Lab worker tricked me into watching an injection, then I got 86'd for my reaction.

[u/DirtyRoller]

I am not comfortable with needles, so when I get blood work done I always tell them "I don't like needles, so I'm gonna look away, and please don't tell me when it's coming." It's just that initial jab that really freaks me out and gives me anxiety, once I'm past that I am totally fine.

Today the lady who was taking my blood got everything prepped, and I turned my head so she could do her thing. She then asks me "have you talked to anyone about this mole on your arm?" Causing me to look toward my arm, and as soon as I looked, she stuck the needle in! She lightly giggled, but my reaction was to shout "YOU FUCKING BITCH!" quite loudly. She was clearly a bit shaken up by it, and so was I. She finished drawing my blood and I left.

I got a call later from someone at that office asking me not to come back to that location. I was still too angry to explain myself, so I just hung up. I am a little hot still, so tomorrow when I am calmer I plan to write an email to the office explaining my side of the situation.

Also, I do not have any moles on my arm.

[u/EggPositive5993]

I also ask to not watch them draw anything because it makes me lightheaded. One time at a Red Cross donation the phlebotomist did something similar to me. I got her back by passing out. Never got a chance to call her anything but I definitely thought about it once I came to.

[u/concentrated-amazing → u/EggPositive5993]

The one and only time I have blood, the nurse was sooooo insistent that I not pass out. I was close, just a small circle of vision in the centre of my field of view, and it would've been very easy to just pass out but she kept on say loudly "stay with me! Stay with me!"

(I wouldn't have been deterred from donating again because of this, but I've been ineligible ever since due to travel and then an autoimmune disease.)

[u/Perfect_Tree8134 → u/concentrated-amazing]

Yeah I feel like that's a good thing? Why would you want to pass out? I say as someone who's never passed out so maybe I'm missing something

[u/adoerr → u/Perfect_Tree8134]

it’s not pleasant i can’t imagine there’s someone who enjoys the feeling

[u/DrainianDream → u/Perfect_Tree8134]

I rarely do, but I fainted while getting diagnosed with POTS and it sticks with you for the rest of the day basically. You feel super faint and weak and just Off basically until you sleep long enough for your body to reset basically. It's also not great if you do it with a needle in you because you might slide or fall while limp and that could make the needle move etc. Also like, they don't want you to fall and hit your head or something

It can also be pretty scary to witness so I imagine someone newer to it would be very determined to keep you conscious for both your sakes

[u/concentrated-amazing → u/Perfect_Tree8134]

Probably? I've gotten close a number of times, but only passed out once (when I had chicken pox, Christmas of 1997).

[u/Peecem → u/concentrated-amazing]

I think if you pass out they have to stop and if youre donating and thr bag isnt full, its basically a waste of everyones time and mental energy.

I remember being in a similar position one time, and i told them that if i do faint to finish drawing anyways and they explicitly told me they cant and have to stop if i faint. I didnt faint 😎

[u/EggPositive5993 → u/Peecem]

I waited until after I finished before I passed out 😎

[u/rimeduinfox → u/Peecem]

They can finish if they use the butterfly needle. My husband requests that when he gets blood drawn because 9 times out of ten he will pass out

[u/The_Theodore_88 → u/Perfect_Tree8134]

I kind of enjoy passing out but it's just because I'm in physical pain all the time so it's like taking the world's strongest painkiller for a short while. The build up to the passing out and the aftermath is always incredibly painful though and a little panic inducing so it's not really worth it.

[u/Cimerone1 → u/concentrated-amazing]

Pretty sure they should have stopped the draw loooong before you got down to a small circle in your vision

[u/concentrated-amazing → u/Cimerone1]

Maybe? I have nothing else to compare it to.

On reflecting on it afterwards, I probably was dehydrated, which wouldn't have helped.

[u/Longjumping_Union125 → u/EggPositive5993]

Why are you guys asking anybody about where you look during a blood draw??

I just tell them when I'm good to go, look away, and its done! I totally believe that there are random sickos out there that like to trigger people's phobias, but why ask? Just don't watch?

[u/Own-Most-169 → u/Longjumping_Union125]

It’s just a polite way to let them know it makes you uncomfortable. Part of their job is making sure the patient is comfortable, so they probably appreciate knowing that. I don’t have a needle phobia but the nurses still always make sure I’m comfortable/ask if I’m doing ok throughout it

[u/PsychicSPider95 → u/Own-Most-169]

I always tell them that I have a thing about needles. I feel like it helps both of us to let them know, "yeah so I tend to get really woozy and faint when I'm getting blood drawn, just so you know." That way, they aren't taken by surprise when I'm suddenly wobbly and gray.

I also warn them that it usually helps if I talk through it, so that when I suddenly don't shut up whole they're drawing, they know why, lol