Friday, September 16, 2005
So, I get home from the movies and see this e-mail:
hey man. I know you dont know me, but i saw your post on "43 things" about the needles. I also noticed that you went through Army boot camp. I have thought about enlisting for quite a while. I have heard the barrage of needles during the "Reception" is pretty overwhelming. I just wanted to know if you could remember how many shots you had to get and how bad they were. I would appreciate any input or advice you have about boot camp and so forth. Thanks
Me being the nice guy that I am decided that I'd tell 'em the real deal, so here it is. I'm putting this on here because it is entertaining and educational. Maybe after reading this Amanda will stop chasing me around the damn apartment with the little finger pricker for blood sugar. Not because I have to be tested, but because she thinks its fun!Well man, how do I begin. I am a huge needle phobe and still am. I've always passed out and had a ton of trouble with needles. I think it all goes back to having blood drawn when I was a little kid. I've read up on needle phobias and what to do for it. Basically, everyone has some type of input, but they don't know what it's like to have a real honest to God phobia like this. The stress and fear is enormous when that little piece of metal comes by me it's overpowering. From what I've read up on needle phobias its one of the only phobias that actually kills people every year. I've seen some various numbers ranging from the hundreds to tens of thousands a year. Basically it gets you two ways, the most obvious ways is people refusing to get normal medical care and treatment because of needles. The second is that the physiological response that needle phobes actually has is crazy and can kill. All that being said, I'm affected both ways.
I've been injured and refused a pain shot and just took other pain relief. I've had a root canal with no Novocaine. I still haven't had my wisdom teeth removed. I put off my tetanus booster in high school until I was injured. The list goes on and on. Needle phobia is serious, and anyone that tells you to tough it up has no idea what it's like. I also believe that a needle phobia is not going to go away...it will always be there, you have to just learn to deal with your body and take precautionary measures like lying down, looking away, and not being rushed to get up afterwards. I know that it doesn't hurt, and I actually have a high pain tolerance, but it doesn't make any difference. I'm a big guy 6'4" and 220lbs or so, but a needle will bring me to my knees. It's strange though, I can pop blisters with a needle and I could probably stick myself with no ill effects, but I've never tried.
Ok, now...on to your question. I'll be honest with you, and tell you what happened, there will be no sugar coating from me. I went into basic training not having any idea of what to expect. I wasn't close to anyone in the military, and was nervous about what to expect. I knew that there would be shots, but I had no idea! The Army no longer uses those air guns to inject, I guess they spread microscopic blood drops, they just use good ol' syringes now. Well, on like day two in reception we had shot day. We line up in the hall way, roll up both of our sleeves, and each of us is given a silver pressure syringe thing of benicillin that is ice cold. We have to hold it to warm it up, to help it go into our butt (yes, this is the notorious "butt shot").
Well, I was 4th in line and we begin walking forward. I come around the corner and into the doorway...there is a medic on each side of the first person, and they are ramming needles in like crazy. That is the last thing that I remember.
I awoke to be dragged into the shot room. If you have ever been in a high school wrestling room, that is what this is. The whole room is padded because people pass out...it's a given...even those that do not normally have a problem. Well...even though I was semi-concussions they propped me up and hit me with two shots in one shoulder and one in the other. I passed out. I awoke a few minutes later to a TB test in my fore arm. I passed out again. I awoke a little later to a flu shot in my shoulder. I then awoke to being moved (dragged) to the blood draw chair. I passed out again...and it was bad. I was bruised bad from moving or slipping in the chair. I once again was dragged onto the floor. Once I came to they rolled me over and hit me with the butt shot in my hip. After that I was semi conscious for the next fifteen minutes or so. It was hell on earth, but it was the last time that I've passed out from a shot.
