Question:
What is a blood gas test?
Is it where they get blood from an artery? If so what artery do they get it from? — heddo30 (posted on March 10, 2002)
March 10, 2002
It is like a reg blood test with the difference being that instead of
coming from a vein it must be taken from an artery and they usually take it
from your wrist.. i've had it done a few times and fortunately the person
that usually does those type blood tests has enough experience at it to get
it right the first time... it does seem to take a lil bit longer than the
reg kind and your wrist may be a bit sore the next day .. not sure why ..
but mine had sort of a throbbing sensation ... but it passes fast and it is
one of the easiest tests required of as as far as i can tell so far ;-)
hope all goes well for you !!!
me bmi/88 waiting on surgery date
— Barbara W.
March 10, 2002
and it HURTS like no other!
— Sassy M.
March 10, 2002
Hi. I was so apprehensive about having the blood gas test, (it even sounds
awful), but I can tell you sincerely that it did not hurt even a little
bit. They insert a teeny-tiny needle into your wrist to take the blood out
of the artery -- I SWEAR, I did not even feel it. The worst pain I
experienced was IN MY MIND thinking about how awful it was gonna be. It
was a breeze. Plus, it's part of the process and when it's over, you're
that much closer to the "prize".
— blank first name B.
March 10, 2002
I had it done 2 days ago - it did not hurt a bit.
— Ann O.
March 10, 2002
It wouldn't have been so painful except that the nurse couldn't get the
artery and she had the needle in there for about 3 minutes. I have contrary
veins so mabey that is what caused it... but ouch it ached afor a few days!
Oh and you wont be able to lift anything over 10 lbs for about an hour
afterwards.
— KCAllen77
March 11, 2002
Oh man, I was TOTALLY freaked about the dreaded blood gas test! But it
really was no different than someone taking blood from you. They did my on
the inside of my right wrist, where it is tender. And it did take a while
to find my artery vein, well, probably 3 or 4 minutes but it seemed like an
eternity to me! But the tech knew I was nervous & she was so kind.
She said the pain that scares everyone is when a nerve is hit. She said
that is extremely painful. She said to ask for someone who is experienced
in doing blood gases & you should not have a problem. I was up all
night worrying for nothing! LOL Although it did bruise pretty good &
was tender for a few days. Good luck...
— Lori M.
March 11, 2002
I had it done and it was less painful for me than the blood tests that I
had the next day! The poor tech that was doing the arterial gas test was
shaking because he was so nervious about doing it right the first time. He
breathed a big sigh of relief when he did that and was truely surprised
that it didn't hurt me. I think it's one of those things that can be a big
deal or nothing at all depending on how tallented the tech is.
— Barbi B.
May 2, 2002
Well, I am a Respiratory Therapist and I am having WLS. The blood gas is
our professions expertise. The blood gas determines how "stable"
your respiratory and your metabolic systems are functioning. If there were
any abnormalities it could be catastrophic if not treated appropiately.
Most everyone has normal gases. It is just a precautionary test to know
what your baseline is. We draw the blood from an artery in your wrist. It
does hurt more that a regular blood draw but I think that an IV hurts more
and I have had both done.
— Michelle L.
July 13, 2002
I just had this process done and the tech who did told me on a count of
three but he said one and the next thing I knew the needle was in. However
when he took the needle out was when it hurt, but I just kept in mind that
it was one more step to skinning and I did not let it other me. Sometimes
we have to sacrifice to win and to me RNY is a winner.
— emoragas
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