It is a strange quirk of human nature , the exaggerated fear at the sight of a needle .
Let’s call it needle phobia . Being an anesthesiologist , I am a good authority on this subject.
On a personal level . I don’t like to be stuck with needles myself , but there are times when my blood needs to be drawn or a flu shot or an antibiotic shot given. Having no choice , I calmly submit to it .
The majority of people are like me . and I mean …adults . Of course it is absolutely natural for children to be afraid of needles .It would be abnormal other wise .
One would suppose that the young faint at heart , delicate woman would be a candidate for needle phobia . Not true . Majority of young women I’ve encountered in my practice are actually very brave and sometime even smile when I’m sticking the needle in their vein .
It’s the men I worry about .
I’ve encountered some big brawny macho men who have tolerated broken bones in many a fight who start quivering like jelly at the start of a needle . They are quite ashamed of it but cannot help the fear . Their veins are as big as my little finger and they should be the easiest candidates ..but the way they keep pulling back their arm away… makes it virtually impossible to start an intravenous saline drip on them .
My friend who works in the emergency room at the Sion hospital ,Mumbai tells me how on weekends the big Sardars come in with scalps split open . guts hanging out , .. totally unfazed by such awful injuries very bravely tolerant of the pain .
But when they see the syringe with the needle coming towards them ..they go into a panic state .
There are some who actually like a needle stick …and will point the best vein to me that is still available for a stick .. These are the IV drug pushers or the addicts .. to them the needle sticks are no more significant than spilling hot coffee on their skin .
I dread this class of people because they are hard to put to sleep ..to be anesthetized .
Needle phobia has nothing to do with the size of the needle.. .they are scared regardless Usually I tell such patients to look the other way and distract them with a funny anecdote while I quickly slip the needle in .
Once the needle is in the arm, the patients seem to be complacent and tolerant .it’s funny that when it comes to taking the needle out … at that time they don’t show fear .
There are local anesthetics , creams available…even ice … that can be applied to the skin before the needle punctures are done ..but this takes 10 mins or so to be effective ..and not worth the extra step .
I dread this class of people because they are hard to put to sleep ..to be anesthetized .
Needle phobia has nothing to do with the size of the needle.. .they are scared regardless Usually I tell such patients to look the other way and distract them with a funny anecdote while I quickly slip the needle in .
Once the needle is in the arm, the patients seem to be complacent and tolerant .it’s funny that when it comes to taking the needle out … at that time they don’t show fear .
There are local anesthetics , creams available…even ice … that can be applied to the skin before the needle punctures are done ..but this takes 10 mins or so to be effective ..and not worth the extra step .
Mostly as I tell my patients ,” Just grin and bear it guys ..it’s not a big deal ! “
It’s really not .
