# I pit patients with tattoos from head to toe (including swastikas) who whine over getting shots **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115 "2013-09-18T01:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/81 "2013-09-20T20:32:14Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Frankly, most shoulder joint injections hurt less than flu shots. . I get a flu shot every year, and it never hurts šŸ˜• When I think of it, I donā€™t remember any painful shot, except for a tetanus (I think) shot when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/82 "2013-09-20T20:40:52Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Some addicts just stick a needle into the left ventricle when they really, really, _really_ need a fix. Huh!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/83 "2013-09-20T22:46:03Z")
This article has nothing to do with the OP but it is on vaccines and I thought Dopers might be interested in reading it. The article is from Scientific American and details why we need a better pertussis vaccine. Part of the problem is the anti-vax nuts helped weaken the older one in the first place. So we substituted a newer vaccine that has potentially less side effects but is simply not as effective as the old one. > **[Why Whooping Cough Vaccines Are Wearing Off](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-whooping-cough-vaccines-are-wearing-off/)** > > Doctors race to protect kids as whooping cough vaccines wear off ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/84 "2013-09-22T23:58:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > There is no body cavity that cannot be reached with a #14 needle and a good strong arm. Butbutbut a shot in the eye is tantamount to a shot right into oneā€™s very _soul!_ Can you #14 needle do even _that?_ Okay, some of my observations: It seems very variable. I had tetanus boosters circa 1975, 85, 95, and 2005. ONE of those left my are seriously sore for a week (1995, IIRC), while the others I barely ever even felt. WTF? I think itā€™s a least partly a matter of ā€œdesensitizationā€, better known as ā€œgetting used to it.ā€ In the 1970ā€™s, shots and blood draws often made me feel very faint. Immediately after that 1975 tetanus shot, I felt fine . . . until the nurse said I should sit in the waiting room a while just in case I felt faint. THEN I instantly damn near fainted, and had to lie down for about three hours before I was able to crawl out of there. That didnā€™t happen with any subsequent tetanus shots. I began getting annual flu shots circa 2002. They bothered me _slightly_ for the first two or three years, and not at all since then. I got the shingles shot about a year ago. It felt indistinguishable from a flu shot, which is to say, no sweat. About the same time as that, I got the pneumonia shot. Different story. This shot took about a full minute to administer, as opposed to the 0.5-second flu and shingles shots. And when he was done, there was _blood_ to be mopped up :eek: (Yes, even off the floor, because he dropped the swab. :o ) I made it out to the parking lot and into my car, and fainted in the driverā€™s seat. Blood draws used to bother me somewhat. Especially when the technician is gossiping with the technician at the next window, about how hot the summer weather is, with all the air conditioning out and all the patients fainting left and right. (Yeah, that really happened.) Like the flu shots, they got less bothersome over time, but they are variable too. By the time I got to savor my first (and second and third) IV needles, I had no sweat with them. I was astonished to find that, after an IV needle is in my arm or hand for about two minutes, _I didnā€™t even feel it there any more!_ ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/85 "2013-09-23T01:43:00Z")
What are you rebelling against, doc? > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Whatcha got? For what itā€™s worth, I get monthly B12 shots and tell the nurse to stick me straight in the middle of one of my tats. No fuss, no muss. Though Iā€™m willing to swear that getting inked hurt worse than my last tetanus shot. Stepped on a nail. THAT hurt, the shot made me sore, the tatts smarted! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/86 "2013-09-23T03:13:27Z")
> [@Pazu](#): > > Reminds me of the attending doc I worked with during residency at the VA, whose response to a vet whoā€™d expressed some trepidation about a fine needle aspiration was ā€œBig war hero afraid of a little needle? The needleā€™s smaller than a bullet!ā€ But most likely, he never saw the bullet coming, and actually may not have initially felt it (shock and all). I have a few tats, but still react badly to shots _if I watch them being administered._ If I just look away and tell the person, ā€œGo for it,ā€ I hardly feel it. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/87 "2013-09-23T14:14:47Z")
Some guys: tattoo needle = ok, syringe = not ok. Me: insect (even a hornet) crawling up my arm = ok, arachnid crawling up my arm = get a chainsaw and lop it off at the shoulder! Phobias are irrational and subtle. Except for arachnophobia-that shit makes perfect sense because spiders are evil. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/88 "2013-09-23T16:30:57Z")
:eek: Why am I reading this thread??? I hate needles. I can watch crappy ninja movies where they punch into a guys chest, rip out his still beating heart and eat it, but if the commercial is about the flu shot I have to change the channel. (Dang, I need a flu shot soon here donā€™t I) I do recall my recent tetanus booster giving me a sore arm. Or it might have been the Hep A vaccine I got at the same time. (It was before a trip) I think I got a third one too, but I donā€™t remember what it was. Tattoos are right out with me though. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/89 "2013-09-24T21:28:50Z")
I once tried to do a FNA on a (tattooed) lady, who totally freaked out when the numbing needle touched her skin. She rescheduled for a repeat attempt with anesthesia. Long story short, the anesthesiologistā€™s iv infiltrated, causing way more pain than a little olā€™ FNA ever would. :smack: A few weeks later, I had another, somewhat timid patient (who reported serious lidocaine allergy) do just fine, even without local anesthetic. Go figure. Sometimes itā€™s hard to tell. EXCEPT- a. The big dogs do whine the loudest. b. Anyone who says they have a ā€œhigh pain toleranceā€ has a low pain tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/90 "2013-09-25T17:19:31Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Yes, arenā€™t the ones for the HPV vaccine supposed to be very painful? I had the set of shots for the HPV vaccine and I donā€™t recall them being unusually painful. Now, getting a shot into my foot for anesthesia before having a lipoma removed from my toe, THAT hurt. Iā€™d say easily in the top three so far as the most pain Iā€™ve been in. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/91 "2013-09-25T20:34:35Z")
Quadgop, you assumed that he knew that his tattoos were made with a needle, that he was fully conscious when the tats were made, and that it was of his own volition. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/92 "2013-09-25T22:05:29Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Quadgop, you assumed that he knew that his tattoos were made with a needle, that he was fully conscious when the tats were made, and that it was of his own volition. Given that he had several dozen of them, most of them relatively neatly done, including the facial swastika, leads me to believe that itā€™s a reasonable assumption. That and him telling me he wasnā€™t afraid of tattoo needles but hated shots. I think itā€™s a bit of a stretch to assume someone with that many tattoos doesnā€™t know tattoos are made with needles. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/93 "2013-09-26T01:23:33Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > b. Anyone who says they have a ā€œhigh pain toleranceā€ has a low pain tolerance. That is ridiculously true. Iā€™ve given plenty of shots and I suspect that the ones who mention pain tolerance are really fearful about the pain. Itā€™s false braggadocio to try to psyche themselves up. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/94 "2013-09-26T02:10:13Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > How is it relevant if the tattoo is a swastika? > > I think youā€™re just biased against Nazis You know who else hated Nazis? Everybody! > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least itā€™s an ethos. > > Iā€™ll get my coat. Fuck it, [del]Dude[/del] Martini, letā€™s go bowling. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/95 "2013-09-26T02:43:39Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think itā€™s a bit of a stretch to assume someone with that many tattoos doesnā€™t know tattoos are made with needles. And how do you know they werenā€™t temporary tattoos he collected from Cracker Jack boxes? ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115/96 "2013-09-26T05:54:55Z")
The thing that cracks me up is that virtually everyone I see sporting Nazi tattoos would have been the first on the bus in the real Reich. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-patients-with-tattoos-from-head-to-toe-including-swastikas-who-whine-over-getting-shots/669115.md?page=4)