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Original poster

Any needle phobics had their jab?

65 replies

bendmeoverbackwards · 20/09/2021 07:29

My 20 year old dd is yet to have her covid jab. She really wants to have it but it needle phobic. We’re hoping to go away at Christmas, I’m not sure if this will encourage her or put her under more pressure.

GP has prescribed oxazepam. Has anyone used this?

I’m thinking of booking her an appointment this week and see if she manages it.

Any tips please?

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 20/09/2021 07:34

I'm phobic and haven't had mine but when I need blood taken, I tell the nurse and then inform them that I'm better lying down. I also talk...non stop....yabber away fast and loud. It's the only way I can cope. I warn them first "I'm phobic and sometimes faint so need to lie down...and I' hope you don't mind if I talk a lot as that helps" They are always fine.

DoucheCanoe · 20/09/2021 07:43

My Mum has a severe phobia and was prescribed Diazepam to "sedate" her.

She was advised to phone the centre and let them know her situation. They made sure she was given a quiet slot so there was no wait and they were careful not to draw up the Vax or show her the needle before it was done.

I was able to accompany her so they checked it with me for permission to administer.

Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 20/09/2021 09:43

@DoucheCanoe did the diazepam work well for her? How far in advance did she take it?

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 20/09/2021 09:51

No. Severe phobic here. I have made peace with the fact I am not having the vaccine now. I don't do any of the things that would vaccine passports would affect anyway.

WhereDidAllTheWashingComeFrom · 20/09/2021 09:54

I help out in a vaccine hub and there are surprising amount of people who have needle phobias. When you check in, alert the admin team that your dd is particularly concerned and they'll support her, the volunteers and medics will help her, they can talk her through it, they won't prepare the needle till she's ready, they have any area where she can lie down if she feels she's going to faint etc. The team at the hubs are great so just let them know and they'll make it easier for her.

Runwayqueen · 20/09/2021 09:55

Yes, having not had any injections since childbirth over 11 years ago I've had both my covid jabs and just had my flu jab.

I was given Diazepam to take the edge off my phobia. I told the check in staff that I am phobic and was expedited through the queue and given the option of laying down when they did it. The staff were really patient and caring.

ArcherDog · 20/09/2021 10:03

Yes.
I cried a lot (as per usual) but the volunteers were absolutely amazing. Cannot praise them highly enough for the care and compassion they showed me.

I waited outside until it was my turn, went straight into a room with a bed, laid down, had a wonderful lady hold my hand and try and distract me, and then it was done.

It didn’t hurt- but obviously the irrational part of the phobia means that doesn’t matter.

Continued to lay down for my 15minutes, and was brought water and the lady fanned me too.

Same for my second jab too.
And I didn’t faint either time which I usually do!

SickAndTiredAgain · 20/09/2021 10:05

And friend of DH is severely phobic and has had both. He started feeling a bit faint while waiting, but let someone know and they took him to a quiet room where he could lie down. They waited for him to feel a little better, did the jab there, and then he was able to lie there until he was ok to leave so they were very good and understanding

ChilliChaos · 20/09/2021 10:09

17yo dd is. She was crying the whole time she was waiting, but She had her earphones in and music up loud to distract her while they jabbed her and was absolutely fine

longtompot · 20/09/2021 10:11

My ds had his. He's 23 and severely needle phobic. He told the people that he was and they were really kind, but also just got on with it which I think helped him. I think it also helped he didn't have a long wait beforehand. He is now psyching himself up for his second one.
Good luck to your dd. It's not nice having this phobia.

Chowmeinhotdog · 20/09/2021 10:29

My sister without fail will vomit and faint/ nearly faint within 30 minutes after any injection of any kind. She's in her 30s and has always been like this. She shut herself in a public toilet with a bottle of water after her vaccine and waited for it to pass. I stayed on the phone to her before her vaccines.
She was fine. It was no different from any needle experience for her. Actually probably better because she was so frightened of Covid that she didn't think not having the vaccine was an option. She just pushed herself through.

Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 20/09/2021 12:41

@XenoBitch

No. Severe phobic here. I have made peace with the fact I am not having the vaccine now. I don't do any of the things that would vaccine passports would affect anyway.
I’m sorry to hear that @XenoBitch ☹️
OP posts:
Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 20/09/2021 12:44

Some great stories, thank you all. Well done to those who’ve managed to have it.

OP posts:
SueSaid · 20/09/2021 15:03

I know many people who of course dislike injections and one even had a vasovagal/fainting episode after but they still have vaccines, as not having them would put them at higher risk of needing hospital treatment which in turn may require cannula insertion, blood samples, IV therapy etc.

Just explain to the hcps, they may allow a longer slot to accommodate whatever support she needs.

Those that just do not have them because of a 'phobia' need to address that because avoiding it is of course no solution. There are loads of therapies available online to help.

