I think I've blogged before about my general lack of love of getting shots and my tendency to pass out after the shot has occurred. A while back, a doctor told me it was "needle phobia" and I should explain it to any medical professional who gave me a shot so that it wouldn't be a complete surprise to everyone but me if I passed out.
So, yesterday, the Y had flu and pneumonia shots. I signed up, paid my $60 for both shots and got in line. I made sure to avoid looking into the room where the shots were being given as I waited my turn. I also tried to think happy thoughts like when the hell are we gonna get to the world of Star Trek where they have hypos that don't require a needle to give you a blessed shot?!?
My turn finally arrives and I walk in. I tell the nurse I would prefer to sit down while I had my shot (turns out it was shots, one in each arm!) because I have needle phobia and sometimes pass out after having a shot. At this point, I was sort of expecting maybe a bit of compassion from the nurse, who instead said, "You're kidding, right?" Yeah, nothing like your great phobia being sarcasm material for trained medical professionals. Seriously, if
Seinfeld were still on, I'd bet they could make a character based on me who Elaine could date and she'd dump him becuase he was a "fainter."
Anyway, I take off my shirt, drag a chair over and sit down. During this, I try to explain to the nurse without looking like a complete and total wimp, that I prefer to not know when I'm getting my shots. Just talk to me about the weather, the Vols, the Protestant Reformation, whatever it takes to keep me distracted from the fact that a NEEDLE IS GOING INTO MY BODY! So, what does she do? She tells me--well, you'll feel a small prick, but it's nothing to worry about. Don't tense up and you should be fine.
Yeah, the way to get me to not tense up is to not have me be aware the shot is being administered. I can look the other way and talk about other stuff and I'm just fine, generally.
So, I get both shots and I feel actually OK. Not running and skipping the hills are alive with the sound of music great but OK. I thank the nurse and start to put my shirt back on when in comes the woman who had us fill out forms and took our money. The nurse goes, "This guy here needs a few extra seconds as he has needle phobia" and the money-collector goes, "Well, we gotta hurry it up because we've had more people that we expected and there's a line out here."
Now, I could have hurried, but I honestly refuse to pass out just to make their lives easier. I did go outside so someone else could get a shot and sat down in a chair for a minute or two just to be sure. No waves of dizziness hit me, no shortness of breath, none of that. Just a sense of irritation, really.
But it's over now and I will admit, my arms are both a bit sore from the shot. I tried to not tense up cause the nurse kept telling me not to be tense, which only made me actually tense up more. Hopefully this will soon go away or at least get worked out when I swim this afternoon. Either that or it will feel like my arms are falling off, one of the two.
On a more positive note,
Mallard Filmore continues to give the love to
Veronica Mars, which airs tonight. Reading the strip today, I was reminded of my good friend, John from over at
Salem's Lots.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 11/16/2005 07:35:00 AM |
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