neeeeeedles
I have never had a fear of needles. Getting allergy shots as a kid took care of that pretty quick. Plus, I give my sweet dog Zoe allergy shots now. As a (former) EMT, I also had to learn to give epipen injections. So I’ve not only received shots, but also administered them.
Now that my IVF cycle is looming, however, I have developed a sudden, intense aversion to needles. Even acupuncture needles (although I’ve had regular acupuncture treatments for years without problems. For the uninitiated, acupuncture needles are *tiny,* about the size of a cat whisker.) Every time I have blood drawn or an acupuncture needle punctures my skin, I tense up tremendously. This, as you may imagine, does wonders for the comfort I feel as the needles actually enter my skin.
It is like my body knows the IVF drugs are coming and already has an aversion to them and, by extension, the needles that bring them.
I am really at a loss for how to get past this because I’ve never dealt with anything like it before. Thoughts? Anyone else experience something similar?
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Posted: May 3rd, 2010 under IVF, acupuncture.
Comments: 5
5 Responses to “neeeeeedles”
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May 4th, 2010 at 5.36 am
no help, but YES! that is exactly how i feel. brought up in a very medical household, not bothered by any of this stuff. thought i was going to throw up during injection class. shaking, slightly crying. WTF? (granted, some of that was probably because they took a bunch of blood first, which always leaves me feeling crappy, but still.)
my hope is that, since it’s obviously the anxiety talking, once the process starts it will go away. so keep a girl posted, eh?
May 4th, 2010 at 5.55 am
yeah, i had a *really* hard time giving myself injections. do you have someone who could help? i found it much easier if i could sit back in a chair, shut my eyes, and let my partner do the shots – i didnt even look at the needles (especially the big PIO ones).
May 4th, 2010 at 8.41 am
Glad to know I am not the only one.
I have a couple of friends who have offered to give the shots – or offered their partners as the case may be – and I’m sure I can convince a couple of others so I’m not depending on the same ones every day. My hope is also that it will get easier and that eventually I’ll be fine doing it myself. I’m also more concerned about the PIO shots than the subcutaneous ones, though those don’t come until later anyway.
And, yes, I’ll keep you posted, BBM.
May 4th, 2010 at 7.05 pm
The anticipation always freaked me out too but you’ll see once you start that they won’t be a big deal at all. The PIO shots are definitely different but the sub cutaneous ones are nothing to sweat. Good luck!!
May 9th, 2010 at 11.50 am
I think the previous posted hit it right on the head with it being an anxiety thing that makes you suddenly have an aversion to needles. I would bet that once you get started, it will stop being as scary and by the end of the cycle you’ll be fine giving them to yourself. But, in the meantime, take those friends and partners of friends up on their offer to give you the shots, because I suspect that will get you over the hump. If we didn’t live a ferry ride away, we’d happily help, too!