So pain doesn’t bother me. Never really has. I have had fillings without novacane, had ingrown toenails dug out without any drugs, stabbed myself, broken bones duct taped many a wound and had pain that has literally made me black out for a second. Hell there is a part of me that “likes” pain and wants to see how far I can go.

Pain in and of itself is no big deal to me and I am probably borderline masochistic.

All that said. I HATE NEEDLES. whether blood being drawn, vaccinations, anesthesia etc. etc. There is just something I mentally find so invasive about needles. Have ever since I was a kid. I don’t even like seeing other folks get needles.

Anyway I just had to share that today. I realize how bizarre it is.

Pain doesn't hurt all that much. Needles themselves don't bother me, and seeing other people get one isn't anything I'm squeamish about. Once the needle is in I don't have a problem. An injection into the muscle I have no problem with.

But for some reason watching the needle go in my vein is something I can't do.

It's funny, I have no aversion to needles, but other poking (pressure tests, gum checks at the dentist, cuticle pushing) will drive me over the edge.

Either stick me or not... there is no in between with me.

Growing up my Doc lived across the street, we were quite the rambunctious type (think Dennis the Menace) and he loved getting his licks in as an old retired Military medic himself (think curmudgeon)

This one particular visit my Mom took me and I stayed home from school with the flu. He told me that he had a small quick shot that would fix me right up. I hated shots myself. When he came into the room he had what looked like a harpoon (think Moby Dick)and said that it will likely just pinch a bit and mentioned that I might taste the medicine in my mouth a little when injected, not to worry!

The needle had to be the largest size due to the medicine being almost a gel-like substance. He said I'll make it quick as I can , when he jabbed me in the buttocks it sounded like a harpoon being jammed into whale flesh. As he bore down on the syringe to get the gel in I started feeling clammy and with my ears ringing, everything spinning, my legs crumpled and I fell to the floor. My Mom shrieked and he picked me up off the floor and onto the room table. He did some kind of massage on my glands under my jaw and it brought me around albeit a bit nauseous.

That day forward, when I'd go out my front door, if he was in his front yard across the street, he'd always smile that evil kinda grin with his cigarette hanging out the side of his mouth and slightly wave.

Also from that day on my Mom changed my Doctor and I avoided going over to see his daughter (my age about 10yrs old)like the plague.

I'll never really know if he did it to see if I would man-up or just get even kinda, but I steered clear of him afterwards needless to say Could have been from all the grape juice we "may" have poured into his above ground pool when they were on vacation one summer....I won't ever know

YES..I HATE NEEDLES TOO!

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:
I avoided going over to see his daughter (my age about 10yrs old)like the plague.

Was she hot? It does matter you know.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:
I avoided going over to see his daughter (my age about 10yrs old)like the plague.

Was she hot? It does matter you know.

Nah, sorta chubby, like a good amount of 10yr olds with lingering baby fat...but she did have a very unusually creative mind though In retrospect, the Doc may have thought some kind of hanky panky stuff 10yr olds may try. I on the other hand looked the Dennis the menace part for sure with a short blonde crew cut (think military).

I have no aversion to needles. They don't bother me in the least.

My oldest son (17) however, has a top tier fear of them. At his last well check trip to the pediatrician (I think he was 14), He started crying in the parking lot before we got out of the car to go into the office. I've only see him cry 3 times since he was over the age of 10. All of them for this reason. He knew what was coming...a booster shot of some sort.

After his exam and before the shot, he tried to bribe the doctor saying he'd give her $100 if he didn't get the shot. I had to hold him while the nurses gave him the shot, all while he screamed, kicked, cried and told everyone in the room how much he hated us and wished we would die.

When he was very small, I think somewhere between 4-6 months, he was diagnosed as anemic. I had to take him into the doctor as they wanted to try and do a blood test. He was strapped down on the table in the office, while nurses tried to find a vein to draw blood. They tried to find a vein (poked him) at least 4 times that day all while he screamed bloody murder. Multiple nurses tried. After the 4th or so attempt and still not hitting a vein, I told them to stop and I took him home. I was done watching him get poked with no results.

I often wonder if somehow that incident has scarred him even being so young.

CT

I’m not that bad. They just give me the Willy’s every time and I have to generally look away.

Just creeps me out more than outright paralyzing phobia.

I had a pediatrician as a kid was damn near a needle ninja. He’d be shooting the shit with you about this or that, you wouldn’t even see him prepping the needle, “So how about those Orio..”. BLAMMO!!!!!!!! “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!!!!” “Ohh, that was your shot.”

