On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does getting your blood drawn hurt?
I have to get my blood drawn to test for diabetes (or anything else) and I have never had this done before, so can you tell me what to expect? Will they take it from my elbow crease? how long does the needle usually stay in, and how bad does it usually hurt? 1 being not at all, and 10 being extreme pain. Thank you so much!
Tagged with: Blood Test • crease • Diabetes • elbow • extreme pain
Filed under: Tennis Elbow Home Cures
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I am actually PETRIFIED of needles and I had it done just a few weeks ago…I honestly thought it would hurt heaps! But it actually didn’t. The worst bit is when they put it in, and I say that would be about a 4 or 5 out of 10.
What they do, is they will either have you lying down or sitting up (sometimes if you’re sensitive to needles they get you to lie down) and will then tie something around your upper arm, so the blood stays in your lower arm.
They will then get the sharp bit of the needle in you, and once inside your arm (where the crease of your elbow is) they will attach however many vials to it, to take the blood out of. It depends what you’re having tested. Normally 2 or 3 are taken (but I had 4) this bit doesn’t actually hurt. It feels like something’s just sitting in your arm and it’ really weird! It’s in there no lonbger than a minute, but it’s ok cause it doesn’t hurt most of the time.
But it definitelyt won’t hurt as much as a normal needle, because it does not go into your muscle – it only goes through your skin and into the vein.
Good luck! Just look away and blare some loud music in your ear – worked for me! (:
It’s different for everyone. I’m a small girl so it hurts more than usual for me. It is from your elbow crease and for me it was about a 6. It is mostly very uncomfortable, and only hurts when they put the needle in and for a second after that. Once u get past that, it’s just being uncomfortable.
You can never get used to it, but it’s nothing to be freaked out about. It’s a little worse than a shot(but not by much).
I’m not sure how much blood they take for diabetes testing, but yes, it would most likely be from the vein as the elbow crease. It won’t be extreme pain while it is being done, you probaby won’t even feel it. But where the needle is will probably be sore once taken out, and may even bruise. Overall, pain = about a 4.
1
4.maybe bcos iam quite use to it,but its a very fast procedure and take a short while so the pain is not such a big thing.better get a practiced person to do it,i have experienced them poking me many times bcos they could not find the right vein,then the pain may goes to an 8 even.good luck
About three, just a little sting, you have nothing to worry about. BE BRAVE!!!!!!!
They get it from your arm or your hand, usually arm. Pain is a 2-3 and doesn’t last long. Little kids can endure it, I am sure you can. I’ve had it done hundreds of times. Just not that bad unless you psych yourself out for it. Just relax.. and look in the other direction. It is a very small thing, no big deal, nothing to get carried away about. Doesn’t feel good, but not agony and the better you can do at relaxing and staying calm, the sooner it is over. one minute tops.
i am a phlebotomist and a nurse. I can tell you that a talented phlebotomist can draw your blood with out you even knowing it happened. The best thing to do is relax and drink plenty of water before you go in if you are well hydrated it is a lot easier to get blood. The normal site for a blood draw is at the bend of your arm in front of the elbow unless you are a difficult draw. The phlebotomist will not let go of the needle, first she will put a turiquit on your arm and ask you to make a fist. then she will clean your arm with alcohol.. total time is less then 2 minutes for everything. Needle is in your arm about 40 seconds.
depending on what test they do it could be one draw or a timed draw where you drink a surgary liquid and get blood drawn several times in a four hour period. there is also a 6 hour test but this is rare.
Do not eat or drink anything but water before this test.
Good luck
joann
1 but if you have never experience that maybe you will feel like 2 or 3, once the needle is in, you will feel nothing, all about the needle prick nothing more..
I donate to the Red Cross about monthly, and I will tell anyone reading my thoughts:
It’s the dread that makes it hurt lol
Honestly? I joke around with the phlebotomists, make sure they’re having a laugh.
You stare at the needle, you think about excruciating pain or something silly like this, then sure it will hurt, because you want it to.
Just forget about it, be happy, and you’ll barely realize it’s already in and your blood is flowing into a bag.
(Fascinating to see your own blood, when you’re not afraid lol)
Oh, and they give you cookies and OJ (but you’re diabetic, didn’t say hyper- or hypo-, not mattering anyway, since your query is about pain lol)
And I’m serious, it’s almost painless. They make needles sharp for a reason, so that they get right in without pain lol
I voluntarily do it monthly, just because I’m awesome.
Just don’t worry, even though I know you will lol
It will come to you…