Are You afraid of needles
 

To avoid pain during injections - look away! | Mail Online

Saw this article in the Mail this morning and was wondering how many of you are actually afraid of needles. I've been in hospital with people who are actually scared to death of injections or having blood samples taken. I have to say that I wasn't too keen on injections or having blood taken especially blood gases which is taken straight from an artery, hey but after 30 odd years I've got quite used to it now, but I still sometimes look away:D

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Doesnt bother me in the slightest, hard as nails me!

Although one that did make my eyes water were when I had to have a lumber puncture (long needle straight into the gaps of your spine to get the fluid) when I had meningitis.

My doctor decided to put a trainee on the job without asking me and he hit my spine bone and also my nerves 3 times before my doc decided to take over and do it properly, without any problem.

God that hurt!

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Did you not realise that the trainee was an undercover Accyweb spy:D

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I couldnt think of anything at that time John to be honest.

I had a banging head and wanted all the lights to be turned off but they wouldnt let me as they couldnt see what they were doing!:rolleyes:

I think me Mum knew summat wernt right I nearly squeezed her hand off along with the nurses!

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I used to be scared of needles but during and after my stay in hospital in Jan I've had so many blood tests, cannulas etc etc that I don't really mind any more. I always look away and tell the nurse/doc that I'm going to yell. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Depends on what happens after they say the usual "sharp scratch" and how many times it takes to get the thing in to the vein.

I must say though that the blood gases from the artery sounds like a different thing altogether. Think I've mentioned this before - when I was in hosp the woman in the bed opposite had to have it done. They tried several times and she was becoming more and more agitated. Eventually she asked me to go over and help to calm her down. I held her in my arms and I could feel how truly terrified she was - shaking all over. Not sure they ever managed to do it that night though but I shan't forget her in a hurry.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I'm not afraid of needles if I am on the giving end....but I don't much like being on the getting end.
I had to have a whole load of blood tests last year ..........I told the nurse I didn't like needles....it didn't make much difference......she still came at me with one....took two armfuls of blood........I just winced.
She didn't hurt at all....and it is down to technique.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Can't say that they bother me really. Had plenty of blood tests, injections and cannulas. Was in that much pain the last time I had a cannula, I never even noticed them putting it in.

It makes me laugh when people come in to hospital declaring a needle phobia, only to find that they are covered in tattoos and piercings. I have been known to say "nice try, now roll your sleeve up, you lying so and so." :D Bit of straight talking usually does the trick....:)

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

When I went to have my ears pierced....egged on by nursing colleagues......I told the chap I didn't know which was worse, having a baby or having my ears pierced...the wag said 'well, make your mind up. I can alter the chair!' :D

I could not have a tattoo...or any other bits of my body pierced........the ear piercing was bad enough.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Having blood taken or having injections doesn't bother me.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I am fine about injections and needles - no problem -I always breath out as they are doing it though -helps you to relax. Last lot of tests i had done -to check for allergies was last year -no problem but over the next 4 days my whole arm went black&blue -scary, went back to my doc he said they must have pierced a minor blood vessel!

Just thought, I don't like injections much at the dentist's but that's probably because I'm tensed up about what's going to happen next!:eek::D

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Are you sure you weren't kicked of of the Gestapo for cruelty lettie:D

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I'm fine with needles, well fineish. But my daughter is petrified. She had to have some vacinations done a couple of years ago for her hols, and you would have thought the world was coming to an end. I went to the docs with her (she's 21), and waited in the waiting room, but the nurse came and got me to help calm her down. Luckily she has only needed two fillings, both done without a local, because she wouldn't have an injection. Must be horrible to have any kind of phobia.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Oh yes. I am scared of needles for sure. I have got better over the years. I used to scream the hospital down when I was a kid( perhaps i was screaming and running away from Margaret :p)

When we had TB jab at school I legged it across Moorhead field. Ha. My friend had to chase and coax me back.

So yeah. Looking away helps a lot.

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

I think it is highly unlikely you were running away from me Rob........I did 8 weeks on medical paediatrics in the summer of 1975....and once qualified in 1977, I only looked after ladies(apart from a few days in 2000 - when we got a few male medical patients - all over the age of 70, and loved being outlyers on the Gynae ward :D)

Re: Are You afraid of needles
 

Ya mean ya never nursed any ladeeeeees then Margaret:D