I Hate The Needles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angieskidney]

I have to get over my fear of needles and then I can just take things into my own hands, like Epoman has told me

[Panda_9]

Dont worry too much angie until you can get your fistula really working well and the catheter comes out.

[kevno]

Had one needle one Thursday, The head Nurse was there Shirley, so she made sure I had one needle. On Saturday, Well on Saturday, Shirley not there a new Nurse. So........ NO NEEDLE! Just could not bring myself to say I was using one needle now. Pump speed was bad with one needle in on Thursdays only 200, just 20 more on Saturday with both lines.

Rerun too write to each Nurse and Doctor "I forgive them", I would need all of the rainforest to be cut down just for the paper

Stacy, I have always squeezed the top of my arm even for a blood test.

Well, now waiting to see what happens on Tuesday Once I get the needle thing in my head can not stop thinking about it

[angieskidney]

Dont worry too much angie until you can get your fistula really working well and the catheter comes out.

The Catheter comes out the day after tomorrow! THAT is why I felt I could start worrying  

[twirl]

I will never get used to needles.....I cope by not looking at them, I've never seen one of the needles
yes, a nurse called me a chicken while she was saying she hates needles and is glad she doesn't get stuck

the tect places my fingers where they go to hold the spots

one tect told me to conquer my fears and look at the needles
I said something back to her that was not nice
which surprised everyone - usually I'm shy                                                 

[petey]

Marvin hates needles and always has.  Even after almost 1,700 treatments (he'll hit that number in a few weeks), he's NEVER watched as a needle went in.  He just turns his head and clenches his teeth.  Now that I'm the one cannulating him (home hemo), it almost breaks MY heart to put the needles in.  Poor baby!

[Adam_W]

I used to be terrified of needles. If I knew I was going to get stuck with a needle, I'd dread it for hours or even days. When I first went into the hospital when my kidneys finally gave up the ghost, the doctor/nurse/tech would put an IV in and I'd be tensing every muscle in my body and gritting my teeth. After the first week, I was doing a little better, and by the time I'd been on dialysis for about a month, I got to where I didn't even flinch when I had to get an IV (this was even before I had my graft). When my graft was ready for use, I was more nervous than usual because of the size of the needles. My home training nurse did the first two sticks, and it actually didn't hurt any more than an IV needle. When it came time for me to do my first stick myself, I planted the first needle right into a nerve. OWWWW! I instinctively jerked the needle back, and promptly hosed myself, the chair, and the nurse down with blood. Now, I'm not afraid of needles at all as far as pain goes (I have so much nerve damage along the length of my graft, I usually can't feel the needles anyway), but I'm still somewhat afraid of messing up and wrecking my graft (which is screwed up enough as it is). Needles still suck, but I have learned to "co-exist" with them.

Adam

[Cincygrandma]

I read this thread thru and can sympathize with everyone.  I've had 12 sticks in just 3 trips this week.  Tuesday I had 3 sticks to get on and after 2-1/2 hrs of my 4 hour treatment got infiltrated and had to be taken off.  Went for normal Thursday treatmet.  Was stuck 5 times unsuccessfully and sent home with no treatment.  The tears rolled during these!  Was told to come back yesterday (Fri).  I said no, but center called my neph and he said I needed to come in next day or make emergency trip for catheter.  I went back yesterday at 6:30 am and after 4 sticks, finally got my 4 hour treatment.  The first 2 hours were touch and go with constant adjustment of needles, but last 2 hours were uncomfortable but uneventful.  They wanted me in again today for my normal Sat. treatment, and I told them NO.  I need some time for my fistula to recover.  By the way, when I got home yesterday I had a statement in the mail showing billing of over $3000 for a catheter placed in me.  I've never had a catheter.  I know it was for an angioplasty in Nov., but the timing really aggravated me, and I'll be following up on it.  Best to everyone.

