Possible tips for jab&needle phobic newbies

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Chris J. - 01 Aug 2005 03:22 GMT

I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
tricks that helped me in the initial days.

Testing; I hated the lancet pen. I'd tense up and flinch, even though
I hardly felt it. I found that if I stamped my foot (with shoes on)
on the floor as I pushed the trigger, it distracted me enough that it
no longer bothered me. I think having to concentrate on my foot
distracted me from the jab in the finger. It sounds silly, but it
worked for me, and helped me get used to self-testing.

Insulin shots;
I'd always been phobic of shots. I could never watch someone give me
one. Seeing the needle would send shivers down my back. So, giving
myself shots was difficult at first.

I found that what was bothering me was watching the needle go in. I
found a way around that. I was injecting in my upper leg while sitting
down, so I would look down the syringe from the top, from a very
slight angle. The syringe blocked my view of the needle, but I could
still see where I was injecting, and also when the needle was all the
way in so I could depress the plunger. This made things far easier for
me.

These two things sound silly, but they worked well for me. I don't do
either anymore as I no longer need to, but they helped in the initial
days.

I'm fairly sure the foot-stamping is safe for people those with
healthy feet, but please wait for the regulars here to weigh in
regarding the injection trick, as there may be reasons why it's bad
idea.

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Jerry Attrix - 01 Aug 2005 05:42 GMT

> I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
> to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
> tricks that helped me in the initial days.

Good ideas Chris. These sorts of insights can help others.

I've recently begun injecting my derriere very painlessly, possibly
because I can't see the needle or syringe, or perhaps that site has
fewer nerves. I've been told to use the upper quarter of that area, not
the lower part as there are some nerves that can present a problem.

I've also begun injecting my bicep and like these alternative sites as
they give my stomach a rest. I place my bicep on the back of a chair to
simulate the "fat roll" and it works well.

Today, I injected an area on my stomach and got an unexpected "bump"
which usually means there's not enough fat at the site. I've gotten
this on my hip and thigh which are just too lean apparently. These bumps
disappear after a few hours.

Any advice about the stomach "bump" would be appreciated. I can't
account for it as I have fat in that area.

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Chris J. - 01 Aug 2005 07:11 GMT

>> I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
>> to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>fewer nerves. I've been told to use the upper quarter of that area, not
>the lower part as there are some nerves that can present a problem.

I've never tried, though I have heard that's a good area. I doubt I'll
try that yet, though, as I've only been doing this for a week so I'm
still a bit clumsy.

>I've also begun injecting my bicep and like these alternative sites as
>they give my stomach a rest.

I've yet to try the stomach. So far, I've only tried my legs and both
arms.

>I place my bicep on the back of a chair to
>simulate the "fat roll" and it works well.

Great idea! I'll try that.

>Today, I injected an area on my stomach and got an unexpected "bump"
>which usually means there's not enough fat at the site. I've gotten
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Any advice about the stomach "bump" would be appreciated. I can't
>account for it as I have fat in that area.

I wish I could help, but I've never heard of those nor had one. This
might be because I'm overweight by 30lbs, so I do have some fat.

This is just a wild guess, but how fast are you injecting? When I
received insulin shots from the nurse she did it extremely fast which
left my arm feeling a bit bruised for a while. I've never had this
doing it myself. I am still a bit skittish so I inject very slowly,
about a second per unit.

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Jerry Attrix - 01 Aug 2005 15:08 GMT

> This is just a wild guess, but how fast are you injecting? When I
> received insulin shots from the nurse she did it extremely fast which
> left my arm feeling a bit bruised for a while. I've never had this
> doing it myself. I am still a bit skittish so I inject very slowly,
> about a second per unit.

I've been suspicious that the speed of the plunger push may be the
problem. Will try your suggestion. Thanks, Chris.

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Chris J. - 01 Aug 2005 19:28 GMT

>> This is just a wild guess, but how fast are you injecting? When I
>> received insulin shots from the nurse she did it extremely fast which
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>I've been suspicious that the speed of the plunger push may be the
>problem. Will try your suggestion. Thanks, Chris.

Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out!

BTW, please keep in mind that I'm a newbie at this, so you might want
to bounce this idea off someone knowledgable before trying it. I can't
see any reason why it would be unsafe, but I don't have the knowledge
base to be sure of anything here.

