a hand to hold
I went to the doctor yesterday for a little check-up, which included some blood tests. Maybe you know this, maybe you don’t, but I go into freak-out mode around needles. Well, specifically when they are aimed at me. Somehow, I can muster the inner strength and resolve to be there with and for a friend who needs one. But when it’s for me? Whole different story.
So as the doctor walks me over to the table, I warn him.
Me: “I really dislike needles.”
Doctor: “Don’t worry… Just this morning I had to give a 7-year old girl an injection, and she didn’t even cry once.”
Me: “I’m worse than a 7-year old girl!”
He didn’t believe me.
I turned to Niel and asked him to come with me to hold my hand. “I can’t,” he said. “I’ll pass out.” Apparently, he’s worse than a 7-year old girl, too.
The doctor had me lay back; he pulled up my shirt sleeve, and started swabbing. That’s when my typical-freak-out-response hysteria set in. I started to laugh uncontrollably as my eyes let loose a stream of saline. I looked away and said, in Afrikaans, “Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
“I haven’t stuck you yet,” replied the now-believing doctor.
I continued to “ouch”, laugh, and cry as he stuck me, took the blood, and removed the needle. As he taped on the cotton ball, I finally stopped hyperventilating.
The best part? When I ripped off the cotton ball hours later, adhered with amazingly strong medical tape, it hurt far worse than the needle did! Oh well…
:-( Oh! I am so sorry that you had to go through this tramatic event. I hope that you are ok. Nothing serious?
sorry things weren’t so good for you…needles don’t tend to bother me. the nurses have given me weird looks before because I’ve watched them give me the shot rather than look the other way. anyways, i hope you are all right.
Shame! I am usually the one holding hands…wish I could have been there for you, friend! Glad it is over now!
i’m the same way – even after two pregnancies and hundreds of kidney related blood tests i won’t look. i don’t get as freaked out as i used to but i still won’t look. :(
That guy Niel might not be as strong as an 7 year old but he is smarter than one. Imagine him fainting and then distracting the doctor who was about to stick the needle into your arm and then he – the doctor- pushes it in as deep as it can go – bone – to try and catch a falling man…..
hope you dont have to get another one anytime soon…maybe niel should wear a beanie over his eyes so he cant see and faint… maybe if he had a puppy he would be more of a man….
Ah my. Acupunture not the thing for you? Well, luckily for me I haven’t had to face many needles in my lifetime. Once in a halucination (hilarious story) and once to clip an ingrown toenail. For the latter I did actually look. They numbed the skin first, so I didn’t really feel it. A dull ache. I’m not that brave about pain at all … the anticipation is always worse than the actual. But I looked because the suspense of not knowing if the needle was in or not was terrible. :)
haha. Stronger than Strongbad needs a puppy to be a man? Somehow that sounds oxymoronic to me…
I’m trying to imagine the sound you make…But it won’t really come to me. I’m glad you fared ok, though.
It made me smile to read you said “ouch” in Afrikaans.
I love you! Good job toughing it out.
-Becca
You made it through friend :) Wish I could have been there to hold your hand!!!
Man oh man oh man. Goooood times. Just so everyone knows, Alece’s freak out response hysteria is so adorable. When I was blessed enough to “witness” it, I laughed, clapped my hands, and jumped up and down. There were other variables that contributed to my response…. but….I am so glad you survived this. So glad.