Fear Of Needles

[Nihil Obstat]

I want to tell my phamily a funny story. Longish one, but funny, so bear with me.

It is my dream to become a doctor. I'm a grade twelve student right now, and I've had this dream of mine since about grade six. My goal is ophthalmology, to be specific, but obviously I realize that this might change as time goes on. After all, first I have to do university stuff...
Anyway:
I've always been interested in medical type stuff. Also I've always been somewhat uncomfortable with needles.
Booster shots and immunizations I'm perfectly all right with. It's quick and I don't need to look. When I need to look though, or when it takes a long time, then I get queasy and/or light headed.
It was never particularly bad. I never was really forced into a situation that made me uncomfortable.
It seemed like a great idea though, to watch my brother have a mole removed from his face a few months back. After all, I'm really interested in medical procedures, especially surgery.

So in surgery prep, the plastic surgeon needed to inject A LOT of anesthetic in my brother's upper lip. It was quite gross. The lip expanded to at least four or five times its natural size with all the stuff he injected. Plus he had to wrench the thing around. I guess to get good coverage? Or maybe just to check if he really couldn't feel it.
It was a little room; I was just beside the operating table watching.
I started to get a bit light headed, but it's always passed fairly easily before, so I was relatively certain that I just needed to wait it out.
I realized I was mistaken, when I woke up on the floor with the doctor and two nurses talking to me, and a bit of a bruise on my head and cheekbone.
I thought it was hilarious, actually. They probably thought I was hysterical, but I was having quite a good time with all this. It was embarrassing, of course, but I'd never passed out before, and this was a neat experience. They put me out in the hallway on a stretcher with a juicebox and cold cloths.
A good laugh was had by all.

I've noticed though, that since then my bit of uncomfortableness with needles has gotten worse. I actually felt a bit light headed writing this thread out. I start feeling a bit funny even when I think or talk about needles too much. I have no doubt that I'll have to deal with more passing out if I end up watching more needles in the future that last longer than two seconds.

Obviously this is a problem with my life goals. I was told by more than one person that many people faint in med school and get over it eventually. Well I'm impatient.

Has anyone here managed to get over a fear of needles in their life? If so, how did you do it? Is it just desensitization? Anyway, if no one has an answer, I at least hope that my lovely story was entertaining.

[Tinkerlina]

I'm not afraid of needles myself, but I have had success with sort of amateur cognitive behavioral therapy for other issues (just read up on and and did it myself.) I'd recommend it personally, something to look into. Your insurance might cover CBT, but I'm not sure. Good luck! My sister hates needles so much! I know it can be rough. -Katie

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767434' date='Jan 31 2009, 02:58 AM']I want to tell my phamily a funny story. Longish one, but funny, so bear with me.

It is my dream to become a doctor. I'm a grade twelve student right now, and I've had this dream of mine since about grade six. My goal is ophthalmology, to be specific, but obviously I realize that this might change as time goes on. After all, first I have to do university stuff...
Anyway:
I've always been interested in medical type stuff. Also I've always been somewhat uncomfortable with needles.
Booster shots and immunizations I'm perfectly all right with. It's quick and I don't need to look. When I need to look though, or when it takes a long time, then I get queasy and/or light headed.
It was never particularly bad. I never was really forced into a situation that made me uncomfortable.
It seemed like a great idea though, to watch my brother have a mole removed from his face a few months back. After all, I'm really interested in medical procedures, especially surgery.

So in surgery prep, the plastic surgeon needed to inject A LOT of anesthetic in my brother's upper lip. It was quite gross. The lip expanded to at least four or five times its natural size with all the stuff he injected. Plus he had to wrench the thing around. I guess to get good coverage? Or maybe just to check if he really couldn't feel it.
It was a little room; I was just beside the operating table watching.
I started to get a bit light headed, but it's always passed fairly easily before, so I was relatively certain that I just needed to wait it out.
I realized I was mistaken, when I woke up on the floor with the doctor and two nurses talking to me, and a bit of a bruise on my head and cheekbone.
I thought it was hilarious, actually. They probably thought I was hysterical, but I was having quite a good time with all this. It was embarrassing, of course, but I'd never passed out before, and this was a neat experience. They put me out in the hallway on a stretcher with a juicebox and cold cloths.
A good laugh was had by all.

