I was wondering if any other nurses out there have or are going through the same experience as me. This is one of the most painful things i've ever had to do, my advice to whoever reads this is if you ever want a tattoo done, make sure you want it to be permanent!
Today I went for my fourth treatment. My memory of the first three are of extreme pain and tears. The procedure had to be aborted because I just couldn't cope with the pain. First they tried injecting local. The laser nurse waited for five minutes and then tried but it was too painful. We waited another ten minutes tried again, too painful. I don't know why the block didn't work. I've seen lumps cut out of people under local with no problems. They then applied EMLA (lignocaine and prilocaine 25mg/2ml) cream waited half an hour but I just couldn't go through with it because it still hurt. Lucky for me they waivered the fee.
Next time the plan is to put the cream on first,then inject me with local. Before this I'm to take Panadeine Forte (Acitominophen codeine phosphate) before going in.
So anyone else out there going through a similar ordeal?
The Minister of War & Finance is the pet name I have for my beloved wife. I call her that because she is the one who decides when we go to war and also decides how the finances are spent.
If I got the tattoo I realy want, I can safely say that we would end up in a war and my finances, (read: Pocket Money) will be cut.
worst thing i did was get a cover up. im doin the laser tx spaced 3 months apart... its expensive and time consuming. but nursing school really put my self esteem down with my visible flower tattoos (wrist tats). and yea its working alright. i can see some slow progression. i totally regret them as of my new nursing profession. i was 19/20 when got them so i guess i pay my price. shouldve listen to my parents!
Mine is on my upper back, so it is covered by my scrub top while at work. I do work with some other nurses who have visible tattoos, though. One is a charge nurse who has wrist and hand tattoos. I work at a hospital associated with a religious organization, but our staff is very diverse, as the hiring practices are intended to reflect our local community.
that is how it should be! i always wonder why ppl (other nurses actually) put down on those with tattoos. the patient population is very diverse as is the nursing profession. yes i understand what professionalism means, however my tattoos are not giving you safe and competent patient care, i am. how can they put down on us when we tatted nurses went through the same nursing curriculum and licensure examinations as the rest. i love my tattoos but for the face of professionalism i am removing them.
I don't have any tattoos, but many of the people I work with do.
Two coworkers (that I am aware of) are going through the process of having some of their tattoos removed.
One stated that it hurt, but was tolerable and the other said that he was only having one removed and that was it. He said he can't fathom enduring the pain of having the others removed.
Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.
I had laser tattoo removal for a small tattoo on my hand. It felt like I was being snapped with a red hot rubber band. Much worse than any tattoo I've ever had.
Also had laser hair removal on my face. I quit treatments when my upper lip got a little hyperpigmented. It looks like I have a shadow there all the time. Plus the hair grew back. Wasn't as painful as the tattoo removal, though.
dreamon
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