Anxiety about upcoming Angiogram

I had it done 2 times in the last 10 yrs. and they must give you something because it didn't bother me at all...good luck !

Thank you Jennifer

You are very lucky not having any problems

@gregy I did have a lot of anxiety. I was the kid who passed out at the doctor or dentist for years and thought I would always have a problem with that. I worked to figure out why I had this anxiety. Every day when I woke up and thought about spine surgery back at the beginning, my blood pressure shot up. I worried about what the anxiety was doing to me, and that is when I started to change it. I did have anxiety problems over anticipated pain for many years. I found a way to change it so fear no longer controls me. I wanted you to know it can be done. That's also a big reason why I participate here on Connect.

Jennifer

My needle phobia was so extreme that if a Doctor asked me to have a blood test, I just refused, because I just couldn't do it. Then in 2010 I had a heart attack and also found out that I had a rare Nephrological disorder called "Gitelman Syndrome" At that time I had both a Cardiologist and Nephrologist sticking me with multiple needles, as traumatic as it was at the time, it has desenitized me somewhat. I can now have a blood test (still difficult) but no longer feel like I will faint and don't have to lie down for 10 minutes afterwards and have a drink of water (I still lie down during the procedure, just in case). Vaccinations, local anaesthetics are no problem - but a needle into a vein - blood draw, canula especially! or the worst one of all the Aterial Blood Gas, still send me into a spin. I have to get a blood test on Friday and I think I will be OK

I was lucky enought te get an appointment with my GP this morning. He was really understanding. The Cardiologist had sent him a copy of the Stress Echocardiogram report and he explained everyting in the report much clearer and in more detail than the Cardiologist did. He said my heart is in pretty good shape and if I hadn't previoulsy had a heart attack and stents it would be unlikely they would even be wanting to do an Angiogram. He said I should do it as a precausionary measure to make sure nothing is wrong. He has a listen to my heart with a stethescope, took my blood pressure and he said from his point of view, my heart is functioning normally. He prescribed 5mg Diazepam and told me to take one before bed to help me sleep and if during the day I really wasn't coping, to break one tablet in half and have half a tablet - but only take it if needed and he said no worry about becoming addicted on on 30 low dose tablets taken in small quantities over a short period of time. I haven't needed to take one yet. Sat in a park near the sea this morning and fell asleep, came home did a little gardening and I'm still not good, but better than this morning.

@gregy Are you able to drink extra fluids before having a blood draw? That gives you more blood volume and fills the veins making it easier for the person to get the blood and less traumatic for you. I looked up Gitelman syndrome. Do you need to take electrolytes with that?

Jennifer

I always drink lots of water before any blood draw. I have no trouble with them finding the vein or taking blood or the pain, there are different types of needle phobia. I get a Vaso Vagal response where my blood pressure and pulse rises before the test and rapidly falls once the needle is inserted. If I wasn't sitting or lying down, I would have passed out. My fear of needles is the "Fear of a sharp object puncturing a vein or artery". As for Gitelman syndrome, yes I take 3 x 600mg Potassium Chloride tablets twice a day, 2 x 500mg Magnesium Aspartate Dihydrate twice a day and a Potassium Sparing Diuretic twice a day - (I used to use Amiloride Hydrochloride, but it is no longer available where I live and now I have to use Spironolactone, which works, but has some side effects) My Potassium and Magnesium levels are now normal - but took several years and lots of blood tests and adjustments to my medication to achieve this.

@gregy I was the same way. The absolute worst pain I have ever had was a spinal injection. I got an intense pain during the injection and stabbing electrical pain into my arm. I was laying on the table shaking uncontrollably and about to pass out. They reminded me to breathe and I played my music routine in my head and breathed slow and deeply. I imagined I was an eagle flying high above everything and it worked. I regained control and was able to lessen the pain to degree. When I compared others things to that, they didn’t seem so bad and I knew that I had mastered my response to a painful event. Distraction really helps if you can take your mind away and go someplace pleasant. It turned out that I likely reacted to something in the injection . I had stabbing pains for 6 weeks after that. Gratitude also helps if you are thankful for the help you are getting from the doctors instead of fearing them.
Jennifer

What I always do when having a blood draw (I'm having one on Friday)
1. Make the Phlebotomist aware of my phobia and ask them to take extra care
2. Always lie down when having a blood draw - I can probably now do it while seated, but why take the risk of falling off the chair, injuring myself or Phlebotomist
3. Have a drink of water before leaving home and sip more water while waiting in the waiting room
4. Sit up slowly after the proceedure and make sure I am ok to walk away
5. Take a small gel ice pack with me. I walk back to the car and put the ice pack on the puncture site and hold it there for about 10 minutes. Stops any bruising and takes the sting out of the puncture site

Oh, another trick I learned from the Hypnotherapist, was to push the nail of my thumb into the pad of my index finger (on the opposite arm of the test) and push really hard until it hurts and hold it there during the blood draw. The pain on the opposite side of the body helps to distract the mind from the puncture
Some good information about needle phobia can be found on the Future Science webpage, click on the article "Needle Phobia Page"