getting very nervous help

hello ladies
i am scheduled on friday the 26 for a tah-bso- not nervous about the operation or the recovery mostly about the iv... it hurts any hints as to how to stop being so scared of this. :cry: i am a big baby when it comes to needles -i am getting the epidural pain management and it doesn't scare me like the iv does. sorry i don't mean to whine about something so little but it bothers me a lot. any input would be appreciated thanks
donna

Hi Donna!

I am a big baby about needles, too. My advice is to speak frankly to the nurse who is prepping you for surgery, to explain this fear. Don't be embarrassed...I'm sure they have heard it many times before. Simply ask that they don't show you any needles, and that they tell you to "look away at the picture on the wall" or some such thing so you don't have to see it when they insert it. If it's any consolation to you, my IV never hurt during the entire time it was in my hand.

I hope this helps you...it works for me!

Many s and Best Wishes,

Hi,
I had the exact same fear. I just told them before the IV was started and they used a numbing agent and had me look away at the wall. i didn't feel it go in nor did I notice it during my stay!
I had my TAH on august 12, and have to say that nothing was as bad as the fears i had conjured up in my mind!
Good luck and I hope this helps somewhat.

One thing I do whenever I have blood taken, is I start talking about anything to get my mind off what is hapening. It has always helped. I'm petrified of going under anesthesia. When I had my D&C in May, I just kept talking till lights out.

I'm very afraid of IV's. Had my TVH on Monday and asked them to please give me a local before inserting the IV. The local is just a small shot of pain med that helps tremendously! I didn't even feel the IV go in. I had it done with my gallbladder surgery, so I was prepared to ask for it when I had my TVH. You may want to ask them about this.