An IV appointment usually means a short check-in, a few minutes to place a small cannula in your forearm or hand, and then quiet time in a reclining chair while the infusion runs and the practitioner checks on you. Afterwards, you keep light pressure on the site, leave the dressing on for a while and go about a normal day. Bruising, tenderness or a cool feeling in the arm are the effects people most often notice.
This article is about the appointment day itself: how to prepare, what happens from check-in to the moment the line comes out, and what to watch for afterwards. The step that comes before all of this, the screening and any lab work, is covered separately in our article on why screening comes before any IV. At Skin Art MD in Burnaby, an IV visit is only booked after that 15-minute naturopathic consultation has taken place.
How should I prepare for an IV appointment?
Eat a normal meal and drink water as usual in the hours before your visit, unless your practitioner has told you otherwise. Arriving well fed and hydrated tends to make veins easier to find and lowers the chance of feeling light-headed.
A few practical points help the day go smoothly:
- Eat something. A regular meal or a substantial snack an hour or two beforehand is reasonable for most people. If you have diabetes or any instruction from your physician about eating, follow that instruction.
- Drink water. Normal hydration through the morning is usually enough; there is no need to force large volumes.
- Dress for access. Wear a top with short sleeves or loose sleeves that push well above the elbow. Layers help, because some people feel cool during an infusion.
- Keep your routine medications unless you have been told to change something. Do not stop a prescribed medication on your own to prepare for an IV.
- Skip heavy exercise just before. A hard workout right before an appointment can leave you more prone to feeling faint.
What should I bring on the day?
Bring an up-to-date list of everything you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements, along with photo ID and any insurance details you plan to use for receipts.
If anything has changed since your consultation, such as a new medication, a recent illness, a new diagnosis, or pregnancy, tell the front desk and the practitioner before the line goes in. That information can change whether the infusion goes ahead that day. If you have recent lab results that were not available at your consultation, bring a copy.
It also helps to bring something to pass the time, such as a book or headphones, a water bottle, and a sweater. Plan to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early so any forms are finished without cutting into your appointment. Our front desk can help in English and Chinese with check-in and paperwork; the naturopathic visit itself is conducted in English.
What happens at check-in?
Before anything is placed, the practitioner reviews your consent, confirms the plan agreed at your consultation, and checks your vital signs. This is a second checkpoint, not a formality.
Expect your blood pressure, pulse and usually temperature to be taken. You will be asked how you are feeling today, whether anything has changed since your last visit, and whether you have eaten. You will have the chance to read and sign the consent form, and to ask questions about the plan, the expected time and what you might feel. If your vital signs or answers raise a concern, the practitioner may postpone the infusion; that is a normal part of careful practice.
How is the IV line placed, and what if I am nervous about needles?
At Skin Art MD, Dr. Ekaterina Krantsevich Riehl, ND assesses you and places the IV line herself. She looks for a suitable vein, cleans the skin, inserts a fine needle with a soft plastic tube over it, then withdraws the needle and leaves only the flexible tube secured with a dressing.
Most people describe a brief pinch or sting as the needle goes in. Sensation varies from person to person, and there are practical ways to make it easier if you are nervous:
- Tell us early. Saying "I am anxious about needles" or "I have fainted before" changes how we set up, and nobody will think less of you for it.
- Lie back. Placing the line while you are reclined, rather than sitting upright, reduces the chance of feeling faint.
- Keep warm. Warmth helps veins become more visible. A warm compress or simply a warm room and a blanket can help, and drinking water beforehand matters here too.
- Look away and breathe. Slow breathing and focusing on something else are simple and they help many people.
- Ask for a countdown, or not. Some people want to know exactly when the needle goes in; others prefer not to. Tell us which you prefer.
If a vein is hard to find, a second attempt may be needed. The practitioner will explain what is happening and will not keep trying indefinitely.
How long does an IV appointment take?
It depends on your individual plan. The volume of fluid and the infusion rate the practitioner sets for you determine the time, so two people on the same day can have very different appointment lengths.
