Surgery and fainting, oh my!!!

[Jailyn]

Okay, this is somewhat embarrassing for me to admit, half of the time. I do not deal well with blood, shots, and needles. This has been the case since I was 16 years old. So, it makes me nervous for any surgeries that I would like. Like changing any bandages, drains, and other such things. As I understand it this is a genetic thing for me. My mother has the same issue and medical professionals have a name for it too. So my question is for those of you that have the same issue what have you done to combat it? How do you handle any fainting or dizziness spells that you get? I have tried eating before, eating immediately before, drinking a coke before or during and have not found a good solution. So as you can imagine this gives me anxiety about any surgeries but, also not trying to do them gives me anxiety too, so this is a double edged sword for me. For example I got a tattoo in November and yes, I was doing fine then stopped my artist and thought I would be fine. Nope I passed out in his chair and it's not a large tattoo either. I wanted it though. Of course with surgery I will be put out so there's that. Any suggestions and help would be great!

[KathyLauren]

I used to be the same.  I'd faint any time I got blood drawn for lab tests.  I got over it by paying attention to what was going on.  I learned that I had to actually watch the needle going in, and I'd be fine.  Good thing, now that I have to have lab work avery few months.

It didn't help with being a blood donor, though.  For some reason, they had trouble getting a vein, getting enough blood flow, one thing after another.  That seemed to be enough to push me over the edge.  I went four times.  Three of those times, I passed out.  The nurse told me one time that I turned a delightful shade of green!  I stopped being a blood donor after that.

I'm not worried about surgery, though.  If I pass out, it will save them some anesthetic. 

[Allison S]

I think it sounds like you go in with a negative mind set about it. What I find helpful is to think about what the positive outcome of getting blood drawn will be. For me it's a few things like knowing my hormone levels and hopefully getting medications increased.

Laser for me is much harder because the pain is so excruciating. It really stinks

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[Kendra]

I used to have serious fear of needles... I stupidly skipped all doctors visits for more than a decade to avoid needles. 

In the past half year I've had blood samples taken and injections more times than the previous half century, and that isn't counting a few hundred hours of electrolysis needling.  I'm having four surgeries in the next half year.  Any time you feel that fear creeping in just think about your goals and how much you want the results.  Focus on the positive, I can assure you it does get easier over time. 

[Rachel]

It is called the vagel response.

I have passed out many times giving blood. When giving blood make sure you are hydrated and lay down. I never passed out when laying down. I have really bad veins so I must drink fluids when I give blood.

When I did my injection training for IM I had to do it several times because I passed out. A transwoman told me to do the injections on my bed and lay back when done. I no longer need to do my IM in bed but still do.

When I was going to have GCS at lower bucks I suggested I lay down for the morning blood test when I arrived at Lower Bucks Hospital. Instead they used a bar type chair. Anyhow, I awoke in the ED puking. MG GCS was 1 hour late and I was worried they would cancel my operation. When I was there in July they said I remember you and pointed to the bed and I layed down, no issues.

[Devlyn]

Okay, this is somewhat embarrassing for me to admit, half of the time. I do not deal well with blood, shots, and needles. This has been the case since I was 16 years old. So, it makes me nervous for any surgeries that I would like. Like changing any bandages, drains, and other such things. As I understand it this is a genetic thing for me. My mother has the same issue and medical professionals have a name for it too. So my question is for those of you that have the same issue what have you done to combat it? How do you handle any fainting or dizziness spells that you get? I have tried eating before, eating immediately before, drinking a coke before or during and have not found a good solution. So as you can imagine this gives me anxiety about any surgeries but, also not trying to do them gives me anxiety too, so this is a double edged sword for me. For example I got a tattoo in November and yes, I was doing fine then stopped my artist and thought I would be fine. Nope I passed out in his chair and it's not a large tattoo either. I wanted it though. Of course with surgery I will be put out so there's that. Any suggestions and help would be great!

Big hug! It's a real medical condition, I have it. In fact, it's on my medical records so anyone working on me knows. Just let your providers know, they have protocols in place for people like you and I. I  usually get put lying down on a table, or the chair with four arms so I can't fall out. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_needles

Hugs, Devlyn

[Dena]

I hate needles and have become light headed a few times from blood work. My solutions is not to look at what's going on and I think of something other than the blood draw. If I can, I get as close to horizontal as possible. It wasn't a problem in the doctors office because they had tables but the labs take blood draws in chair so the best I can do is to slouch as much as possible in the chair. In addition, after the draw, I take my time getting upright.