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Bailey's Girl - 02 Aug 2005 00:23 GMT

>I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
>to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
>tricks that helped me in the initial days.

Hi, Chris!

As things are now, I don't have to do the injections, thank goodness.
There aren't too many things I'm afraid of, but snakes and needles are
on the list. Worked to my advantage, since when I was a kid (naive,
yes, I know) I thought you *had* to do needles to do drugs! By the
time I found they made the little gems in pill form, I was a lot
smarter about other things too. ;-)

But anyway -- one of my motivation to stay off meds comes from the
conversation I had with hubby when I broke the news. One of his
friends was a T1 --

His eyes lit up and he says, "*I* know how to give the shots!
Bwahahahahahahahaha!"

*gulp*

;-)

August Goals: Keep BGLs in normal range; Not hungry, don't eat
Weight: 23 pounds gone (whoop!)
Measurements: 9 inches gone 06/19/2005
Cholesterol: 145
FBG: <100 since 07/01/2005 A1c 6.8! Ack!

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Chris J. - 02 Aug 2005 03:15 GMT

>>I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
>>to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>As things are now, I don't have to do the injections, thank goodness.

That's great!
I may not have to do them much longer. My Doc wants me off the insulin
soon. I was originally (after diagnosis with a BG in the mid 600's)
doing three shots a day. Dosage is based on my BG, so for the last
couple of days it's been one shot per day, and I'm going on 36 hours
without. If my BG's stay below 121, no shots. However, my shots are
based on 1 hour PP readings, so keeping those under 120 is a hit or
miss proposition for me at this stage. I've come to really hate a
reading of 121 because 120 would mean no shot. :-)

>There aren't too many things I'm afraid of, but snakes and needles are
>on the list. Worked to my advantage, since when I was a kid (naive,
>yes, I know) I thought you *had* to do needles to do drugs! By the
>time I found they made the little gems in pill form, I was a lot
>smarter about other things too. ;-)

Good thing you had that misconception. :-)

>But anyway -- one of my motivation to stay off meds comes from the
>conversation I had with hubby when I broke the news. One of his
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>;-)

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If there is one thing that would make me nervous, it's someone eager
to give me shots! :-)

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Colleen - 02 Aug 2005 13:11 GMT

Sweetheart went in for bloodwork on Halloween years ago. The phlebotomist
was dressed as Dracula.

He was a little nervous and he has no needle phobia. (Fortunatly neither of
us do.)

Signature

Colleen

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things
over and over and over again for the truth to sink in,
to kind of catapult the propaganda."

G.W. Bush
Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005

>>>I was phobic of needles (injections) since childhood, and recently had
>>>to learn to self-test my blood glucose and inject insulin. I found two
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> If there is one thing that would make me nervous, it's someone eager
> to give me shots! :-)

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Wild Monkshood - 02 Aug 2005 20:11 GMT

> Sweetheart went in for bloodwork on Halloween years ago. The phlebotomist
> was dressed as Dracula.

Can't be worse than when we had massive drug testing at work. The
company nurse was declaring herself the "Urine" Fairy, complete with
gauzy wings and "urine" wand....

Wild Monkshood

> He was a little nervous and he has no needle phobia. (Fortunatly neither of
> us do.)

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Loretta Eisenberg - 02 Aug 2005 00:43 GMT

Chris, if it works for you, I dont know if there is any problem. As to
the foot stamping, I cant imagine it doing any harm unless you are
suffering from neuropathy or any other foot problems. When you stamp,
do you feel the pain of the stamp.

Loretta

--
In tribute to the United States of America and the State
of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and
terrorism.

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Chris J. - 02 Aug 2005 03:22 GMT

>Chris, if it works for you, I dont know if there is any problem. As to
>the foot stamping, I cant imagine it doing any harm unless you are
>suffering from neuropathy or any other foot problems. When you stamp,
>do you feel the pain of the stamp.
>
>Loretta

I don't feel pain at all from it, just what I think are the normal
sensations. I don't do it hard.

I've been checking my feet and legs, and have found no loss of
sensation yet. The worst I've had is an occasional "pins and needles"
sensation in a hand or foot for a minute if I've been sitting or
sleeping in a bad position. I've had that all my life, though.

I've got an appointment with a podiatrist soon. I've been very careful
of my feet since diagnosis, too. I used to go barefoot around the
house but no longer, and I'm very careful to check my feet every 20
minutes when walking to make sure I'm not getting a blister.

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