Psyching up to stick yourself

[Mich]

Hi All,

After many years of injections, I switched exactly one year ago to the pump.

Over the years, I went from my mom injecting me (in the needle sharpening days) to using a Busher Automatic Injector to just manually sticking myself. It was an evolution for me and not being fond of injections in the first place, I have used many methods to make it easier on myself.

I ended up with the short needles and they were nothing for me--so short, no angle to worry about, etc. I nearly always injected somewhere I could reach easily, my stomach or thighs.

When I got my Cozmo, my CDE just had me insert my long Comfort set manually. I admit to being a bit taken aback by the length of the insertion needle after all of those little ones. I did the first one easily (bravado--she was watching) and was surprised at how little I felt it. Now I have settled into a routine of concentrating on the angle and getting the tape stuck correctly. This seems to give me something upon which to focus and eliminates most or all of the sensation.

Seeing some new folks 'posts, I thought how it might have helped me to hear a few tricks from more experienced injection takers. The old 1-2-3-GO always helps me, too. I still usually look somewhere else when my blood is being drawn.

Anyone else care to share? Mich :nurse:

[Gordonm]

I have never had a problem with the needles. After 32 years it is pretty much no problem. I definitly watch when my blood is drawn and usually comment on weather it was a good stick or not. If it was bad I let them know about it. I do use an inserter now with my pump but would have no problem at all inserting it myself. I would slowly put in the needle when doing injections it seemed to hurt much less. Everyone is different though. The little bit of pain, if there was any never bothered me.

[Mitochondria]

I'm not fond of needles either, really. I do like you do, 1, 2, 3 GO!! It doesn't really bother me that much to give myself an injection or change an infusion set. Strangly enough though not only can I not watch my blood being drawn, I was non compliant for over 5 years because I would pass out every time I would have to get it done.

I really can't explain what my problem with blood draws at a lab is. I've given my self shots for more than 10 years and I even have piercings and tatoos. What gives? ;p

[JanTx]

Mike - I'm with you. Can you donate blood? I never could - if they'd leave me passed out I might be okay, but they always try to bring me to before they finish! But after many, many years of not even trying to donate I figured - with all those injections, etc, surely I could be a donor now! Nope. Not at all. Didn't work. Ain't gonna happen! Passed out. Came to with them patting my hand and calling my name - to find out if I wanted them to continue!! COME ON PEOPLE! While I'm out - drain it dry!!! So ... not again.

Counting to 3 doesn't do it for me - I count to 5. I've also been known to sing "Yankee Doodle" really loud with a larger injection that took longer - the old Lantus days were my Yankee Doodle star days. The pens didn't bother me as much as the syringes did. I think this is strange - I find it much easier to look in a mirror to use the pen in my stomach. I can't look at it going in - but in the mirror the needle is hidden by the pen. I appreciate blood test areas that have posters - especially really busy ones with lots to look at.

[KritterMom]

I used to be terrified of needles. But now after having given injections for 6 years I don't mind them much. I'd much rather use the mini needles, or even the short ones, cuz the regular size ones are huge. Now that I'm learning to pump, I'm trying to get used to the needle associated with that. All in all, I've come a very long way. I still can't watch myself have lab work drawn, it makes it hurt worse. I know, weird, but..............

[Mitochondria]

Mike - I'm with you. Can you donate blood?


Not in my wildest dreams. My PCP actually gives me valium before I take my A1C test. He says he hasn't ever seen anybody have such an adverse mental reaction to a blood draw.

When I was in high school there was a pretty girl that I had a crush on. She sat behind me in math and we talked pretty frequently. One day she says "Are you signed up for the blood drive?". My stomach rolled at just the words blood drive. I told her no I wasn't, I'm not very into needles. Of course she bats her eyes at me and says its for a good cause, and we can go together to support each other.

I heard the words "Ok, I'll do it" roll off my tongue. I could not stop myself. I start thinking it's going to be ok. I figure there is no way I will do anything that makes me look like a wuss in front of this girl I've crushed on all semester. Or will I?

I won't keep you in suspense. It was a complete disaster. I actually made it into the the chair before I started shaking and sweating. I actually saw the needle and heard the girl repeatedly asking me if I was alright before I passed out.

Well I never got a date with the girl, but I made it farther than I had before trying to get blood drawn. I usually pass out at the lab door. :vollkomme

[jenet]

After almost 12 years now, I still don't do needles very well either. :( I always turn my head away as far as I can during blood draws at the lab. I resisted a pump for years because I was afraid of having a needle stuck in me 24/7 - until another pumper I had just met showed me a set with the flexible teflon cannula.

Now my endo laughs at me when I tell her I will give up my pump when they pry it from my cold dead fingers. The Unomedical Insets are what make it work for me. I mentally block out the needle because I don't have to insert it manually - I just push on the sides of the inserter and it all happens automagically without me seeing the needle going in. :)

cheers,
j

[JanTx]

Mike - I feel your pain. Just HEARING my Marine Corps son-in-law talk about how good he is at donating - and how he and the other guys have contests to see who can fill the bag soonest makes me queasy. (Give me a minute - I need to lie down.) :eek:

When I was in college we had to have a TB test before we could go into classrooms. I dreaded it for weeks, but finally the deadline loomed and off to the clinic I went. This doesn't even involve blood. Just a tiny prick - teeny tiny even. Of course, I passed out. Nurse had never seen anything like it. From then on - when we had to renew this - and we had to every year. The nurse would ask if I'd been around anyone with TB. When I'd say "no" she'd sign the paper and tell me to get out of there.

An earlier do I had refused to give me a shot unless I was lying on the table. He'd had another patient walk out after a shot, pass out on the sidewalk, and knock out her two front teeth.

I got married in the dark ages when you had to have a blood test to get your license. That really made me think hard - a lifetime together? No prob. But ... was he REALLY worth the dreaded blood test? :hmmmm: We've been married 33 years so - I guess so!

So ... when the D diagnoses came in neither my mother or my husband could believe that I could deal with this. Guess you do whatever you have to.

I still don't look at the needle or the actual insertion process. My husband was in a men's Bible study group when I first started injections. I had to inject for the first time right before he left for this class. He brought me a wet rag to put on my forehead as I lay on the couch afterwards and lovingly told me they'd pray for me at his class. oh my. And ... he must have done so because for months afterwards each of those sweet men would come up to me once in a while and ask me how I was doing. Bless them!

So ... if you're a bit shy with the needle.... count, sing, pray, don't look, whatever it takes, but ... YOU CAN DO THIS! :girl: