Needle Phobia/how to conquer it???

[DonnaW]

I have *extreme* needle phobia, and am needing to have some major medical procedures done this summer....any advice on how to conquer the needle phobia??? I had to go for a blood test last week, and was shaking so bad, they almost couldn't draw the blood! Was in the hosp in Feb and the worst part for me was all the needles they used to draw blood, shots, etc! Help!!!!

 

[JohnsPrincess]

Well, I might not be the best person to give advice since I too and EXTREMELY afraid of needles...but I'm in the Air Force and they LOVE to take blood and give shots. What I do is let them know right away that I'm Very afraid. Normally they give me a really good person who is not only experienced, but also really sweet. They talk to me through the whole thing. Half the time they don't really believe me until I start crying...which I always do. If I can get someone to go with me, I do and I have them hold my hand (used to be my mom now it's my boyfriend). He'll hold my hand and rub my fingers and just talk to me. I close my eyes and BREATHE. Nice deep breaths in and out. If you Move it will Hurt more...so I concentrate on not moving and breathing. It doesn't make it less scary, but it helps me deal with it better!! I hope this helped a little!!

 

[scarlett873]

oh goodness...i am so not the person to ask about this! lol

i didn't think my phobia of needles was as bad as i had imagined it to be...until i had to go to the ER last week. i can normally handle the little prick in your arm to draw blood, as long as my hubby is there holding my hand and i don't look. last week in the ER, they wanted to have the IV ready to go, in case i had another seizure. as soon as i got into my little room i asked about the IV, she says that i'll have to have one...the guy comes in to do it...i had him and the nurse on my right side...and DH and the resident doctor on my left side holding me down. i was flipping out, but i kept my right arm perfectly still for him amazingly enough! my DH just kept rubbing my hand and reassuring me, the resident doc was talking to me...i was sobbing and yelling...30 year old woman freaking out over an IV...lol...DH later said that he had never seen me flip out like that over anything. and he's known me for 16 years...

i have to go have an MRI done this month and they talked about using an IV to relax me so i didn't freak out about that. DH laughed and said, trust me, you don't want to do that. give her a pill...lol

good luck...i'll keep you in my thoughts!

 

[Danauk]

I suffer from needle phobia too. The only advice I can give is to breeth deeply and to imaging something in your head that you really like (I usually do an imaginary walk from the BCV to MGM, remembering everything that you pass en route!) My doctor and dentist are really good with me. My records have needle phobia written on the front and they always use a topical numbing cream first. I always ask them to make sure I don't ever see the needle they are going to use, that helps a bit too.
One other thing is that if I know I am going to have an injection I go see my doctor a few days before and he gives me some tablets that calm you down (tomazopan - sp?). I have to take one the night before and one an hour before the injection. They really work. Good luck.

 

[grinningghost]

My DH had extreme needle phobia - and get this - he gives me injections every week for my MS. He has to breathe deeply and even after all these years, he still hates it.

When he gets blood drawn on himself, he passes out.

Just remember, you're not alone. Needle phobia is really common. The key are those deep breaths, slow, even, deep breaths. And keep your eyes closed when they're preparing and injecting. No sense looking and making it worse. Good luck to you.

 

[Jolie C]

I used to have a needle phobia, but I've worked through it until now it's just an intense fear. Actually, it is probably only a medium sized fear, but still scary. I tried a variety of things to help overcome it, and I've found that the thing that works best for me is to calculate in my head about how long it will take for the shot or IV to be put in or whatever, and then I mentally count backwards from that number. This works wonders for me, but I think everyone has to find their own method of dealing with it.

 

[Cruise04]

I don't have any advice but we did have a student in our office on time who was seeking counseling because of this. She had some major surgery also coming up and the counselor ended up going with her to the nursing school and they did something to get her through it. Maybe if you call your local community college and see if their nursing program can do something to help you out that might be able to help you.

I'm scared of needles too (I almost passed out a few years ago when I got a flu shot) but I've had to endure them due to needing allergy shots weekly. I do have to say, although I still tense up I'm not as bad as I use to be. They know I'm nervous when I start talking as they are giving the shot. They just expect it now.

 

[peg2001]

I wish I could help you, then I could help DH as well. I feel so bad for him. I think I would have to have 100 needlepricks before it would bother me as much as having 1 upsets him.

He has found that when he warns the nurse ahead of time, it just makes her nervous and more likely to need to re-stick.

Peggy

 

[Towncrier]

I tried to conquer my needle phobia by donating blood. Strange as it seems, I figured that I could convince myself that by doing a greater good, I could overcome my fear. I only mention this because it didn't work. As a result of my recent surgery, my wife had to give me injections of blood thinner once a day for 3 weeks. The needles were thin and sometimes I couldn't even feel the needle stick, but I still found myself dreading each morning. So frequent needle sticks didn't help me either.

I had to have an IV yesterday as part of my minor ankle surgery. I warned the nurse that my veins tend to roll, that my left arm is better than my right, and that she would have two chances to get the needle in because I always pass out on the third stick. I think that letting the person sticking the needle in you know your history, you have a better chance of a successful stick. By the way, my vein did roll, but since the nurse was watching for that, she managed to insert the IV on the first try.

