My husband is on week 14 of treatment. He has a terrible fear of needles. Fortunately, I was a nurse for 15 years and I just do it for him. Early on in treatment I was away for the weekend with my son at a baseball tournament. My husband did do his own needle that weekend but it took him about 6 hours to work up the courage and he kicked a hole in the wall (not good).
We had no idea that he was going to have such a hard time with it. From that moment on we lined up two back ups (a cousin and friend who are both nurses) for when I am not here because I am sometimes away at a tournament or competition with our kids on Saturdays when he does his needle.
The flip side is that I honestly can't swallow pills and I told him, I'd have a nervous breakdown if I had to swallow so many pills a day. He laughed and said "well I am a needle chicken"!
I do just dread giving him the needle because he gets so sick but I just have to be tough with him because I swear he still HATES it. No matter how much I hate giving him the needle, he hates getting it more so I just do it as quick as possible.
Anyways, hang in there. Having someone just do the needle for my husband has made all the difference for him.
Ronna
Bills said
Jan 20, 2013
It does get easier. Someone called it Dragon poison. i took that as to kill the dragon. So knowing that I'm killing virus makes it easier. hope that helps.
BillS
DJ said
Jan 19, 2013
Judy S wrote:
Thanks DJ; hair is getting there! Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.
That would be wonderful! I am starting to worry that my treatment is not going to work. I am not having many side effects at all so it makes me worry that the drugs are not working. So I am glad to hear that if it doesn't work there may be something new coming soon to try.
hrsetrdr said
Jan 19, 2013
Judy S wrote:
Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.
I like the sound of that. I won't know until mid March if the dragon has returned, so I'm watching the HCV treatment news just the same.
Judy S said
Jan 19, 2013
Thanks DJ; hair is getting there! Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.
DJ said
Jan 19, 2013
Judy S wrote:
My doctor said there's no reason to do a trial since interferon-free tx will be avail next year. My biopsy showed improvement from 13 years ago, and I've never smoked, no drugs, never been big drinker, and I exercise daily. He told me to continue to take the Milk Thistle and everything else; I can wait.
About 2 weeks after stopping tx, my hair fell out like crazy...5 handfuls a day. I have such little long hair left; less than 1/4 of what I had. New hair has grown in about 2 inches, but I'm not doing anything until new hair at least reaches shoulders, hahaha!
Oh that will be wonderful is the interferon-free tx is here next year. I am sure you hair will grow back beautifully :)
Judy S said
Jan 19, 2013
My doctor said there's no reason to do a trial since interferon-free tx will be avail next year. My biopsy showed improvement from 13 years ago, and I've never smoked, no drugs, never been big drinker, and I exercise daily. He told me to continue to take the Milk Thistle and everything else; I can wait.
About 2 weeks after stopping tx, my hair fell out like crazy...5 handfuls a day. I have such little long hair left; less than 1/4 of what I had. New hair has grown in about 2 inches, but I'm not doing anything until new hair at least reaches shoulders, hahaha!
DJ said
Jan 19, 2013
Judy S wrote:
Don't worry DJ; a couple more and it will be old hat. Yep...I had a smorgasbord of various injectables laid out and did one after another, lol! PegIntron was with Redipen (in belly) and the Neupo and Procrit were in syringes; had to fill those. Was running out of body parts to inject, hehehe.
Oh my goodness, Judy! That is impressive! I know the treatment didn't work for you with the interferon. Is there any chance of doing a trial without interferon? Sounds like some people are having good results with that. Not sure how to even find them, perhaps your doctor would know or someone on here. I hope they come out with something better soon for everyone.
Judy S said
Jan 18, 2013
Don't worry DJ; a couple more and it will be old hat. Yep...I had a smorgasbord of various injectables laid out and did one after another, lol! PegIntron was with Redipen (in belly) and the Neupo and Procrit were in syringes; had to fill those. Was running out of body parts to inject, hehehe.
