i have a severe phobia of needles mainly blood tests.I have to have one next week.What will help me cope?

Question

someone help plese i'm going out of my mind and can't sleep at the thought of it.

Answer 1

all these answers don't help. I am an anaesthetist and stick needles into every patient I meet - I should know!.
There is a cream called AMETOP which you can put on your skin at least 1/2 hour before the blood test and it totally freezes the skin so you feel nothing. We use it for children and it has transformed our lives (and of course their experience of hospitals). Your GP should be able to prescribe it. Apply it under an occlusive dressing over your best vein at least 1/2 hour before your blood test. There is another cream called EMLA that does the same. Good luck.

Answer 2

I, too, am deathly afraid of needles. I actually have had seizures and panic attacks having blood taken. Pregnancy cured me a little bit, considering you have to have blood test at least 3 or 4 times in 9 months while you are pregnant. What helps me is I take a Valium first before I go. I take it about 30 minutes before I go. This helps calm me down a little. I DO NOT watch what they are doing and I tell them not to tell me what they are doing. I always ask them to put the tourniquet on really tight so it hurts worse than the needle itself does. If you get a caring person they will do this for you. Ask them to use the smallest possible needle, maybe a butterfly, and it will not hurt. I think of the best memory I have or I sing a song in my head. Have someone with you to hold their hand, it does help. You are gonna be fine. Do not drive yourself nuts about it. Relax and try not to dwell on it. Remember, too, it will be over in a matter of seconds, literally. Good luck.

Answer 3

Ask the people at the lab to use a butterfly needle-it comes in handy if you have small veins, so it doesn't hurt as bad. As for keeping you sidetracked, find a poem that you like and memorize it while the test is being performed.

Answer 4

Your working yourself all up for something that wont even last a minute. Make sure who ever doing your test knows your phobia and then what I do is strike up a conversation about something you like etc. Before you know it, your test will be done Oh yeah, you could take a friend with also.

Answer 5

I hate needles but it helps me to watch. It makes me feel more in control of the situation. It also lets the person administering know that there is an obvious witness if they screw up. Since I am also jumpy by nature, not watching always tends to make me jump when I feel the first sign of pressure which leads to it hurting more.

Answer 6

Make sure you do not look and hold on tight to a side of the chair your sitting on. I get my blood usually drawn every week and you get used to it after awhile. It really is not that bad if they choose the righ vein. I know where my good veins are and I tell them where I would like it drawn from.

Answer 7

Rule number one: Don't watch.

I make it a point to avoid seeing the needle, not to see it go in.

There is also biting the bullet--applying pressure someplace else--like pinching your tummy to dilute the pain of the needle.

Answer 8

Just breath, i used to be scared too!! i find it easier to just face my fears by looking directly at it when the would do it and count to three. It's over very fast. Or it may just help to be caught off gaurd. So u pick?? I really hopes this helps

Answer 9

Its easy, avert your eyes and don´t look at the needle or the doctor, or just lay down and close your eyes till its over,
After all its only a little prick. he he he

Answer 10

A bungy jump just before the test.