So learn as much as you can about your body. If, like me, you find that a particular site is better than others for drawing blood, let the nurse know. My experience has been that they all want to minimize discomfort and that they really do care.

 

[justjulie]

We have something called EMLA patches up here - it's a cream you put on and then cover with a "patch" it numbs the area - they also have a new one called Betacaine that does the same thing but is a little less messy.

We have to ask for it over the counter but I'm not sure if it's available outside of Canada.

 

[Jolie C]

Towncrier, I totally agree that it's better to tell the nurse/phlebotomist what to expect if you have any "issues". I always tell them not to put an IV in certain places because my veins collapse every time and they have to try someplace else. So far, I've been able to avoid any more of the double or triple or quadruple sticks!

 

[C.Ann]

I used to have an EXTREME phobia when it came to needles but after I almost died after giving birth to my first child and had to have 17 blood transfusions over a 3 week period - with twice daily blood tests in between - I somehow got used to them..

Now I just turn my head the other way (before they even bring the needle in the room) and think REAL hard about other things..

Still not a big fan of needles in my mouth at the dentists office though.. I always request gas..

My son-in-law has a health condition that requires blood tests every so often and if we even TALK about needles, he'll turn white, start to shake, and sometimes even vomit.. He's a real tough guy - has had numerous serious injuries (falling 25 ft. off a roof, etc.) but just can NOT handle even speaking about needles..

It's a tough thing to deal with, but I think the MORE frequently you have to have them (especially if it's on a daily basis for several weeks) the fear usually subsides..

 

[Lachesis00]

Butterfly needles!! Plus the bigger the gauge, the smaller the actual needle (I never understood how a 23 was smaller then a 16 ) and don't look.

Oh and consider a finger poke hurts 1000x worse then the arm!! Thats what I told my son the first time he had to get blood drawn.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Needles upset me too. I find if I don't see them, though, I do a lot better. I keep my eyes tightly closed whenever I'm having blood work and tell the nurse that's what I'm doing.

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD and I both have problems with needle phobia. Here's what I've found has helped us.

I used to have to take an allergy shot every week. I learned to make my arm loose instead of tense. The nurse talked about making my arm "like Jello". I also did the deep breathing. And I always took something to read with me. It could be a magazine or a book. Anything that I could focus my attention on instead of dwelling on that dreaded needle.

When DD was in the hospital a year ago, needles were the worst part. They did have a cream that numbed the area every time they had to move her IV, so it is available in the U.S. Ask for it. The only problem is that it takes a few minutes to do it's thing, so you have to let them know you want it in advance. Also share any information about deep veins or veins that tend to roll, etc. The more the nurse expects the easier it is for you. BTW, Disney trivia questions are what DD used to focus. That worked well for her.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

ive always hated needles..but i find that i seriously have to think of other things...
i also get the blood drawan from the hand and use a butterfly needle--

good luck

 

[honeywolf7]

I have needle phobia as well, but I talked myself into giving blood yesterday at school and not only did they stick me once, but that vein didn't work so they gave me the option of trying the other arm and I said yes. I know it's not a huge accomplishment for most people, but I'm proud of myself for doing it and I think it might help me overcome my needle phobia.

 

[2bemarried]

OMG...I DESPISE needles. I also pass out when giving blood. So every time that I know I have to do it...I ask the nurses to take it in the room I'm in instead of out where everyone else goes. That way I can lay down and prevent passing out.
I had surgery last August to remove a benign mass in one of my breasts. So I understand what you're going through. My biggest suggestion is to get drugs before hand to take the edge off. Second would be to tell them that only the anaesthesialogist is allowed to put your IV in. They are much more understanding and will get it the first time...instead of the 5th time like the nurse did with me. My anaesthesialogist had to fix the IV before I went in for the surgery.

Just know that you're not alone in this fear...we're all here to support you!

 

[Idaho]

I am afraid of needles too, but have found a couple of things that help. First of all, I don't ever watch. I think that is just gross and it makes it hurt more because I am watching that needle get closer and closer. I also tell the nurse that I get dizzy from the drawing of blood and they always let me lie down to have blood drawn or whatever. (Man, just typing this is making my arms feel like they do after someone has drawn blood...) Anyway, I also will clench my fist and dig my fingernails into the palm of my hand to try and take my mind off of what is going to happen. Like Jolie C mentioned I do think to myself that I can stand this for however many seconds. If you have had kids, you know that labor is TONS worse pain-wise so just tell yourself that you can handle this. But remember, DON'T WATCH, and one other thing I have found from the last time I had to have blood drawn, the nurse "forgot" to say, "Okay, a little pinch here" and was just talking away and it was the best experience I have ever had. Because she just did it, it was not unexpected, but I also wasn't all geared up for the hurt and then it didn't hurt hardly at all.

 

[DonnaW]

Thanks, everyone, for your ideas. I have tried the "not looking", I have tried the butterfly needle in the top of the hand, I have tried the deep breathing. I just am a big needle wimp!!! I'll keep looking for a solution to this, though, cuz I really feel it's something I need to get over.