People with tatoos afraid of needles??

Cherybaby · Oct 13, 2007

I have had patients who were tattoo'd good and pierced to the hilt and still, they feared getting a shot. Usually, I found it is the big tough guys who hit the floor the most. The doc I used to work for...he would faint while getting his blood drawn for his physicals. Yet, this man did cancer surgeries and removed melanomas daily. Very blood surgeries, but he couldn't stand the sight of his own blood.

BookwormRN · Oct 13, 2007

I work med/surg-remove and change dressings that are yucky all the time. No problem. Had a very minor surgery on my foot last week. When I had to remove the dressing, thought I was going to lose my breakfast....go figure!

SW_07 · Oct 13, 2007

I have 5 tattoos. Two of which are pretty good size. Just a couple of weeks ago I had to get titers drawn for work. I got so nervous and anxious I actually got really light-headed and had to take a minute and calm down before the clinic nurse could do the titer. I have no clue why that bothers me but getting a tattoo doesn't.

Cherish · Oct 13, 2007

I have 5 tattoos. Two of which are pretty good size. Just a couple of weeks ago I had to get titers drawn for work. I got so nervous and anxious I actually got really light-headed and had to take a minute and calm down before the clinic nurse could do the titer. I have no clue why that bothers me but getting a tattoo doesn't.

Yup thats me. I HATE getting my blood drawn. Maybe because I usually get stuck 2 or 3 times before they actually get anything. I have a half sleeve tattoo and it doesn't bother me as much as blood drawing. Shots don't bother me much either but I get nauseous when my blood's drawn.

SW_07 · Oct 13, 2007

Yup thats me. I HATE getting my blood drawn. Maybe because I usually get stuck 2 or 3 times before they actually get anything. I have a half sleeve tattoo and it doesn't bother me as much as blood drawing. Shots don't bother me much either but I get nauseous when my blood's drawn.

Yeah, I'm the same way. I am a hard stick and maybe because I knew she probably wasn't going to get it on the first try amped me up. I got a flu shot yesterday no problem. It is just that pesky blood draw. :uhoh21:

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 13, 2007

Totally normal.. most ppl in the medical profession HATE needles and IV's...I know i do, gimmie a needle to sick others, but come towards me, holy crap, i get all shaky; sick to my stomach...hate getting things done to me!!

When i was in the military, i was in a unit that drew labs and did physicals for all other units in WI. I told the guy that it had been a while since i drew blood and would he mind if i drew his. Well this guy was a typical big buff guy that thought he could handle anything, as soon as the needle touched his arm, he was out! Now mind you this was an old building and the walls had a pipe conveniently

running around the room right where his head fell back, and was out like a light.

funny as hell, guess i shouldnt say that, but when he came to on the cot, he turned red as heck and had to giggle at himself!

-H-

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Oct 14, 2007

i am just a patient, but the ONE AND ONLY thing that still freaks me out to have done is a needle. Surgery i am fine. completley fine. But if you come at me with a needle i freek.

jnrsmommy · Oct 14, 2007

I don't mind the needle sticks for blood draws or IV starts, but I come completely unglued if someone comes near my finger to do an accu check. I have no idea what it is, I can't handle it. I've refused to have it checked that way, and have requested that they draw my blood from the ac if they really want to know. Go figure.

mdrew508 · Oct 14, 2007

I have always laughed at this. I have tats and I don't mind needles but I do know that they are to totally different things. When you are getting your tat that part of your body goes numb and you are getting something you want. And with the needles it is something you don't want to have to do. Thats the only reason I can think of.

MA Nurse · Oct 14, 2007

Stange situation the other day. A group of recruits came in for their first Hep A/B shots (TwinRix so it is one shot). One guy who had 2 large tats that I could see actually freaked out and vagaled (sp?). HR to 30, BP undetectable, O2, bagged, came back and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance. Anyone else ever heard of such a dramatic response? He did not even get his shot, he was waiting. BTW during his moment he jumped up and crashed into a refrigerator, knock it to the side, spun around and crashed into a door then hit the ground. Fun to write up on the incident report.

That's weird, IMO. I have 1 tattoo and it hurt like hell compared to a shot, and it lasted MUCH longer than one silly shot!

MA Nurse · Oct 14, 2007

I have always laughed at this. I have tats and I don't mind needles but I do know that they are to totally different things. When you are getting your tat that part of your body goes numb and you are getting something you want. And with the needles it is something you don't want to have to do. Thats the only reason I can think of.

That part of your body goes numb?!! You must have been lucky, I felt the whole 45 min. of absolute PAIN! explain to me how you go numb in that part where you're getting a tattoo? I didn't get any numbing medication, did you? I guess everyone is different! LOL!