Squeamish...

Exposure, practice and developing a bit of detachment. And if you're going to flinch, squeeze the hand you're not using or your toes. Works for me. Had to deal with fainting and vomiting people watching 28 Weeks Later on Saturday, so go and watch that if you need some desensitisation.

Reply 2

OP

Thanks

I just hope it doesn't get in the way, too much. Next time I get my blood taken I'll give it a try.

(I've heard there's an awful scene in 28 Weeks Later with a helicopter and a lot of zombies. Eeww :smile:

)

Reply 3

Excalibur

15

Well, blood is one of the things you can probably never avoid as a doctor. I think that over time, you will get used to it, like you do with most things. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Reply 4

OP

Yeah it isn't blood as a whole, I'm fine with blood... it's having blood taken.
I hope I do get over it with time :smile:

Reply 5

username43584

Well you won't be taking blood off yourself...just other people. Does that make you squeamish too?

Reply 6

OP

This will make me sound completely ridiculous, but yes.
The thought of piercing someone's vein with a needle and sapping out blood makes me tingle all over. Perhaps because I can almost feel it being done to myself. When I see it being done I have to cover my underarm with my hand. Peculiar, I know, I've probably got OCD or something... :biggrin:

Reply 7

username43584

You're a strange child :p:

My bio teacher is the same. In fact she turned down an offer to do medicine simply because she couldnt cope with the thought of piercing someone's skin (whether with a knife or needle). But if you stick the other gory stuff, I'm sure you'll manage.

Reply 8

Renal

17

It's different.

My big fear was heights, when I accidentally became a techie I overcame that because I had to - quite simply, if I didn't dangle off the top of a ladder, no-one else would do it for me. I think that similar things happen to people when faced with the need to overcome that fear.

As far as medicine goes, although I'm alright with blood, there are plenty of other things (particularly big, gaping, rotting holes in people) that really make me wince. But that's alright so long as you can get past that. In your case, it's alright to be a bit urgh when taking blood so long as you can still do the job while being urgh.

The other factors are, first, not letting the team down and second, not loosing face. They're both pretty big motivators if you have the right attitude towards medicine.

In short; you'll be fine.

Reply 9

Renal

when I accidentally became a techie

awww!

Reply 10

Renal

17

You have no idea! It's not a very interesting story but VT (who was Welfare then) appealed to my loyalty.

(What the **** am I doing, my alarm goes off in five hours!)

Reply 11

OP

Renal

In short; you'll be fine.

Indeed, I do hope so.
I can just see me sitting down to take blood, lots of people watching and me closing my eyes and just jabbing it in. haha.
:biggrin:

Reply 12

Renal

You have no idea! It's not a very interesting story but VT (who was Welfare then) appealed to my loyalty.

(What the **** am I doing, my alarm goes off in five hours!)

I don't really understand the BL -must do loads of yards- loyalty. Least you're now paid..

Reply 13

Renal

17

Saffie

I don't really understand the BL -must do loads of yards- loyalty. Least you're now paid..

Paid for some elements of the job.

It's a complicated situation where we get paid for working on some events (the one's that everyone sees and that we don't do all that much for) but not for the more extavagant stuff - for example, summer ball, Will Harvey's bash & graduation is going to be in the region of 60 hours work for me (based on last year) and it clashes with my end of years.

My mistake was being keen and developing love and loyalty for the association. :wink:

Reply 14

Né Stig

15

I could think of a million things worse than taking blood, like pulling a leg straight after a bad break (or whatever the medical term is). That is horrendous - I feel sick thinking about it.

Some chap from UCL took my blood no fewer than 7 times as he kept on missing the exact spot. Now - he wasn't squeamish. I think he wanted to create a gaping hole in my arm before the senior consultant came along and done it first time (that yellow blood near your wrist pulse).

Reply 15

OP

walshie

Some chap from UCL took my blood no fewer than 7 times as he kept on missing the exact spot. Now - he wasn't squeamish. I think he wanted to create a gaping hole in my arm before the senior consultant came along and done it first time (that yellow blood near your wrist pulse).

Reading this makes me clutch my underarm protectively and tingle all over.

Reply 16

Sounds unfair...

Renal

My mistake was being keen and developing love and loyalty for the association. :wink:

Don't worry I won't be making that mistake :wink:

Reply 17

randdom

20

I still am not keen on watching other people take blood, it make me feel a bit strange. not like i am going to faint just strange. But i can assure you that it is different when you are taking blood yourself i have had no problems when it comes to feeling strange.

Reply 18

AEH

I'm damned loyal to the Association and I've never done a yard in my life (Don't intend to either).

Reply 19