response 1 of 39:

May 6 15:00 UTC 1996

Ok, it's like this. For a while now I have found that when I get hungry, as
in right before it gets to the growling stage, I feel faint and dizzy. Not
like I am going to pass out necessarily... more like I just need to sit down.
If I get very hungry and eat, I get VERY dizzy for about 2 minutes, then I'm
ok. I am thinking htis may be due to changes in blood sugar. I usually try
to eat before it gets too bad, but as you know, ther eare times when you just
can't drop everything and eat. 

How would sugar affect this? I am not willing to give up my Snapples. >:/
I have not had a blood test in a year. I cannot stand needles, not even finger
pricks. 

Along with getting dizzy and weak, I can also get cranky. People think I am
being impatient when I tell them I need to eat NOW. Sigh.

response 3 of 39:

May 6 18:50 UTC 1996

The blood tests involve needles. Big bad needles that cause me pain and
bruises. <bees cries>

I don't think it's a protein thing, but I may not be getting enough. I went
meatless for a while and was fine. I'm doing the burger thing about once a
week now, but I eat a lot of chicken. I may eat steak once or twice a month.
Beans have lots of protein too... the musical fruit!

Imay not be getting all the iron I need. I like veggies and salads but I don't
eat them every day.  

response 5 of 39:

May 8 12:15 UTC 1996

Some people, like Kenn, are hypoglycemic because their bodies produce too much
insulin. He has to remember to eat small amounts of healthy food throughout
the day or he gets dizzy, weak and *grouchy*. If he has too many "simple"
sugars at once, his insulin production kicks into overdrive and he goes into
shock. It ain't pretty.
Bees, you need to be tested, because your symptoms could be caused by tons
of different things. I have a friend who is like you about needles. I used
to go with her when she needed lab work. We would explain the problem to the
person doing the draws, and it was my job to distract my friend with goofy
stories and such until the deed was done. She usually ended up crying anyway,
but said it was not so awful with someone there to "talk her through it".

response 7 of 39:

May 8 21:53 UTC 1996

Last time I hqd blood taken was when I got very sick. I felt like I was gonna
die. Turned out I had an ear, throat, and overall viral infection... my body
had basically shut down. They had to take a vial to check my white cell count.
I calmly explained to the nurse that I did not handle needles well. She was
like "Oh, I'm good with them." I didn't doubt that, but it was obvious she
wasn't taking me seriously. She had me make a fist and I began to cry. She
was like, "Oh I'm sorry... I feel so terrible." I cried the whole time and
felt all dizzy and faint afterwrds. 

I suppose it's my being alone with a person who is sucking out my blood thaty
bothers me... it would be nice to have someone hug me or something... even
hand holding does not quite cut it. :/

Hmmm... what about EMLA cream?

response 9 of 39:

May 10 22:28 UTC 1996

well bees, if you think you've got needle problems, maybe this little story
will give you a laugh.  This is a true story, honest.

While working at the VA hospital (Wade Park, Cleveland) I had the job of
training the new-hire phlebotomists.  One young woman came in one day and was
very attentive.  She took note as to which color tubes were used for which
tests, how much sample needed to be collected for which tests, greeted the
patients and prepared them for the draw, etc.  This was a busy draw station,
so, by the end of the morning we had seen 30 - 40 patients.  we discussed some
of the "tricks of the trade" during our lunch break (not gross things, but
those little things that help you do things intuitively), and she was very
interested in the process, and her new job.

After lunch we returned to the draw station and had several patients already
waiting.  We'd get another 20-30 during the afternoon, usually.  I
demonstrated some of the fine points we discussed at lunch, like how to avoid
that bruise many people leave you with, and how to locate a "good vein" or
stabilize a "rolling vein" so you didn't have to stick the patient several
times without getting a specimen.  since a lot of the patients there had lousy
veins, either because they were sick enough to require lots of blood draws,
or because they were abusing their veins themselves, I continued to
demonstrate technique.  finally, a man with very prominent, stable veins, and
one who I knew from before and who was quite comfortable with needles came
in for his regular test.  I looked at the new-hire and said "are you ready
to do this one?"  She replied "of course, I've been watching you long enough.
Just keep an eye on me."  I told her to just relax, and follow the routine
steps we'd gone over, and over, and over, and over, and over...all day.  She'd
be fine.

