Needle Phobia/how to conquer it???

[Dan Murphy]

How about a shot of Southern Comfort before hand, Donna?

Maybe a sedative pill ahead of the procedure, a calming med??

 

[bunnyfoo]

I'm glad I came across this thread ... I have to get some blood work done but I've been slowly putting off because I really hate needles. I will try these suggestions when I go in next week It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who is terrified of needles ...

 

[KimRaye]

No advice Donna, I'm not a big fan either. Just some {{HUGS}} for you for whatever you're going through.

Hope to see ya soon!

 

[DocRafiki]

The best cure for any phobia -- immersion therapy (is that what it's called?)

I'll help you all out -- POKE, POKE, POKE, POKE!



Go hang out at a piercing parlor and watch all the people calmly (and sometimes with pleasure) get the BIG needles.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
Go hang out at a piercing parlor and watch all the people calmly (and sometimes with pleasure) get the BIG needles.

LOL! DH can't even watch someone on TV using a needle. Honestly, he flinches and closes his eyes and I tell him when it is all over.

Peggy

 

[laurie31]

Another vote for EMLA cream! I never have any needle near me without it. I don't have a phobia, I just don't enjoy pain Preventing or reducing pain is a big focus in healthcare these days, so ask your MD for a prescription. It does take a minimum of 1 hour to work and it can be on up to 4 hours. If your veins are hard to stick, prep two sites with the EMLA, just in case

Good luck and pixie dust for you

 

[kpgclark]

Try concentrating really hard on something else when the needle is going in. For example when I was young and had to get a shot for dental work the dentist would have me close my eyes really tight. The whole time he was giving me the injection he kept saying "tighter, tighter, tighter". I really focused all my energy on closing my eyes and never felt or thought of the needle.

 

[Doctor P]

You certainly have my sympathy, Donna. While I am certainly not the most squeamish person when it comes to needles, I have been poked enough with both good and bad experiences that I can offer some advice (and as someone who has been giving himself daily injections for 8 months, I have done my share of poking, too!). Injections and IV's are the easiest things to do something about. With respect to IV's, if they are doing it in your hand, be sure to ask that they use the highest gauge (thinnest needle) that will work for purpose intended. Even if they can use a 29 or 30 (or higher) guage needle just to put a little Lidocaine into your hand before they insert the IV, that will make the needle thing a lot more bearable (generally, you will not even feel ANY pain with a 29 or 30 gauge needle on the skin's surface. Also ask about alternative sites for injections or IV's. Some places are more comfortable than others and are still effective. All the other advice you have gotten is good, especially in terms of letting the personnel know of your fears as they can usually help.

 

[Towncrier]

Doctor P is right about those 30 gauge needles. They are so small that you won't even feel the "pinch" most of the time. That's the only reason that I could make it through 21 days of blood thinner shots that Sue gave me every morning after my ankle surgery.

 

[Talking Hands]

Donna,
What cured my needle phobia was the knowledge that if I didn't take my insulin shots daily I would die. I had a choice. Shots or death and I certainly wasn't ready to die. After 25 years of taking them they are no big deal now. It was hard at first and it would take me a good 10-15 minutes to take that shot each time. Now I just do it. Surprising what you can get over when you want to live.

 

[Micca]

How needle phobic am I? I am getting a little woozy reading this thread.