pointers to help needle-phobic spouse?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mitzelplik's Mom

Mitzelplik's Mom

Member Since 2015
Hi there. I'm trying to encourage my husband to learn to give Mitz her insulin injections, since I'm sure a day will come when he'll have to if I'm away. He's extremely (underline that about 100 times) uncomfortable with needles. Right now, he can barely even watch me give the shot. Any former needle-phobes out there? Any help will be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Joan
 
You determine which is the better approach for your husband.

Systematic desensitization: each step is done 1 or more times a day, up to a week or two until the anxiety is reduced enough to proceed to the next step.
Back up a step when a step is too anxiety producing.
Example steps:
Holding the unopened box daily .
Holding a package of the syringe.
Holding 1 syringe.
Taking off the big cap.
Moving the plunger in and out so it is less likely to stick.
Removing the needle cap.
Drawing up the insulin.
Practice injecting a piece of poultry with skin.
Injecting the cat.

... or ask him to put on his big boy pants and just go for it.
 
Hi Joan, l will be very interested in any answers as I have exactly the same problem with my hubby, totally freaked out at the sight of a needle and it worries me too that I'm the only one able to give insulin. As you say BJ he definitely needs some big boy pants!
 
There is also the open and honest discussion with spouse approach.
"I have something serious I need to discuss with you. Is this a good time?"
- if not, "when would be a good time?"
Then, in the discussion.
some important points.
- I am concerned that there may be times I can't get home to give the insulin shot.
- I have the impression that needles bother you a great deal; I have some steps that might help with that" (list above)
- I really need you to be my backup on this.

And see where it goes.
 
Sometimes when cooking meats, you inject them with flavorings. That might be another work around to getting comfortable with them - cooking together.
 
BJM said:
There is also the open and honest discussion with spouse approach.
"I have something serious I need to discuss with you. Is this a good time?"
- if not, "when would be a good time?"
Then, in the discussion.
some important points.
- I am concerned that there may be times I can't get home to give the insulin shot.
- I have the impression that needles bother you a great deal; I have some steps that might help with that" (list above)
- I really need you to be my backup on this.

And see where it goes.
Click to expand...

He totally gets this part of the equation. No issues there. I think desensitizing will be the key.
 
suki & crystal said:
Hi Joan, l will be very interested in any answers as I have exactly the same problem with my hubby, totally freaked out at the sight of a needle and it worries me too that I'm the only one able to give insulin. As you say BJ he definitely needs some big boy pants!
Click to expand...
Hi Suki, Good to know I'm not alone!
 
Some people practice injecting using an orange or grapefruit. Practice using water so you can still eat the produce.
 
Is there a particular thing he fears? Did he have a bad experience with shots? Does he think it's going to hurt kitty?
 
Hmmn. What about injecting apples with various syrups, like Torani Carmel syrup, then baking them?
Or, injecting a salad dressing into a squash or root vegetable to give it a surprising flavor? You'll need a proper kitchen injector as they have much larger openings. An insulin syringe might get clogged.
 
I was thinking of injecting an artichoke with melted butter, but maybe you don't eat butter. I don't even know if it would work. It just came to my mind and sounded good. Or a squash with butter. I think I like butter :)
 
BJM said:
Hmmn. What about injecting apples with various syrups, like Torani Carmel syrup, then baking them?
Or, injecting a salad dressing into a squash or root vegetable to give it a surprising flavor? You'll need a proper kitchen injector as they have much larger openings. An insulin syringe might get clogged.
Click to expand...

BJ, you're making me hungry!
 
Hello,

I was somewhat syringe-phobic when Bertie was diagnosed with diabetes (I had a thing about syringes for years ever since a close family member was battling drug addiction (more syringes - Aaarrgggh, nooooo! :arghh:)).

I was OK with actually getting injections myself, but had got to the point where I couldn't look at a syringe. So I honestly didn't know how I would be able to give Bertie the shots.

Initially there was the fear of looking at the syringe, and then of actually touching it. But I had to find a way to to work through my fear because Bert needed me to.
I would sit in a quiet room; take some deep breaths; get a syringe out of the packet; become aware of the feel of it in my hand; take the cap off; pull the plunger; push the plunger. I practiced drawing up water into the syringe, for hours; until it felt commonplace.
And then I did what some others in this thread have suggested, and practiced giving shots to fruit; in my case, oranges.

It seemed to me that my hands learned to do it, and my mind followed.

I had to learn quickly because there was only a few days between Bert's first vet visit and the confirmation of his being diabetic. But your husband has more time to get used to the idea.

I won't lie. I was really scared the first time I gave the shots. I felt sick. My hands were shaking. And I'm sure Bert picked up on my anxiety and that made him anxious. But we got through it.
After a few successful shots (the early ones weren't all successful) my confidence began to grow. My fear melted away. Syringes were helping Bert to feel better; they were a good thing.

