Needle Phobia

[BeadieJay]

I wouldn't say that I have a real needle phobia - I can get my blood taken, and have injections - just as long as I don't see the needle going in me. But I do have a very low pain threshhold.

Tonight, just before my evening meal, I got ready to check my bsl. I got the lancet against my finger, but just could not make myself pull the trigger. This has happened many times before, and I've always managed eventually to pull the trigger and get the blood out. But recently, well, since I've started testing again, it's been harder and harder, and tonight I simply could not do it. I burst into tears and put my monitor away.

I know tomorrow's another day, and I'll probably be fine with testing. But I want to get back into a routine of testing before and after each meal, as I need to get good control back after slipping recently.

Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, how did you overcome it? I don't want to spend the rest of my life worrying about self testing, and goodness knows what I'll do if I ever need to go on insulin. I've thought of hypnosis. Someone gave me a link a while ago on something about that, I guess I should re-read it - I only just this minute thought of it, but I'd still like to know what others do when the fear of the pain is stronger than anything else.

thanks :)

[Belinda]

Well, I use to HATE testing...and quit for a while but then I decided to get it back on track......(this was many years ago). I just thought of all the other things that I could possibly have to do...I kept coming back to being in a wheelchair depending on others to help me with toileting etc...and I thought heck this testing is not bad at all....so I test like 6 plus times a day....Just think of the alternatives...

[HeatherP]

Okay, I'm assuming you're testing on the sides of your fingers, not on the pads, right? (less nerves on the sides)

And the depth on the device is set as shallow as possible to still be able to get blood? (if you run warm water over your hands before finger testing it will increase blood flow and therefore enable you to possibly use a shallower setting)

Have you tried using alternate areas? Check if your monitor is approved for that and try somewhere else. Forearm, legs, etc, it'll probably give you a list of sites in your monitor's owners booklet.

Make sure that you are using the finest lancets - the higher the number the thinner the needle. I believe BD makes and Ultra-Fine that is 33 gauge.

You can usually purchase lancet devices separately. They're not too expensive and if you try a few you might find one that you really like and is easier for you to work with. You are not in any way, shape or form required to only use the lancet device that comes w/ your monitor.

Hope you're feeling better,
HeatherP

[lgvincent]

I find the Soft-Clix lancet device by Roche to be one of the least painful one's. It can leave big holes which will stay around for a few days, though.

[am1977]

Hey Sue,

Boy, can I empathize. I used to be deathly afraid of needles :eek: ! I would do anything and everything in my power to avoid having any contact with injections, blood tests, you name in. Mind you, this was in my pre-diabetic days.

Somehow, it came around to bite me in the butt. Here I am now a Type 1 diabetic, reliant and dependent on insulin injections to live. The glucose testing used to really bother me in the beginning, i remember that my fingers were SO sore. After 2 years of testing 4x a day or more, it doesn't bother me that much any more, it's more second nature nowl. In fact, I like knowing what my level is and have been checking it more than ever had been. I know how important testing is for control.

The part I still cringe at is the injection part of managing Diabetes. I HATE giving myself injections, or even changing my site. I never was good at it and I don't think I ever will be. Saying that, however, I realize that I don't have a choice in the matter. I need insulin to live, so I must do the injection, change the site, etc. I don't debate, stall, or hem and haw about it. I know I need to do it. To me it's woth it to spend a second of discomfort of even pain in order to achieve some control over this disease. Now, I know that sounds very rational and simplified, and I know it's sometimes more complicated to overcome these fears. But I think you have to think about what your goals are and how bad do you want to achieve those goals. If your goal is to be in good control, then you will do some of thes unpleasant things in order to achieve control.

I Know sometimes it's easy to want to ignore or deny having diabetes, but it's dangerous to think this way.. It just ends up leading to problems. Please don't let that happen to you. If the testing and/or injections are bothering you to the point where you just can't stand it, I would talk to your doctor about it or maybe change your technique. Perhaps get a different lancing device, or wash your hands with warm water, set the setting to a more shallow setting, etc. Do what it takes to get yourself back into the habit of testing again.

We are all here for you Sue, anytime you need. Know that you have our support and encouragement. You can get back on track! So keep trying and don't give up.

Take care :)

[HeatherP]

Originally posted by am1977




We are all here for you Sue, anytime you need. Know that you have our support and encouragement. You can get back on track! So keep trying and don't give up.

Take care :)



AMEN! Hang in there Sue!

**purrrrrs and hugs**
HeatherP

[nantomsuethom]

Sue,

I don't have to do this 4 or more times a day. I run a low bg and do check when I don't feel good, but that's just occassionally. I do (somewhat) know how you feel when it comes to needles. I can give them but cant take them. I had an incident one time when I worked at the hospital that I had to go to the emerg. room for penicillin. It took them no less than 20 min. to talk me into a shot in the butt, then they said I need the second half on the other side. That was another 10 min.

Thomas will not use his fingers anymore. We got him a vaculance, now he only uses his forearms. I've tried it and have never felt a thing.

Ditto am1977 and HeatherP- We are here for you!

Nancy

[BeadieJay]

Thank you so much for your replies and your support :)

~Belinda~ you're so right - it's better to have a brief period of pain than to possibly end up blind or in a wheelchair. These things might happen anyway, but I owe it to myself to do everything I can to ensure it won't happen.

~Heather~ yes, I am using the sides of my fingers - I don't really want to use other sites, because I think I'll just have the exact same problem as I'm having now. I didn't know that lancet sizes could differ, so I'm going to look into finding one that is as fine as possible, thanks for telling me about that.

~Lowell~ I have 2 lancets at the moment - One Touch Ultra Soft and an Accu-Chek one....I tend to use the One Touch mostly, as it's slightly easier to press the trigger, and I find that the longer it takes to press the trigger, the longer I have to get uptight about doing it. I'm going to research different lancets though, and try out some new ones.

~Andrea~ I hope I'm as brave as you when/if the time comes that I need to inject insulin - that's not something I want to think about right now though LOL I really appreciate your words of encouragement. I think my problems are because I haven't been testing regularly recently, and it's so hard to get back into the habit again.......I'm hoping that once I'm doing it several times each day that it will become second nature and not something to worry about. I am going to mention it to my doctor though - I'm seeing him on Wednesday - I want to know if he can refer me to some hypnosis - well, it won't hurt to ask!

~Heather again!!~ thanks for the purrs - I love that :)

~Nancy~ that's great that Thomas can use that thing for his forearms - it must be so difficult for young kids to test and inject, I have so much admiration for them - they are truly brave. I am such a wimp - I remember having injections as a child - I'd scream the place down LOL I can relate to how you feel about shots - I needed a blood test one time, and it was with a new nurse, and I just couldn't go through with it....I had to go back another day (and I took a teddy bear with me to cuddle and grip hold of LOL - it worked though!!!)


~~~~~~

I think my fears are because I take too long to press the trigger on the lancet - today I was about to take some blood, but found that I couldn't bring myself to press the trigger, and was getting all upset again. Then the phone rang so I answered it, and when I finished talking, I washed my hands again, got the lancet, put it against the side of my finger, and pulled the trigger straight away - and I did it!!! But, when I don't pull it immediately, that's what gives me time to start panicking. It's definitely a mental thing LOL

Just now, I tested - it took 3 strips, 2 fingers and 4 stabs before I got enough blood.....what's so wierd is that I was able to keep stabbing myself, whereas yesterday I couldn't even do it once.

I'm mad - I know it, this just proves it :rolleyes: LOL

I'm off to bed now - thanks again for all your help :)