*Faint* Hearted.... - Real Mum story on MoM

10 Comments

I’ve always been weak stomached. As a teenager I can recall leg shaving nicks that would result in me running from the bathroom in a towel screaming for a sister to grab a bandaid before passing out on my bed dripping wet (my sisters like to remind me of that too). Pregnancies were difficult in the sense that each blood test came with the possiblity of me ending up on the floor so I was dubbed ‘the bed blood tester’ by my family and would always lie down to have blood taken. As a mother of three young boys I’ve come across many skinned knees, bloody loose teeth and head bumps that result in ‘bleeds’, and I’ve coped with all of them, until another adult takes over and then I pass out. *sigh*
Fast forward to now and last weeks blood test (yep I passed out in the chair). I’m currently awaiting test results for hemochromatosis. My original blood tests, for a rash, showed that I have high iron levels in my blood and thus the search for the culprit. For those who don’t know hemochromatosis is an iron overloading disorder where basically your body struggles to get rid of excess iron and begins to store it which in the long term can do damage to your liver and heart amongst other things. The treatment for this disorder, wait for it, is venesection or regularly taking blood (aprox. 500mls) weekly or fortnightly until iron levels are at a normal level and then upto four times a year to maintain for the rest of your life. *faints!* I guess I’m looking for ideas/support on how I can deal with this if my results come back positive (I now know a relative also has the condition so it’s possible). I’ve forever heard ‘you’ll be right’ or ‘it’s just blood’, I wish it were that easy! I’m still a week out from my results and ‘blood’ is on my mind constantly now. Any ideas would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance

Posted by mom56394, 7th May 2014

10 Comments

- - BellaB said
  - 28 May 2016
    2:25 pm
Not looking at the needle helps me… Lying down is sensible… And you do eventually get more used to ir. good luck.

- - mom93821 said
  - 26 Sep 2015
    6:41 pm
Professionals can help with managing an aversion and reaction to needles.

- - rebekah.bone said
  - 02 Aug 2015
    6:21 pm
The sight of a needle or blood makes me want to pass out.
I feel for you.

- - Carmjoiner said
  - 06 Jun 2015
    7:23 pm
My step father has hemachromatosis and says you will get used to it eventually.
- mom93821 replied
  
  27 Sep 2015 , 7:22 am
  Exactly – you do get used to needles and I do write from experience.
- - mom113055 said
  - 21 Apr 2015
    1:44 pm
this story is good

- - mom57522 said
  - 23 Sep 2014
    2:07 pm
You remind me so much of my girlfriend who hates blood and needles.

- - christial said
  - 07 May 2014
    8:55 pm
My husband hates his blood taken but not to the point of fainting. He said what helps him is it the syringe or container they are using to take your blood doesn’t come in contact with his skin it’s not as bad because you don’t get that ‘warm’ feeling.. Not sure if that made sense..?!

- - arcticwynta said
  - 07 May 2014
    5:06 pm
I am a needle phobe and also pass out after crying before I even get in the room and I have always done this and I have B12 injections every 3 months as well as all the other ones and I have never taken a single one of the kids for their needles that has always been Hubby’s or my Mum’s job. When I was in hospital and hooked up to a heart monitor they could not believe how my heart when berserk when they came to give me a needle so there are plenty of use out there

- - amandaks said
  - 07 May 2014
    3:58 pm
Haha oh no you poor thing! I’m not sure how to get it off your mind now but could you perhaps distract yourself with something while the blood is being taken? Try reading a book, play a game on a phone/iPad, listen to music, something like that? I hate blood tests and have occasionally gotten lightheaded (never fainted though) and I find that just looking the other way and talking about something random helps me. Good luck, I hope the results come back negative for you