Having injections

[Miss Chicken]

After I read the thread about donating bone marrow, I discussed the topic of donating bone marrow or blood with a friend. My said said she wouldn't donate blood because she doesn't like having injections.

Having an injection doesn't worry me at all. Most are little more than a pin prick and would rate about 1 on a pain register out of ten. Some might be slightly more painful but I doubt any would reach a level three.

So why do so many people seem to be afraid of having injections?

Are any of you wusses when in comes to having injections?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I still prefer giving injections.

 

[RoJoHen]

The one time I ever had a blood test, they took one little vial, and I turned white as a ghost and nearly passed out. Needles and shots don't bother me. It's the blood. Just thinking about it now is making my veins tingle.

 

[thestrangequark]

As a type 1 diabetic, I've been giving myself as many as 4 injections of insulin daily since the age of twelve. I've injected myself in the arms, thighs, and abdomen, and as a kid I'd even stick the syringe in and wiggle it about a little to gross out my squeamish friends. I get blood drawn every three months to check my A1C and it doesn't disturb me in the slightest. I also have two tattoos. And despite this, when it's time to get a flu shot or other such vaccination, and the nurse rolls up my sleeve and swabs me with alcohol, my stomach turns upside down and I get lightheaded!

 

[The Trekster]

Injections never have bothered me, they are over in a second or two. But it took lots of sessions before I could get acupuncture without crying (not that it even hurts, just out of some irrational nervousness)...

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Over the past 9 months, I've had three cortisone injections in my shoulder. The second one, the doctor said after he was finished that what I felt was him hitting the bone trying to get into the bursa. That hurt.

And the injection did nothing for me anyway except make the pain worse for 48-72 hours.

 

[Orac Zen]

Injections and blood draws have never bothered me in the slightest. I've hurt myself more and lost more blood in the course of everyday life.

The last time I had a blood test the technician asked me if it hurt when she stuck the needle in (she was relatively new at the job). I said no and that needles don't bother me. She replied that they don't bother her, either, but that her sister all but passes out whenever needles / injections are even spoken about. Considering her career we both found that rather ironic - and comical.


*** kicks bro's knee *** It might help.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

*** kicks bro's knee *** It might help.

At this point, I'm willing to try anything.

*whacks OZ with a proper ice hockey stick*

I had forgotten about this until reading OZ's story; years ago when I was having blood drawn for a life insurance application, clumsy would not begin to adequately describe the tech they sent out. She couldn't find my vein to save her life. After I felt it rolling around in my arm, I almost took the needle from her to do it myself.

My arm was black and blue for 2 weeks.

 

[pookha]

i am real lucky that the med clinic people are great at drawing blood.
considering how often i have it done.
and the kenalog and supartz injections for ny joints have really helped.
though the nedle for the hip shot is pretty impressive.

i suspect some dotn even want to see that monster coming at them.

 

[auntiehill]

Needles have never bothered me. I was a fairly sickly kid, so I had blood drawn all the time.

Back in the dark ages of my childhood, they often would prick your finger to get a drop for a blood sample, and that hurt far worse, and longer, than having a nurse take an entire vial of blood from your arm.

 

[Kestra]

I've never been fond of them, and I'm apparently very difficult to draw blood from so that hasn't enhanced my views on the subject. The girl who drew me today muttered "It's like the blind leading the blind ..." to herself before she stuck the needle in me.

I've gone through allergy shots, but the nurses are surprisingly awesome at making it painless. The part that sucks is the fact that they're injecting you with things you're allergic to. Flu shots and the like bother me to a degree, but considering I made it through the winter without getting sick, it's worth it.

 

[B.J.]

I'm in the same boat as RoJoHen. The pain doesn't bother me, but it's just the thought of blood & stuff makes me queasy. I even have a hard time just letting people take my pulse. At the doctor's office, I actually passed out on them once when they were giving me an antibiotic shot. Now, they just give me oral antibiotics.

 

[Magnum]

Tell your friend that needle pain will soon be a thing of the past.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm in the same boat as RoJoHen. The pain doesn't bother me, but it's just the thought of blood & stuff makes me queasy. I even have a hard time just letting people take my pulse. At the doctor's office, I actually passed out on them once when they were giving me an antibiotic shot. Now, they just give me oral antibiotics.

I generally have issues with the palm-side of the forearm. The whole thing just weirds me out. Too many veins too close to the surface. I don't know if it's normal, but if I think about it even briefly (like right now as I'm typing this), I can start to feel the blood pumping through my wrists and hands, and it makes me very uncomfortable. I don't even touch the under-side of my wrist if I can avoid it.

And like you, I absolutely hate getting my pulse taken there. I can check it in my carotid artery in my neck just fine, but stay the hell away from my wrist.

 

[Lindley]

I used to have blood taken fairly frequently when I was younger. It's been a while, but I still don't really care about needles. Getting an injection is barely notable; having blood drawn you notice a bit more, but it's still not a big deal.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

As i child i can remember standing in line outside the schools small doctors room waiting for that years inoculation which you got at that age, and being really terrified of what was to come, but like most things with experience comes understanding and the fear goes with it.

Now if only i could do that with the dentist.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I have no problem with injection, and neither with having blood drawn.

 

[StolenThunder]

I find injections unpleasant if not painful. It's not a nice sensation.

 

[B.J.]

I'm in the same boat as RoJoHen. The pain doesn't bother me, but it's just the thought of blood & stuff makes me queasy. I even have a hard time just letting people take my pulse. At the doctor's office, I actually passed out on them once when they were giving me an antibiotic shot. Now, they just give me oral antibiotics.

I generally have issues with the palm-side of the forearm. The whole thing just weirds me out. Too many veins too close to the surface. I don't know if it's normal, but if I think about it even briefly (like right now as I'm typing this), I can start to feel the blood pumping through my wrists and hands, and it makes me very uncomfortable. I don't even touch the under-side of my wrist if I can avoid it.

And like you, I absolutely hate getting my pulse taken there. I can check it in my carotid artery in my neck just fine, but stay the hell away from my wrist.

Yes, a kindred spirit! And I also get weirded out just talking about it like this. So.... I think I'm going to go now.

 

[TerokNor]

I am quite phobic when it comes to injections.
When someone has to give me an injection or wants my blood I usually pass out during the procedure or with a bit delay, when thinking about it after its over. Need to get a few inoculations renewd since a few years... but just cannot make myself go. Unreasonable, annoying fear.
And like with your friend, thats my reason too not to be on such a list, even I think its a good thing and I admire the people who help others that way.

TerokNor