I was once in my clinic’s lab with a study patient, and there was a young man there who had to have blood drawn. He was majorly phobic, but found out that he could stand to have blood drawn from the veins in the back of his hand if he could put that hand on top of his head. Dunno how he figured this out, but apparently that was far enough “out of sight, out of mind” or something.
At any rate, I’m saying they’ve probably seen worse than you. Be very upfront about what happens to you and what you think you might need.
Try convincing yourself that there are different kinds of needles. There are big ones, small ones, some as big as your head…and it greatly matters which ones are being used on you. The ones they use for most vaccine injections are a lot bigger than the ones they use for simple anesthesia. And they’re thinner than the ones they use for blood draws.
Try thinking “Yes, I’m afraid of needles…but not this one. This isn’t a needle. It’s a baby needle. It’s the diet coke of needles. I shall call it [dramatic pause] mini needle.”
I had daily injections as a kid, and believe me, it does help to do it yourself. It’s creepy at first but then you feel in control. It’s like touching your eyeball- easy to do it yourself, impossible to let others do it.
Mentioning “needles” and “touching your eyeball” in the same post is unlikely to be reassuring to the OP. :eek::o
I knew of an anthropology professor in college who had gone to live with a primitive tribe in the Philippines. She eventually had to leave for nutritional reasons; the tribe’s diet was so narrow and lacking in redundancy that she was missing out on some essential nutrient because she just couldn’t bring herself to join them in eating the big spiders.
Needles and eyeballs. Help. My mom had to get an injection in the eye and she was really worried about it, as one is. Turns out they gave her some kind of really strong tranquiliser and she didn’t even notice when it happened!
For me the anticipation would be the worst part. I’m not saying that I know what’s best for you, but if it was me I’d do it as soon as possible, certainly before the wedding, because it would ruin the whole thing to have this hanging over my head. And I’d ask them to assume the worst and take out the whole thing in one go, so I wouldn’t have to be stressing about results and whether I’d have to go back.
I’m somebody who doesn’t have a problem with needles–I used to donate blood regularly. But when I had a PE last year, I had to learn how to give myself injections of an anticoagulant. Learning to stick *yourself *is way, *way *harder than learning to let other people stick you, IMO. If I’d had any other option I’m sure I wouldn’t have even tried. As it was, the first time I tried it, I made the nurse and my mom turn around and look the other way, while I sat there with a pinch of skin in one hand and the needle in the other thinking “icandothisohshitnoicantbutihavetoohshiticantdothiswhatthefuck” for probably at least a minute.
And even though I’m very okay with needles, I *still *can’t watch them sticking one in. I just turn my head and breathe out. (After the needle’s in, on the other hand, I have no problem looking at it.)
As for informing the medical professionals, you might tell them you tend to vomit at the sight of a needle. People take vomit seriously.
As for ‘dealing’ with a phobia, nothing but absolute need has ever worked for me; I had to get down off that mountain (or ladder), or I had to get that spider out of the tub. So, you might just have to put up with this.
But the actual mole removal? I have a very low pain threshold (I am convinced my pain nerves actually need less of a stimulus to fire), and I did not feel a thing - well, probably pressure, but really just pressure, not like what your dentist calls pressure.
That’s sort of my take on it. I don’t get things done prophylactically, even though I should. I told my dentist to tell me when the wisdom teeth were actually causing a problem, and I’d get them out then. After four years, she finally said they were causing a problem–and I got them out. When it’s necessary, I do it.
I feel your pain. Literally and figuratively. The key is to get someone to listen. In certain circumstances this might be a nurse.
Yesterday I was scheduled for an epidural steroid injection for my severe, acute back problems. The procedure itself was to be done under sedation that felt like a general anesthetic (I was asleep although I was still breathing on my own.)
The problem? The IV.
Since it was rather hastily arranged I didn’t have time to talk to my doctor.
I had the same procedure done a few years ago and while I was pre-medicated with Valium, the nurse (trying to be gentle) kept messing up the needle stick. Five, six times. I was kind of a wreck.
But I called the surgery center yesterday, morning of the procedure, hoping to get a quick script for a couple of Valium or something and maybe an EMLA patch or cream. (It’s a prescription medication that contains lidocaine and if you put it the area a half hour before the procedure. It numbs the skin somewhat. It seems to help some people a lot (including an ER doc friend) others not so much. I’ve never tried it yet.)
I talked to the nurse for my pre-op questionnaire, and then told her about my severe needle phobia.
“How about we put the IV in in the operating room? The anesthetist will give you some gas to breathe that will relax you and we’ll put the IV in then.”
Bingo.
Even with this plan in place my BP was still crazy all over the place as I was waiting and that same nurse said “You really are nervous, aren’t you?”
Um, yeah.
Anyway, it all went off without a hitch.
After about 45 seconds of breathing the gas I was very relaxed and almost asleep. I woke up briefly as they moved me from the stretcher to the table and induced through the IV. (Strangely, I have no problem with the IV actually being in…)
The whole experience was almost pleasant, and in any case, a whole lot better than trying to sweat out a needle stick.
And best of all, my back feels better and I can move my right leg for the first time in six weeks.
I realize this only helps for surgical candidates, but the larger lesson is to get someone to listen.
Doing it this way took an extra five minutes, but it was also better than alternatives that would have ranged from passing out (never actually happened but…) to walking out (many times.)
I notice that a number of people replied along the lines of “don’t look.”
I have found the opposite to work better - you stare at the spot where the needle is going to enter. Not looking only increases the shock of the penetration.
If you have somebody that can drive you I’m pretty sure your doc can give you some happy pills.
I’m not sure if this will help but I think needle tech has improved by leaps and bounds over the years.
Last time I got my flu shot, the nurse was swabbing my arm with alcohol when I got a text on my phone. I looked over to read my text for like five seconds. After I was done I looked over at the nurse, as in “OK, I’m ready for my shot now” She just looks at me and says “I’m done” as she stuck a band aid on my arm.
I have a friend with this phobia, she says head phones with music on helps along with closing her eyes. AND she’s a red head, Weird, I never knew that was a thing.
Since I made this thread almost three years ago I’ve had a number of needle-related things done. I had a baby and I was Rh negative so I had lots and lots of shots, including a spinal for the c-section. I still have an intense fear of needles but I found that when it is something you have to get done you just scream, cry and let the doctor think you are a pansy while she sticks you but you do it because you have no other choice.
My daughter is sitting here next to me wearing nothing but a diaper, covered from head to toe in chili and happier than a kitten in a field of catnip. Obviously all that needle related stuff was worth it but it was still incredibly horrible to go through at the time.
Sorry to bump the topic but I have never gotten a shot - thank God! But I do have to get a finger prick every year during my physical, and I HATE IT! Every year it’s the same thing: I get nervous, and when they actually do it, it only lasts two seconds and it’s over, BUT I STRONGLY DISLIKE PAIN!
I’m getting a physical tomorrow and I’m 14 now. And I’m really nervous! But it’s not that bad. Just hold your breath for two seconds and it’s over! EVEN THOUGH IT FUCKING HURTS YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY WHEN IT’S OVER! I used to put ice on my finger and I think I might do that this year, BECAUSE IT HELPS ME! There’s a Fred video where he goes to the doctor and rants about how the doctor “cut his finger” right when he got there and I love that video, it relates to me! It has a good message at the end - IT’S NOT THAT BAD!