Fear of Needles and Injections: HELP PLEASE

Bettyboop

does emla cream numb the area before an injection or needle to take blood is inserted? Does it numb instantly and would this be a cream that I carry around with me and rub onto the arm before I let the midwives do there thing?

*sandymogs*

Bettyboop wrote: »

does emla cream numb the area before an injection or needle to take blood is inserted? Does it numb instantly and would this be a cream that I carry around with me and rub onto the arm before I let the midwives do there thing?

I edited my previous post, but the cream takes about half an hour to become numb, so you will need to apply it and wait half hour. You will also need to place the clear dressing on top of the cream. I'm sure the Nurse/Doctor/Phlebotomist would do this for you though.

diesel9181

i had a huge phobia of needles when i was younger. the magic cream is great and pretty much helped me get over it. just make sure you get the proper cream, i had a nurse who was a total battleaxe and tried to fob me off with wiping E45 on my arm!

Bettyboop

This cream sounds just great. I phoned my GP surgery and asked for a prescription for numbing cream. The receptionist wasn't sure if my doctor would issue this cream on prescription without seeing me first. It should be ready for collection tomorrow if they haven't called to say I can't have it. The surgery closes near to 19:00 so hopefully I will be able to get it! If it means no pain then it's definitely for me : )

cannylass_2

make sure you ask for a few transparent "film" dressings to keep the cream in place. it is best if you put it on for about an hour before blood test. you may be able to get a few of these off your practice nurse or they may need to do you a prescription for them. good luck!!

Bettyboop

cannylass, I didn't ask for transparent film dressings but I will tomorrow. I'm going to be very prepared this time around. Thanks for mentioning about the dressings....I would have put the cream on without the dressing and you know the rest.....

november

Good luck with the magic cream. I am needle phobic as well. So much so that I skim read most of these posts and gulped before typing THAT WORD!

During my first pregnancy I told the nurse but she paid no attention and said 'oh everyone feels the same dear there is nothing to it' or words to that affect then wheeled the trolley full of those items into full view of me. Next thing I knew I was lying in the doctor's surgery as apparently I had gone into medical shock which is apparently dangerous when pregnant.

After that I the doctor did all my ummmmmmm thingys himself. I built up quite a relationship of trust with him which helped no end. He used magic cream and distraction techniques and made sure I couldn't see anything. So between not being able to see it, not being able to feel it and being distracted from thinking about it that worked quite well.

I think something must now be on my records as generally I have found future medical staff to be quite helpful as well :rotfl:

I think the good ones are if they know and there is no need to accept anyone treating you with less than respect and understanding of your phobia.

I am also rhesus negative and had 3 rhesus positive children so had an injection after each birth. I must admit I didn't notice them much either as a) I was distracted by the new baby and the midwife knew not to let me see anything etc.

Tell them you are needle phobic and how you would like to deal with it. I always do and ask for magic cream, not to be able to see anything and a nice conversation.

As you can probably tell I'm by no means cured but I can cope now even having injections at the dentist a couple of years ago (2 phobias in one sitting!). However if I so much as see a you know what ............ needle ......... (gulp) ......... I'm still gone out the room faster than you can say 'needle phobia' :rotfl:

Bettyboop

November, your post really helped me. I really wish my GP could have told me about the magic cream as I everytime I have seen him I have mentioned my phobias to him! Well, this time I'm going to ask for the cream everytime and I don't care if the medical staff think I'm a little kid. With any luck I will be taking my own tube along.

diesel9181

oh forgot to say mention straight off that you have a phobia and dont want to see the needle. i sometimes think they like putting them right infront of you to see your terrified reaction. hope it all goes well

november

Bettyboop wrote: »

November, your post really helped me. I really wish my GP could have told me about the magic cream as I everytime I have seen him I have mentioned my phobias to him! Well, this time I'm going to ask for the cream everytime and I don't care if the medical staff think I'm a little kid. With any luck I will be taking my own tube along.

I think I'm lucky as my going into complete shock made them take me seriously Not something I would recommend though :rotfl:

Another thought - ask if he can suggest anything to help with your phobia (try to bring him on board), make your own suggestions if he hasn't mentioned them e.g not showing you things, distraction and the cream which you have already asked for. Then ask if he can put it on your medical records if he agrees you have a phobia. If he is your GP and is used to seeing you in distress at the sight of a (you know what) I don't see why he should disagree with putting it on your records if you have asked for his help with it. That also means that anyone in future can check your records to confirm it.

I was sent for CBT years later which also helped a lot teaching techniques to help. My original GP also suggestion relaxation techniques which you may find useful to learn - ask him to suggest some or do some research.

Nah you're not a little kid. My sister works in the medical profession and she says she comes across it all the time although in varying degrees. A full blown phobia is a full blown phobia and it isn't going to go away just because we want it to without the related people helping. It also takes courage to deal with it - not just in dealing with the phobia itself but in the embarrassment we feel it causes us. Try not to get stressed that you have a phobia as you are most definitely not the only one!

I'm not sure where my phobia comes from. I know my dental phobia comes from having teeth removed as a very small child, being told I was going to be 'put to sleep', and getting that confused with dogs being 'put to sleep'. I thought my parents had another child and decided to get rid of me I may also have had an unfortunate experience with needles - I can't remember. I do remember the dentist was gas over the mouth (another phobia). My Dad was phobic also and he was a very strong tall wonderful man. Nothing kiddish about it