Well, she set-up her equipment, applied the tournequet, found the best site,
had a good stable stance and firm hold on the patients arm.  She told him "OK,
there's going to be a little pin prick now" and inserted the needle into the
vein, then _she_ fainted!  I had to catch her and lower her to the floor
gently while I also caught the blood vial and finished the draw.  The patient
thought it was a real hoot!  She, of course, was mortified as she came to
almost immediately upon reclining on the floor.  But, she went on to become
a good lab tech and capable phlebotomist anyway.

I can still see her face, when it went white and she went down, and her
expression when she came to and found herself on the floor.  I'm just glad,
for her sake, it happened with me and not with one of the other workers who
would not have let her live that down (I didn't tell anyone until months
later, when she had confidence and could laugh at the experience too).

response 11 of 39:

May 14 15:02 UTC 1996

Not sure of EMLA (actually, never heard of it), but there are a couple of
options I know of...topical anesthetic, usually EthylChloride spray.  This
is very cold and freezes the skin momentarily.  Personally, I think it's messy
and the intense cold can be more uncomfortable than a quick needle stick. 
Another option is a 0.1cc wheel of local anesthetic done with a pneumatic (no
needle) device, like a Madaject or Dermaject.  Again, the feeling is like
being snapped with a rubber band.  It hurts about as much as a needle, and
only for an instant.  A good phlebotomist using a small gauge needle can get
the same effect, or even less pain, without all the traps and whistles.

response 13 of 39:

May 23 23:21 UTC 1996

I not only hate the sight of them, they also hurt like hell. I know if I had
anesthetic I'd still get scared, but would feel much more relief if i knew
I could not feel it. I susually don't feel it when they take out the needle,
but by then I am about to pass out anyway.  I hate the idea of someone
sticking me and then leaving the needle there.. I can handle shots better
because they're in and out before I know it. But in blood drawing that needle
stays in for like a whole minute, which is eternity as far as I'm concerned.

response 15 of 39:

May 24 06:18 UTC 1996

I recommend, instead, intentionally developing the ability to apply a
little more stoicism. Having injections, or samples taken, is going to
be *inevitable* if you value your health, so since you know a needle
awaits you in the future, think out how you can accept it unflinchingly.
You have a lot more control over your reaction to fear or pain than you
apparently now think.

response 17 of 39:

May 25 13:13 UTC 1996

I can relate to not taking needles well, but If you have blood drawn often
enough, you get used to it.  Last time, when I went to the hospital for a
migrane, they put a heplock in my arm and I passed out twice!  I will warn
you though, having a 3 to 5 hour blood glucose test is not pleasant.  If you
see your doctor, he/she may want to have this done.  For hypoglycemia, the
best foods to eat are complex carbohydrates and protein together.  If you have
to resort to a quick fix by eating candy or drinking pop, always follow it
with a carb/protein meal or snack after.  eating five to six small meals a
day is the best way to keep it under control.

response 19 of 39:

May 27 12:57 UTC 1996

this may sound silly, but after I accepted that I was going to loose it, it
got easier..

response 21 of 39:

Jun 2 20:11 UTC 1996

Hmm. Anyway, I think someone mentioned a sugarless fiet earlier. (uh diet).
I have noticed I've been eating lots of sugar lately and I need to cut it out.
I did once give up sugar but fell off the wagon... I felt ebtter after i got
used to it, but the first 3 or days was hell. I cannot afford to be sleepy
and grumpy for 4 days in a row when I have a job to do. Even gradualy getting
trid of sugar made me go ballistic. A low sugar diet would be good for a
hypoglycemic, wouldn't it? (Sugar meaning refined sugar, like Coke and Oreos)

response 23 of 39:

Jun 10 23:11 UTC 1996

I know I need some sugar. I have protein at dinner usually. Might do a turkey
sandwish for lunch this week.  I  didn't have a real lunch today and was
crashing bad by about 3. I just could not thinkk... just stared into space!