17 replies to this topic

[tenten]

I hate needles so much and I went to get my blood tests today and I nearly fainted...not only she stuck one needle in my right arm but then my left! there was no blood coming from my right arm...god any one else hate the blood tests? I fear it now.

How's everyone progress with acctuane? I'm on day 67 or so and I'm so worse off!

[Wynne]

Don't despair! Most people are worse for at least three months before they get better. You should start seeing improvement in the next month or so. You probably are better, but just can't see it yet since every little bump or red mark or whatever is just disheartening to you right now.

MANY people hate needles. I am not bothered by them (thank goodness, since I have to use them everyday) but I admit that I get queasy when my own blood gets drawn. I just don't look.

[Komebackid510]

What helped me with the blood work was basically not looking at it. I also used my opposite hand and stuck it in my pocket. I did this so that I could pinch my thigh so that I would focus more on the pain of my thigh than thinking about the needle. I know it sounds sorta weird but it helped.

[azcardskill]

it helps to cough while they do it...

[Wynne]

it helps to cough while they do it...

Not if it makes you move your arm and the phlebotomist loses the vein....then they have to stick you again...

Please try something else. It is so very annoying when one has great blood flow from a vein and then the person moves and the flow stops because the needle slips out of the vein. Then the patient gets stuck again if advancing or moving the needle around does not re-find the vein. Movement of the arm also increases risk of bruising.

[elizabethmargot]

don't worry tenten....though i am worrying too....everyone says to not worry yet, that it takes time....etc. but it is HARD! i'm not WORSE than when i started, and definitely have had improvements...but am NOT clear, and not feeling like i even could be in the next couple weeks. seems far away and impossible. i am down to having just about 2 actives and then just a few little bumps (clogged pores i think) that i really want to go away, but it seems they only want to go away by coming out as bigger more active zits. oh and some red marks of course. if i am not better by then end of august (end of month 3), i don't know what i'll do. i feel like pretty much everyone whose log i've been following are getting pretty much clear after 2 months, and i am so frustrated! and scared i'll be one of the unluckies

[saz]

Yes, I hate the blood draws! I am a veterinary technician so I also work with needles but it is different when I'm the one getting poked! I look away and try to distract myself. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I have to add that each month is a little better.

[mikez]

I see your in Australia...so am I... in the slight chance you are in melb and are that afraid of needles, I know a great nurse who does mine and she literally takes the blood before you even know its done ...she does the least painful tests ive ever had, actually no pain. But even if your not , its not that bad! You only have to get it done a few times.

[tenten]

it helps to cough while they do it...

Not if it makes you move your arm and the phlebotomist loses the vein....then they have to stick you again...

Please try something else. It is so very annoying when one has great blood flow from a vein and then the person moves and the flow stops because the needle slips out of the vein. Then the patient gets stuck again if advancing or moving the needle around does not re-find the vein. Movement of the arm also increases risk of bruising.

lol wynne your post scares me more !

[tenten]

don't worry tenten....though i am worrying too....everyone says to not worry yet, that it takes time....etc. but it is HARD! i'm not WORSE than when i started, and definitely have had improvements...but am NOT clear, and not feeling like i even could be in the next couple weeks. seems far away and impossible. i am down to having just about 2 actives and then just a few little bumps (clogged pores i think) that i really want to go away, but it seems they only want to go away by coming out as bigger more active zits. oh and some red marks of course. if i am not better by then end of august (end of month 3), i don't know what i'll do. i feel like pretty much everyone whose log i've been following are getting pretty much clear after 2 months, and i am so frustrated! and scared i'll be one of the unluckies

Yeh I went to my derm and she was a little shell shocked that my mild acne has turned worse this far in! but she said some people get really better fast and some people get dramatic results towards the end, So she gave me 3 more repeats and said I don't have to go back now, no more blood tests unless I have to ....I've only had 2 so far but that's enough for me. She said come back and see me if you still have acne at the end of your course.

She also said I can tell you worry alot and worrying while on this course can make it not get better, stress is bad. So I'm trying to relax more.

I'm breaking out almost a new pimple every couple days or so...I want to see improvments too it's kind of annoying me now.

I see your in Australia...so am I... in the slight chance you are in melb and are that afraid of needles, I know a great nurse who does mine and she literally takes the blood before you even know its done ...she does the least painful tests ive ever had, actually no pain. But even if your not , its not that bad! You only have to get it done a few times.

I'm actually in Sydney moved here from QLd not too long ago, the lady I get it done by calls me a baby and says that I don't deserve one of those brave stickers. I get short of breath and it's actually more so the needle staying in my arm and the fear of the needle over the pain...I mean it hurt alot when she stuck it in and the blood stopped pumping so she was digging it deeper in my vein trying to get blood argh!

[Mandy Ann]

I haaaate getting blood work done, it terrifies me. I used to not be afraid of needles either, strange that suddenly I am ...... whenever I get blood work done, they usually have to calm me down first because i'm so scared... and then I turn my head and close my eyes shut as tight as possible.. and then they walk me through every step they are doing My goal is to actually look at the blood coming out into the tubes by my last blood test

[Wynne]

Don't look! That's what I do. I even ignore all the preparations. I just felt the needle go in, and then it was over.

[Valkyrie]

I'm the exact opposite, all the people at the blood clininc think I'm crazy cause I watch my blood being taken. They probably think I'm a vampire-wannabe or something, though I actually do it because I like knowing exactly how much blood they're taking.

One of my friends has intense needle-phobia though, to the point where she literally starts having a panic attack if anyone mentions them. The thing that she finds helps is putting on headphones and playing music loudly enough that she can't hear anything else while they're taking blood.

[mbbento]

I had mild acne too when I started on March 26th. Now it's swings from bad to a nightmare:( I was hoping to have improved myself by this point and certainly not get any worse:/

[ccmrose]

I so know how you feel. They can never find a vein! There's only like one vein in my left arm that works, and it usually takes them a few times to find it. Last time was so bad that I got stuck like 3 times before they had my actual dermatologist do it, cause he's an expert and stuff...lol he bragged to me about it.


But advice, don't look. I never do, and it helps.

Oh and I'm a week or two into my 3rd month and worse than ever. Yay.

[-lxl-]

im not on accutane so i dunno, but how much times do they blood test u throughout the course? I HATE gettin my blood taken out... its really disturbing!

[tenten]

my b/f had to drag me to my second, I only had two.

[ccmrose]

Well for females, its a once a month, every month you're on it thing. For me, they take a blood AND urine sample for the pregnancy test. The blood is for checking other things, like tryglicerides (sp?).

For males, I think they do it once a month as well, but I'm not sure. It also depends on your derm, they may require less. My derm is hardcore about following iPledge, so I get it monthly.