DJ said
Jan 18, 2013
Well I just did injection #2 (and I was nervous). Maybe in a month it will seem less stressful. But at least I did it, and it is over now for another week! And Judy.....WOW! Three injections! I suppose at that point you would have to get used to it!
Judy S said
Jan 18, 2013
In my job I give others injections but was still nervous doing my own, lol. After a while it became routine. PegIntron in stomach, Neupogen in 1 thigh, Procrit in the other thigh.
Daook said
Jan 18, 2013
Knowing that it's coming tomorrow is worse than the dart. Flu like symptoms for the weekend. Yipppeeeee!!
Playoff football walks me through Sunday.
Mary Jane said
Jan 18, 2013
Hey DJ..just breath... it does take time getting one's mind physced to giving a shot .. My confession my sister is an EMT/FF, she helped me the first few weeks, and then I started doing them myself, I have an adequate budda belly so it really was like.... go get everything laid out, go to the bathroom & " just do it" I really like the ease of the pro click pen... just keep telling yourself ____ no. of darts and I'm done! all the best MJ
DJ said
Jan 18, 2013
Thanks everyone. I know tomorow will be stressful, but good to know it will get easier.
JoAnneh said
Jan 17, 2013
I don't fear needles, just worry that I Am doing Injection properly. Since I showed UND at 24 weeks, looks like I am doing it Right. My husband pushes the button to The Pen. I really preferred a regular syringe To actually see it go on, that would have been A comfort in the beginning. It eventually becomes routines; I understand How nerve racking it is in the beginning. I was so up tight. After 35 weeks it's not Such a big deal anymore:)
Neil_Canuck said
Jan 17, 2013
Mine is not so much the fear of needles as the smell of the alcohol swabs. Three hours before
I start to dread it slightly and the memory of the smell invades my brain. I get the operation
over with ASAP and then I'm okay for another week.
hrsetrdr said
Jan 17, 2013
I hated doing the injections, but it got easier and less stressful, once I got better at doing them.
Cinnamon Girl said
Jan 17, 2013
Me too! Which was strange considering that`s how I caught the virus in the first place! I really had to psych myself up for the first few times but, like Alan said, after a few weeks I got over my fear and it became part of my routine..in fact I started looking forward to it so I could cross another week off my chart. Don`t worry, DJ, you`re not alone..and it will get easier for you! ~ Jill
news said
Jan 17, 2013
I was terriried, and went off by myself so nobody could see me and how frightened I was. But by week four it was like falling off a log. I am sure you will become accustomed to it in a few more weeks.
Alan
packerfan24 said
Jan 17, 2013
DJ I did not like giving myself needles also. I just took a deep breath and did it. afterawhile you get use to it. Good luck with your tx.
Ken
DJ said
Jan 17, 2013
The injection is going to be the hardest part for me. And not so much a fear of my reaction. I get so stressed over the thought of the needle. Tomorrow is injection #2 and I am feeling anxiety over the thought of having to stick myself again (and it is still a day away).
Has anyone else gone into this with a fear of needles? And if so, did your fear diminish over time?
Hi,
My husband is on week 14 of treatment. He has a terrible fear of needles. Fortunately, I was a nurse for 15 years and I just do it for him. Early on in treatment I was away for the weekend with my son at a baseball tournament. My husband did do his own needle that weekend but it took him about 6 hours to work up the courage and he kicked a hole in the wall (not good).
We had no idea that he was going to have such a hard time with it. From that moment on we lined up two back ups (a cousin and friend who are both nurses) for when I am not here because I am sometimes away at a tournament or competition with our kids on Saturdays when he does his needle.
The flip side is that I honestly can't swallow pills and I told him, I'd have a nervous breakdown if I had to swallow so many pills a day. He laughed and said "well I am a needle chicken"!
I do just dread giving him the needle because he gets so sick but I just have to be tough with him because I swear he still HATES it. No matter how much I hate giving him the needle, he hates getting it more so I just do it as quick as possible.
Anyways, hang in there. Having someone just do the needle for my husband has made all the difference for him.
