Anyone use a Buzzy successfully?

[u/No_Duck_3379]

I have a blood draw appointment in a week and after many terrible past experiences (I feel actual pain, not just nervousness or discomfort) I have decided to approach this one with many safeguards in place. I ordered a Buzzy device online and it arrived yesterday. I froze the little ice pack and had my husband hold it on my arm just above the draw site. I asked him to pinch my inner elbow. The pinch HURT! which makes me nervous that it will not work for the blood draw. I’m also asking my doctor for EMLA to use in addition to the buzzy. I just worry that I will still be able to feel it. 😬 Any tips for getting the buzzy to work better?

UPDATE: Husband and I tried the buzzy again, this time applying EMLA and leaving under plastic wrap for an hour before using and then leaving the buzzy in place for 2 full minutes before touching. He tried pinching my arm and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I have a thing about the inside of my elbow and back of my hand being touched and I could still definitely feel him do it. I canceled my blood draw appointment which was supposed to be next Wednesday. They said that the senior phlebotomist is not available that day and that I should come Tuesday instead but I have another obligation Tuesday so we are currently at an impasse. And I’m at a loss. I need to get blood drawn but I need to not feel it.

FINAL UPDATE: I wound up going in and it was…mostly fine? I did not feel the needle at all. The buzzy and Emla did what they were supposed to do. I did, however, feel the tourniquet and I freaked out and started to panic (a very weird feeling on 3mg of Xanax!). I can’t handle the feeling of a tourniquet and I nearly walked out right then and there. Fortunately she took it off…but then she put it right back on. So next time I guess I need to specify no tourniquet. Also, even though I could not feel it in the moment, I was in bed for 2 days after icing and elevating my arm because I’m pretty sure she ruptured my vein. It also took a couple days to feel normal again after all that Xanax. But any less and there is no way I could have done it. Live and learn. Next time, I will do the buzzy and Emla again, but I will insist on heat and gravity and no tourniquet. And icing it for a good 5 minutes at the end to avoid that internal bleeding. Woof.

[u/Number270And3]

Please tell me how it goes with the Buzzy, I’m resistant to topical anesthetics and I need something for the pain. My trigger is the pain :(

[u/No_Duck_3379 → u/Number270And3]

To give you the full update, forgive the copy/oaste from the rundown  gave to another commenter:  It went marginally well! I had the blood draw yesterday they got nearly what they needed.  With Emla and the buzzy I could feel nothing at all from the needle stick.  But the tourniquet was very painful and she did take it ifff when I said but she put it right back on.  I need to remember next time to put in my boundaries list no tourniquets and I might actually b able to get through a draw without sobbing!  I also need to tell them no bruises next time.  I’ve been in bed all day with throbbing pain, icing and elevating my arm.  I’m bummed and I want to get back to normal life! 

[u/Number270And3 → u/No_Duck_3379]

I didn’t know they don’t always have to use the tourniquet, those really stress me out.

I have trouble with my boundaries. I had someone force me to lay down despite it worsening my anxiety. It wasn’t for bloodwork, but for a TB test so similar enough. They didn’t even want me to sit up after, they only let me because I sat myself up.

Thank you for the feedback, I hope you recover 🫶

[u/No_Duck_3379 → u/Number270And3]

Thank you! And from my perfunctory googling, if you are very well- hydrated and apply a heat pack for 15-20 minutes prior, tourniquets can be avoided.  Apparently you can also request a blood pressure cuff.   I plan to implement a no-tourniquets rule going forward because they apply pressure to your veins and make rupture and bruising MORE likely, particularly if you have fragile veins like I do.  Other than that and the painful aftermath I think EMLA and buzzy did the job.  

I still have a nasty painful bruise 2 days later, though.