So in the beginning of next month (June) i'm going to have my appointment at a doctors for bloodwork, then a week later an endo appointment. I have a few questions for each.

Doctor/Bloodwork
-How much blood/vials do they draw?
-What's a way anyone may have dealt with the needles if you have a fear?
(it's not so much needles, but the whole veins/artieries thing that freaks me out)
-Can they/will they detect nicotine or other cigarette-related ingredients in the bloodwork?

Endo
-Will they actually give me a prescription during this first appointment? (given the bloodwork is in on time and such)

-Forget if the 'physical'  i heard about would be given by the endo or doctor but is this true? And do they look, uh, down there, and up there? lol, i mean, do they really gotta look in those spots? x-x i can asure them they are there, so there's no point to include them in a physical, especially because i think i'd be uncomfortable with that.

thanks all in advance

Doctor/Bloodwork:
It depends on the labs ordered, but it's generally 2-4 vials, not a lot of blood.  I don't have a fear of needles, so I can't help you much there.  It's highly unlikely that the person drawing your blood will nick an artery.  Veins bleed much more slowly than arteries, so if you are worried about bleeding too much, you should be okay.  And unless they are testing specifically for drugs, no.  Even if they were testing for drugs, nicotine wouldn't be something that would show up.

Endo:
It's possible depending on your endo.  If you have blood work beforehand and everything checks out, you might start T that day (in office or at home with a prescription).

Physical:
I can only speak from my experience, but my endo did a brief physical on me.  Fully clothed, just the basics (heart, lungs, abdomen).  Thankfully my endo is knowledgeable about trans people so she knew what my binder was for.  No pelvic exam, but we did talk about periods and safe sex.

Needles: Don't look and tell them to ask you to take a deep breath right before they stick it in. I also clench my fist on the other arm.

Okay thanks a lot you two.

And I wish they could take the blood from someplace else besides my arm =(
that's the main part that freaks me out about it, if it wasn't in the arms I really don't think it would bother me.
I don't think this would be an option, would it?

I HATE bloodwork as well. Freaks me out unbelievably. This may be weird, but the blood work people generally don't mind, and it usually helps me. I always tell them I am afraid and ask if they will talk to me after they get the needle in to distract me. Tell me about their day so far, their weekend plans, anything. I find I think about what they are saying more than the blood drawing.

It's natural to fear needles.  Most people tell me "I hate needles!" when I start IVs on them.  I would expect them to, they're sharp and they hurt.  I would be worried about the person who said "I just love needles", though it seems the fear of needles is proportional to the number and size of a person's tattoos (I have yet to figure that out).

The best advice I can give you is that it only hurts for a minute while it passes through your skin, once its past the nerves there's no way for your body to feel the pain so the rest really is just in your head.  Most people that really, really hate needles also tense up when they see the needle coming at them.  This could be the worst thing you can do, when you tense up, it makes your skin tighten up as well.  The tougher your skin, the harder it is to push the needle through the skin, the more and longer its going to hurt.

Quote from: rexgsd on May 28, 2011, 01:08:52 AM
Okay thanks a lot you two.

And I wish they could take the blood from someplace else besides my arm =(
that's the main part that freaks me out about it, if it wasn't in the arms I really don't think it would bother me.
I don't think this would be an option, would it?

You could get it done in your hand.  Just ask and they should do it.  I prefer my hand because the veins in my AC are hard to stick.  I can't think of anywhere else besides legs and feet, but those require a physician's order.

Quote from: Adio on May 28, 2011, 09:21:14 AM
You could get it done in your hand.  Just ask and they should do it.  I prefer my hand because the veins in my AC are hard to stick.  I can't think of anywhere else besides legs and feet, but those require a physician's order.

I start IVs in the best vein I can find.  Someone once told me you'll look at someone's arm and a vein will pop out and say "stick me!".  That's pretty much how it happens.

Quote from: regan on May 28, 2011, 09:27:27 AM
I start IVs in the best vein I can find.  Someone once told me you'll look at someone's arm and a vein will pop out and say "stick me!".  That's pretty much how it happens.

Not to derail lol but I find that IVs started in the AC go bad quickly.  The pump will beep for the entire shift because a person moves their arm so much.  Hands can be the same way.  I usually try to get forearm or upper arm.  For drawing blood the AC is best because of how large and accessible it is, but it really doesn't matter.

Are you a nurse? 

-How much blood/vials do they draw? Depends on the labs they order. Anywhere from 2-6, more if they want to get baselines and basic panels of a bunch of stuff.

-What's a way anyone may have dealt with the needles if you have a fear? Let the phlebotomist know you are afraid of needles, ask if they have a place you can lie down to get stuck, close your eyes, tighten your fist suuuper tight, relax, think of how good you'll feel when you get on T.

-Can they/will they detect nicotine or other cigarette-related ingredients in the bloodwork? Yes if you do it regularly. Be honest with your medical provider.

Endo
-Will they actually give me a prescription during this first appointment? (given the bloodwork is in on time and such)? If the labs the doctor ordered are back, probably. They definitely need the labs to come back, they'll probably take a week or so so you'll most likely come back in a few weeks or so for the endo.


-Forget if the 'physical'  i heard about would be given by the endo or doctor but is this true? And do they look, uh, down there, and up there? lol, i mean, do they really gotta look in those spots? x-x i can asure them they are there, so there's no point to include them in a physical, especially because i think i'd be uncomfortable with that. Many doctors do a full physical but they won't do a pap or anything on the first visit. I know it's uncomfortable physically and psychologically, but paps are required every five years or so even if you've never had sex. Find a doctor that you trust, that understands that that's a traumatic experience for you and works with you. I tell guys that it's stressful all around, but probably not more stressful than being dx'd with cervical cancer or some disease that you'll REALLY be uncomfortable dealing with. It's like prostate cancer for MTF. Not exactly something you want to walk into a doctor's office with if you are transitioned.

Don't let the medical stuff stress you out too much, Rex, think of it like a necessary thing. Your medical provider should be your partner through your transition, not an adversary Meghan

thanks all in advance

Quote from: Adio on May 28, 2011, 09:35:56 AM
Are you a nurse?

FF/Paramedic