Blood Test

I don't know about anyone else but I have always been phobic of needles. It has taken me years to be able to have a vacination without passing out or throwing up. I've finally cracked it though and can quite happily go for travel vacs on my own - as long as I close my eyes of course and don't see any needles. I always tell the nurse not to let me see anything and then Bob's your uncle. However, I have never given blood. Not for a blood test nor, obviously given my fears, for the good of the great. Well yesterday I did!

They seem to give blood samples left right and centre here in spain. I remember going with Jose to see our sister in law (a doctor) when Jose had a really sore throat - and she offered to tale a blood sample to get to the bottom of it. Can you believe it ?? For a sore throat! I brought this up at a dinner party here one night and it turns out to be quite normal and all spaniards seem to have given blood samples loads of times. Strange country.

Well, not having any records of the state of my blood, my bloody Doctor (excuse the pun) decided he wanted me to give a sample. Argh!

My Mum happened to be here for the appointment (she has just left this morning after a week here) so she was able to escort me / drag me there. I must admit that I was worried about it. Seeing it as a level above the travel vacs that I had bravely conquered. However, I tried to put it out of my mind as much as possible and tackle it like a brave girl.

I went into the room with my usual spiel about not letting my see anything, excusing me for talking with my eyes closed etc etc. The nurse went ahead and extracted my precious blood and I actually though - how easy was that. I was quite happy thinking " nice one - I've conquered this fear now, there's nothing to it, it doesn't hurt and its over in a matter of seconds!". However, all of a sudden I cam over all funny and thought i was going to be sick. The nurse and my Mum got my onto a bed in the room and gave me some thing to sniff (some kind of spirit) so that I wouldn't be sick. After a minute or two I seemed better, got off the bed and waited in the waiting room, hangin around for the nurse to give me a container to give a urine sample in (why not - whilst they are taking your blood thay may as well take your number one too hey).

As soon as the nurse gave me the little container I rushed to the toilet, followed me Mum, to be sick - I thought. Well, all I can say is Thank God that my Mum was there and that the toilet was a large room because I ended up going into some kind of convulsions, comically throwing the sample container into the loo whilst shaking (which we laughed about afterwards quite a lot!). I think my body was trying to black out and I was fighting it and so I was kind of semi conscious and shaking. Mum managed to catch me and bring me round, then I took a few minutes to gather myself and then threw up! What a palava!

Its amazing what your body can decide to do. Throught the deed of giving the blood sample I had ben thinking that it was nothing and was happy to have realised that - so why the complete breakdown of my body afterwards. Phobias are weird things. I thought it was in my conscious mind - ie I worried myself into such reactions when I was small. I'm not sure now though as I had totally mind over mattered it this time and along came an uncontrolable freak out!

If the eager beaver Doctor tells me I am anemic or anything else which involves wacthing changes in my blood over time .......I'll, well I'll, well I don't know what I'll do. Mum!

S xx