General Discussion Thread

[Eich]

Someone mark the calendars, I think we finally found someone who enjoys long sessions with his dentist ... !

I don't mind the dentist so much.  He's never done anything to me, so that's probably why, but he's not so bad.

[Piney]

I don't mind the dentist so much.  He's never done anything to me, so that's probably why, but he's not so bad.

Oh I don't think my dentist has done anything to me, but my dental hygienist however... *war flashbacks to teeth being scraped* *shudders*

[Lars_B]

Dentist is a perfect opportunity to practice relaxing under pressure =)

not that I enjoy it very much

[JoB]

I don't mind the dentist so much.  He's never done anything to me, so that's probably why, but he's not so bad.

Note that I specifically referred to LONG, power-tools-filled sessions with one ... !

[Eich]

Note that I specifically referred to LONG, power-tools-filled sessions with one ... !

Well... yeah, I wouldn't know about that.

[StellersJayC]

Note that I specifically referred to LONG, power-tools-filled sessions with one ... !

Uh. It's like a swarm of angry bees in your mouth.

[OrigamiOwl]

after 20+ blood and plasma donations...
Don't eat within an hour or two before the test =) just drink normal amounts of fluids, easy on the coffee more on the Juice...
On watching the needle... do you feel faint if you see blood? if so... look away (nurses are the ones normally doing the tests, hint hint) But I like to be in control so I kept a close watch =)
AND... talk to the nurse... tell them what you think and feel... they tend to like feedback on the work they do as anybody would.

good luck with all

I'm not allowed to eat or drink (except water) for 12 hours before the test ;__; no snacks! Wah!
I'm fine with blood, in our house I'm like the "blood pro". I think I'll be more worried about a piece of metal being temporarily inside my arm :/ Normal needles are fine, because they don't stay in there ;____;

aww.. but the mechanics of it all is soo cool.... from a strictly scientific angle you knaow

Agreed. It's conflicting.

Someone mark the calendars, I think we finally found someone who enjoys long sessions with his dentist ... !

Hehe I felt so bad after I watched a heap of wisdom teeth extraction videos (one was in Danish!) because I thought it was bad that I found it interesting and was kind of cheering on the dentist.... "Yeah, grab that quarter with the tweez- grab it-- C'MON IT'S NOT CALAMARI JUST PICK IT U- agh you got it.." U____U
I'm totally fine when a procedure is happening to someone else, but feel a bit weird when it's happening to me.... :/

[Sunflower]

[Blood tests:]
They're not that bad honestly. I agree with Lars, it's like the phone thing--never as bad as you feel like it's gonna be. Pro-tip? Don't watch what they're doing while they do it. I tried to do that the first time and it's a bad idea. Just look somewhere else and think of something else. It's just a pinprick, a slight ache and then you're done.

I agree with hushpiper.  I've donated blood for over 25 years.  The worst part (which isn't bad) is always when they prick your finger first for the little drop-of-blood test that makes sure you have enough iron to donate.  (An issue for women, sometimes.) 

Never look when the needle goes in and you'll be fine.  Distract yourself with something -- math problems or conjugating French verbs, for example.  It'll be over in a few seconds.

For what you're facing, they'll probably need enough blood to fill a small test tube.  The volume of your pointer finger, basically.  Testing technology has gotten more and more efficient over the years, so they can do more with less of your precious bodily fluids. 

[Piney]

Never look when the needle goes in and you'll be fine.  Distract yourself with something -- math problems or conjugating French verbs, for example.  It'll be over in a few seconds.

Hmm, yes I agree, distractions work well! A couple times when I had to get shots, I just put earbuds in and played some music. It was rather effective. (though maybe a little unnecessary, hah. I'm better about shots now.)

[Paul Ferris]

This is completely unrelated, but which state do you live in @OrigamiOwl? I feel a bit weird knowing that there're fellow Aussies here but having no idea of where they are.

[OrigamiOwl]

This is completely unrelated, but which state do you live in @OrigamiOwl? I feel a bit weird knowing that there're fellow Aussies here but having no idea of where they are.

I'm in Tasmania You? I'm guessing the mainland?

[Paul Ferris]

Victoria! The second-hippiest state and proud of it

It must suck living on an almost completely flat, inbred, backwoods island

[kjeks]

Back to the blood donating thingie (and distracting our owl from the dentist)

While donating, once there lay someone next to me who could not stand the sight of blood. I had to keep the pour sod talking so he would not be able to look at anywhere, where he might see blood.

But it was so important to him. After he was finnished, he got up and walked away, eyes shut.

[FrogEater]

Did he at least thank you ?

[Lenny]

Victoria! The second-hippiest state and proud of it

It must suck living on an almost completely flat, inbred, backwoods island

I wish it were completely flat. Unfortunately it's quite hilly. I agree with inbred, though. No refuting backwoods either. On the plus side, though (perhaps the only plus-side), it's very beautiful.

As to blood and injury things, I am absolutely fine as long as it isn't my own. The very few times in life where I have almost fainted have been due to injuries to my own body - not really the blood, either, just pus in the one case, and the sight of a shortened thumb with a largish open wound in the other. I really detest needles, though. I blame Agatha Christie for that (introducing me to death by air in bloodstream at a very young age).