I am deathly afraid of shots. The mere sight of a needle (regardless of whether is meant for me or not) sends shivers down my spine. When my daughter was getting immunized and I had to help hold her 2-year-old body on the examining table, the nurse commented that I shook more than my child did.
My phobia only worsened when I underwent sinus surgery. The doctor used my arm as a pincushion as he searched for a vein to put the IV in. It was horrible. I was poked with the needle more than a half dozen times before he could find a viable vein. I’m sure it was no picnic for him either since I about passed out each time he jabbed me again… and again… and again.
Drawing blood or administering an IV can be an ordeal for patients whose veins are hard to find, which is why I was thrilled to hear about the new technology that is aiding of needlephobics like me. Thanks to a new machine called the “veinviewer” doctors can take the guesswork out of locating a viable vein. The “veinviewer” shows doctors exactly where blood vessels are. Not only does it locate the veins it also reads how large each is. Doctors can then choose a vein based on where the signal is strongest.
This machine has got to be an answered prayer for many people who have to undergo multiple blood draws over time. Think of all of the cancer patients, pediatric patients, and those who donate blood to blood banks.
It’s wonderful news, but it only eliminates half my fear… the guesswork may be gone, but what about the pain? Enter the “Lido-site.” The new invention numbs the portion of your body that will be injected in less than 10 minutes. That’s faster than most topical anesthetics. The “Lido-site” is basically a patch containing an anesthetic, which is attached to the skin, and then an electrical charge carries the painkiller directly into the bloodstream.
Currently, the veinviewer and lido-site are only being used at hospitals, but the manufacturers say they hope smaller practices will be employing the systems by the end of the year.
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