I'm due for a doctor's appointment but they're gonna want to do blood work and I have a phlebotomy phobia (hexbear.net)

submitted 8 months ago by BigHaas@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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I think it's an actual phobia, my earliest memory is being held down by some doctors as they drew my blood. I'm not sure what to do about it:

Continue ignoring doctors
Simply accept the panic attack and get a blood test
Try to get prescribed a single benzo or attempt to self medicate with phenibut before the test
Go to actual therapy and successfuly eliminate the phobia (is this even possible?)

Yeah after typing this out the choice is clear. I will go with number 1.

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[-] PKMKII@hexbear.net 6 points 8 months ago

I’d recommend being honest and communicate this to your doctor. Let them know you’re due but that you’ve got this acute fear and see what they can do, maybe skip that or find some solution. Is it the needle going in that’s the trigger for you (trypanophobia), or is it the sight of the blood itself (hemophobia)? Depending on the nature of it, there might be different methods of dealing with the fear.

[-] BigHaas@hexbear.net 2 points 8 months ago

The combo of the little bench and the inner elbow gets me

[-] PKMKII@hexbear.net 3 points 8 months ago

Sounds like it’s the particulars of the ritual that get you. I assume then you don’t have an issue with vaccination injections?

[-] BigHaas@hexbear.net 2 points 8 months ago

I used to be a little uncomfortable with all injections but vaccinations are so routine I got over it.

[-] EmmaGoldman@hexbear.net 6 points 8 months ago

In my experience, neither number 3 nor 4 are possible. You cannot reduce or eliminate this phobia, and they will never ever give you medication to make this less of a nightmare because it doesn't really work and it can make it more challenging to actually get the blood draw. Same problem with self-medicating.

Your best bet is to try and find an excuse for a procedure where you're under general anaesthesia and have the draw done while you're under. This is the literal only way I've ever been able to get a draw done.

[-] BigHaas@hexbear.net 5 points 8 months ago

It's ridiculous only dentists and maternity wards have nitrous available

[-] Fascism_Chewer@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 8 months ago

Depending on your PCP, they may be able to prescribe you benzos for your panic attacks. If they're cool and you tell them that you have them semi-regularly (you don't need to say that you have an exact cause) and that they are impacting your life in some way (school, work, etc.), then they should be comfortable with the prescription.

[-] BigHaas@hexbear.net 3 points 8 months ago

I mean I've got grams of phenibut already. I just want like five minutes out of reality while they root around in my elbow.

[-] FlakesBongler@hexbear.net 3 points 8 months ago

I have really bad Aichmophobia and though I can manage it with most things, needles really drive me batty

Personally, I manage by dissociating wildly while staring away from the needle

[-] ReadFanon@hexbear.net 1 points 8 months ago

Accidentally clicked onto your profile and saw this post. Might be worth looking into getting a ShotBlocker or a knock off shot helper device. I've heard that they work pretty well.