry to hear about your arm. Blood tests are the worst for me! I had to walk out on mine the other year due to my anxiety and phobia but also because the phlebotomist who was trying to do so was horrible and I mean horrible to me, even my dad said that as he was there, but turns out I didn’t need the test anyway, thankfully I'm out that practice now! I mean I was 23 at the time and I was holding my Kirby plushie and the phlebotomist didn’t understand or anything. When I had my corona jabs my arms were so sore for days yet when I had other ones my arms have been ok. 

I didn’t have jabs yesterday but what I did have was in my opinion just as unpleasant as the pain just made me feel faint and black out, I suppose I should have brought an ice pack or cold water as the room I was in was warm and had no windows. Just so annoying I have to be so squeamish! 

For needles just look the other way or close your eyes. I can't look, especially when they take blood.

Some people are a lot better than others. I've had a number of blood tests this year. I went to an upmarket private hospital and it barely left a mark, the local nurse made my arm hurt for 4 days and left a big bruise.

You know what I actually never thought of that. I haven’t got one of those external batteries at the moment but I will look into ordering one. I’ve got all the right wires and that so yeah I’ll probably treat myself to one! Good idea thank you for suggesting 

Elfilis said:

Well all my consoles were low battery anyway

Can they be run from an external battery pack like you use to charge a mobile phone on the go?

This may be worth investing in if it works - they are typically smaller than a mobile phone, give dozens of hours of charging and are pocket sized. Just a thought so you don't find yourself in this situation again.

I never actually thought of that tbh. Well all my consoles were low battery anyway but I could try that next time. I was playing my Mario kart app but I had lost both internet and phone signal so I couldn’t play that in the nurses room itself. She did say it was hot in the room though but she had no control over the heating. I mean I guess I know what to expect next time but yeah I am just so squeamish!

Ugh don’t get me started on needles! I bet you no one is as squeamish as me when it comes to them! Omg when I had to have my corona ones I actually had to lie down in front of people because the other beds were taken lol! 

Well it sounds like you’ve got the right idea distracting yourself by talking about one of your interests. You’re on the right track with that. Usually that is the key for me when I have to deal with needles.

I wonder if it is possible for you to bring your Switch 2 next time. Might not be the best idea, but that would certainly keep your mind occupied while the nurse/doctor do what they need to do.