[kevno]

Just a quick update on the needle thing! 26th December 2007 in my sleep pulled one of my tesio lines out  Blood everywhere lucky i woke up, to put a finger over the hole. So now one line, one bloody needle! but now the nurses are so used to me, don't know why only a certain few nurses will even try to put me on. Think i must scare one or maybe two  of the newer nurses. Think it must be the look i give them. So you think you are going to try to get a NEEDLE in me But I do let the news ones have a go as long as a experienced nurse who as put me on a few times is there to show what to do. PANIC AND RUN

[monrein]

I just read this whole thread for the first time and Kevno I sympathize with all you've been through and for so long and when you were a kid.  When you talk about all that has been done TO you by the nurses with the needles and all it makes perfect sense.  So now for my bizarre question.  Have you ever tried taking away from all these people the power/ability/need to hurt you?  By that  of course I mean the dreaded do it yourself and take back (some) control option.  When other used to people cannulate me I found it waaaay more painful than doing it myself.  There's something about the need to concentrate that helps me.  You may have already addressed this somewhere before Kevno but I'm still a little  new here so I apologize in advance if this is a dumb thing to be saying to you.

[twirl]

I think he does stick himself about 12 times a week.
Kevno, you are brave beyond belief to me, I have never seen the needles.
I know I'd sh** at the sight of them.
I'd have to stick myself blindfolded.
however, that could be better than the stick I had Friday.
Monrein, are you going to stick yourself.....You are full of courage....
I think Kevno emailed me that he does it to himself 12 times a week.....He is a hero to me.......

[Razman]

I'm not on hemo yet but I thought that the "button hole"  technique could be used to reduce the pain.  You put the needle into the same spot every time ( pick the scab off first) .   Does anyone do this ?

[monrein]

I did my own sticks for 5 years last time.  I also had a very even (zero bulges) straight really good fistula and my medical team felt that it was the result of doing it myself using the ladder technique consistently. 
This time I plan to do it myself again and I hope to do buttonholes which are new to me but I've discussed it with the self care unit I'm planning on going to. I also want to try that biohole plug I've heard about.  I would take my own blood if they'd give me the supplies and I like to watch my procedures or at least have them described in detail by whoever is doing them.  My docs always find this a bit strange but I don't like being in the dark.  I only infiltrated myself twice in 5 years.
I find it hurts less although I will admit that the first time I did it  (about my 5th session) I got the needles in then felt faint and threw up.

[stauffenberg]

When I was a child I was so afraid of needles, even just in the form of a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, that I used to be sick for a month before going to each doctor's appointment, just on the speculation that I would be injected with some vaccine.  When I was diagnosed at 14 as a type 1 diabetic, you can well imagine my feelings, but I adjusted to the daily regimen of self-injection within about a week and have since then taken over 40,000 of them with  no problem.  I hope this suggests that 90% of the problem is half mental, as Yogi Bera used to say.

Similarly, I saw a 19 year-old male having his first needling at dialysis, during which he whimpered and yelped like a whipped puppy until even the nurse had to stop because he had upset her so much.  After a relatively short while he was stoically enduring the needling just like all the rest of the patients.  Its all about what you can get used to.

[kevno]

Now seen 4 Doctors and a Professor about my needle phobia. Still seeing one doctor and the Professor once every three months. No Chance i could ever needle myself. Tried and just froze up. Tried to many ways to get over this. Now just put up with it. No choice, the other thing is death (Thats not for ME yet ) Not to bad it the nurse get the needle in first time. But start the drop BP if see misses. If you have ever crashed on the machine you know how that feels. 

[monrein]

   Wish I could make it better.

[flip]

I use the lidocaine/prilocaine cream on my site about an hour before I go in. By the time the nurse comes around to stick me, I'm busy on my laptop and I never look up. I usually don't even know it until she raises my feet after everything is done.

[twirl]

I use the same thing Flip, and it really helps. How do you use a laptop at "D"? I was told I could not use one....Oh wait, I think you are the  person who has a good "D" center.....

without the cream; I would scream

[flip]

My center has wifi. In fact, they even have laptops for those who don't own one to use.

[twirl]

WHAT THE HECK       you dialysis in Heaven          my place bitches about getting ice    ONE CUP - 6 ounces per visit

God forbide you drop it... 

[flip]

Wow..I usually take my lunch and a soft drink to dialysis and get at least two cups of ice. Ain't nothin' better than a 5 Star Dialysis Center. 

[twirl]

life is unfair

[bdpoe]

 

I've never gotten used to needles or being stuck

[flip]

It's become a part of life for me...a little stick three times a week. Much better than the alternative.

[G-Ma]

 ..I hate needles about as much or more than I hate "D".  I have told myself after my access is ready I will try to do Buttonhole..I will probably need to write that 1000 times to convince myself, or do I write I am a chicken???