Did anyone else have this done pre-op?

Yes, It was not that bad. The ABG hurt like hell, but was fast.

Yep- just done on 9/13. And my surgeon has my clearance. Not a fan of blood gas tests, it does hurt. Hopefully you get a good stick. I have to say she did far better than previous folks. And blowing in that tube does get a little ...uh... sucky? LOL Not sure how to put it but I have to say a couple times my lungs sort of hurt. ( like when you get really winded doing something) But all in all it was no big deal. Maybe an hour and a half of time tops.

I had to do a pulmonary evaluation and I think many do. They hooked me up to a breathing machine and had me breathe in and out to measure my range for both. This vist took about 1 1/2 hours.

I had ABG completed because I was diagnosed with severe sleep Apnea and they wanted to measure my oxygen in my blood. This was completed in the same pulmonary visit. They tapped into the artery on my hand, backside of your wrist.

Just to warn you, this procedure burns alot!

I went to Suburban Lung Associates. Doctor Hart is great, but Marilyn/nurse was amazing.

Good Luck!!

I had no problem with the ABG, no burning. I had to go in a chamber and do a series of breathing tests, I was out of there in under 30 minutes from the time I walked in the door. Had my pulmonary appt today and all was fine.

First of all I HATE needles. Second, I am the hardest stick in the world. I am so freaking worried about the ABG it's not even funny.

Did they numb the area for any of you? I probably wouldn't be so scared if I wasn't so hard to draw. If they think I will let them stick me twice, they are wrong. LOL

I had to do a pulmonary evaluation and I think many do. They hooked me up to a breathing machine and had me breathe in and out to measure my range for both. This vist took about 1 1/2 hours.

I had ABG completed because I was diagnosed with severe sleep Apnea and they wanted to measure my oxygen in my blood. This was completed in the same pulmonary visit. They tapped into the artery on my hand' date=' backside of your wrist.

Just to warn you, this procedure burns alot!

I went to Suburban Lung Associates. Doctor Hart is great, but Marilyn/nurse was amazing.

Good Luck!![/quote']

I'm going to the hospital. I never thought of them. Oh well, I'm sure it would take me a lot longer to get into than the hospital anyway.

I am considered to be a "hard stick" too. Both times I have had DVTs and been hospitalized they blew through so many veins only certain people were allowed to touch me. In fact, the first time I got a PiCC line and was so happy when I did. This last time ( May) they couldn't even get the PiCC line in after THREE attempts!!! But I was told the blood gas stick is a whole different animal. They are drawing from an artery, not a vein. The arteries are harder to get at anyway, so everyone is sort of in the same boat. I was fortunate to get a lady who spent time really searching for the artery and finding a good location, then rechecking before inserting the needle. It is a painful test (somewhat) due to how much further in they have to go. But, when done correctly, that pain can be minimized.

I had just had to have blood drawn at another doctors appt and they couldn't find the vein, found one and lost it, got a second nurse in there who finally went on the top of my forearm. I was poked like 7 times, and was starving and thought I was going to pass out. I headed from there to the next appt and thought I was only getting air flow tests... and when she mentioned the ABG, I was like you are kidding right? She told me if I remained calm it would be a breeze, but if I tensed up it might hurt. She kept saying remain calm, while I looked to the left and it wasn't bad for me. It wasn't as bad as being a pincushion at that other appt.

I had just had to have blood drawn at another doctors appt and they couldn't find the vein' date=' found one and lost it, got a second nurse in there who finally went on the top of my forearm. I was poked like 7 times, and was starving and thought I was going to pass out. I headed from there to the next appt and thought I was only getting air flow tests... and when she mentioned the ABG, I was like you are kidding right? She told me if I remained calm it would be a breeze, but if I tensed up it might hurt. She kept saying remain calm, while I looked to the left and it wasn't bad for me. It wasn't as bad as being a pincushion at that other appt.[/quote']

Lol I feel like a pin cushion often. Maybe I should get a zanex for the draw.

I am considered to be a "hard stick" too. Both times I have had DVTs and been hospitalized they blew through so many veins only certain people were allowed to touch me. In fact' date=' the first time I got a PiCC line and was so happy when I did. This last time ( May) they couldn't even get the PiCC line in after THREE attempts!!! But I was told the blood gas stick is a whole different animal. They are drawing from an artery, not a vein. The arteries are harder to get at anyway, so everyone is sort of in the same boat. I was fortunate to get a lady who spent time really searching for the artery and finding a good location, then rechecking before inserting the needle. It is a painful test (somewhat) due to how much further in they have to go. But, when done correctly, that pain can be minimized.[/quote']

I'm going to make sure they look very long and hard!

Yes' date=' It was not that bad. The ABG hurt like hell, but was fast.[/quote']

What is ABG?

An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to determine how well your lungs are working.

Actiually doing an ABG is actually at times easier to do than an IV. The needle is the size of an insulin needle, but the key is to relax while it is done. The preferred method; first the nurse/respiratory therapist finds the radial pulse (the pulse in your wrist). They keep their fingers there as a reference, and then they take the Synge and go straight in at 90 degrees (like throwing a dart). They will use your pulse as the reference point.

Unfortunately, it has hard to numb up with any spray because of the need to find a pulse.

Hope this helps a little bit, fingers crossed takes less than 30 seconds. Good luck.

Going to Dr. Hart tomorrow...

Going to Dr. Hart tomorrow...

You'll like them alot. Doctor Hart and Nurse Marilyn are awesome!!