As a general range, the infusion itself often runs somewhere between half an hour and an hour and a half, plus time for check-in, placing the line and a short period afterwards. Your practitioner will give you an estimate when the treatment visit is booked. Please do not ask for the drip to be run faster to save time; the rate is set as part of your plan for a reason.
What happens while the infusion is running?
You rest in a reclining chair while the practitioner monitors you. You can read, use your phone, or close your eyes. You can usually get up to use the washroom with assistance; just ask first so the line is managed properly.
During the infusion, the practitioner checks in periodically: looking at the insertion site, confirming the drip rate, and asking how you feel. Vital signs may be rechecked depending on your plan. Speak up at any time, even about small things. Mentioning a sensation early is far easier to deal with than waiting until the end.
What are common minor effects of an IV drip?
The effects people most often notice are local and short-lived: a bruise or tenderness where the line was placed, a cool sensation travelling up the arm as room-temperature fluid enters the vein, and sometimes a brief unusual taste or smell in the mouth when the infusion starts. Individual experiences vary.
Other things some people notice include mild aching along the vein, slight light-headedness when standing up, or needing to urinate during or after the appointment. A small bruise is common and usually fades over several days. Less commonly, the vein can become irritated or inflamed for a few days, which feels like a tender, sometimes firm, line along the vein.
When should I stop and tell staff immediately?
Tell the practitioner right away if you notice anything that feels wrong. The infusion can be slowed or stopped at any point. Specifically, speak up immediately for:
- Pain, burning, swelling or tightness at the insertion site, or fluid leaking around the dressing
- Itching, hives, flushing or a rash
- Dizziness, nausea, or feeling faint
- Chest tightness, shortness of breath or palpitations
- Swelling of the lips, face or throat
- Headache that comes on suddenly, or any symptom you were not expecting
These do not always mean something serious, but they are exactly the moments the practitioner needs to know about.
What should I do after the IV comes out?
When the infusion is finished, the cannula is removed and you press firmly on the site for a minute or two. A small dressing goes on, and you are asked to stay seated briefly before getting up.
- Pressure first. Firm, steady pressure for a couple of minutes reduces bruising. Avoid rubbing the site.
- Leave the dressing on for at least an hour.
- Go easy on that arm for the rest of the day: no heavy lifting or intense exercise with it. Ordinary daily activity is fine for most people.
- Stand up slowly and make sure you feel steady before you drive.
- Keep drinking water and eat normally.
- Watch the site over the next day or two. A small bruise is expected; increasing redness or swelling is not.
When should I call the clinic, 8-1-1 or 911?
Match the response to how serious the symptom is. Call the clinic for questions about the site or mild symptoms that are not settling; call 8-1-1 when the clinic is closed or you are unsure; call 911 for anything that could be an emergency.
- Call the clinic if the insertion site becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen or painful over a day or two, if you notice a firm, tender cord along the vein, or if a bruise is getting larger rather than fading.
- Call 8-1-1 (HealthLink BC) if the clinic is closed and you are unsure what to do. As of October 2026, HealthLink BC offers 24-hour access to registered nurses, with translation services available on request.
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, chest pain, fainting, confusion, or fever with spreading redness from the site.
If you have a family physician, it is reasonable to let them know you are receiving IV therapy so your care stays coordinated.
Frequently asked questions
Should I fast before an IV appointment?
Generally no. Most people are encouraged to eat and drink normally beforehand, unless the practitioner has given you a specific instruction.
Can I drive home afterwards?
Most people can, once they feel steady. If you felt faint during placement or the infusion, or you were told to arrange a ride, do not drive.
What if I bruise easily or take a blood thinner?
Mention it at your consultation and again at check-in. It does not always rule out an IV, but it affects how the site is managed, including how long pressure is held afterwards.
Can someone come with me?
Yes. A family member or friend is welcome to accompany you if space allows; let the front desk know when you book.
Can I reschedule if I feel unwell on the day?
Yes. If you have a fever, a new infection or you simply feel unwell, call the clinic. Postponing is better than proceeding when you are not well.
Booking
IV treatment visits at Skin Art MD in Metrotown, Burnaby, are arranged after the 15-minute naturopathic consultation, for clients across Greater Vancouver. You can book a naturopathic consultation online or read more about our naturopathic medicine services.
