I find it far, far less painful – indeed, nearly painless – if I watch. So I do.
I used to watch until I got a little nauseated watching a blood draw from me, so now I prefer to look away, just in case.
I found it fascinating the first few times. The past hundred or so have been pretty boring. The last time I was reading a magazine with my other hand.
I’ve experienced the opposite. If I don’t watch, quite frequently I won’t even know when the needle goes in. And if the nurse/technician is skillful, sometimes I don’t even feel it.
There is no power in heaven, hell or on earth that could get me to watch.
Don’t care either way.
I watch because I don’t want the nurse to think I am a wimp. This stems from when I was about 10 and a nurse told me that “most people” don’t like to watch. I saw that as basically a dare, and the complex was formed.
Also, I find it kinda cool.
I think my need to watch comes from the very first time I was given a shot (or rather, the first time I could remember getting a shot, since I’m sure I had them as an infant).
I was about five years old, and during that entire physical I’d been poked and prodded quite a bit (including getting blood taken from my finger, which I watched, and was relatively okay with). It was pretty unpleasant, but it was nearing the end, so I was excited about getting dressed and going home. I was also pretty excited that I hadn’t had a shot, since I didn’t know what they were like, but I knew they were unpleasant. I was chatting up the nurse as I sat on the exam table…then I felt a gigantic stab of pain from my left arm.
I sat there and howled. Not just because of the pain (though that was considerable), but because I felt lied to. They tricked me! They made me feel like I was about to go home, and then they got all sneaky and stuck a needle in me! The nerve!!
Of course, I realize why they did this: I think they thought if they told me beforehand I’d be getting a shot, I’d start panicking and try to wriggle free. And I might have, who knows. But from that day forward, I always made sure I was aware of the shot, and that I could see it happen. It was always worse when I couldn’t.
I used to give blood (3 gals lifetime) before I was deemed unable to do so by the Red Cross and the USDA. I could never look when the stuck the needle in my arm.
I’d prefer to watch. I really don’t like the surprise. I’ve never given blood, but shots, blood draws, tattoos, always watching and it really never bothered me at all.
One of the reasons I switched from the Imitrex Statdose to a plain old vial and syringe was because I couldn’t actually see what I was doing. I like being able to watch the needle penetrate my skin whereas the Statdose was more along the lines of talking to the nurse and suddenly realizing you had a needle in your arm.
I watch. I challenge myself to watch and not give the slightest flinch or even tense up.
Shows what a tough guy I am. 
I need to watch when I inject insulin. The pen needle is No. 31, very fine and easily bent up. Plus sometimes I’ll get a bump if I push the button too fast.
OTOH, when blood is drawn, no fucking way.
I don’t have to watch the tattooist… but I can’t Not watch the doctor.
I’m a registered nurse. As such, I give injections, both intramuscular and subcutaneous, and do blood draws several times a week. I’d estimate 80% of my clientele don’t watch injections and 90% don’t watch blood draws.
When it comes to my body, it doesn’t matter when it comes to injections or blood draws, but I don’t like to watch that railroad spike they stick in my arm when I donate blood (almost 6 gallons!) I close my eyes tight when it comes to getting injections in my mouth at the dentist. {{{{shudder}}}}
I totally look. I’m perfectly fine with regular shots or blood draws, as long as they’re going somewhere I can see. Somehow I impress people who draw my blood because I’m so calm about it. I don’t get that; it’s no big deal for me. I panic if I can’t see it. Such as at the dentist.
I’ve never had to get stitches but if they were on a part of me I could see I’d want to watch.
I HAVE to watch. The Red Cross guy always says “Oh, you’re brave!” No, I just have a compulsion. The funny thing is, I CAN’T watch on TV when other people get needles put into them, or when my dad does his diabetes testing or anything. I can’t even stand to hear the sound of the needle spring with my dad. But I absolutely have to watch needles on me.
For injections, I like to watch it go in. For extractions, I turn away or pass out.
I’m diabetic. I test my BG at least 7 times a day, and I have to take at least 4 injections per day.
Needles and/or poke-y things don’t bother me at all. I rather enjoy watching the needle go in, since I’m so used to it.
I not only don’t look, I have to mentally transfer myself away. I admit it - I’m a wuss.
I don’t usually watch when I donate blood just because I work at the Red Cross and I don’t want to make my co-workers nervous. I am in a supervisory position and very well known for how picky I am about making sure everything is done just so. Otherwise, I am a watcher.