What a true needle phobe goes through in basic training is the equivalent of taking an someone scared of spiders and having them sleep in a bed full of them. It's like taking a claustrophobic and locking them in an elevator with 30 people for a week. It's making someone scared of falling bungee jump. It's just hell my friend...but it's a hell that you have to do. The Army Medical Corps is second to none. They are professionals through and through. They deal with needle phobes every day. My advice is be honest with them, tell them you pass out. It will save them trouble, and save you from breaking your face. I've had blood drawn, and I can deal with it if I'm laying down.
So, if you want to be in the military, don't let the needles hold you back...I promise you it's worth it, and I promise you that you will not be the only one to pass out. So yes, I'm still a needle phobe...I'm not a blood donor but there will be no more Novocaine free root canals for me.
As for the rest of boot camp it's the best experience that you'll ever do once. Go into it with an open mind, don't try to sneak contraband in, keep a low profile, and remember that millions of people have went before you. You'll get through it just fine.
I've been injured and refused a pain shot and just took other pain relief. I've had a root canal with no Novocaine. I still haven't had my wisdom teeth removed. I put off my tetanus booster in high school until I was injured. The list goes on and on. Needle phobia is serious, and anyone that tells you to tough it up has no idea what it's like. I also believe that a needle phobia is not going to go away...it will always be there, you have to just learn to deal with your body and take precautionary measures like lying down, looking away, and not being rushed to get up afterwards. I know that it doesn't hurt, and I actually have a high pain tolerance, but it doesn't make any difference. I'm a big guy 6'4" and 220lbs or so, but a needle will bring me to my knees. It's strange though, I can pop blisters with a needle and I could probably stick myself with no ill effects, but I've never tried.
Ok, now...on to your question. I'll be honest with you, and tell you what happened, there will be no sugar coating from me. I went into basic training not having any idea of what to expect. I wasn't close to anyone in the military, and was nervous about what to expect. I knew that there would be shots, but I had no idea! The Army no longer uses those air guns to inject, I guess they spread microscopic blood drops, they just use good ol' syringes now. Well, on like day two in reception we had shot day. We line up in the hall way, roll up both of our sleeves, and each of us is given a silver pressure syringe thing of benicillin that is ice cold. We have to hold it to warm it up, to help it go into our butt (yes, this is the notorious "butt shot").
Well, I was 4th in line and we begin walking forward. I come around the corner and into the doorway...there is a medic on each side of the first person, and they are ramming needles in like crazy. That is the last thing that I remember.
I awoke to be dragged into the shot room. If you have ever been in a high school wrestling room, that is what this is. The whole room is padded because people pass out...it's a given...even those that do not normally have a problem. Well...even though I was semi-concussions they propped me up and hit me with two shots in one shoulder and one in the other. I passed out. I awoke a few minutes later to a TB test in my fore arm. I passed out again. I awoke a little later to a flu shot in my shoulder. I then awoke to being moved (dragged) to the blood draw chair. I passed out again...and it was bad. I was bruised bad from moving or slipping in the chair. I once again was dragged onto the floor. Once I came to they rolled me over and hit me with the butt shot in my hip. After that I was semi conscious for the next fifteen minutes or so. It was hell on earth, but it was the last time that I've passed out from a shot.
What a true needle phobe goes through in basic training is the equivalent of taking an someone scared of spiders and having them sleep in a bed full of them. It's like taking a claustrophobic and locking them in an elevator with 30 people for a week. It's making someone scared of falling bungee jump. It's just hell my friend...but it's a hell that you have to do. The Army Medical Corps is second to none. They are professionals through and through. They deal with needle phobes every day. My advice is be honest with them, tell them you pass out. It will save them trouble, and save you from breaking your face. I've had blood drawn, and I can deal with it if I'm laying down.
So, if you want to be in the military, don't let the needles hold you back...I promise you it's worth it, and I promise you that you will not be the only one to pass out. So yes, I'm still a needle phobe...I'm not a blood donor but there will be no more Novocaine free root canals for me.
As for the rest of boot camp it's the best experience that you'll ever do once. Go into it with an open mind, don't try to sneak contraband in, keep a low profile, and remember that millions of people have went before you. You'll get through it just fine.
