Needles and other fun stuff

[Sailorsong]

With the talk of EpiPen in Michelle's post earlier today it got me thinking about my problem with needles and other self infecting skin damage devices. I am hoping that maybe someone will have some ideas or at least where to look for help with this.

My problem isn't the normal fear of needles. I can get shot or blood drawn with no problems. Well except I have to be able to watch what is going on.If I can't see it happening I will pass out.  When I told this to one of my doctors when he wanted to give me a shot in the rear he didn't believe me so I told him to test it out.  So he tried giving my a saline shot in the rear and out I went. For some reason after that he never suggested anything that involved a shot again. :)

Where the big problem comes in is if I have to give myself a shot, take a blood glucose test, etc.

I am very allergic to bees and I am suppose to have an EpiPen with me at all times. The first time I was stung as when I was about 40 and by the time I got to the ER I was in really bad shape. They didn't bother taking any info and rushed me into the ER, started ripping my cloths off, giving me one shot right after the next, and brought over a crash cart ( which was the most scary thing off all) as it looked like I was going to go into cardiac arrest any second. I mean my heart was struggling so hard you could see it moving my shirt with out really trying. After I was stabilized they sent me home with an RX for an EpiPen. But 4 hours later I was back in the ER with a second reaction to that bee sting that was just as bad as the first one. This time they kept me for about 8 hours just to make sure I didn't have yet another episode. You can just imagine the nightmare it was with my insurance company when the hospital billed them for 2 ER visits on the same day for the same thing. :)

Anyway a few years later I again got stung my a bee and the reaction was immediate and severe.  So there I was, my heart just about busting through my chest as it was struggling and I just could not give myself the EpiPen shot. Of course my Ex couldn't bring herself to give me the shot either. I think she must have been doing 100 MPH getting me to the ER that time. Again the same thing in the ER as the last time. And again about 4 hours after they sent me home I was back with a second reaction and the 8 hour wait to be released again.

When I was recently DX'ed with diabetes in the back of my mind I was hoping by having to take Glucoses reading it would help me get over this. I have no problem getting the SoftClick pen ready and placing against my finger.  But then I just sit there with my finger on the button with my hand trembling like crazy. I don't think I actually ever push the button, more like eventually the tremor of my hand hits the button.  It take between 5 and 10 minutes for the tremor to set the unit off. It is not like it hurts or anything like that, but it still is not getting any easier after several months of this. In fact it may be getting harder to do as I find I am not taking my Glucose reading as much as at first.

I'm actually quite envious of the members here that do their DMD shots. I wish I could do it myself so much. I am very paranoid about bees and wasps. Seeing just one will send me into a severe panic attack, and for many years just a picture of one would do that. I'm sure that if I could actually use an EpiPen these panic attacks would not be so bad and I have a  lot of them living out here in the country and all of the bees and wasps around here.

So if anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how I might overcome this I would be grateful.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

Thank you for your comments as well. I have added this as an Issue for the next time I see my Shrink at the VA.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

Thank you for the suggestions.

When doing my Glucose I have been setting up the pen first then doing all of the other stuff. This gives me time for the thought of sticking myself time to sink in before I actually get to that point. The next time I do the Glucose I'm going to try setting up the pen as the last thing I do to see if it makes it any easier. Well I hope that I remember to do that. :)

Dennis

[figuerpa]

When I was pregnant I had gestational diabetes and had to give myself shots in the stomach. My dh wouldn't do it because he is scared of needles, my daughter wanted to but she was only 7 lol.

It would take me a good 20 minutes to finally get it done and the only reason I did it was for my son inside me. I just kept reminding myself how important it is to take care of myself so that he would be ok.

I am waiting on my nurse to come show me how to do the injection, I am not sure how I will do but the autoject should make it easier than me doing it.

I guess there really isn't anything in here to help you but I wanted you to know that you are not alone, it is hard to stick a needle in yourself, well for some of us anyway. I hope you figure out what to do that helps you.

Hugs,
Paula

[twopack]

Dennis, as a practical help I have a suggestion that works for me.

I don't like injections but I don't have a special fear of them or unusual reaction.  I DO often find it hard to "pull the trigger" unless I manage a very smooth transaction straight from set up of the autoinjector to piercing of the skin.

So, Number One, I have everything else ready first (site chosen and bared and prepped).  Then it's Load, Aim, Fire - Boom, Boom, Done.

Number Two is a Fail Safe technique for times when hesitation creeps in.  I have a Trigger Word.  If I find myself poised but frozen I can unfreeze the moment by striking the button at the same time I say (originally YELLED) Hallelujah!

I'm sure any word could work as long as it is one that is meaningful to YOU.  I don't know if my technique is transferable or not but hope you will use it and get back to me and let me know.  At least you would get lots of practice attempts with the blood sugar testing :)  

Warning:  This will take many more than one attempt!  Whatever works is going to take time and practice.  It will be well worth it though if you end up on a DMD or (I hope NOT) encounter another winged creature that stings you into a life-or-death emergency.

Mary

[supermum_ms]

The only thing I can think to suggest is to try looking for a psychologist that specialises in phobias, which is what this would come under. Its actually really quite a common phobia and behavioral therapists may even deal with this too. As i'm sure you realise, your not in a possition to let this one go, its a now thing!

My daughter is getting slightly better with her needle issues, hers stems from her first blood test, age 6. The nurse attempted 5 times (3 one arm 2 the other) and couldn't get any, ended up getting it from the vein in her neck, as you can imagine it was pretty traumatic. Even to this day she uses needles as a gage to her level of fear eg "this is worse than getting a needle" so i know exactly how terrified she is.

With phobias like yours and for your reasons why it needs to be dealt with, you really need professional help with this one.

HUGS.............JJ