consciousness is good, I recommend it

[pauraque_bk]

So I got to do something new today — I passed out!

I was just getting a routine blood draw, and then I was dizzy, and then I kept being dizzy, and then *konk*. When I woke up the nurses were all gathered around and they made me lie down and drink juice and eat crackers. And then they drew more blood because they didn't get enough, jerks. :|

Nothing like this had ever happened to me before, but I'm told that in the future I should tell people who draw my blood to get the juice and crackers ready in advance, because I am now A Person Who Passes Out At Blood Draws. Impressive!

It probably says something about me that as soon as I was thinking clearly, I realized the bright side of this was that now when I need to write about a character passing out, I can do so from experience and not have to rely on research. (For example, it was a lot sweatier than I would have imagined.)

I'm fine now. They said I would feel like crap all day, but I don't really. I guess I am just that tuff.

This entry was originally posted at http://pauraque.dreamwidth.org/25996.html. Comment here or there.

Comments

[bardsmaid.livejournal.com]

... now when I need to write about a character passing out, I can do so from experience...

This is the mark of a true writer, you know. :-) Glad you're feeling better.

[pauraque]

Thanks!

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

Heh! I love how your first thought was that now you can write passing out from experience. It's a good way of dealing with unpleasant experiences, I find. And you got crackers out of it :-)

I have never actually passed out, but I've been on the brink of it a couple of times (surprisingly often!). I have this weird thing where I can draw out the pre-passing-out stage indefinitely. Everything goes black and I feel woozy and sweat a lot, but I never lose consciousness. I can even hold a conversation in that state until I have the chance to get myself somewhere quiet, sit down and have a drink of water.

[pauraque]

The crackers were tasty! Who doesn't love free food?

In the past I've been able to stop the passing-out process by putting my head between my knees, but I couldn't really do that since I had a needle in my arm, and it seemed to progress really quickly. I was able to say something like, "Um, I'm really dizzy, this doesn't seem right" but I think I was out before they could even reply!

[scarah2.livejournal.com]

I never passed all the way out, but I've been a close caller. Did you get the tunnel closing in?

[pauraque]

Not really a tunnel, more like everything getting blurry until I couldn't see at all, plus ringing in my ears and dizziness. I've had close calls too, and this was like that, except I got a little nap at the end of it.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Go you! The last time I almost passed out at the doctors they were sticking a long, thin pair of scissors down my nose to chop something off around my throat. But the doctor noticed I'd turned green and I got a quick juice/cracker break before going in again.

It's weird, though, isn't it? I've passed out only a couple of times. Once during a voice lesson in someone's living room. That was awkward.

[pauraque]

Ack, omg. That sounds like a very unpleasant procedure. I don't think I would have been surprised by blacking out if something like that was happening to me!

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

Speaking as an occasional passer-out, it also can help if you ask them to let you lie down during the blood draw.

[pauraque]

Yeah, when they went to get my blood the second time, they had me lying down with my feet elevated, which seemed to work better.

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh! Please take good care, most beloved!

*leaves a blood replenishing potion on your nightstand*

[pauraque]

Thanks so much! I'm feeling just fine now. :)