Treats to deal with needlephobia?
October 26, 2017 12:12 PM Subscribe
I am having a surgery next month that will require me to take blood thinners for 30 days. Unfortunately, the blood thinner (Lovenox) is an injection I have to give myself once a day, and I'm already dreading this. I'm thinking about setting up small treats to go with it each day, and I'm looking for suggestions!
I've done Lovenox before (twice a day for about a week) for a prior DVT, and I thought I would eventually get used to it. I didn't. It became a daily wave of dread as the required time approached, followed by relief for a couple of hours, until I remembered I would have to do it again soon. At that time, I would watch TV and do the shots during the commercial break. I would tell myself I had to do it during the first commercial, and the pain would be over by the time the show was back on. I'm not really watching TV with commercials now, so I'm looking for something else to use. Looking for something small, fairly cheap (~$1 or less per day), that won't cause too much clutter.
Thoughts I've had
-- 30 day sticker chart! Silly, I know, but it seems better than using the needles as a countdown. Problem: I would like variety and I only need 30 stickers, not the 100 or 1000 sold for teachers
-- Chocolate! Problem: I don't really eat chocolate. Maybe you know something good (dark chocolate, with nuts, and/or caramel?), that I can get in a reasonable quantity?
-- A glass of wine! Problem: I know I cannot just have a single glass of wine, and this is probably not a good idea with blood thinners :(
-- Something else brilliant MeFi's can recommend!
I got the first batch of needles from the pharmacy yesterday, the dread is setting in again, and surgery is still about 3 weeks away. I'm not actually nervous about the surgery (it's elective and I'll be under general anesthesia anyway), it's just these shots I'll have to do after. Help me make this more pleasant!
I've done Lovenox before (twice a day for about a week) for a prior DVT, and I thought I would eventually get used to it. I didn't. It became a daily wave of dread as the required time approached, followed by relief for a couple of hours, until I remembered I would have to do it again soon. At that time, I would watch TV and do the shots during the commercial break. I would tell myself I had to do it during the first commercial, and the pain would be over by the time the show was back on. I'm not really watching TV with commercials now, so I'm looking for something else to use. Looking for something small, fairly cheap (~$1 or less per day), that won't cause too much clutter.
Thoughts I've had
-- 30 day sticker chart! Silly, I know, but it seems better than using the needles as a countdown. Problem: I would like variety and I only need 30 stickers, not the 100 or 1000 sold for teachers
-- Chocolate! Problem: I don't really eat chocolate. Maybe you know something good (dark chocolate, with nuts, and/or caramel?), that I can get in a reasonable quantity?
-- A glass of wine! Problem: I know I cannot just have a single glass of wine, and this is probably not a good idea with blood thinners :(
-- Something else brilliant MeFi's can recommend!
I got the first batch of needles from the pharmacy yesterday, the dread is setting in again, and surgery is still about 3 weeks away. I'm not actually nervous about the surgery (it's elective and I'll be under general anesthesia anyway), it's just these shots I'll have to do after. Help me make this more pleasant!
Best answer: I’ve been doing this for a year, and I still dread it, so I can sympathize. I found it helpful to blast rock music (We Will Rock You by Queen). That was something suggested in an earlier AskMe thread. I also rewarded myself with chocolate after the shot. Chocolov dark chocolate is my favorite. I don’t need to do those things anymore, but I still use an ice pack to numb the area first. It doesn’t eliminate the pain, but it does help, as I found out when I was staying in a hotel and didn’t feel like going to get ice. Good luck.
posted by FencingGal at 12:41 PM on October 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 12:41 PM on October 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ooh, love the advent calendar idea! Alternately, how about a $1 scratcher lottery ticket everyday? (If you're not opposed to supporting the lottery, of course!)
posted by stillmoving at 12:48 PM on October 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by stillmoving at 12:48 PM on October 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
You can buy smaller packs of stickers (30-50) at Target or similar stores for less than $2–you’d probably still end up with extras, but you could buy a few fun designs and donate the extras to your local elementary school.
posted by epj at 12:56 PM on October 26, 2017
posted by epj at 12:56 PM on October 26, 2017
Best answer: When I had to do a daily Lovenox shot, I made myself do the deed before I could touch Facebook. It worked for me, as the injection was simple and quick and really not that big of a barrier. If you have an equally addictive site, maybe that's your reward?
