Unable to SI

[pinkpaddleboarder]

Sorry, slightly off topic. I do my daughters B12 injections for her, she has a needle phobia. She has just come out of hospital since an operation and is required to have 42 days of blood thinning injections, which I do each day at 7pm. There are some days where I really cannot be available.. she is so needle phobic and we cannot find anyone else to inject her. Any advice please?

[topazrat]

You have my sympathy! Both of my daughters were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within weeks of each other and both were needle phobic. (full on fainting/panic attack when any sort of needle came towards them) It was an absolute nightmare trying to inject both of them numerous times every day. Eventually, one day I out and out forgot (how, I don't know) and went out shopping. I then got a snotty text to say that they were so hungry, that they had summoned up the nerve to do it themselves. They were both pale, jibbering wrecks when I got home, but they had eaten breakfast. After that I refused to jab them, and they just had to get used to it. Tough love, I know, but it worked for us.

There is the option of an autoinjector, but both girls found them even more scary than jabbing the normal way. They now jab, apply sensors and insert canulas without (much) of a second thought.

[pinkpaddleboarder in reply to topazrat]

Oh wow! Something has to give soon.. things we do for food!

[deniseinmilden in reply to topazrat]

Superb story! Good for you and them!Most people can get over most things if they have sufficient motivation and I welcome this approach as it makes them stronger and feel more capable in the long run.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"!

[Clare184]

Really feel for you, I'm not needle phobic normally but find self injecting impossible, my husband has to do it for me but even when I feel awful I will sometimes chicken out. Lately I've had to resort to having a glass of wine or two before to make me less anxious, not the best advice and may not be age appropriate! My sister is severely needle phobic to the point she can't even look at a needle on TV and had to have certain vaccinations for her job a few years back, she went to a hypnotherapist and was surprised to find it worked, she still doesn't like needles but was able to have the jabs she needed. I'm also considering getting an auto injector to see if that is less scary

[Narwhal10]

oh dear pinkpaddleboarder,

Hope your daughter is ok and recovering. Ring your daughter’s GP surgery and see if a District nurse or health care assistant can come on the days you cannot.

Suggestions include advert on local Gumtree, Nextdoor and those type of places. Explain the situation and whether any health professionals would be willing and live near you. You’ll be surprised how many could be your neighbours. Living in the next street or two, around the corner.

Good luck.

[wedgewood]

Google “ injections needle-free” and you will read about an Australian device that can do just that .

[Bellabab in reply to wedgewood]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_i...

[deniseinmilden]

Post ops, you can normally get your district nurse (or equivalent) to do anticoagulant jabs. Speak to your local surgery.

[pinkpaddleboarder in reply to deniseinmilden]

Thank you. We will call surgery today

[Hidden]

I've started using shorter needles for SI, and they look a lot less threatening than the longer needles, I barely notice it when I inject, and there's been no bleeding or other issues afterwards, so that might work for your daughter!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Have you had any contact with the district nurses for your area?

[pinkpaddleboarder in reply to Sleepybunny]

Yes we have today thanks. The hospital messed up and didn't do the discharge forms correctly. Hopefully all sorted now.

[am111]

Do you have to do IM? If SC is possible, then it may be easier.