Friday, October 23, 2009

I have a phobia OKAY!

For anyone who knows me this is a well-known fact. I am a needle phobe. Seriously. The thought of shots gets me all sweaty, and my heart starts to race. The last time I got a shot was when I was 16, and I worked myself up so much that by the time the nurse gave it to me I passed out. So, when I made the decision to get WEEKLY allergy shots it was for a couple reasons. 1) I have bad allergies to many things around me. I'm allergic to dogs, and I have 3. I'm allergic to sagebrush and tumbleweeds, and I live in the desert. More importantly I'm allergic to cows, and hay. My husband's dream is to farm and have cows. So allergy shots might help me deal with that. And...
2) I wanted to force myself to get over my fear. Or at least lessen it. Right now it's affecting my decisions for my health, such as I haven't had a tetanus shot since I was 16. I need to get up the courage to say I want it, but that is so much easier said than done. I thought a little exposure therapy might help me suck it up. '
Allergy shots use very small needles, and they only go into the subcutaneous layer of the skin, not into the muscle. Everyone was telling me this, and that they were easy. The thing is you can't tell someone with a phobia that it doesn't hurt. They won't believe you. If I go up to a person afraid of heights and say...."oh the Ferris wheel isn't scary, just try it!" They are NOT going to believe me. More than likely they will not get on that Ferris wheel, unless they really want to try to work past their fear.

I had explained these fears to my doctor & nurse. I left the kids with my mom, so that they wouldn't see me act like a Sissy LaLa Bedwetter for my shots, and I walked to the office. I needed to walk to help with my anxiety. When I walked in she was literally surprised to see me. She said "oh I thought I'd have to call your sister (who already gets shots) and have her drag you in here."
"No," I said. "I'm afraid, but I'm doing this to get past that."

She made me sit in a chair and suck on a Jolly Rancher in case I decided to pass out. Then the next thing I know she's like "okay other arm." I DID NOT EVEN FEEL THE FIRST SHOT!
The second one pinched a bit, but it wasn't bad at all. Now I feel like a total idiot for even being nervous, but like I said I have a phobia. At least I won't be afraid to get the shots every week for 3-5 years now.

Now I just have to talk myself into that tetanus shot....

Did I mention I was REALLY busy...I don't think I have time. ;)

5 comments:

Grandma said...

It's what they put IN the shot not the needle that scares me LOL!

Nanny Goats In Panties said...

I'm sorry but I laughed when you said, "Sissy LaLa Bedwetter". And I had a fainting fear of needles too, and I'm not sure at what point I finally got over it. Maybe because other things hurt so much worse that shots are too quick and mostly painless in comparison.

Anna said...

I keep telling myself it can't hurt worse than giving birth to my daughter who had a 14cm head. Right? Or the huge needle they use for epidural. But that is to get you the "good shit." Sooo it isn't really the same.

I just went to my son's dr appt the other day and she was like "do you want your tetanus shot?" I was like "uhhh...not today." LOL Totally chickened out.

Anonymous said...

I wonder, will it be easier for you to walk in the next time? Your hubs owes you BIG! LOL.

Anna said...

Oh yes, it was easier. I'm not afraid of them at all now. I still get a little aprehension about them. Just as I do when I get my blood drawn, but it is easy to get over.