hello and longtime no post

[needlephobic]

Well it's been a little over 5 years since starting dialysis. Doing great got a awesome neph and a awesome center now. Still very afraid of needles need diagnosed with PTSD yes somebody or people traumatized me with a needle.my counselor now knows how to help me to try and get over this fear.Things are going good .ONE of these days I will be able to get stuck.Funny thing had a guy see my fistula and told me that must be one bad break that didn't heal properly. I told him all about it and what's it for  the whole online yards. Today was asked if dialysis caused my'arm to look.like that couldn't help but laugh about it.

[Charlie B53]

LOVE your screen name!  I can never think fast enough to grab a name like that, it perfectly describes me.

I perfectly understand how a needle paranoia can come from a bad experience, or series of experiences.  As a kid about 5 I was sick, alot.  Penicillen was the new wonder drug and the next door neighbor lady was an RN, coming over morning and night sticking me in the butt.  I don't remember how long this went on, but it was too long for a kid.

Mom keep a glass on glass rig in a bowl of alcohol, changing it and flushing the needle at every use.  Then she started practicing injecting an orange until the Nurse though Mom was ready to start sticking ME!   I didn't like it.  We bent a lot of needles as I would tighten up solid in anticipation of the stick.

For a great number of years at the Dr's office just the smell of the alcohol wipe would make me dizzy.  Many times so much he would crack open a vial of ammonia to snap me alert again.

I never thought I would ever become able to handle a needle, but 2 years ago I went well over the line and now am a full blown type 2 diabetic.  Test and inject at least 4 times a day.  But thos are itty bitty needles, not the HUGE spikes used for dialysis.  Thankfully,  I am on PD and it is working fine.  Although I fear that someday it won't, then I will have to face my needle phobia with hemo.  I am NOT looking forward to that day.

[willowtreewren]

So good to hear from you Needlephobic. And great that things are going well for you! 

Maybe one of these days you will be able to lick that phobia! 

Aleta

[jeannea]

I'm impressed you're working on your phobia. Maybe one day it will be gone. You have some good people to work with.

[needlephobic]

I'm impressed you're working on your phobia. Maybe one day it will be gone. You have some good people to work with.
[/quote

My fear will never be gone just controlled. My fear will sometimes show its ugly face.The plan is finding 2 or 3 tech's I can trust to stick me it is ordered that my girlfriend be there to help me keep focused while being stuck. Is also ordered after being stuck and I can`t take it anymore to take It out when I say or I will take It out my self. We will continue keeping it in longer each treatment to hopefully the day I make it through the whole treatment. Right now looking for the techs I can trust wish me luck

[kristina]

Hello needlephobic,
Well done! You have come a long way!
I do hope you find soon a tech you feel comfortable with
and I send you my best wishes,
Kristina.

[Rerun]

Good to hear from you.  I still can't look but I do it. 

               

[Jean]

Nice to hear from you. Glad things are a bit better for you too. Dont stay away so long.

[PrimeTimer]

If you could share a tip or technique to help someone overcome a phobia or an anxiety attack while it is happening (and regardless of what it is caused by), what might you suggest?

[Stu]

One thing I've found working a bit for me of late is to kind of "lean in" to the pain

It's hard to describe, but I'm trying to relish the pain of the needles, makes me less scared of them

(says the guy who still can't watch the needles go in after 20 years!)

[Simon Dog]

If you could share a tip or technique to help someone overcome a phobia or an anxiety attack while it is happening (and regardless of what it is caused by), what might you suggest?

I would suggest learning to do your own needles - seriously.   I find it hurts MUCH less when I do them myself, comparing self-insertion of dialysis 15ga sharps to staff insertion.  When I was first doing a sharp insertion solo, my only thought was "I need this treatment, and I am going to get it no matter what it takes".   The worry of missing a treatment actually blocked the pain.

[PrimeTimer]

If you could share a tip or technique to help someone overcome a phobia or an anxiety attack while it is happening (and regardless of what it is caused by), what might you suggest?

I would suggest learning to do your own needles - seriously.   I find it hurts MUCH less when I do them myself, comparing self-insertion of dialysis 15ga sharps to staff insertion.  When I was first doing a sharp insertion solo, my only thought was "I need this treatment, and I am going to get it no matter what it takes".   The worry of missing a treatment actually blocked the pain.

I think you could be right. My husband does his own needles (I simply help guide his hand) and I think it is a little less painful for him than when someone else sticks him. What am I wondering, is if people have a tip to share concerning how they overcome an anxiety attack in general, not just from needles but anything that causes them anxiety. Your rationale towards treatment being more important than the pain from a needle seems to have helped you. Maybe it's about attitude that helps a person overcome anxiety. Maybe it's about doing "self-talk".  ??

[cassandra]

What Simon suggest is actually really true. I could only do it cos I hated so much to be scared of the staff shortening my life even more

   


Great to see you're doing well, love, Cas

[kitkatz]

If you could share a tip or technique to help someone overcome a phobia or an anxiety attack while it is happening (and regardless of what it is caused by), what might you suggest?

Count backwards from from crazy number like a thousand or a million.