I get my first Pfizer in a couple of hours. I'm needle phobic and feeling nervous.

[Crunchy Frog]

[malaise]

1. Just look away or cover your eyes with an extra mask

The needle will be out of your arm before you feel a thing

[Crunchy Frog]

20. The ironic thing is that I've had to get a flu shot every year for my former job.

I never felt anxious like this.

I think part of it is being stuck at home and not having much else to distract my attention from it.

[malaise]

29. My siblings and their husbands all got theirs before me so I was

as calm as ever. If it kills me (and it's been three weeks) too bad - I've had a great life.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. I got my second Pfizer last week

And it was over with so fast I couldn’t believe it. No side effects to speak of afterwards.

Just think of the power you will have over the virus in a few weeks!

[pwb]

3. Just a little pinch.

You will be fine. Do like me and don't look.

[madibella]

4. I'm also terrified of needles. Nothing to worry about!

I hardly felt it at all. And literally felt nothing on the second shot.
Tell them you are afraid. They will take good care of you! Good luck! 🍀

[Crunchy Frog]

22. Oh, I definitely will tell them. 😄

[leftstreet]

5. Ask the jabber to inject really, really slowly

It isn't the needle that stings - it's the pressure of the liquid entering your body

A dentist who takes a long, long time to inject knows it won't sting

[Treefrog]

6. I'm getting mine tomorrow. Not needle phobic, but still a bit nervous for unspecified reasons lol.

I feel ya.

[IcyPeas]

13. tomorrow for me too. Moderna at Rite Aid Pharmacy.

[Treefrog]

27. Pfizer at CVS in a state in which I don't live lol. I'm making it a road trip.

I would have preferred the one shot deal, but I got this appointment in literally five minutes online the first time I tried. All of my friends got Pfizer and none had any side effects. I guess I’m nervous of the possible side effects. I’ve had Covid and have no interest in revisiting any of the symptoms lol. Good luck and congrats to both of us!

[Ritabert]

7. It wasn't bad at all

The pneumococcal pneumonia shot I got last year was worse.

[Polly Hennessey]

8. You will be fine. I hate needles too.

Close your eyes, turn your head, take a deep breath. It’s over. You will have a sore arm and you will feel tired. Put your feet up, close your eyes, turn your head, relax. You have been Pfizered. 🥰

[Crunchy Frog]

28. I'm not worried about the after effects. It's the actual needle encounter that gets me anxious.

Thanks for the support.

[bedazzled]

9. didn't even feel it!

major side effect for me was looking stupid while singing in the car

[FBaggins]

10. I didn't even feel it

Was waiting for her to say "you'll feel a little pinch" and she was applying a bandaid.

No need to be nervous

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. I agree with the others here,

just look the other way. I got the J&J, and felt more from the pharmacist pinching my arm than the actual shot.

[C_U_L8R]

12. Got mine yesterday.

Chatted with the nurse and looked the other way. Just a little pinch. Easy peasy. No side effects. The medical staff was amazing. Should have iced my arm last night cause its just a little sore today. No biggie.

[miss-nasty]

14. Please don't be...

Had mine and felt nothing - the days after gave me the most rewarding uplifted “high on life” of feelings. Likely a manic response to the trauma we’ve all been thru thus last year but nevertheless a very good experience for me. I remember the nervousness and anxiety....wishing your well.

[Lochloosa]

31. I had the same response 10 seconds after the shot.

Had to hold back tears and I rarely cry.

[Hortensis]

15. You know best how to deal with it (with avoidance off the table!),

but would it help to let them know? There must be techniques to make it easier for needlephobes.

As others said, you may not even feel it at all. It's a very fine needle and a small volume of thin vaccine and happens so fast it's over virtually immediately. The swab of the spot with alcohol takes longer.

You'll see, but, like my husband, don't watch and just get told it was done.

And after feels downright good!

[Crunchy Frog]

35. I know. There was a nurse in our employee health whose needle I literally never felt.

The other nurse's shots hurt like hell.

I hope I get someone good.

Thanks.

[HipChick]

16. Just don't look..

My jab juker kept talking to me to distract me...

[nykym]

17. Just look away

and talk to the nurse giving the shot, it will be over before you know it.

