Can blood be taken from anywhere?!

Can blood be taken from anywhere?

I am going into hospital soon to have 4 teeth pulled. I have only been in hospital once when I was younger and it was horrible. The worst part was the blood test. I have a serious phobia of needles and ended up with 2 nurses and my mother holding me down. The pain was so severe (I'm sure due to shock) that I couldn't use my arm for 3 days and I kept fainting every time I thought about it. The operation itself wasn't as bad. The canula in the back of my hand hurt more, but I didn't get that dragging, sickening feeling I had with my arm - if you've seen that puppet scene in Nightmare On Elm Street you'll know what I mean! It literally felt as though they were pulling my vein out! I've been told I may just be unusually sensitive inside my arm, which is why it hurt so much. It's been over 10 years now and I still have nightmares. My teeth really hurt though and are impacted, so I need this op. So, two questions... 1) Will I need a blood test? 2) Can I have it done in my hand instead?

Yes blood can be taken from your hand.

If you are nervous about pain when being injected with needles ask the Dr or Nurse before hand to numb the area with EMLA cream. It is usually put on the area 10-15 minutes before the needle is injected. This way you shouldn't feel a thing and if you do it would be VERY minimal.

As well as this helping by numbing the area it might also help you psychologically? you wont be expecting as much pain and therefore maybe make it feel a little less dramatic for you. Either way I feel it is worth a shot.

You said that the canula hurt more in your hand. This could have been from having a big needle inserted. You could always ask to have the smaller needle inserted so that maybe your pain will be reduced?
I always have the smallest needle and can quite comfortably have the canula in my hand for 3 days.


Good luck :0) - I hope that everything works out for you!