I've noticed though, that since then my bit of uncomfortableness with needles has gotten worse. I actually felt a bit light headed writing this thread out. I start feeling a bit funny even when I think or talk about needles too much. I have no doubt that I'll have to deal with more passing out if I end up watching more needles in the future that last longer than two seconds.

Obviously this is a problem with my life goals. I was told by more than one person that many people faint in med school and get over it eventually. Well I'm impatient.

Has anyone here managed to get over a fear of needles in their life? If so, how did you do it? Is it just desensitization? Anyway, if no one has an answer, I at least hope that my lovely story was entertaining.[/quote]
My son used to be out the door and down the block before the nurse could finish saying he was getting a shot. Last week he had 12 shots of novocaine to get wisdom teeth pulled. Take heart, there is hope for you.
Why don't you start by watching those medical procedures on TV, so if you faint you are already sitting down?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Tinkerlina' post='1767438' date='Jan 31 2009, 01:02 AM']I'm not afraid of needles myself, but I have had success with sort of amateur cognitive behavioral therapy for other issues (just read up on and and did it myself.) I'd recommend it personally, something to look into. Your insurance might cover CBT, but I'm not sure. Good luck! My sister hates needles so much! I know it can be rough. -Katie[/quote]
Hah, it's not that bad. Not a phobia or anything, and I hope it doesn't turn into one.
I'm hoping to 'self medicate' as in find a way to get over it so I can stop whining.
I wish I could be in the blood drive that they're organizing in my school's chem lab in a month, but I know that would make me pass out. Even more embarrassing at school with all my friends, I'm thinking.

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767444' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:09 AM']Hah, it's not that bad. Not a phobia or anything, and I hope it doesn't turn into one.
I'm hoping to 'self medicate' as in find a way to get over it so I can stop whining.
I wish I could be in the blood drive that they're organizing in my school's chem lab in a month, but I know that would make me pass out. Even more embarrassing at school with all my friends, I'm thinking.
[/quote]

Don't be embarrassed-you're not being whiny, either. Stuff like this is real. We all have our issues going on. Problems with needles are fairly common, it's not like it's unheard of. At least it's not clowns!! -Katie

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1767443' date='Jan 31 2009, 01:08 AM']Why don't you start by watching those medical procedures on TV, so if you faint you are already sitting down?[/quote]
Hehe, the funny thing is my favourite tv show (and one of the few I ever watch) is House, which has its share of needles. Dramatized, of course, but here's the thing:
that never used to bug me. Not one bit, watching it on a fictional show on tv.
Now I feel funny watching their patients get needles.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Tinkerlina' post='1767445' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:10 AM']Don't be embarrassed-you're not being whiny, either. Stuff like this is real. We all have our issues going on. Problems with needles are fairly common, it's not like it's unheard of. At least it's not clowns!! -Katie[/quote]
My son [26] and daughter[21] still don't like clowns!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Tinkerlina' post='1767445' date='Jan 31 2009, 01:10 AM']Don't be embarrassed-you're not being whiny, either. Stuff like this is real. We all have our issues going on. Problems with needles are fairly common, it's not like it's unheard of. At least it's not clowns!! -Katie[/quote]
I like evil clowns more than normal ones.
Well I don't think I'm whiny, but it sounds like I am. Sounds like I'm making up excuses for not donating blood.
Anyway, donating blood is cool. Hopefully sometime...
Yea, I read that fear of needles is probably the most common diagnosed clinical phobia. Or at least among the most common.