Ronna
It does get easier. Someone called it Dragon poison. i took that as to kill the dragon. So knowing that I'm killing virus makes it easier. hope that helps.
BillS
That would be wonderful! I am starting to worry that my treatment is not going to work. I am not having many side effects at all so it makes me worry that the drugs are not working. So I am glad to hear that if it doesn't work there may be something new coming soon to try.
I like the sound of that.
I won't know until mid March if the dragon has returned, so I'm watching the HCV treatment news just the same.
Thanks DJ; hair is getting there! Interferon-free tx may become avail by Dec this year, even.
Oh that will be wonderful is the interferon-free tx is here next year. I am sure you hair will grow back beautifully :)
My doctor said there's no reason to do a trial since interferon-free tx will be avail next year. My biopsy showed improvement from 13 years ago, and I've never smoked, no drugs, never been big drinker, and I exercise daily. He told me to continue to take the Milk Thistle and everything else; I can wait.
About 2 weeks after stopping tx, my hair fell out like crazy...5 handfuls a day. I have such little long hair left; less than 1/4 of what I had. New hair has grown in about 2 inches, but I'm not doing anything until new hair at least reaches shoulders, hahaha!
Oh my goodness, Judy! That is impressive! I know the treatment didn't work for you with the interferon. Is there any chance of doing a trial without interferon? Sounds like some people are having good results with that. Not sure how to even find them, perhaps your doctor would know or someone on here. I hope they come out with something better soon for everyone.
Don't worry DJ; a couple more and it will be old hat. Yep...I had a smorgasbord of various injectables laid out and did one after another, lol! PegIntron was with Redipen (in belly) and the Neupo and Procrit were in syringes; had to fill those. Was running out of body parts to inject, hehehe.
In my job I give others injections but was still nervous doing my own, lol. After a while it became routine. PegIntron in stomach, Neupogen in 1 thigh, Procrit in the other thigh.
Knowing that it's coming tomorrow is worse than the dart. Flu like symptoms for the weekend. Yipppeeeee!!
Playoff football walks me through Sunday.
Hey DJ..just breath... it does take time getting one's mind physced to giving a shot .. My confession my sister is an EMT/FF, she helped me the first few weeks, and then I started doing them myself, I have an adequate budda belly so it really was like.... go get everything laid out, go to the bathroom & " just do it" I really like the ease of the pro click pen... just keep telling yourself ____ no. of darts and I'm done! all the best MJ
Thanks everyone. I know tomorow will be stressful, but good to know it will get easier.
Am doing Injection properly. Since
I showed UND at 24 weeks, looks like I am doing it
Right. My husband pushes the button to
The Pen. I really preferred a regular syringe
To actually see it go on, that would have been
A comfort in the beginning.
It eventually becomes routines; I understand
How nerve racking it is in the beginning.
I was so up tight. After 35 weeks it's not
Such a big deal anymore:)
Mine is not so much the fear of needles as the smell of the alcohol swabs. Three hours before
I start to dread it slightly and the memory of the smell invades my brain. I get the operation
over with ASAP and then I'm okay for another week.
I hated doing the injections, but it got easier and less stressful, once I got better at doing them.
Me too! Which was strange considering that`s how I caught the virus in the first place! I really had to psych myself up for the first few times but, like Alan said, after a few weeks I got over my fear and it became part of my routine..in fact I started looking forward to it so I could cross another week off my chart. Don`t worry, DJ, you`re not alone..and it will get easier for you!
~ Jill
I was terriried, and went off by myself so nobody could see me and how frightened I was. But by week four it was like falling off a log. I am sure you will become accustomed to it in a few more weeks.
Alan
DJ I did not like giving myself needles also. I just took a deep breath and did it. afterawhile you get use to it. Good luck with your tx.
Ken
The injection is going to be the hardest part for me. And not so much a fear of my reaction. I get so stressed over the thought of the needle. Tomorrow is injection #2 and I am feeling anxiety over the thought of having to stick myself again (and it is still a day away).
Has anyone else gone into this with a fear of needles? And if so, did your fear diminish over time?