posted by writermcwriterson at 1:01 PM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by writermcwriterson at 1:01 PM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
You could try a reward that distracts your senses, rather than something that you consume, since so many edible treats are either not advisable for those on blood thinner or aren't really the kind of thing it's easy to keep on hand. (30 day's worth of mini cupcakes sounds heavenly but also like a hassle!) What if you bought yourself a really nice smelling perfume or room spray, and the reward after the shot was to use it and bask in the scent? Or perhaps you could apply a really luxurious hand cream and give yourself a little hand massage? I've had to deal with Lovenox shots myself and I found squeezing the crap out of my hands helped distract me from the fear and the pain, but it would have been a lot nicer with a good moisturiser and a few deep breaths.
One of the other things I used to do was to go on a walk and bring the shot with me. Then I would give myself the shot before I reached my destination. That way if I felt really awful about it I could basically 'run away' from where it happened and give myself the feeling of 'getting away' from the whole thing. I did this on my way to radiation (used to walk a mile from the train to the clinic instead of taking the bus) but it would have been much more pleasant if I'd intentionally gone for a walk in the park or to a nice coffee shop! I would just step aside into a semi-sheltered area, pull up my top a bit, and get it over with really quickly before anyone really noticed. it was an incentive to move quickly and get it done, too, instead of staring at it for five minutes trying to psych myself up and freaking myself out instead.
The OTHER other thing I did was a couple of times I asked my sister to give me the shot instead, so that I could get a mental break from the whole 'I have to puncture my OWN SELF with this big ass NEEDLE?' thing. It's hard to let someone else do it, but Lovenox isn't really the kind of injection you can mess up no matter how amateurishly you do it, and it was a break from forcing myself to do it. (Full disclosure, the first time I asked my sister to do it I freaked out just as she was about to make contact and ran for the door. She ended up sitting on my legs to trap me while I covered my eyes. This stuff is hard.)
posted by DSime at 1:40 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
One of the other things I used to do was to go on a walk and bring the shot with me. Then I would give myself the shot before I reached my destination. That way if I felt really awful about it I could basically 'run away' from where it happened and give myself the feeling of 'getting away' from the whole thing. I did this on my way to radiation (used to walk a mile from the train to the clinic instead of taking the bus) but it would have been much more pleasant if I'd intentionally gone for a walk in the park or to a nice coffee shop! I would just step aside into a semi-sheltered area, pull up my top a bit, and get it over with really quickly before anyone really noticed. it was an incentive to move quickly and get it done, too, instead of staring at it for five minutes trying to psych myself up and freaking myself out instead.
The OTHER other thing I did was a couple of times I asked my sister to give me the shot instead, so that I could get a mental break from the whole 'I have to puncture my OWN SELF with this big ass NEEDLE?' thing. It's hard to let someone else do it, but Lovenox isn't really the kind of injection you can mess up no matter how amateurishly you do it, and it was a break from forcing myself to do it. (Full disclosure, the first time I asked my sister to do it I freaked out just as she was about to make contact and ran for the door. She ended up sitting on my legs to trap me while I covered my eyes. This stuff is hard.)
posted by DSime at 1:40 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've never used one of these needles, but I worked doing quality control and packaging in a factory that made a generic for this drug, so I've handled many thousands of the things. I listened to Cabin Pressure repeatedly while doing the work. Maybe it would make a good incentive? The episodes are just under half an hour, and there are 27 of them, so it would almost work for your timeframe.
posted by asperity at 2:02 PM on October 26, 2017
posted by asperity at 2:02 PM on October 26, 2017
Is the pain being caused by the needle, or by the med itself (ie, some mess can cause a temporary burning sensation; I'm not sure about lovenox). If it's the needle, you may be able to mitigate this by asking about getting a smaller gauge needle, by choosing a different injection site, or by icing the injection site prior to injection (from the beginning of the show until the first commercial). I used the icing method when I had to do a larger gauge needle; your skin is a little numb so you just don't really feel the needle going in.
posted by vignettist at 4:58 PM on October 26, 2017
posted by vignettist at 4:58 PM on October 26, 2017
Best answer: Missed the edit window but should have added that I am a list maker and enjoy crossing off my list. If I had to do this at a set time (ex 8pm) I would make this the very last thing on my list and then I would call my day done. Anything else that comes up would get moved to tomorrow's list.
posted by vignettist at 5:09 PM on October 26, 2017
posted by vignettist at 5:09 PM on October 26, 2017
I've given my dad Lovenox several times as he transitioned from warfarin in preparation for surgery, and the syringes came with needles attached. It would not have been possible to use a smaller gauge needle.
