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LGBTQIA+ 1d
baby trans here and im feeling hella anxious about bloodwork being done so I can get on Testosterone does anyone have any experience of what it's like or any tips on not being super anxious about it?
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Anonymous 1d

Ok this one’s unhinged but I’ve been working on my major fear of needles by developing a kink for it. So if you can somehow retrain your brain to view it as a reward that definitely helps💀

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Anonymous 1d

listening to music can help. also drink plenty of water and eat food beforehand. (make sure to drink water the night before as well so that you can be fully hydrated!)

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Anonymous 1d

well, they put a tourniquet on the upper arm first so that the veins are more prominent, and then put the needle in to draw the actual blood. i don’t have issues with needles so idk about advice on that end (i do get really squeamish about the tourniquet though funnily enough) but my strategy is always to just focus on keeping my arm totally relaxed from the shoulder down and to look away from what’s actually going on

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Anonymous 1d

Bloodwork is super easy. Takes less than a minute. Tourniquet hurts some, but it’s easy quick. I will say do NOT look at the blood. It’s so weird. For me they take two vials at a time I think? Tbh the hilight for me is that if I ask nice they give me a capri sun and a snack

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 1d

you are genuinely hilarious i don't know if that would work on me but i'll keep that in mind lmao

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 1d

Ty I’ll try this also

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 1d

This is play piercings but so pretty https://www.instagram.com/p/DM_YEkBsxT6/?img_index=3&igsh=bmpzcjhneWpxMnhm

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 1d

a capri sun afterwards would be fire

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Anonymous replying to -> #3 1d

is there a specific reason behind drinking water for the ivs or is it just a general thing to do?

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 1d

make sure it doesn’t need to be a fasted blood test before you eat - for t you sometimes need to do a lipid panel which is a fasted test (so not eating like 8-12 hrs beforehand)

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 1d

i didn’t need the lipid panel until already being on t though so check in with your doctor who’s ordering the labs

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 1d

if you were to compare it to the pain caused by like a vaccination in the arm, i would say it’s not more painful, but it is more uncomfortable, just due to the shoulder and the veins having different sensation

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 1d

More water = higher blood volume, the veins stand out more and makes it faster and easier. Will help you feel less faint after, too! Seconding the eat beforehand. If you know your blood sugar drops easily, eat something sweet within the hour before, as long as it’s not a test that requires fasting

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 9h

thank you for the indepth explanation of your experience!!

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 9h

Adding on, as someone terrified of needles, as long as I focus on something else and stay still, I usually can’t feel the needle in my arm

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