Hey there! I hope you’re all doing good! This week I bring you the dreaded subject of… BLOOD TESTS!! Blood tests are one thing that we all have to deal with at some point, chronically ill or not. But the likelihood is, if you are chronically ill, you’re having to have them pretty regularly. I have to have them quite often myself, so I thought I would help you all out with my personal tips for a successful blood test.
1) Keep calm – My first tip, yet the one I find most difficult. If you’re not a fan of blood tests, it’s pretty hard to keep calm, but try your best! I try to avoid thinking about the blood test until I’m actually in the room having it done, as being stressed out makes it harder to get the blood.
2) Drink water – I try to drink at least 1 litre of water before my blood test (depending on time of day – if it’s later, a bit more!) And I try to make sure I drink plenty of water in the days beforehand too, keeping hydrated is helpful!
3) Eat well – I make sure to eat plenty before my blood test – once again it’s harder to get blood if you’ve not eaten sufficiently. I always try to have a good breakfast, plus a bit more just to make sure there’s no chance of hunger!
4) BREATHE – Another pretty basic thing, but one easily forgotten if you’re stressed out about having your blood taken. I try to take slow steady breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth while it’s taken (but not too slow, I don’t want you to pass out!)
5) Keep warm – Blood flows a bit better if you’re warm, so if it’s a chilly winter day I have a good jiggle about to get myself warm when I arrive.
Those are my top 5, but aside from that I’d just suggest being honest with the person who takes your blood – they’d rather know and lay you down if there’s a chance you might pass out. Or, if blood doesn’t always come easy they may use a smaller needle for you, or even let them know if you have a preference of arm. You’ve just got to tell them, and more often than not they’re more than happy to help you out!
And lastly, bring a sweet for after! I like to take a lolly personally, it helps settle my tummy, and is a nice treat!
I hope these help you! Good luck with any future blood tests 🙂
TTFN, ta ta for now!
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(Any opinions expressed in Molly’s blog are not necessarily shared by Arthur’s Place. Nothing that you read in Molly’s blog constitutes medical advice.)