Fedupofmagic · 20/09/2021 15:22

My autistic (aspergers diagnosis originally) DP is severely needle phobic. He's been double jabbed. Said he was more afraid of covid than injections. I had to go with him and do all the talking.
The volunteers were fantastic with him, was the easiest process we've ever had (lots of the medical profession could learn from the people doing the jabs in my opinion)

SirChenjins · 20/09/2021 15:30

I explain to the HCP who's giving the injection that I have a phobia (I had an anaphylactic reaction to a travel vaccine 30 years ago and stopped breathing, so have a genuine fear) and they're always great. I find the following helpful - keep talking, don't look at them drawing up the vaccine, take deep slow breaths (try listening to this before and during - it's for dental phobia, but absolutely brilliant , and then sit for a few minutes afterwards.

I also focus on the positive - so by having the injection I am protecting myself against more invasive injections like IV therapy, cannulas etc.

XenoBitch · 20/09/2021 15:40

Some great stories, thank you all. Well done to those who’ve managed to have it

I am in awe of phobic people who have managed to get it done. It will have taken so much for them to even be at the vaccine centre, let alone go through with it too. Every person on this thread who has faced their fear, or supported a loved one who did, is amazing.

Yet, for every few needle phobes who make it, there will be at least one who wont get that far at all. Part of me is holding out for a nasal spray or similar. I did read some were being worked on, but chances are there will be no passports etc by the time they are available.

orinocoloco · 20/09/2021 15:45

DD went on sertraline several months ago just to enable her to do it - the GP said she couldn't give diazepam as it hadn't been tested with the vaccine?

The first place she went to, we told them she was phobic (actually she was in tears) and they let her jump the queue - but the vaccinator was very impatient and she ended up walking away wi hour having had it.

We tried again a few weeks later and went to a different site, the vaccinator was lovely, took her to a quiet area, took her time, made her feel like she could have it whenever she was ready, and she had it.

SirChenjins · 20/09/2021 15:51

XenoBitch - if it’s any help I found the covid vaccines to be one of the least painful ones I’ve ever had. I get the flu vaccine every year through work (NHS) and the covid ones were an absolute breeze compared to those. Good luck if you do decide to have it - I’m sure you’ll be fine if you take it very easy and follow some of the suggestions on here. I had a ventouse delivery (plus episiotomy!) on gas and air rather than have an injection or epidural. It’s not an easy thing to overcome, I know.

XenoBitch · 20/09/2021 15:56

@SirChenjins

XenoBitch - if it’s any help I found the covid vaccines to be one of the least painful ones I’ve ever had. I get the flu vaccine every year through work (NHS) and the covid ones were an absolute breeze compared to those. Good luck if you do decide to have it - I’m sure you’ll be fine if you take it very easy and follow some of the suggestions on here. I had a ventouse delivery (plus episiotomy!) on gas and air rather than have an injection or epidural. It’s not an easy thing to overcome, I know.
Thanks. It is not about the pain for me. It is about someone doing something to me.
SirChenjins · 20/09/2021 16:06

I totally get that - absolutely. I find any invasive procedure very challenging (for challenging read terrifying!) so completely understand where you're coming from.

HollywoodTease · 20/09/2021 16:15

Me. I usually faint or fit at the very idea of a needle. The staff were great. They let DH stay with me for the whole thing, and when they saw me shaking and crying as we went in they fast-tracked me. I clung to DH's hand and kept jabbering to the lady making notes, and it was over in seconds.

I went for my 2nd jab by myself 🙂

MargaretThursday · 20/09/2021 16:42

DD had hers done. She was stressed to the point of crying before we'd arrived, but the staff were brilliant. They took one look and took her straight through to the nurse, and let me answer the questions. The nurse then checked that she gave consent (ie I hadn't forced her there) and then distracted her with a story while she did it. They did request we waited 15 minutes afterwards, but came and checked her several times. They were really kind, telling her how well she'd done and even gave her a sticker!

Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 20/09/2021 18:27

@SirChenjins

XenoBitch - if it’s any help I found the covid vaccines to be one of the least painful ones I’ve ever had. I get the flu vaccine every year through work (NHS) and the covid ones were an absolute breeze compared to those. Good luck if you do decide to have it - I’m sure you’ll be fine if you take it very easy and follow some of the suggestions on here. I had a ventouse delivery (plus episiotomy!) on gas and air rather than have an injection or epidural. It’s not an easy thing to overcome, I know.
I don't understand why some jabs hurt more than others. Surely the needle is the same?
OP posts:
XenoBitch · 20/09/2021 18:45

I don't understand why some jabs hurt more than others. Surely the needle is the same?

No, needles can vary depending on what is being injected, and also where it has to be injected. The Covid vaccine goes into muscle, whereas other substances go into a vein, or into fat. My Hep B jab was painless... the TB jab I had was excruciating. Felt like my whole arm was on fire.
It also depends on the person doing the injection. Sloppy technique can cause a lot of pain. If the person having the jab is tense, that can also cause pain too (hence why it is best to relax your arm).