Inner crease of my arm phobia? Anyone else

[ChloeR12]

Hey everyone. Weird post here...
Since as long as I can remember I've had a weird phobia of my inner arm (where blood tests are done) like my inner elbow. And also my belly button...

I'm covered in tattoos so I am not scared of needles or anything, but I'm not pregnant and will obviously need a blood test...

2 things really. Does anyone else have this phobia? My inner arm physically makes me feel sick, the thought of it and look of it just sends me dizzy. Anyone touches me there and I cringe inside and feel physically sick! The other night I was up thinking about when I will have to have a blood test and I had to get up and go to the bathroom as I was almost sick.

Also, because of this fear... does anyone know if I can get a blood test done from my hand? Or wrist? I'd rather it be in a much more painful place than babe anyone go near my arm. I will have a panic attack, and that's not me over exaggerating!

I know this is so weird but I'm very worried about this, wondered if anyone could help :(

Any replies are appreciated thank you so much 💖

I meant have * sorry for typo

You definitely can ask them to do it in your hand. Ask for a butterfly needle. I'm phlebotomy trained and I would definitely do this for you if you asked. X

@NickMyLipple oh my god the relief I feel right now!!😭this is something one worried about since forever I'm so glad I've got a kind message 😂 I'm guessing the usual needle would be too big to use on my hand? Is this something I'll need to let them know in advance or? X

I’ve had blood taken from the back of my hand before (when the nurse couldn’t get the needle in to a vein at the crease of my arm).

Yes! I have this, from the inner elbow to the inner wrist. Even typing it makes me feel a bit ill. I used to have intrusive thoughts about it and blood tests were a huge trigger. I’m needlephobic anyway but blood tests are the worst due to the inner arm thing. I’ve asked for alternative places before but nurses have always refused as they say it takes longer, isn’t as reliable and tends to be more painful. I found general CBT helpful to manage my anxiety but in the past I’ve had to specifically request a single dose of valium or something similar - can’t remember exactly what the doctor prescribed. Hope it gets easier for you

@stroopwafelgirl that's what I'm thinking! Are you from the UK or USA? Honestly it will cause me so much distress and as I'm pregnant I don't think I'll be able to take anything to assist with it! :(

I apparently have quite tricky veins and the nurse couldn't find a good enough vein in my inner arm at my booking appt so she was considering using the side of my wrist (managed to do arm in the end). Someone else was having the same done so sure its it's possible. Perhaps ask for them to record it on your notes?

Yup - cannot even stand the thought of them going for that area. Will never forget blood tests for the USA visa - they stuck me five fuckung times before actually taking my advice and going for the back of my hand.

I cringe and refuse to allow anyone to stick me there

I have a phobia of blood tests, probably because I'm really difficult to get blood from (very deep veins) so always end up with multiple attempts. I don't know about different options for the location of blood tests, but I would definitely recommend that you request upfront to go to the phlebotomy clinic for your blood tests, or see if there is a nurse or someone at your GP surgery who is extremely experienced. Good as midwives are, through both my pregnancies I've found that it's much more preferable to go to someone who does blood tests all day, every day. I'd imagine that they would also be more experienced in taking blood from elsewhere rather than the standard spot, although that is just an assumption. None of the midwives I've met have been offended - I just tell them I'm a nightmare patient and they seem happy to let me go elsewhere

I don’t have an inner arm phobia specifically but I do have a blood test phobia. Fine with needles but it is specifically a needle in the inner arm that I can’t stand. I had hypnotherapy for it once too.
This is obviously anecdotal and not advice but despite being in an absolute panic about having my first blood test in pregnancy (alone as well) something in me just rose above it knowing that it was for my child, not me. Also I actually didn’t feel a thing, not even a scratch. Apparently this is common in pregnancy partly because the person taking your blood does it all day every day so is an absolute pro and partly because your veins are much ‘juicier’ during pregnancy.
I have no actual advice but just wanted to give encouragement and you may surprise yourself when the moment comes now that it’s for the baby

I have had a phobia about having blood taken from there forever and was also worried about what I would do during any future pregnancy (only 25). recently had to have one in another country to get my visa and I just didn't look and can honestly say I didn't feel a thing.

I didn't have any numbing cream either. I'm not rushing back to have anymore but it has made me feel more relaxed about future ones. Tbh I think having it from the wrist would be almost worse!

Like LuckyFlash I had hypnotherapy for a fear of needles - I was at the stage of panic attacks discussing my grandparents dialysis and the needles. Couldn't even think about them. Shortly after my hypnotherapy I broke my ankle pretty badly and had to have a plate put in, and honestly I was so relaxed about all the needles I needed. I still hate bellybuttons though, didn't think to ask them to cover that in the sessions as well 😂

I still feel daft telling people about it but could it be worth trying a couple of hypnotherapy sessions?