I have never been afraid of needles. I remember as a young child liking that anxiety that built up before a shot. Call me strange but after I got the shot, which I did not enjoy, I got to show off my war wound to my friends. All little kids feel getting a shot is a big deal and somehow you've earned bragging rights. The band aid covering the wound proves it.
What do you do if you have a needle phobia and are diagnosed with cancer? I often wondered about this after being stuck with a needle for the 3rd or 4th time in a day. You see I had trouble with my port. That is where they inject the chemo. The nurses could never get blood from it like they are supposed to so I always had to have them take blood from my arm and get stuck in my port for chemotherapy on top of that. Take into consideration days when I had to go to my OB/GYN for blood work and tests I got stuck with needles a whole lot.
I would think to myself during those times it was sure good I didn't have a fear of needles. I do not know how you could do it if you did. I don't mind the needles. Most often it was just a little pinch and once it's in it's not too bad. There were a couple of times it felt my arm was on fire. I have to admit it totally depends on the nurse. I have had bruised arms after needles and then barely any proof I had a needle on other days. It all just depends on the skill of the nurse. I hated IVs. Those are much more painful but really it only hurts getting it in. After it's in, it's not too big of a deal. Still, how could you do it? If you are afraid of needles I don't know how you could make it through something like cancer which involves a whole lot of needles! My port needle was bigger and fatter than a normal needle. It went through the skin each time too. My port was under my skin. This is what the needle that goes into the port looks like:
This is where they stuck it:
So I again ask, if you do have a needle phobia, do you think you could manage getting all those needle sticks?
6 comments:
I hate needles yet I love getting tattoos. I think if I HAD to get stuck with a crapload of needles for my health, I'd suck it up. I'd never like it but I'd deal.
Compassionate God is really great to take care of miracle baby Gabriella and mom. With best wishes from across the world, it cannot be otherwise.
i have a needle problem. When I'm pregnant, I end up getting 2 shots /day of blood thinners and then once a week an extra shot of p-17. Hubs gives me the thinner shots. I tried, oh how I tried to do it myself but it gives me severe panic attacks. A home nurse gave me the p-17
I hate needles. I can't watch them draw blood. I hate needles. :)
I hate having a needle stuck in my arm to have blood drawn. I have very small veins, so it is an ordeal every time!
oh gosh...i had needle phobia. but i am trying to fight it...i am taking injectible bith control and every 3 mos i feel like loosing myself....i feel like faintng....i hate needles but i have no choice!!
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