Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 30, 2024 3:32:58 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2019 19:13:21 GMT
I openly admit that I have a fear of needles. I've undergone more than 40 surgeries and I'm still fearful of every shot and blood draw, each time. It helps to mention it to the person giving me the needle. I've fainted a few times. Now I breathe thru it, don't watch and cannot make small talk. I ask them to tell me when they're finishing and they remind me not to hold my breath. That being said, I got 2 vials of botox done for migraines (that's a lot of needles in my head, face, neck...) and it wasn't that bad at all. Ask them to help you thru it. They'll be compassionate and help you. It's just an irrational fear and once we're almost thru it we realize that it's not that bad. Good luck!!! My DH is needle phobic to the point that he used to take of running if he saw the needle. He has been diabetic and hypertensive for years and didn't take care of himself because he refused to allow the necessary bloodwork and, believe it or not, the drs refused to prescribe him meds blindly. They seemed to really think they needed to know what his various levels were..yes, I'm laughing. DH had a stroke in 2015 and I made the bloodwork a condition of us continuing to stay married. One of the phlebotomists suggested that he try breathing in or out as they did the draw and he wouldn't feel it as bad. they also suggested that he make sure the alcohol from the wipe had dissipated before allowing someone to draw blood. Both proved tremendously effective and he can now have blood work done with a minimum of fuss. Another side effect of waiting too long to get proper treatment is that the veins in his eyes swelled badly, most likely due to his high blood pressure. Now he has to take shots in his eyeballs to reduce the swelling. For this he gets a dose of Xanax so he can handle the terror. He's had 39 so far and, so far, he's hasn't jumped out of the chair and run. LOL His eyes are finally improving, so he hasn't had to have an injection on over 9 months in 1 eye and in over 18 months in the other eye. Kudos to you for finding a way to deal with it. Marcy Prayers to your DH. Such a lot to go through!! And hugs to you for supporting him!!
As far as the fear of needles, I'm right there with him. I'd tense up or pass out. If I smelled the alcohol, that was the point where I could pass out. Nurses usually blow on the alcohol to dry it otherwise the needle could sting. I also squeeze a soft ball to pump up my vein before they begin to draw blood, and they remind me to breathe in and out. You forget!
As for needles in the eyes, I've been there! I had to have them quite a few times but it's in my (empty) socket (I lost my eye due to a traumatic gun accident years ago). It HURT, but more than that, there's the fear of needles + seeing the needle come at you like that is extremely fearful. I just try to breathe........
I can't tell you how many doctors and nurses I've physically hurt in my youth because of needles. Looking back I feel terrible about it, but it's a real fear. Now I warn everyone before I get blood or any needle. Gosh, I've even had botox (for migraines) but for some reason that didn't affect me as much.........
|
|
azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
|
Post by azredhead on Apr 12, 2019 20:23:05 GMT
a small update 4/12 a its a a full week, since I've had the shots. I hurt A LOT! I do have the pain meds but it's just taking the edge off. I'm also on the lower dose of the oxy. It's the only pain med I take, I have to be careful with my heart stuff. The worst of the pain is in my tailbone. Sometimes it feels like I rolled it when I sit. So I lay on the couch most of the time. But it goes from tailbone to my hip and when it's bad down to my knee. Is this normanl? I was having the tailbone pain before. I have a follow up on Wed. So I don't know if it would do any good to go to the ER or Insta care to get another xray, especially with the follow up on Wed..? I just can't seem to get relief. If this is part of the scoliosis? Since it's down so low. It's getting harad to find a comfortable position. I know a lot of you have given me advice and so appreciate it. I also get chatty on my meds lol! But this is stupid! I'm supposed to do 3 series of shots. I don't know if I'll do the other two.
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Apr 12, 2019 21:37:58 GMT
I have no advice, just a whole bunch of sympathy. I hope you are feeling better soon.
|
|
|
Post by alexa11 on Apr 12, 2019 23:26:21 GMT
I used to get them in my lower back and it usually took 2-3 weeks before my pain would subside, but it never got worse. Now I have to get them in neck because my cervical discs make my arm and hand go numb. I feel immediate relief from the tingling. Hope you feel better soon.
|
|
azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
|
Post by azredhead on Apr 25, 2019 3:58:49 GMT
btt small update of sorts..
|
|
|
Post by SweetieBugs on Apr 25, 2019 4:15:56 GMT
I'm so sorry you are going through a difficult time with this. Your situation sounds very disheartening for sure. You will be in my thoughts.
|
|
mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
|
Post by mlana on Apr 25, 2019 4:16:13 GMT
I’m sorry these didn’t work for you.
My DIL is a 3 time cancer survivor and the chemo/radiation did a number on her bones. she has had chronic back pain for as long as we’ve known her to the point she is totally disabled. She did these shots several times, but did not find them helpful after the first round. She also had an electrical impulse thingamajigger implanted at one time and it also failed to give her any relief. Late last year she had what she had decided would be her final surgery to try to deal with the nerve pain and, blessedly, it worked! It took several months for the nerves to completely calm down, but she weaned herself from the pain meds as the nerve pain eased. For the first time in more than 15 years, she is no longer on any opiates!
I hope your dr can recommend another course of treatment. If they don’t, please don’t hesitate to reach out to another dr. DIL went thru several before she found one who was familiar with her situation.
Marcy
|
|
|
Post by alexa11 on Apr 25, 2019 4:43:34 GMT
I'm sorry that you're still in pain. I've never had a nerve block, but my brother has. He had a spinal fusion from L3-S1 a couple of years ago and has now started having swelling in his legs. He said the nerve block helped for awhile. He is very overweight so that doesn't help. I hope the block gives you some relief.
|
|
hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,684
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Aug 29, 2014 18:57:20 GMT
|
Post by hannahruth on Apr 25, 2019 8:18:56 GMT
DH has been in pain with his lower back for 20+ years.
Tried all types of treatment, physio, medication, cortisone injections and having been told there was no surgery option was really in the pits about the continued pain. As we all know living with constant pain is a downer.
He was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon who suggested a surgical implant be used which controls the pain message getting to the brain and therefore less pain.There were some wonderful reports on how some people had 85+% pain relief but DH has had not quite a good result as that but is considerably better than he was. With the implant he can do things around home that he has not been able to do for years.
This device is adjustable and so he can regulate how little or how much relief he needs.
It was through an American company Boston Scientific of Valencia CA and is called a Spinal Cord Stimulator System. It may be worth discussing a system like this - not necessarily through this company Im sure there are others - with your medical practitioner.
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Apr 25, 2019 10:11:18 GMT
I know I have said before that my daughter had the shots, and they did not work. Her nerve pain down into her legs got so bad that she ended up in a wheelchair at the age of 20. The ONLY thing that worked was a spinal fusion. She is also a congenital heart patient and had two more open heart surgeries when she was 21. She is doing very well and only on a rare occasion does she still have leg pain (when she sits in a car for a long period of time). Hope you can get/find the treatment that will work best for you!
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Apr 25, 2019 12:38:02 GMT
I hope you have great results.
|
|