I mean Jesus it was like he appeared out of the shadows and then faded back. Would get me every time.

quote:

Originally posted by ChasinTails:
I often wonder if somehow that incident has scarred him even being so young.

Almost certainly.

Trauma at a very young age leaves scars. Even if the person has no a conscious memory of it, the damage can be there subconsciously.

This can be the source of inexplicable phobias in later years.

Can't f---ing stand them. When ever I got poked I just look away and tell them not to tell me when they are doing it, just stick me when you're ready. The worst is the 10" needle nthey use to drain your knees with. Why such a big needle? My knees are not that big.

I used to donate blood regularly and I still didn't like needles. I especially don't like seeing them go into me. I avert my eyes.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by ChasinTails:
I often wonder if somehow that incident has scarred him even being so young.

Almost certainly.

Trauma at a very young age leaves scars. Even if the person has no a conscious memory of it, the damage can be there subconsciously.

This can be the source of inexplicable phobias in later years.

I think the phobia is called trypanophobia but I'll defer to the professionals, maybe ZMICHAEL may chime in here. A couple months of inpatient cured me of that quickly as it became a necessary evil. Still, even the sound of the rollers on the needle cart coming into my room like clockwork for blood work-ups made me a bit queasy.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I used to donate blood regularly and I still didn't like needles. I especially don't like seeing them go into me. I avert my eyes.

I'm with you. I used to like to watch; now I have to turn away. I don't care to watch the bag fill, I just don't want to see the needle going in anymore.

I'm with you. seems EVERY time I have the next procedure done its either a blood draw and/or IV to inject dye for the MRI or PET scan to show something. Tired of it as well.

The lab or blood thing must be a good moneymaker for them, my other thought.

Going in Tuesday to hopefully sample the thing growing on my brain. incision in my scalp.drill a hole , blunt needle in to get a sample.

The IV in to put me out, has me more concerned than the procedure.You are not alone.

Half my upper body is covered in tattoos and I will cover the other half in time.

I HATE NEEDLES as well.

If I don't lay down for shots I am very likely to pass out.

Just an irrational reaction that I cannot control.

The tattoos have gotten easier after about 100 hours in a chair.

You know I don’t have any Tats but I don’t think those needles would bother me. Something “mentally” less invasive about a needle simply leaving a mark/Depositing something. I mean sure there is “pain” but again not my issue.

Again this is my own particular brand of crazy.

Also it makes me wonder if fabled warriors of yore (Vikings for example) had folks who were absolutely fearless warriors who were terrified of cats or some other stupid shit like I am of needles.

Yea, getting blood drawn... and IV's they stick in and leave!

I think my aversion for needles came from my early years at the old as dirt family dentist. I can still see, and hear, him rummaging through his collection of reusable needles for the least dull one To a kid those things looked as big as the cartridge in an ink pen. And slow... my god I think he only had time for two patients a day.

I am the same way when it comes to needles, but pain doesn't bother me at all.

They are the strangest thing...

In fourth grade, I had two grand mal seizures. IIRC, because of the meds I was prescribed, I had to have blood work done weekly. Initially was a little tense, but I got used to it.

Last year during a visit to the ER, I was told one of the nurses took five vials of blood really fast.

Didn't feel a thing. Probably was distracted by another nurse (there were four).

I’m a strange one when it comes to needles. The injections don’t bother me. When I was younger I used steroids, which require you to inject yourself. A little advice from the doctor so I didn’t hit my Sciatic nerve, and it wasn’t much of an issue. You do have to be a bit limber to stick a needle in your own ass cheek, but after some practice, no problem.

It’s what’s in the syringe that makes all the difference. Most injections I don’t sweat at all.

Testosterone Cypionate and Propionate, and the Tetanus shot, those I cannot do.

It’s the knot in the muscle that is left that hurts for a damned week that I cannot handle. That to me is right up there with tooth pain. Something I cannot handle at all. Turns me into a pouting child.

As to the tattoo discussion, I have a fair bit as well. It’s not the same as an injection. It may be needles, but it’s barely breaking the skin. It’s more of an abrasion. As far as pain, it just depends on where you’re getting them, and everyone is different. Inside of the elbow, I would rather have a pro football kicker practice on my nutsack. Chest (which is supposed to be extremely painful) was a comforting massage-like feeling that I could have fallen asleep while being tattooed.