Tips for having a jab if it's ages since you've had one

[bellinisurge]

Until Covid, I had having MS related b12 jabs in my arm every month. I stopped because they weren't essential for me. I also get annual flu jabs. Anyhoo, I'm a "getting a jab" veteran of some years.
These tips might help when you eventually get the vaccine.

First - relax your arm as best you can. Shake it a bit first if that helps.
Second- take a deep breath and try and breathe out long and slow as you are jabbed - make a woosh noise if that helps. The needle is uncomfy but so is any stuff as it goes in so make it a long "wooosh"
nurses don't care about that comedy noises you make.
Third- ask for a little plaster on the jab site.

Points to remember: it's in the muscle of your arm. Sometimes it's a bit painful to get a jab there and sometimes it isn't. Everyone experiences it differently every time because we are all wired differently. You are not a wimp if it hurts. You are brilliant for getting it.

Thank you for doing it.

I wish it was that easy, I'm shaking reading your post. I'm worried they won't let DH go with me to have my jab (if I ever get one) as I'll probably faint. I'm hoping we get a drive through vaccination centre here so he could drive me as I won't be able to do it on my own.

I meant to say thank you for the advice though

Just think, it’ll be over in a matter of seconds. You probably experience worse pain every day without even thinking about it. Toe stubs, the hot tap coming on a bit too quickly, paper it’s etc. It’s just the thought of it, thinking about it is worse than the thing itself.

Easier said than done I know but you’ll be okay, it’ll be over in a flash and you’ll have potentially saved lives. 💐 for you for doing something that scares you to help the community. Legend.

hmmm... for me, what I like best, is they ask my arm to be available & they chat away thereafter -- most nurses are people -persons so can chat donkey legs off. FGS please nurses do not say "This will just be a little scratch" that will make me tense up & feel anxious. There is zero value in that warning for me. Just make it happen when I'm distracted elsewhere (by shedding donkey legs even).

The needle used for immunisation is incredibly thin (23 gauge). You will barely feel it! I have spent 36 years sticking much larger ones into patients (retired hospital doc), and also been on the receiving end of annual flu jabs and innumerable blood tests while suffering from long Covid, and I would like to reassure any nervous patients out there that afterwards you will wonder why on earth you were worried.
A barely perceptible pinprick in the arm is vastly preferable to getting a disease that can kill you, or leave you breathless and disabled.
Don’t overthink it, just go and get it as soon as you’re offered it!

For some reason I'm marginally less terrified of injections than I am of blood tests - my needle phobia got a lot worse after a blood gases test. Providing the nurse is understanding, and not all are (one laughed when I said I had a needle phobia, she wasn't laughing when all my veins disappeared and I was curled up on the bed with one arm sticking out, sobbing), and I can have DH at least nearby I might be OK. I'm definitely not safe to drive though.

I've never understood why they say "just a little scratch" - makes it sound so much worse! A scratch implies a dragging of a needle/blade ACROSS the skin. Is it because the word 'prick' has rude connotations?

A barely perceptible pinprick in the arm is vastly preferable to getting a disease that can kill you, or leave you breathless and disabled.

As stupid as it sounds, not to me it's not. It's not a case of I don't like needles (who does?) or that it might hurt, it's a completely paralysing, irrational fear.

My GP wanted me to go for an over 40s 'MOT' with blood tests. I had a panic attack in the surgery and thankfully she never mentioned it again!

Look away!

I had the flu jab in October. The needle is tiny. I barely felt it, and I am no stoic. In terms of pain it really is a complete non-event so FFS grow up, woman up and get on with it.

@AgeLikeWine

I had the flu jab in October. The needle is tiny. I barely felt it, and I am no stoic. In terms of pain it really is a complete non-event so FFS grow up, woman up and get on with it.

FFS I suggest you try and be more understanding. You clearly don't understand a real phobia and ridiculous comments like 'woman up and get on with it' really don't help. As I said in a previous post it's nothing to do with feeling it, looking away or anything like that, it's a completely irrational, paralysing terror that comments like yours do nothing to help.

Yes, I had the flu jab last month and it was fine - chatted to the nurse throughout. Meanwhile DH is a complete wuss about injections and has to lie down afterwards .

I don’t think people with phobias can just woman up can they?

@Feministicon

I don’t think people with phobias can just woman up can they?

I'd love to be able to woman up but it's not as simple at that!

Plan a slab of chocolate cake for afterwards.

As long as I don't look I am fine.

The blood gas test on the other hand was rather unpleasant.

I don't have a phobia but I can't watch what they're doing and I do get nervous and don't like to see the needle. I find it helps to ask the nurse not to tell me when they are going to do the jab - I confirm consent for the jab, get my arm out, ask them to talk about other stuff and just get on and not tell me when they're going to do it. It helps me to keep calm. I give blood a couple of times a year and I can't watch while they do it either, once my arm is out, they can do what they like, I don't want to know and I don't want to watch.

@Vellinbracelet

As long as I don't look I am fine.

The blood gas test on the other hand was rather unpleasant.

Ive had the jab. Quick and easy- the nurse distracted me very professionally - just chose what you wear carefully as our vaccination centre was open booths

Blood gas test! Its the worse thing I remember of two weeks hospitalisation for pneumonia and sepsis. Soooooo painful

If you have a phobia you are a bloody hero in my eyes when you do it. Nurses are pretty good at spotting who needs a bit of extra support.

Most have been really good with me and if they think I'm exaggerating they soon realise I'm not! I will be glad when it all calms down though and I can look at the news without seeing someone having a bloody injection!

The blood gas test was the worst part of having pancreatitis! I've got a pretty high pain threshold but that was something else! As a result I can't bear people touching my wrists now.

You can get emla cream over the counter at pharmacies. Rub it in about 20mins before the jab.

Engage in inane chatter
Ask them not to tell me when they are doing it and just do it.

Look the other way.

Sympathies to anyone with a real phobia about it. Mine is smear tests. Took me 2 goes to have it done last time and the second time vodka was involved.

I have to say as someone who injects themselves every week, and also has a blood test every week and has done for many many years. (15+) jabs in the arm dont really hurt they just feel a bit weird in a way I can't put words to.

Howveer it's a split second. For those who have a phobia I won't tell you to man / woman up because that's unfair but I think that probably reading posts like this is going to work you up to the point you don't want it.

It's seconds. Jab, bit of a weird feeling in your arm and that's that. Emla cream numbs it if that helps but to be fair I've never found it works that well

Also it is just a sharp scratch. It's not pricking (as rude as that does sound !) because that's what you do when you do the antibody tests and stuff and that is quite sore in your finger. And its not dragging anything over the skin ... Which I'm also a seasoned professional at having over 40 hours worth of tattoos!

But... If you don't like them, no one's making you have them, but I'd probably try to steer clear of threads like this if you're genuinely scared!

@Redcrayons

Engage in inane chatter Ask them not to tell me when they are doing it and just do it. Look the other way.

Sympathies to anyone with a real phobia about it. Mine is smear tests. Took me 2 goes to have it done last time and the second time vodka was involved.

I didn't have a phobia of smear tests before but then I had an extremely complex and traumatic twin pregnancy and it moved my entire cervix. Now they can't get the damn thingy in for the smear tests and last time I cried. I honestly think that when I go next time I will need to be drunk or like literally ask for valium or something to be prescribed first!

Please see the above message to see that I'm very used to medical things but I get fears of stuff honestly!

I think I would dread the Covid Test more than the jab TBH!!

How do those with needle phobia get on at the dentist, just wondered, they give you several depending on the job being done.