[Nihil Obstat]

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2FgL1CS8FzA/SDk8QPcWVeI/AAAAAAAAAMo/DAOhAjyrEpY/s400/evil+clown.jpg[/img]

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767450' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:12 AM']I like evil clowns more than normal ones.
Well I don't think I'm whiny, but it sounds like I am. Sounds like I'm making up excuses for not donating blood.
Anyway, donating blood is cool. Hopefully sometime...
Yea, I read that fear of needles is probably the most common diagnosed clinical phobia. Or at least among the most common.[/quote]
I could usually deal with needles until once I had blood gases drawn, then I went ballistic

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767450' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:12 AM']I like evil clowns more than normal ones.
Well I don't think I'm whiny, but it sounds like I am. Sounds like I'm making up excuses for not donating blood.
Anyway, donating blood is cool. Hopefully sometime...
Yea, I read that fear of needles is probably the most common diagnosed clinical phobia. Or at least among the most common.[/quote]

Nah, it doesn't sound like you're making up excuses. I haven't given blood in years, because the Red Cross royally ticked me off by calling me nearly every day (thanks, public college for selling my address and phone number to everyone in the free world) for over a year and drove me to hate them. -Katie

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767451' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:13 AM'][img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2FgL1CS8FzA/SDk8QPcWVeI/AAAAAAAAAMo/DAOhAjyrEpY/s400/evil%20clown.jpg[/img][/quote]
I WANT MY MUMMY!!! HELP!!!

[Tinkerlina]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767451' date='Jan 31 2009, 03:13 AM'][img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2FgL1CS8FzA/SDk8QPcWVeI/AAAAAAAAAMo/DAOhAjyrEpY/s400/evil%20clown.jpg[/img][/quote]

Oh my faith in God, that is horrifying!!! Katie

[icelandic_iceskater]

ohmygosh I know what you mean, I haven't fainted or anything, but needles and blood freak me out. I'm kinda glad I'm currently unable to give blood, the one time I was in a room at my parish filled with people giving blood I got pretty lightheaded and queasy. Talking about this is making me dizzy, so I think I'm going to stop.

[picchick]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1767434' date='Jan 31 2009, 01:58 AM']I want to tell my phamily a funny story. Longish one, but funny, so bear with me.

It is my dream to become a doctor. I'm a grade twelve student right now, and I've had this dream of mine since about grade six. My goal is ophthalmology, to be specific, but obviously I realize that this might change as time goes on. After all, first I have to do university stuff...
Anyway:
I've always been interested in medical type stuff. Also I've always been somewhat uncomfortable with needles.
Booster shots and immunizations I'm perfectly all right with. It's quick and I don't need to look. When I need to look though, or when it takes a long time, then I get queasy and/or light headed.
It was never particularly bad. I never was really forced into a situation that made me uncomfortable.
It seemed like a great idea though, to watch my brother have a mole removed from his face a few months back. After all, I'm really interested in medical procedures, especially surgery.

So in surgery prep, the plastic surgeon needed to inject A LOT of anesthetic in my brother's upper lip. It was quite gross. The lip expanded to at least four or five times its natural size with all the stuff he injected. Plus he had to wrench the thing around. I guess to get good coverage? Or maybe just to check if he really couldn't feel it.
It was a little room; I was just beside the operating table watching.
I started to get a bit light headed, but it's always passed fairly easily before, so I was relatively certain that I just needed to wait it out.
I realized I was mistaken, when I woke up on the floor with the doctor and two nurses talking to me, and a bit of a bruise on my head and cheekbone.
I thought it was hilarious, actually. They probably thought I was hysterical, but I was having quite a good time with all this. It was embarrassing, of course, but I'd never passed out before, and this was a neat experience. They put me out in the hallway on a stretcher with a juicebox and cold cloths.
A good laugh was had by all.

I've noticed though, that since then my bit of uncomfortableness with needles has gotten worse. I actually felt a bit light headed writing this thread out. I start feeling a bit funny even when I think or talk about needles too much. I have no doubt that I'll have to deal with more passing out if I end up watching more needles in the future that last longer than two seconds.

Obviously this is a problem with my life goals. I was told by more than one person that many people faint in med school and get over it eventually. Well I'm impatient.

Has anyone here managed to get over a fear of needles in their life? If so, how did you do it? Is it just desensitization? Anyway, if no one has an answer, I at least hope that my lovely story was entertaining.[/quote]

I am always the one leaning over the table or right next to the table watchin them do the stuff. Yeah, they move the needle around so that they numb the whole inside of that lip. I am surprised they didn't ask you if you were ok with what was going on. I am sure they had a good laugh. It happens more than you think

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1767452' date='Jan 31 2009, 02:14 AM']I could usually deal with needles until once I had blood gases drawn, then I went ballistic [/quote]

That's painful...