Arterial Blood Gas- help!

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anonymous

New member
I have to get an arterial blood gas next week as part of my pft's for the tx evaluation. i have had surgery, etc., lots of pain, but somehow i am petrified of this because I only remember getting one back when I was little, and I remember shrieking in pain! Is it really that bad or is my memory tricking me? Does it hurt a lot, how long does it last, how big is the needle, and is it worse if you have bad veins? I think I am being a baby, but thanks for the help!

Caitlin
22 w/cf and b. cepacia
 
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IG

Guest
Um.. sorry.. all I can say is that each time they've wanted to do one on me I've refused.
Strenuously.
See if maybe they'll skip it, that's about as best I can do.
I don't remember having to do one for my evaluation, then again they might have done it when they had me out at one point or another.
 
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Allie

New member
We are men of honor; lies do not become us.....they hurt. badly. My husband once tenderly compared it to be raped by the devil. The needles are comparatively small, but for whatever reason getting blood drawn out of an artery is not comfortable in the least.

I agree with the 'if you can, skip it' mentality, my experience is that most doctors just want one because they want one. You may not be able to get out of it, but it's worth a try.
 
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anonymous

New member
It does just take a few seconds as long as the find the artery. It hurts afterwards because they have to apply pressure for minutes to make sure it quits bleeding but to me at least it wasn't the 'tears in my eyes' degree of hurting.
Good luck
Hope
 
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Faust

New member
I always refused them under all circumstances. There was an awesome RT named Ron when I was younger, and he finally talked me into getting one. I knew him very well, and he swore he was the best around at it and I wouldn't feel a thing. I seriously told him that if if hurt, I was going to 100% full on punch him in the jaw right away, and wasn't kidding. He agreed and said if it did hurt I could do that. We did it, and I barely felt anything. From what i've been told by every other CF, they do hurt extremely bad. But obviously if you have an RT who is VERY good at giving them, the pain is drastically reduced. I was kind of just looking for an excuse to punch him and get away with it though.
 
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JustDucky

New member
Hello..I have had several ABG's, even have the scars to prove them. They weren't that painful let me tell you why. The techs injected the area with a small amount of numbing solution, Xylocaine first and waited a few minutes. Then, they did the ABG's. I will say I have the worst arteries...usually had to stick me at least twice for one, but when they inject the Xylocaine first, I never feel them that much. To make it clear, they inject very close to the skin, like they do with PPD's and then a little deeper with a very tiny needle. So, maybe ask if they can numb the area first, that way you won't feel it so much. Hope I have helped...Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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anonymous

New member
hi, I'm sorry to say I am 44 & I'm still hate them. If you get a good doctor who gets in right away & doesn't have to poke around they are not too bad. The needles are shorter that the normal ones on the end of syringes, but not as small as the diabetic ones in length. There is no way we would get away with not having them if you are being assessed for transplant.

However there is light at the end of the tunnel, in england we have something called emla cream which is put on the point of entry of the needle, (I normally do both wrists, just to be on the safe side), put it over your pulse point and then apply some tagaderm (not sure what you call it in America, but it's a large clear sticky square which is normally put over you i.v. site.

I don't cosider this as cheating as it allows them to poke about as much as they want and you don't feel a thing, honest. However you do still get a bruise.


Good luck.


Chez :)
 
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EB24

New member
You have every right to refuse ANYTHING, no matter what anyone tries to tell you. They will try to convince you it has to be done, but it doesn't. If they keep pushing, just ask, well what did you do before you had them? That is my pet peeve. Never let anyone tell you something has to be done.
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I dont want to present horror stories, but this sticks (no pun intended) in my mind so I feel obligated to share. I had one on myself & it hurt like hell & screamed and almost punch the person. That isnt the bad memory...after my Dad has his massive stroke & wasnt able to communicate to anyone, they did a blood gas on him. I dont know if the person was always this bad & showing lack of compassion, but my father literally was coming up out of the bed from the pain. He couldnt speak the words, but you could see it in his eyes. I was the only one visiting at the time (I was only 17 on top of it), but I refused to let them do it again when they couldnt get it. They didnt want to listen to me since I was a minor, but I held my ground & they stopped until my Mom got there who reinforced what I said based on what I told her. Both of these were a long time ago & I dont know if the numbing meds were available, but if so they werent used. To this day I will refuse it!
 
