A question for anyone in the medical field?

[Anonymous]

Um... I'm hemophobic to an extreme. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_phobia

So uh a few months ago I had to get my thyroid tested. I was 17 at the time so I had to do it. (No body autonomy, you know. ) Well a very sweet nurse who I liked at a hospital did it. She drew it from my hand because I hate hate hate my inner arm being touched. If its done from my hand, I can deal.

Well my thyroid is fine but my heart is fucked up. I think I have a heart rhythm disorder. I'm going to a cardiologist soon...
First question: will they do a B test?
Second: if so, will they respect my wish to have it drawn from my hand? Yes I know it is difficult and it hurts and takes a while but I'm willing. I'm 18 now btw... I'm only going because I know I really need too...

[Damnangel]

To check for an arrhythmia your cardiologist may perform an EKG and hook up a bunch of nodes to you, this will give your doctor an idea of your hearts ability to pump. They may also perform a sonogram (use sound waves to to obtain an image of your heart) and do a stress tests (you'll walk with nodes attached to you). They may or may not need a "b" sample, which I know may suck. Hopefully, your physician will go over these procedures with you. As a patient (even as a minor) you have a right to know what's going on with your health, you also have a duty to yourself to learn as much as you can about your condition. If the blood sticks are of concern talk to your doctor, they may be able to work around it.

[Asker]

Ok thanks!
When I got my thyroid tested, I'm not sure if they tested for other things. Do you think I could have the hospital send the results over to the cardiologist, or would they be too old (about 6 months)

[Damnangel]

You need to speak to them, I can't promise they will or won't stick you, but talk to them.

[-Zoe-]

First, probably yes because doctor's usually request that... it still depends on the physician as they're the one's who make the order :)
Second, ofcourse yes... if ever they do for another site and you are not willing, you can always refuse and they will understand and respect your decision... but remember that one's you showed up for blood draw, it is implied consent.. remind them that you are hemophobic and tell to them about your concerns so they will know...

[Asker]

Thanks

[jmr2191]

They'll probably start with an EKG. MRI, ultrasound, CT... those are just imaging. But anti-cardiolipin antibody, CBC, cardiac enzymes... those all require more blood than you can get from a finger prick. Best thing you can do is have someone go with you, ask for a surgical mask so that the smell of the rubber around your arm doesn't increase anxiety, don't look at the needle and clench your friend's (or whoever went with you) arm or hand as hard as you can, count to thirty and before you know it, it'll be over.

[Asker]

But... do you think they'll refuse to take the sample from my hand?

[jmr2191]

Getting 3mL of whole blood from a finger prick and preparing it for the assays for those tests. I'm sorry. I used to be afraid of needles, too. The advice that I gave you is what I did for years myself. You can refuse the bloodwork, but the cardiologist won't really be able to help you with much.

[Asker]

i am not referring to a finger prick. i am referring to a draw from the vein at the back of a hand. As stated in my question, I had a nurse draw it from the back of my hand once (two vials) but she was very sweet and understanding. Since it takes more time and is kinda difficult, I'm just worried this new nurse might not be willing to do it.

[jmr2191]

Depends on the phlebotomist and how accessible the veins are for the test (s) they're performing.

[slimcharles]

Blood work is routine, and a cardiologist is going to want to take his own samples unless you are part of an HMO. Having said that, insisting on sampling from the hand is routine and should be accommodated. It is a benign request.

[Asker]

Thanks :)

[slimcharles]

Thanks for most helpful

[harakiri]

I honestly am not sure... but you can always contact the cardiologist's office and inquire about procedures. If a blood test is done, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't have it drawn through your hand.

[Asker]

Good idea. Some doctors are prima donnas though. Drawing b from a tiny vein in the hand is difficult, and takes up to 10 minutes. But they shouldn't complain. They're gettin $$$$$

[harakiri]

Lmao i agree. It's the nurses though who get mad over little things like this

[Asker]

Yeah, its the nurses that take the samples lol. Well thanks for your opinion :)

[harakiri]

No prob, good luck :)

[Anonymous]

Why did they test your thyroid was there a particular reason for that?

[Asker]

I was staying in a psych ward because I was addicted to Xanax. Blood work is routine there and required, specifically thyroid tests bc your thyroid can cause mental illness.

[Opinion Owner]

Yes thyroid can do a lot of things. The reason I asked if because use to be when they tested for thyroid there was something they suspected specifically related to it and as I have learned it's testing that needs to be repeated. They didn't catch mine for a long time. As far as Zanax goes, I had to kick that myself and I had get off of that decreasing the dose slightly little by little very VERY slowly while being on anti depressants.

[Asker]

Yes I've been clean for 6 months.
And I'm fairly positive my thyroid is still fine. That was only 6 months ago.

[Opinion Owner]

It's great to hear you are clean! Some ways of telling if your thyroid is off is trimmers in your hands hair falling out and cracked brittle nails.

[Asker]

Yeah, I don't have any symptoms of thyroid disorder. I'm no doctor obviously, but I've done a lot of research so I believe I know what my problem is, I just need it to be diagnosed.

[Asker]

And thanks :)