Fear of Needles and Injections: HELP PLEASE

Bettyboop

Hi All,

I have a hugs FEAR of needles and injections. I have spoken to my doctor about this and nothing has ever been done. During my first pregnancy when it came to having blood tests or anti-D injections I would literally run around the room or as they were about to stick a needle in my arm I would yell DON'T DO IT!!!! It is very serious and now second time around I am dreading all the injections for this that and the next thing!

My first experience in hospital was very traumatic and second time around I am afraid they will force me to have a vaginal delivery when the first was an emergency C-seciton.

Has anyone felt the same and what did you do to get over your fear if it is at all possible.

PLEASE HELP!

stebiz

Bettyboop wrote: »

Hi All,

I have a hugs FEAR of needles and injections. I have spoken to my doctor about this and nothing has ever been done. During my first pregnancy when it came to having blood tests or anti-D injections I would literally run around the room or as they were about to stick a needle in my arm I would yell DON'T DO IT!!!! It is very serious and now second time around I am dreading all the injections for this that and the next thing!

My first experience in hospital was very traumatic and second time around I am afraid they will force me to have a vaginal delivery when the first was an emergency C-seciton.

Has anyone felt the same and what did you do to get over your fear if it is at all possible.

PLEASE HELP!

You are not alone I promise you. I hate needles too. On the odd occasion I've been into hospital and had to get one I've told the staff my worries before hand, acted like a little kid and closed my eyes. I can't offer any help. Haven't you had to have needles already with the prenancy I know my wife looked like a 'junkie' by the time it had finished.

Take care and don't worry.

Stebiz

Jennie_2

I am an EFT practitioner and recently helped an anorexic lady with her needle phobia. At less than 5 stone she was very close to death.

I put together a distraction technique for her and I am happy to send it to you if you would like. I have not formatted it yet, it's just my typed notes but I can tidy it up for you.

It worked for her.... her fear of needles was greater than dying. The day she went for her planned hospital stay she had two blood tests, followed by two more the next day. During her stay they were able to take as much blood as they needed and she was fine.

She's out now, and doing really well.

If you want me to send it to you, pm me and I will forward it on.

TAG

Hi ya Bettyboop,

I know exactly how you feel. I'm A- and all my babies were A+. :rolleyes:

Do you know why you don't like needles? Mine stems from when I was 3 and had to have a hernia operation. I can remember what they did to me as if it was yesterday. I was pinned down by 4 doctors, one on each arm and each leg whilst a fifth tried to take blood. :eek: They didn't get any cos I was absolutley terrified and still managed to wriggle and scream. In the end my mother stopped them from trying. Mind you I'm not to bad with being given an injection.

So how did I get through my pregnancies? I found with my first that the hospital was not at all understanding and as I was very ill after DD was born I also had to have blood taken twice a day for a week. Mind you I was so doped up that I hardly noticed anyway. But it wasn't a plesant experience.

With the boys I had a lovely midwife and she used to get me to lay on the bed and then take it.:T If I sit up I while they do it I have a tendancy to go as white as a sheet, come over in a hot and cold sweat, feel sick and promptly pass out._pale_ Not being able to see what they're doing also helps.

The veins in my arms are rubbish to and there's only one which ever gives any blood. All the others collapse. So that doesn't help either.:rolleyes:

I have also been known to tell them to shove their needles where the sun don't shine if I've had a paricularly 'nasty/non understanding' nurse/midwife. And walked out.

I'll never get over the fear. In fact I chickened out a couple of weeks ago. My GP wanted to test for a bacteria in my stomach as I was suffering so much with heartburn and acid reflux. I was nearly in tears just booking the appt. The thought of having it done spurred me into losing a bit of weight and changing what I eat. Hey presto fell much better and hence there turned out to be no need for the blood test.:T

All I can say is tell them your needle phobic. And try and take someone with you for support. My second husband is useless and finds the whole thing rather amusing. :mad: So I had no support from him and had to go to all appts on my own. Hence why I didn't have any when I had our daughter, until I really really had too.

squashy

Bettyboop wrote: »

second time around I am afraid they will force me to have a vaginal delivery when the first was an emergency C-seciton.

What are you frightened of in terms of a vaginal delivery? You don't have to have any injections if you don't want to. The standard one is the injection to speed up the delivery of the placenta (3rd stage of labour) but you can object to this in favour of waiting for nature to take its course. You can also obviously refuse any pain releif involving needles, there are other options worth investigating.

The Anti D is strongly recommended as is could cause problems in the future if you were to have another child, but again you are within your rights to refuse it.

Having said all that I still think you should try to explore ways of tackling the issue of your phobia. Good luck xxx

heather38

i hate needles too, during my pregnancy i refused quite a lot of the blood tests, and only had the bare minimum that i could get a way with.
i had all my blood tests lying down with my arm stuck out to the side and my husband stood between me and the nurse so i couldn't see what she was doing.
i had a vaginal delivery and only had one needle. i just had a tens machine and gas and air. i had the one to deliver the placenta and they do that one when you are pushing so the pain distracts you from the needle anyway!!

Fen1

I can second the effectiveness of EFT, and recommend it to friends with their phobias (e.g. flying). Also good for emotional eating - either comfort eating or the opposite. I am not an EFT practitioner, but have experienced it. You don't have anything to lose, and a lot to gain.

steph25

I had a 3 operations on my nose and sinuses last year and I am reeeaallyy scared of needles..
but if you ask for the "Magic cream" they should let you use that..
I did get funny looks as im 25 and all the other "magic creamers" were around 3-10 yrs old
But I dont care what I look like aslong as it dont hurt :cool:

Bettyboop

Steph25 thanks for that. I will ask for the magic cream....does it maybe have another name in case the needle prickers don't have a clue what I am on about? I have never heard of magic cream....

heather38

it's prob called emla cream. you can get it on prescription from your gp.

*sandymogs*

Bettyboop wrote: »

Steph25 thanks for that. I will ask for the magic cream....does it maybe have another name in case the needle prickers don't have a clue what I am on about? I have never heard of magic cream....

There is one called "EMLA Cream" and it's in a grey and white tube. There is another one in an orange and white tube called "Ametop Gel". They take about half an hour to work, but the cold spray is "Ethyl Chloride" and needs to be sprayed on 30 seconds before skin puncture.