So I have a fear of needles. It's not as bad as it used to be, but I still get pretty creeped out by needles. This fear started when I was in the second grade and has stuck with me.
So one day when I was 7ish, these pink splotches started to appear on my legs, and I had no idea what they were. When I showed my parents, they were worried and took me to Christie Clinic. Unfortunately, the Pediatrician (I think that's what doctors for children are called?) didn't know what was wrong with me.
So, like all doctors do when they're unsure, this doctor decided to run tests on my blood. That meant they had to take a blood sample. Now, blood samples are taken from the arm (I think the part they usually take it from is the inside of the elbow, but I could be horribly wrong), and unfortunately for me, you can't see any veins on any part of my arms. So what happened in the next two hours was pure torture for me.
Imagine yourself as a young kid and it's around 9-10 PM, it's dark outside (I hate the dark...), and you're in this hospital and there's nobody else there as far as you can tell. Now there are around 3 nurses and a doctor around you (my dad was there too, but I don't remember being able to see him, so maybe he was standing behind me), and they're telling you that they need to poke you with a needle and how it should just feel like a tiny pinch. I already hated needles then because I just didn't like the idea of putting a tiny hole in my body, so I was freaking out when they said they needed a blood sample.
Now, despite hating needles, I just wanted to go home, so I tried to put up with the needles (I was also a crybaby, so I doubt that made the situation easier for those poor nurses who had to take my blood) and so they jab the needle into my arm (after using the wipe and all that good stuff you do before you put the needle in). Then I hear them say, "Oh, I didn't get the vein."
So of course, that led to try number two. Still jabbing my right arm, they missed again. Great. So they decided to use a smaller needle and use it on my left arm. They missed again.
After three tries I don't remember what was said, but the next thing I remembered was my dad telling me we were going to Provena to try to get a blood sample. Unfortunately, it was just as hard to jab my vein at Provena as it was at Christie. So of course, their first try was on my right arm, and was a miss. Then again on my left arm, another miss. Then there was this break where nothing was happening, so I asked my dad what was happening. The people at Provena had called in one of their best nurses who had been working there for a really long time. I remember she looked like a nice old lady, and she was the one that was able to jab my vein and get the blood sample.
Still, it was too late. I was terrified of needles. It had taken six tries to get one sample of blood. SIX. Because of that incident, I never wanted to be near any needles ever again. Luckily, I'm better at dealing with needles today, but I'll always have that fear of needles.
Whaaaaaaat? That sucks; I would never be able to withstand six tries to get one sample of blood, and with the blood drive coming up, I doubt that you'd be so keen on donating blood after this traumatic event. Personally, I don't have any large, bulging veins on the inside of my arms either, but I've never had to get a blood sample (that I can remember.) The worst were shots on the upper arm because then I'd feel like I couldn't lift them ... and I can see some veins around my wrists but I don't think that'll do it.
ReplyDeleteAnd what kind of comfort is "oh, I didn't get the vein,"?
I can see how this experience would instigate a fear of needles (which I think comes naturally to many kids anyway).
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that doesn't sound fun at all! I'm so sorry you had to sit through that. I've had my blood taken before and took the nurse twice to get the vein, I can't imagine how awful six times must be! My little brother has veins that are better hidden than mine, and it took four tries to get to the vein (he was actually 7ish at the time, too). The nurses were kind enough to give him a stuffed animal after that ordeal. I feel like people tend to be afraid of any sharp objects entering their body (shots, IVs, etc.), regardless of whether they are for medical reasons.
ReplyDeleteI've never had my blood taken, but I'm impressed by 7-year-old Eric's composure. I would be freaking out by the 3rd jab. I don't even do well with flu shots, which is why I tend to go for the nasal vaccines instead. I'm sorry this happened to you at such a young age!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that the nurse should be fired. It shouldn't take that many tries for them to get the blood sample. If they can't get it from your arm, they should've taken it from your leg, your feet, or your neck.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be that hard for a nurse to find a vein T.T
ReplyDeleteIt must have been traumatizing for seven year old Eric. Like what some other people have said, couldn't they have tried another spot? I remember when I got my blood drawn for allergy testing that stabbed the needle into my shoulder. But hey, if you fail try, try, and try again.
Wow this sounds really bad. I don't hate needles, but at the same time I don't look forward to needles. My veins are pretty obvious, so the doctors can usually find it for blood samples and IVs. I'm glad I never had to go through this, or I might hate needles as much as you do.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like needles, and I've learned to put up with them not by choice but out of necessity. .My mom is an acupuncturist, so every time I get sick or injured she insists on exercising her craft.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about acupuncture is that once the needles go in, they stay in. You might have to lie down with a dozen needles sticking out of you for as long as thirty minutes.
Needleless to say, I had my fear of needles scared out of me pretty early on.