Hydrate. Why should you hydrate if you’re coming in for an IV, isn’t it supposed to rehydrate you? Absolutely, but the more dehydrated you are, the smaller your veins are. They tend to hide on us when we’re low on fluids! So give yourself and your doctor a helping hand by drinking a few glasses of water before your appointment.
Eat. Something, anything! It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels up so you feel comfortable during your treatment Some of the vitamins and minerals have a blood sugar and blood pressure lowering effect which, if you’re running on empty already, can make your feel a little lightheaded.
Get moving. Ever look at your arms after a good workout? Perhaps you’ve noticed you’re a lot more ‘vascular’ after you’ve got the blood pumping. As we increase our movement, we generate heat, the more heat, the more our vessels dilate. Moving around is one of the best things you can do to help ensure a successful treatment. An easy fix: park a few blocks away and walk over.
Avoid the over-the-counter. If you can, avoid anti-histamine and decongestant drugs before your IV. While these medications are good for clearing stuffy noses, relieving allergy symptoms or alleviating headache, they have a constricting effect on your blood vessels. This can sometimes make it more challenging for your treatment. If you can’t avoid them, be sure to hydrate, have a snack and do a quick jog around the block before you get seated!
Relax & breathe. Once you’re comfortably seated in your lounge chair waiting to be hooked up, take a few moments to relax by taking 5 deep belly breaths. Place one hand over your chest and one over your belly, watching your belly hand expand outward with each breath. If your belly hand isn’t expanding outward and your chest hand is rising instead, focus on your belly expanding outward as you breathe in. Grounding yourself will help release any nervous tension and prepare your body for your treatment.
In Health,