[In_The_Wind]

18. It wasn't bad. You'll be ok.

[Tommy Carcetti]

19. The pinch felt less than my flu shot to be honest.

Just look straight ahead. You'll be fine.

Also helps to have a friendly nurse. Mine was very pleasant.

I actually caught a slight pleasant buzz off of my first shot...well, at least I think I did.

[Kahuna]

21. You will barely feel it. Promise.

[PTWB]

23. I get my microchip today too!

[Crunchy Frog]

37. Maybe we'll be able to communicate telepathically.🤣

[mommymarine2003]

24. I get my 2nd dose of Pfizer is a couple hours.

I don't like needles either, but my first dose didn't hurt at all. We have 6 COVID cases on our small block here in a suburban neighborhood outside of Portland, OR. They like to party and not wear masks and one person had to be hospitalized. I have tried to be as safe as possible, so so far so good.

[FakeNoose]

25. I looked the other way, didn't even feel the needle

I swear it was over so fast, I didn't even know the nurse had given me the injection.

You'll do just fine! Don't be nervous.

[Lochloosa]

26. It's a nothing shot as shots go. Think of the benefits.

[beaglelover]

30. I didn't feel the needle at all. Don't stress about it.

[ProfessorGAC]

32. It's A Very High Gauge Needle

Extremely skinny. I barely felt the 1st one. Didn't feel the 2nd at all. (Just got the 2nd about an hour ago.)
Look the other way, relax your arm.
You'll be ok.

[Amishman]

33. here, read these

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
another one
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Stallion]

34. ...The Only Thing that Hurt Was NOT Getting a Lolli-pop like When I was a Kid

[Crunchy Frog]

44. I'll come home and eat a load of chocolate.

[Lars39]

36. Look away and start talking about something you enjoy.

It's hard, but this has been how I've been handling needles for a long time.
My experience with Pfizer: It's a very tiny needle with half the amount of a flu vaccination so delivery is *very* quick.

[Nevilledog]

38. The only thing that hurts is the microchip going in.......

I didn't even feel my Moderna shot.

[Rorey]

45. And, from what I've heard.....

The microchip isn't put in until the SECOND shot......unless it's the J&J.

[lindysalsagal]

39. Relax the muscles in your arm. Tensing works against you.....

Phobias are very real. Can you bring someone along with you?

[Crunchy Frog]

47. No, I'm not really that bad. Rachel Maddow's phobia is much worse than mine.

I'll just be feeling anxious and uncomfortable until it's over.

Venting on this thread is helping.

[brewens]

40. Get drunk and smoke a little weed first. Always works for me. :) n/t

[Crunchy Frog]

50. Neither is my thing, but I did take extra clonazapam.

[Rorey]

41. I didn't even feel that first shot

I actually questioned if it really happened. i don't get shots very often, but it seemed like the needle was very small.

[AZProgressive]

42. Don't worry

All I had was a sore arm after taking the shot. Try to relax as much as possible when the shot goes in to reduce soreness.

[Bettie]

43. I am needle phobic and so is my middle son

both of us had Moderna last night (probably same type of needle though) and didn't even feel it. I asked "tell me when you're done and she said "want a band aid?".

I literally didn't even feel the shot go in. Didn't even need the band aid.

Just don't look!

[gibraltar72]

46. National Guardsman gave me my first.

Over before I knew it. Stay calm!

[catbyte]

48. Look away and you won't even feel it. I didn't when I had my 2 Pfizer shots.

Congratulations!

[Greybnk48]

49. Don't look. I didn't feel the shot, and jumped when she put on the bandaid! LOL!

You will not feel it! More good news, Pfizer is thinner than Moderna and goes in fast. Boom! Done!

[LizBeth]

51. Needle phobic dude I so hear you. I am too. I was telling them I was, he was messing with the sleeve

and before I finished expressing how totally needle phobic I was he was done and I was asking, did you give it? Lol.

I have literally never had a shot like that. No enduring or getting thru at all.

The second, I felt that one but not in pain, just felt it.

So, be good to go and confident it is not a deal at all, let alone a big deal. And everyone is so happy, and helpful. Yea you.

[gldstwmn]

52. I felt nothing and I got Pfizer.

Hope this helps.