Do you know a nurse? A vet? A physician? A willing friend? Many people have successfully drafted other people to inject them. Your doctor or nurse would be happy to train and observe a friend who offers to do your injections. Self-injection is tough, and though many people are successful, if you have a willing partner it's easier yet.
posted by citygirl at 6:29 PM on October 26, 2017
Do you know a nurse? A vet? A physician? A willing friend? Many people have successfully drafted other people to inject them. Your doctor or nurse would be happy to train and observe a friend who offers to do your injections. Self-injection is tough, and though many people are successful, if you have a willing partner it's easier yet.
posted by citygirl at 6:29 PM on October 26, 2017
Best answer: It sucks, Lovenox really stings in my experioence. I think something physically distracting is a really good idea, I might go with a boiled sweet if you want a candy-based reward, as then the length of the treat is quite a bit longer than the length of the injection. Seconding the idea of tying looking at your favourite website (Metafilter, Facebook, whatever you look at every day).
The main trick is that it needs to be something that is high value to you, so don't be afraid to stack the treats up for maximum reward. For me, that might be looking at my phone plus a sweet, plus maybe something else like listening to whichever song I most want.
posted by plonkee at 8:49 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
The main trick is that it needs to be something that is high value to you, so don't be afraid to stack the treats up for maximum reward. For me, that might be looking at my phone plus a sweet, plus maybe something else like listening to whichever song I most want.
posted by plonkee at 8:49 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm a major needle-phobic too, and to be perfectly honest, I'd be begging my doctor for 30 little low-dose valium pills and then doing the whole thing at a time when it was okay for me to be mildly sedated. If there's any way something like that is possible for you, definitely do that.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 11:52 PM on October 26, 2017
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 11:52 PM on October 26, 2017
Memail me if you want me to send you 30 stickers (I have small children). Include any requests and I'll see what I can do. As a follow needlephobe, I will do what I can to help!
posted by freezer cake at 10:12 AM on October 27, 2017
posted by freezer cake at 10:12 AM on October 27, 2017
Response by poster: Posting an update since I'm a couple of days in...
I went to World Market a couple of days after posting the question and bought a wide variety of dark chocolate bars. Dark chocolate mint gelato has been the best so far. I've been eating one square as I get everything set up and do the deed, and another while waiting for the pain to dissipate. I also printed a 5x6 "advent calendar" and I'm adding Christmasy stickers to each day as I finish.
Not gonna lie, it sucks and I can't wait to be done. (¬､¬)
However, I'm also trying to be extra-nice to myself, and to be grateful for mostly good health.
Hugs to future readers.
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 6:11 PM on November 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
I went to World Market a couple of days after posting the question and bought a wide variety of dark chocolate bars. Dark chocolate mint gelato has been the best so far. I've been eating one square as I get everything set up and do the deed, and another while waiting for the pain to dissipate. I also printed a 5x6 "advent calendar" and I'm adding Christmasy stickers to each day as I finish.
Not gonna lie, it sucks and I can't wait to be done. (¬､¬)
However, I'm also trying to be extra-nice to myself, and to be grateful for mostly good health.
Hugs to future readers.
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 6:11 PM on November 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
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I've been eyeing this lovely jam calendar hard for a future purchase.
Playmobil has some wonderful ones if little toys would make you happy (maybe you could donate them or give them to coworkers as desk toys at the end to declutter? And Star Wars is so hot right now.
(The internet has brought a huge variety of advent calendars right to our fingertips, and it's almost to the point where you can google thing+advent calendar and find something that suits you.)
posted by phunniemee at 12:40 PM on October 26, 2017 [3 favorites]