I have a debilitating fear of needles and had to have my partner do it for me but I did it!
Unrelated picture of Ripley using his only brain cell
You must log in or # to comment.
For needle anxiety, there are two things you could try. First, an autoinjector can help. These are basically little spring loaded devices that turn your regular syringe into something more like an epipen, where it just quickly forces the needle in before you can even feel it. Plus it creates a bit of disconnect which can help. Second, try an ice pack! It’s such a simple thing, but it helps me immensely with pain. Just a few ice cubes in a plastic bag, numb the injection site immediately before injection.
Also, if you want to practice injections to try and get passed your anxiety, there’s a way to do it without using your actual E vials. You can order bacteriostatic water. This is literally just sterilized water with a little bit of preservative in it. It has no active ingredients. It’s usually used for reconstituting dried peptides, but it would work just as well for injection practice.
Your injections hurt? Half the time I don’t feel anything, and I have shaky hands. If I feel more than a little pain it usually means I hit a blood vessel.
Yeah it didn’t hurt at all for me, but it’s not the pain that’s my issue. The needle in and of itself is what causes the fear response
These damn democrats are turning the cats trans!!
(congrats)
Question for everyone, what gauge needle do you use?
I use 31g 5/16" long needles. Docs usually prescribe hormones as intramuscular injections, but they work just as well as subcutaneous injections. These little guys here. Unless you’re injecting something really thick and viscous like castor oil, injecting with anything else is just an exercise in needless masochism.
My perscription is for subcutaneous. I’ve been using 20g because they were cheap. The pharmacy tried gaslighting me that the 3ml syringes would be just fine to measure my 0.15ml dose. I opted to buy my own.
I’ve been using 20g but i just ordered 29g as they were cheaper than the 30 or 31. Thanks 😊
i still have to renew a vaccine this year and i’ve been postponing it for years because i’m afraid of needles :'/
Top system: get a lollypop and put it in your pocket. Go get the vaccine, hold the lolly in your pocket with your other hand while you get the vaccine, become stronger than ever, and then enjoy lolly. Bada bing bada boom it ain’t that bad you got a lollypop
Preferably one of the giant rainbow swirl ones for looks, but whatever works for you is best
You’re strong. You can do it. And we’ll all be with you in spirit. <3
Saaaaame. Tho the last nurse I had told me they’re happy to let me keep blabbering about whatever because it keeps me distracted.
I just shut off the part of my brain that would have a problem with it and go into cognitive autopilot.
Although I think my autopilot’s technique might be off because I keep getting hard red patches. They go eventually.
Same. Like i put my brain on task mode and think ofbmy shot as just a simple task that needs to be done. It does help for me a lot. Also get a nice red bump that seems to set under the skin for a few days. Sometimes it takes a week or so before it goes away. I’ve just made the assumption this is just what happens with shots.
Subcutaneous or intramuscular?
Mines supposed to be subcutaneous but I’ve definitely gone too deep a few times. Those tend to really hurt for an hour or so when i go a little too deep.
Edit to add: I now pull the skin up and “pinch” a good bit to stick. That has helped with keeping the skin tight and helps with the correct depth. Not sure if that’s the proper way.
Yeah you do get bumps with subcutaneous, if you mind them, then you could try intramuscular - if you get the right point in the outer thigh it isn’t supposed to hurt
Well done and congratulations! I promise you, it does get easier.
Oh I feel you, pandemic vaccine time was pure horror for me. Congrats!