[peggysue2]

53. I get my second shot tomorrow at one o'clock

As for the first Pfizer shot? I can honestly say I never felt it and have no idea when the corpsman even slapped a bandaid on my arm. I 'discovered' the bandaid the next morning.

If it's the after-effects you're phobic about? I had a moderately sore arm about 8 hours after the injection and some bruising two days later.

Beyond that, it was easy-peasy.

There have been reports of people with side-effects--headache, body aches, low fevers. But even those appear to be very short-lived. Unlike the virus itself.

So, here's sending you good luck and best wishes and a big ole HOORAY. Because this is the first step to resuming a 'normal' life.

[luvs2sing]

54. I'm pretty needle phobic, too.

I close my eyes whenever one is near me. I’ve had both vaccinations, and the injections were pretty close to painless. Good luck!

[Crunchy Frog]

55. One source of comfort is that at least I will be "owning the cons".

They seem very upset about people getting vaccinated.

Thanks for all the support.

[Ocelot II]

56. It was the most completely painless shot I've ever had.

I didn't feel it - I think they use a very fine needle. Just don't look, but it really didn't hurt at all.

[mobeau69]

57. Suddenly lost my hearing in my left ear a few years ago. Went to a specialist in Indianapolis and

he injected steroids into my eardrum. Got it done once a week all summer.

By the end it was almost like old hat.

The needle was about 8” long. The nurse would bring it loaded into the room and tried to hide it beside her right leg as she walked around the chair to hand it to the doctor. LOL.

[zipplewrath]

58. I focus on my fears

I'm slightly needle phobic, mostly just a rational awareness that it can hurt if done poorly. I'm also slightly claustrophobic. I sold plasma for a couple of years in college, and then went on to donate blood every 8 weeks for years. (I have blood that babies need for some reason). I've also had 5 MRI's at this point, as well as a PET scan. Having an MRI is a bit like waking up in your own coffin, so I don't really enjoy them.

But if I read you correctly, it's right now that you're nervous. You'll probably be fine when the actual shot comes around. I've managed to deal with things over the years by admitting I don't like them, and then focusing on the reality that I know "intellectually" that there really won't be a problem. I focus mostly on when it's over. An MRI is usually about 45 minutes for me (they actually have to do it twice, with "contrast" the second time). So I focus on the fact that I'll lay down, be miserable, and then I know it will be over. Ultimately, the more I think about it, visualize it, instead of obsess over it, the more I am able to focus on the FACT that it will be over, and I'll be fine.

[ga_girl]

59. I'm not needle phobic - but a suggestion

Let the receiving arm hang loose and then give it a good shake. If you feel the shoulder joint drop, the arm is pretty relaxed. I did this for last Pfizer shot and the nurse noticed and remarked "thanks".

[Sympthsical]

60. Didn't even feel it

Some shots you really feel. Some you barely notice. This one’s the latter. The nurse was done before I turned my head.

It’ll be one of the easiest shots you ever get. Promise.

[marble falls]

61. Think of the millions before you who walked out with nothing more serious than a bandaid ...

... I will fall out if I see the needle touch skin. But I was unaware of my anxiety level I had over the pandemic. One shot took away 75% of it immediately and the rest was gone by the time I cleared the parking lot after the second shot.

Do this for yourself. Do it for your family. Do it for DU, but do it! Honestly - you will be glad you did.

[Crunchy Frog]

63. Oh I'm definitely doing it. Just feeling a little angsty at the moment.

I even chose to go with the two shot regimen rather than the one shot.

I'm sure I'll feel very good once it's over...until the next one comes along.

[marble falls]

64. You'll do fine! And we'll all be proud of your bravery!

[BornADemocrat]

62. So is my daughter

She said she watches the needle. I asked why? I'm not needle phobic, but I find if I look away and chat a lot, it's over before I realize what happened. Brain is way too slow to register pain, so you'll barely notice if you're not looking.

[roamer65]

65. Do it for the rest of us.

[Crunchy Frog]

66. Just got it. Am in the waiting area. I'm doing it for ME and my kids and mom.

I definitely want it. Just don't like getting it.

Edit: want to do it for society too. I'm not completely selfish.😁

[roamer65]

67. Good job!!!!!