Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Have I ever told you about my insane fear of needles?

Yes. I do. It is one of those things my father passed down to me. But Heidi? you say...you like tattoos-how can you be afraid of needles? I have passed out during the tattoo process. But it wasn't because of the needle on me--I keep my eyes closed and drift off into another world. The time I had passed out I had looked up because I heard Jenn's needle stop, and I wanted to look at her...as I looked up, the needle started again. Bam, down I went. Thankfully the needle wasn't on my skin at the time.

Sooooo....last night we started the daily Lupron injections. When we did the first trigger shot I freaked out and cried and all that. Last night I tensed way up about 2 hours before it was time to do it. I did pretty well if I say so myself. I did a lot of deep breathing, I suppose all this will prepare me for childbirth, should we actually reach that point.

So, since I am doing so well in ignoring my fear, since it is nessesary to get to my ultimate destination...I'm going to take it a step further.

I heard stories of pineapple, egg mcmuffins, candles-all being "the trick" that got people the baby that they took home alive and I followed up on them all. Except one. Acupuncture. And now I am.

After all the conversation with Michelle about stress, she had also given us a big packet of information about the injecables cycle-in it were three seperate papers about how stress is extremely detrimental to trying to concieve. I am stressed. I am at my limits of stress. Acupuncture is supposed to alievate some of that stress. And I'm going to do it. The calls are being made to find a good place that has expierence in infertility acupuncture. The one we are leaning towards the most also has doula services...maybe if they help me reach my goal, they'll give us a discount on the doula??

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't have a fear of needles but I do have a fear of getting my eye poked out (it's a totally weird and irrational fear, I don't know where I got it but every time I'm lying down I'm convinced everything is out to get my eyes) so I was nervous about acupuncture for that reason. But I LOVE it. The needles are so, so tiny that you don't even feel them. It is totally relaxing and wonderful. I found that bringing a little eye mask pillow (mine has nice aromotherapy stuff in it) helps a lot with my fear of getting poked in the eye with a needle - that might help you too. I just cover my eyes up after she has the needles in then I fall into a nice quasi-sleep-zoniness...mmm. The one time I had acu without the mask it was a whole different experience. Oh, also, I asked them not to put any needles in my face and it wasn't a problem at all - you can direct them in that way if that makes you feel better. Anyway, good luck! I hope you end up liking it.

Chris said...

I used to be a total needle-phone too! Passing out and everything.

You'll hear this from everyone that does acupuncture but you won't believe them until you go the first time: you will not feel the needles. It's true! They're the teeny tiniest needles ever. There's a clicking noise before they're inserted which is scarier then the needle itself.

Seriously.

I hope you like it! It did wonderful things for me and my crazy ass cycles.

B said...

You'll do great kid! I hope it relieves some stress for you.

tbean said...

Hope you enjoy your first session--I second insertmetaphor, the needles are not scary!

Kristin said...

I hope the acupuncture helps. MY hubby is also terrified of needles and has multiple tattoos.

Anonymous said...

I'm very prone to fainting and almost passed out during injectables training for IVF. Acupuncture REALLY helped me become more comfortable with the injections. Best thing ever! I still would not watch the acupuncturist insert the needles, and I still need to lie down for blood draws. But I made it through injectables without any problems. Good luck!

annacyclopedia said...

Just came from the L&F - I hope acupuncture is as good for you as it has been for me. I don't have an issue with needles, but I feel so much better and more balanced, physically and emotionally, since I started doing it. It is so great to have something that makes me feel so relaxed and blissed-out, and I don't have to do anything but lie there. Good luck and way to go for being so brave!

Sully said...

Just came in from the Friday Blog Roundup. I used to have a crazy fear of needles. I would pass out every time I had some sort of blood draw and come close to it before every other type of shot.

IVF helped me get over that fear. The first few shots were rough, as I needed to really get over it, but after awhile it became old hat. I saw it as the ends to a means and that it had to be done.

I can't say you don't feel the needles, but the anxiety and fear does get better with practice. I am now a champ at blood draws and a much better patient overall. Best of luck to you!