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anonymous

New member
I have had 2 in the past few months. The first one never hurt at all. The second time she wasn't able to get it, it was a bit uncomfortable but not horrible. She had another fellow come for a second try and it didn't hurt. They always use a smaller needle than normal on me because I have small veins so it takes a bit longer to get the blood but worth it. It must be different for everyone. Good Luck and just relax when they do it.

C
 
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anonymous

New member
They hurt some, because nerves can overly the artery and can be hit on the way in. Ask for some "numbing gel" to be put on the area around 20 minutes prior to the stick and use someone who does allot of them. Injections of xylocane as mentioned should help (never had this done). You may see a few of these post TX.

CF 55 TX cepacia
 
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IG

Guest
I felt that emla worked well on me with PICCs and such but with blood gases.. still hurt like the devil. Never did try xylocane so not sure how much that helps or not. Even so I guess it depends on the person and their tolerance to pain.

As for post tx blood gases... I only had one immediately following transplant. They are ordered when I do full PFT's every year [yearly checkup] but I always <i>always</i> say no. They don't have a problem with it though.
 
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luke

Guest
Caitlin,

Blood gases sometimes do hurt a bit more than other needle sticks because of the vasculature and nerves around the brachial artery. As previously mentioned it really depends on the person that is doing it. I was always the best at the hospital when I was doing them in part because I have had them done too and I know they can hurt. I always waited and "felt the artery" until I visualized where the artery was so I was sure I was going to get it. Just let them know this will be your first stick and that you would like "their best" sticker.
Make sure it is an RT, some hospitals let lab techs and nurses stick ABG's, in my experience RT's are almost always better at ABG's.
Good luck....they really aren't that bad though.

Luke, RRT
 
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anonymous

New member
I have had two of these done and yes they are no fun! If I had to do it again though I would. It wasn't the most horrible thing that I have ever had done and it only lasts for about a minute. I certainly would never ask for one but don't get in your mind that it is going to be this terrible horrible thing or I believe it will be much worse for you. Just my own thoughts. Good luck and I hope it turns out well.

Emilee

not logge in Lovingbenandcambree
 
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Marjolein

New member
I had them done 9 years ago for the first time. It was for my screening for tx. it hurt like hell! They had to find the artery and couldn't so they were sort of poking the needle around in my wrist.. After a while they still hadn't found it so they had to try the other side, and still couldn't find it there. After that I always said no, hated them. Until last year my doc asked again cause i was getting worse again (after being stable for many years) and i said yes that's ok. They woman who tried found the artery in one time without having to poke around and that way it doesn't hurt at all. I had another one done 4 weeks ago and that hurt very very much again! Felt like i was going to black out after it was done. So i hope i don't have to have them for a loooong time to come.
 
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ihatecf

New member
I usually dont cry due to physical pain, but last time i had it I broke into tears. I got a clear idea of what hell could be like. I do it so often but that time it was like the pain of a woman giving birth manually lol ( I dunno abt that).
 
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Diane

New member
I had one done years ago and the woman who did it opted to do it in the crook of my arm where they would put piccs. I have to say it didn't hurt even half as much as when they attemp to do it in the wrist area ( that area is so sensitive). I agree with getting lidocaine or emla, I've had both for picc lines that i've had in the past and they help tremendously!!
 
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anonymous

New member
Thanks everyone for your help. I must say I am still nervous for obvious reasons! This may sound dumb but what is an RT? I am pretty tired right now but cannot think what that is an abbrev. for? Do you just mean like a phlebotomy person? Thanks, I am going to call and request that an RT does it, because yes, it is always awful even when I have a nurse or a lab tech draw my blood. I get so mad- they are useless, and I almost always refuse but a few times I have given in and regretted it. I am certainly not going to do it for this one!

thanks again

Caitlin
 
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