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.

@Saucery

Thank you so much for this *@bellinisurge*. I have a needle phobia that stopped me getting teenage vaccinations (not TB one though) and although I am a little better now I still panic and burst into tears. I just tell the nurse or phlebotomist to ignore me as I am all wrapped up in making myself sit still and not run out of the room. There is absolutely nothing going to stop me having this vaccination, certainly not my own wimpyness!

Out of interest what made you get your TB one? I had my TB one which I found horrendous and this started my phobia- I then have only had one since which to be fair was nothing in comparison to the TB one.

Ah bless you all. Those with needle phobia will be all over the country, apparently it is very common and HCPs are used to dealing with this.

I'd rob one of my relative's Valium tablets if I were that spooked, lol.

Not making light of it, just trying to keep it lighthearted. GET THE VACCINE no matter what for everyone's sake anyway. You will be so proud that you did it despite your fears. Best of luck.

When I get a tattoo I think about all of the parts of my body that are currently not feeling any pain; it sorts of creates an overall feeling of comfort.

Also - wiggle your toes!

@Bubblepop752 it was that one that started my phobia off, I think. They didn’t explain the wrist test bit to me, shouted at me when I flinched away from the syringe that was only going to drop the liquid before the stamp and the actual injection was horrific with me begging them not to do it and being shouted at and held still by a complete tartar of a nurse.
So, all about control, really. Now, I choose to have blood tests and vaccinations. Then, it was very much against my will, so when it came to tetanus etc I flatly refused and they couldn’t make me.
It spirals, I suppose, the fear.

To those who don't do needles, never have a nerve conductivity study. The ones I had done on my legs made me say a rude word.

@OpheliasCrayon thanks, i’ll sk if there are any gynae specialists who could do it next time. I had a pretty straightforward pg and CS, so as far as I know everything is as it should be.

And so very sorry for the loss of your baby.

[quote Redcrayons]@OpheliasCrayon thanks, i’ll sk if there are any gynae specialists who could do it next time. I had a pretty straightforward pg and CS, so as far as I know everything is as it should be.

And so very sorry for the loss of your baby.[/quote]
Thank you x
Yeah I'd ask because it just wasn't obvious to her on the first few looks and I was just laid there crying in pain begging her to stop. I knew that something wasn't right as obviously I'd had them done before and have had a fair few coils put in. It might not be that but I mean, twins definately did affect me so.... Maybe worth it.