Question:
What isa blood gas test??

Diagnosed w/ sleep apnea and told I need this test to have surgery. She said it's not done at the lab but in the hospital.. HELP!!!    — Favored (posted on January 16, 2008)

January 16, 2008
It is a test to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. I also had mine done at the hospital and not at a lab.
   — Debbie M.

January 16, 2008
I had one done aswell. You go to the hospital, they put all these colorful wires all over you and watch you sleep. It's not painful at all.
   — MySonsMama

January 16, 2008
Sleep apnea is not uncommon on overweight people. I had it for 9 years, and used a CPAP machine to sleep. Your doctor wants to find out if you have sleep apnea, because you may need a different anesthetic for surgery. Before I had my RNY surgery, I had a colonoscopy done. The doctor running the test said they had to give me a special anethitic becuase I had sleep apnea. The sleep apnea went away after my RNY surgery, and I no long have to sleep with that CPAP mask on every night.
   — Dave Chambers

January 16, 2008
For a blood gas test they take blood from an artery instead of a vein. They do it in the hospital for safety reasons. The nurse must keep pressure on the site until it clots, usually about 30 minutes. It is no big deal, honestly. I too have sleep apnea and low blood oxygen and sleep with a CPAP machine. Even though I now weigh only 175 I (unlike others still need the machine. The tendency to breath shallowly when asleep is often hereditary. I love my CPAP, because I feel sooo much better in the mornings than I did before. Relax, all is well. Pat
   — pjennjr

January 16, 2008
HI I AM A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, I DO BLOOD GASES EVERYDAY. THEY HURT ALITTLE MORE THAN JUST BLOOD DRAWN FROM A VEIN BECAUSE IT IS COMING FROM THE ARTERY. THE ARTERY IS DEEPER AND IS SUROUNDED BY NERVES. THAT IS WHY IT HURTS MORE. IT IS REALLY NO BIG DEAL. ASK THEM IF THEY CAN DO IT BRACIAL DUE TO YOU HAVE MORE CUSHION THERE THAN YOU DO IN YOUR WRIST. THEY WILL HOLD PRESSURE ON THE SITE UNTIL IT STOPS BLEEDING WHICH WOULD ONLY BE 3-5 MINUTES UNLESS YOU ARE ON BLOOD THINNERS. THEY WILL RUN THE BLOOD TO CHECK YOUR PH, O2, & CO2 LEVELS TO SEE ACTUALLY HOW YOU ARE BREATHING.
   — TONYA WOODS

January 17, 2008
They do hurt a bit more than a regular blood draw but I have found the best thing to do before they take it is to find a focal point and concentrate on that focal point while they are drawing the blood for the gases. It really does help. Good luck.
   — Brenda R.

January 17, 2008
I have had my blood gas test. I must have had a good nurse doing mine because it didn't hurt at all. Like the others have said it is taken from an artery. They took mine in my wrist. If you are ok with blood test you will be fine. Hopefully you will get someone that is good. Good luck. Ronni in Pa.
   — ronni5468