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So I now come over faint when I get a blood test

With only 3 hours of sleep, I finally left the house for the first time in a long time, a trip to the doctors surgery for the first time in just over a year; my last trip there was June last year, when I was told that there was nothing they could offer me, that I needed to wait for the hospital. (An entire year later, I've finally heard from the hospital.) I only went up there today for a blood test. Even though I was tired from lack of sleep, I hoped the appointment would be quick and simple as blood tests usually are. But my head went funny in the car, something it hasn't really done in years, even though my head has always 'dropped' in elevators when they move (I don't know how else to describe the sensation of my head going funny other than 'dropping,' like my brain is in its own elevator). Every turn around a corner set my head off. Then as I stood in line, I fidgeted with my hands because I was afraid I was going to drop right there in the waiting area. I shouldn't have been surprised, then, when the process of taking blood began, that my head immediately went funny, and I became faint. I should have seen this possibility, as my head has been much worse than ever since Autumn, with new sensations like brain zaps and dizziness like I never had before, but I didn't think that a blood test would ever become difficult. I think the reason is because one of my best friends has a phobia of needles, and constantly calls me brave for being able to get blood tests. I have never been afraid of blood tests. So today, when that needle went in and my head responded as though I was afraid, I felt embarrassed and ashamed. The nurse brought me water, told me to eat some sugar when I get home, and shortly after I got home, I burst into tears. My head is really bad, sort of dizzy, faint... my heart feels like it's just going to give up... I feel dangerously weak when I'm standing and walking around (though sitting isn't too much better), my abdomen hurts as always... I'm sucking in air with big breaths... and my muscles are hurting, screaming if they press against the car, against anything.

Truth be told... I'm afraid. I'm becoming more and more scared of my body and I know it's progressing... I have an appointment at the hospital to see a gastroenterologist next month, but I don't know who I'll see. I need it to be the head gastro that I saw last time, the one who heard about my other symptoms... the man I saw the year before... thought I was just anorexic. I'm scared that he might be the one I see. He did not listen when I told him about my reflux and vomiting and night sweats, etc. Somehow, none of that went into his ears. He decided I was anorexic. How could I get him to listen to me now, to read my list of symptoms, to consider something physical and biological and not an eating disorder? I guess it's pointless to worry about it. I don't know who it will be. All I can do is take my list. And myself... knowing what I know. The challenge is... to stand up for myself and my health.

But I'm afraid.
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Reactions: Wolfcub, taniaaust1 and Judee

Comments

T
oh this sounds truely awful. If you are already suffering dizziness and getting unwell due to having low blood volume which can be all part of having ME/CFS, loosing more blood through blood tests can be quite problematic. I know when my blood volume falls even lower, I can't always pick it back up again easily by just drinking.

The doctor appointment thing.. you should be able to find out who they are putting you with.. or if not, I suggest to do a letter saying that you will not see that doctor who put your issues down to anorexia and that you need a different one to then him for your appointment.
 
Wolfcub
That is a good idea -what taniaaust1 suggested !

I remember once I had to go for a gynaecological test, and two doctors couldn't do it! After trying for 30 minutes each on my poor body !(ever heard anything so stupid?) So I got fed up with that and asked to see a certain doctor (consultant) in a certain hospital, whom I liked and trusted. It didn't even take very long for my appointment to be booked. (she, by the way did the test easily and smoothly in under 10 minutes!)

So right -we are not somebody else's property to do with as they wish. We can have some control but we have to ask for it.
Ask your GP and give him/her the name of the consultant you prefer to see.

I hope it all goes well, Poorly Pixi
 
Shoshana
Poorly Pixi, I am so very sorry you had that terrible time at the hospital, and at home, afterwards. It is not your fault, that you have many difficulties, and that you had the response you had, to the blood tests this time, and to waiting at the hospital for them. We can't help it, when our bodies do these types of things.
I do understand how upsetting it feels!! And I send you hugs.

I agree with YOU, that it does matter that you see that doctor who DID listen, and not the one who did not. I would try to do what the others suggested. It might work. It is worth it to try it.
I am sorry you have to go through so much worry and upset, and the difficult illness. Being ill is bad enough. But then there are added stresses, on top of it.
 
Shoshana
Poorly Pixi,
I thought of you, overnight. You write so well. You are smart and clear. And expressive. You notice important details.

You wrote so well, about all of the aspects. What your body does, what you do. The environment and people around you. How it makes you feel. Your sensations and then, your emotions, your thoughts, your questions (all reasonable ones) and then, your fears.

I send you my caring, and my comprehension.
You know exactly what the challenges are. You are a talented and gifted human being. I am sorry that you have to be in these positions, to feel embarrassment and shame over things that are out of your control, yet we feel those things.
I myself find it is most difficult, to feel the fear. I know that feeling. It is difficult to bear.

I am impressed and touched by the clarity of your writing and your expressions. I hope something will go well for you, very soon. xoxo
 
P
Shoshana said:
Poorly Pixi,
I thought of you, overnight. You write so well. You are smart and clear. And expressive. You notice important details.

You wrote so well, about all of the aspects. What your body does, what you do. The environment and people around you. How it makes you feel. Your sensations and then, your emotions, your thoughts, your questions (all reasonable ones) and then, your fears.

I send you my caring, and my comprehension.
You know exactly what the challenges are. You are a talented and gifted human being. I am sorry that you have to be in these positions, to feel embarrassment and shame over things that are out of your control, yet we feel those things.
I myself find it is most difficult, to feel the fear. I know that feeling. It is difficult to bear.

I am impressed and touched by the clarity of your writing and your expressions. I hope something will go well for you, very soon. xoxo
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for writing this, it's very touching :redface::hug: I know I don't come online very often, but I do appreciate these comments A LOT - it is just hard for me to process... well, everything about my health... I come here to try and clear away some of the confusion, but, I remain confused! So thank you for telling me that I write clearly... nothing is clear in my head. I hope one day, it will be.

Thank you and everyone else for these lovely compassionate comments... I don't reply very well, I know that, mostly because I'm just in a fog. But I am always thankful even if I don't respond well, or at all.
 
Judee
PoorlyPixi said:
I don't reply very well, I know that, mostly because I'm just in a fog.
Click to expand...

I think that's why so many of us use the Like button so much. Sometimes it's just easier to respond that way than to type out a bunch of words. I think the PR community understands 100% that people have crashes and brain fog and cannot respond. Don't worry about that at all. You're doing the best that you can. :)
 
Juanita Vee
Take care! Just thought I'd mention, try not to stress over blood work. I ALWAYS have to lie down to get mine taken. I don't know why, I used to be fine getting blood. I don't try and figure it out any more. Do whatever you need to so that your stress for appointments and blood work is as low as possible! Stay positive, take care, hope you find improvement soon.
 

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