From this thread (What most frightens you) I brought up I got tunnel vision and a cold arm when I had my last IV. Kung Fu Lola said she felt the same thing.
I figured my reaction was due to my strange phobia of things being inserted into my vein, but perhaps some of
my reactions are real.
For the record, while I was feeling this way I was having a standard IV saline drip. They didn’t shoot me up with any goofyjuice yet.
So,. my question. Has anyone else gotten tunnel vision while having an IV? Is this just one of those things that happens?
Your arm is going to get colder. That is a natural thing, wheather you are scared or not. Normal blood tempature is like 100.4 degrees. That Normal Saline drip is most likely room temperature, which is a lot colder. Your arm should be colder to the touch close to the site of the IV.
As far as tunnel vision. That’s a “fight or flight” sign. If you are really scared of it, really really scared, I see no reason why you would not get tunnel vision. Cops and soldiers get tunnel vision in shoot outs all the time - cause they’re scared, and it’s a natural physiological response.
Also, if you are getting dizzie, maybe the tunnel vision is a sign you are about to pass out. Maybe not a “fight or flight” thing at all.
Whenever I am about to get stuck for an IV (which is like 3-4 times A DAY), my veins shrink up to nothing, and I am very hard to successfully stick. This is another “fight or flight” response. I’ve never gotten tunnel vision from it though.
But the cold arm… yeah, that’s completely normal and un avoidable. Unless you warm up the bag of saline.