I've now been giving Bertie shots for 8 years.
Insulin - and syringes - saved his life. :joyful:

Eliz
 
Last edited:
Dyana said:
I was thinking of injecting an artichoke with melted butter, but maybe you don't eat butter. I don't even know if it would work. It just came to my mind and sounded good. Or a squash with butter. I think I like butter :)
Click to expand...
Thanks Dyana. That does sound good. I noticed your kitty is 20. Mitz will be next month.
 
EDIT: I certainly realize that what worked for me probably won't work for everyone. Reverse psychology is tricky and very unpredictable. I also want you to know that I don't take needle phobia lightly. It's a very real situation and is downright crippling, in some instances. Just wanted to get my story, such as it is, out there... for what it's worth. With that said, best of luck to you, your hubby, and Mitzelplik.

Mitzelplik's Mom said:
Any former needle-phobes out there?
Click to expand...
Yep, that was me... just a few, short months ago. :nailbiting: Couldn't even think about a needle without feeling woozy, let alone think about giving an injection to my beautiful fur baby. Thank goodness, my DH had no problem with giving the injections. And with that, he bragged and bragged to EVERYBODY how he had to "give the darn cat her insulin" 'cause I was too much of a sissy to do it. Good grief, he practically broadcast it from the rooftops, if you get my drift. Well, I got tired of hearing it and hearing it and hearing it..... that's all it took. Asked him to show me how, which he did. From that day forward, it was, "Look out, Hannie, here comes Mom, armed with a Terumo full of insulin. Let's show Dad the stuff we're made of!" I've been doing it ever since, no problem. Now I think it's actually the easiest part of her entire procedure. Wish getting her to eat was as simple as her injections. :cat:
 
Last edited:
Blamethecats and Hannah said:
EDIT: I certainly realize that what worked for me probably won't work for everyone. Reverse psychology is tricky and very unpredictable. I also want you to know that I don't take needle phobia lightly. It's a very real situation and is downright crippling, in some instances. Just wanted to get my story, such as it is, out there... for what it's worth. With that said, best of luck to you, your hubby, and Mitzelplik.


Yep, that was me... just a few, short months ago. :nailbiting: Couldn't even think about a needle without feeling woozy, let alone think about giving an injection to my beautiful fur baby. Thank goodness, my DH had no problem with giving the injections. And with that, he bragged and bragged to EVERYBODY how he had to "give the darn cat her insulin" 'cause I was too much of a sissy to do it. Good grief, he practically broadcast it from the rooftops, if you get my drift. Well, I got tired of hearing it and hearing it and hearing it..... that's all it took. Asked him to show me how, which he did. From that day forward, it was, "Look out, Hannie, here comes Mom, armed with a Terumo full of insulin. Let's show Dad the stuff we're made of!" I've been doing it ever since, no problem. Now I think it's actually the easiest part of her entire procedure. Wish getting her to eat was as simple as her injections. :cat:
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated.
 
I was a COMPLETE needle-phob before Smokey's diabetes. I literally passed out at the sight of a needle. The vet took one look at me when we started the session on how to give the injections and told me to sit down. When I didn't she insisted, said she wasn't going to be picking me up off the floor she only treated animals not humans.
My first BG test at home resulted in blood on my kitchen cupboards, blood on my glasses, pretty much blood everywhere but the meter strip and my brain - me on the couch for a half hour waiting until I could stand up without passing out.
Now I've given insulin hundreds and hundreds of shots and subQ fluids with the tree-trunk of a needle you use for those almost everyday for over 2 years, on more than one cat for a while. When it got down to needing to do it, I just focused on what I needed to do and eventually learned to not notice it was a NEEDLE:nailbiting:
Practice, practice, practice. Help him learn, but let him work on it on his own too. Being self-conscious will just add to his nerves. If he wants to practice on something besides the kitty, he can take a syringe and fill it with water and shoot it into an orange (don't eat the orange if you use a used syringe that might have insulin on it :) )
Tell him you need him to watch and learn enough so that if you aren't there, he can get through it.
 
I think what helped me get past what I was doing..... was learning that what I was trying to do was lift the skin and just inject under the skin layer....
I still have to give adequan shots which is a full syringe so it takes a few moments to slowly push that plunger. My dh holds mine for me so she doesn't move.
But with insulin you move a little quicker ( out of fear the cat will bolt)

It really helps to shave a spot, have him shoot the scruff where they feel it the least. Its so hard to try to find that spot if there is too much hair.....
 
Gradual steps are the basis of systematic desensitization. You can apply the concept to yourself, your family, and your pets.
 
Thanks everyone for your encouragement! Luckily, if I shoot Mitz while she's eating, she barely notices and doesn't seem to care, so she will be the easiest part of this process. The ear pokes are much trickier!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top