No hate please - terrified of needles

[tinkerbellsays]

I have a massive phobia of needles & even going to a GP surgery causes mild breathing issues for me, I'm a big 35yr old baby I know but can't help my phobia...
does anybody know of any numbing creams that work? I am terrified even typing this is making my chest go tight, but I know rationally that the vaccine is brilliant & how lucky we are to be offered this by our wonderful NHS... please no hate, I am by no means an anti vaxxer & respect anyone's choice to do whatever they feel comfortable with..... just after some advice to help cope with the vaccine such as a numbing cream recommendation or anything else anyone can recommend.... thankyou 💜

Ask your GP?

I think Emla cream is recommended on here sometimes?

Ametop or EMLA cream

Although some of my colleagues didn't feel anything at all and didn't believe the vaccine was actually given

As vaccines go, the covid one is a gentle one for pain

You can do it

My sister is the same. She gets Elma cream from the GP. Works for her.

EMLA cream.. and you have to blob it on and then cover with a dressing (it should come with some anyway), no rubbing it in.

I'm not needle phobic but am v scared of the idea of intramuscular injections (bad childhood experience). I've had the Covid jab today. I told them when I went in that I was bricking it and the nurse was very lovely and chatted all the way through. I barely felt anything at all and the sensation definitely was not one that I would have known was a needle going in to my arm. I did use EMLA cream beforehand but it's actually quite hard to use it in the right way and I suspect it made no difference whatsoever apart from to make me feel a bit more 'in control'. It's really not a sore injection so please try not to worry

The needle is so fine you really don’t feel a thing but you can buy emla cream.
www.emla.co.uk/where-to-buy/

You will manage. I faint, sometimes just seeing the syringe . I managed IVF more than once. Just want it very very much and close your eyes.

I had the Oxford vaccine yesterday and it was such a tiny needle I didn't really feel it. I would suggest doing some hypnobirthing- type breathing to help keep you calm.

I don't know of any creams, but used to be the same until illness forced 3 weekly blood tests for 2yrs!
I recommend NEVER looking at the needle until it has been completely taken away.
I just tell the nurse I'm scared of needles, close my eyes and focus on breathing in and out. I clench and relax my toes - seems to help! Take care not to hold your breath, you can faint if you do that! Often the nurse asks me questions, you end up focusing on the chat!
I always take a bottle of water in the car with me and have a good glug before I go to my appointment.
Be strong, tell yourself this will help you, your family and everyone else when we've got as many people vaccinated as possible. It's a step towards safely seeing friends and family again. You can do this!

No hate from me, OP, since I'm every bit as bad - not with blood tests, but intramuscular injections terrify me, which is why I haven't had one in decades

I'm really on here to read others' experiences ...

I also second clenching and unclenching your toes.

I’ve had to have steroid injections twice for pregnancies, and they hurt like a motherfucker. Really fucking hurt. At least that is what everyone tells you. I think I read on here about clenching my toes, clench, unclench. Don’t stop.

What that does, is first of all, gives you something to concentrate on, which is in the
main thing, but also stops you clenching up other muscles and potentially making it hurt more.

So yes, whilst the steroids injections stung a LOT, enough for me to swear. It wasn’t agony. And I coped. And I was really frightened of those injections. But sometimes, the panic and fear is worse than the actual jab.

So yes, do not look at the needle, at all. Close your eyes, look away, and clench and unclench those toes, over and over. Do not stop and I promise, not only will you feel like a total dick, but you’ll concentrate on that, and it’ll be ok

Trust me, steroids are no Covid jab. You’ve got this

Thankyou so much everyone for your replies, kindness, cream suggestions & positive thoughts it's also reassuring to know that I'm not alone in this, honestly all you fellow scaredy cats are making me feel less embarrassed and more normal 😘

Im going to have similar issues with DD2 . I had to get the nurse to come to the house and let dd sit with the dog on her lap when she had her second hpv jab. She passed out still.

I hear you OP!
When I had a DVT I had to self inject blood thinning medication into my tummy or thighs every day plus blood tests every other day.
This for someone who has passed out at the thought of a needle.

So: this is what the lovely nurse told me to do. Warn the nurse you are nervous. Lie back in the chair stick your arm out and lose your eyes. Imagine your on a beautiful Caribbean beach, gentle waves, blue sea,white sand,....add as many details as you like. Concentrate on your breathing....
By the time you have put your first toe in the water, it's all over!

You've got this OP!

Look away and ask them to chat to you and distract you. Let them know you are feeling nervous. They will be able to do it lying down if you are worried you might faint. Last time I had a blood test they had xmas chocs and offered me one just before to spike my blood sugar a bit which helped :)

The fainting response is an involuntary thing and not just down to you being a wuss.

I had the pregnancy steroid injections too and can confirm that the Covid jab is absolutely nothing like that. Although they also weren't as bad as I imagined in the end either. I think probably nothing ever is and even the sore ones are over very quickly

I didn’t even feel my flu jab. Literally. I thought I’d been ripped off until the next day when I had a sore arm.

I wrote a post like this last week. I will try and link the post as there was some great advice on there. I am petrified of needles. I know exactly how you feel - no matter what anyone says you still feel the same. I usually buy numbing cream from pharmacy but I didn't thiis time. Anyway I had it on Saturday and honestly I didn't feel a thing, a tiny scratch - I actually said is that it have you done it. Good luck and well done for getting it done

I'm a needle phobe too but my trick is to give yourself another pain as it's done so I push my nail into my palm and it's much better

The actual needle is very fine. Emla might work it’s worth a try but let whoever is vaccinating you know you’ve used it so they can use right area - often leaves a red mark.

Look away, and deep breaths through your nose & out of your mouth often distracts me from bloods if it’s nippy. I didn’t feel it at all i didn’t even know it had been done. Was over very quickly. Try to distract yourself as best you can, let the staff know you’re worried if that helps. Hope it goes well op.

No hate here, I’m dreading it - I won’t be getting the vaccine for a long time but I’ve already told DH he’s taking me as I won’t be able to drive. The cream won’t make any difference for me, I’ll still know I’m going to have the injection or blood test.

Good luck OP

My 80 yr old dad hates injections. He had his yesterday and said it was the easiest one he’d ever had.

OP, why don’t you see a hypnotherapist to get rid of the phobia? I used to be petrified of needles, avoided blood tests and vaccinations for years, and would always faint before that. One session with a hypnotherapist and it was totally gone! I even managed IVF after that, and having to inject myself and do egg collection.

No hate from me, OP. Some excellent tips on here, I'll be back to remind myself when it's my turn! I think we all have to go in there really wanting it. Make it a happy thing, brainwash yourself. It really is a happy, good thing.