help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Okay, I'm going to be VERY up front about this -- If you have some finger prick horror story of if you think it hurts like h e l l and you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemies, please don't post that here. I'm being very up front that I need some encouragement to work up the courage to just do this. I feel like a big enough baby as it is...

I have to do a self-finger prick for a blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol screening. (Long story as to why I have to do the at-home kit and not just go back to the doctor's office, but that's another story for another day. Bottom line is I MUST complete this at home finger prick test today.) I'm not worried about the test results themselves - I'm worried about having to do the self finger prick. I was hoping there was way i could just get my DH to do it for me, but it's toally DIY. You have to place your finger on the top of this little box thing, push down, and it triggers the needle or whatever that comes up and stabs your finger. So *I* have to put my finger on it and press down myself - and hold it there. Sounds easy. Apparently not for me.

I'm NOT afraid of needles. I'm not afraid of having someone take blood from my arm, not afraid of shots, etc. I am, however, terrified of finger pricks. I know it's stupid -- so please talk me down. I don't have a huge problem when other people do them, but the thought that I have to do it myself is unnerving.

I will wait until DH is home to do it and I'm sure he'll help talk me through it. I would just like to hear from someone who has had to do this before (for diabetes -- or for any reason a all) that it's not so bad. That it's over quickly - anything to get me through it.

I'm not usually a baby when it comes to pain at all. (You don't break your back twice without developing a high tolerance for pain, ) I just have this mental block against finger pricks. Let's put it this way - when I give blood, the finger prick is the most traumatizing part for me. The needle in my arm is cake.

So please just tell me it'll be fine. Um, if you can't, lie. I won't know you're lying until it's too late, anyway.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

You will totally be fine... it's so quick you'll be done with it before you even realize you actually pressed down.

What is you ice your finger first? this way when you go to prick your finger, it'll already be numb, and you'll hardly feel it.. .

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

I do about 3 of those a day, sometimes more. I would advise using the side of your finger. If you put your hand on the table, the part of the finger that touches the table is the most sensitive. The parts of the finger between the pad and the nail are the best spots. Much less nerve endings. Don't do the pinky. Even I don't do my pinky. Hurts too much. I guess there isn't enough meat on the bone or something. Index fingers are good, and my preferred finger to stick.

I wouldn't do the ice, though. It may numb the finger, but will probably make it harder to get blood out of it.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Thanks for the responses. They DO make me feel better.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by GoldenRod

I do about 3 of those a day, sometimes more. I would advise using the side of your finger. If you put your hand on the table, the part of the finger that touches the table is the most sensitive. The parts of the finger between the pad and the nail are the best spots. Much less nerve endings. Don't do the pinky. Even I don't do my pinky. Hurts too much. I guess there isn't enough meat on the bone or something. Index fingers are good, and my preferred finger to stick.

I wouldn't do the ice, though. It may numb the finger, but will probably make it harder to get blood out of it.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by Kara

Thanks for the responses. They DO make me feel better.

Posted by Shopaholic921

What is you ice your finger first? this way when you go to prick your finger, it'll already be numb, and you'll hardly feel it.. .

No can do. My finger has to be warm so I can get enough blood out. (I'm not even that squeamish, LOL. Once the prick is over, I'll be okay squeezing the blood out. It's the prick that scares me - and I have no rational reason WHY!)

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by Kara

Thanks so much!

The kit said to do it to the left or right of center, too, so I guess this is why! Good to know. It also advised against the pinky. I'm feeling the middle finger for some reason, but I have several hours to decide.

I'll be until then...

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by GoldenRod

Posted by Kara

Thanks so much!

The kit said to do it to the left or right of center, too, so I guess this is why! Good to know. It also advised against the pinky. I'm feeling the middle finger for some reason, but I have several hours to decide.

I'll be until then...

Middle is good, too. That way, you can show everybody your wound after you're done....

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Don't worry! It is a piece of cake. I had to do it 4 times a day while I was pregnant because I had GD.

Use the side of your finger. Either middle or pointer.

It really doesn't hurt at all. It is the anticipation that makes it worse!

Message edited 8/27/2008 5:39:57 PM.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

I hear ya about finger stick. I much prefer venipuncture.

I would use the ring finger..

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by niikki-8-18-06

It really don't hurt at all. It is the anticipation that makes it worse!

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by Kara

Posted by niikki-8-18-06

It really doesn't hurt at all. It is the anticipation that makes it worse!

Thanks! This is what I'm hoping - that the anticipation is the worst part.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

I'm sure you've already done this by now, but if you haven't...don't use your writing hand!

I found this out the hard way when they needed to check my blood sugar last week at the Dr. I held out my right hand and before I could take it back, it was done. Of course, that spot on my finger is the part that grips the pen, so I was

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

I planned to use my left hand (ETA - I'm right-handed)... but stupid me didn't read the directions carefully enough while having my anxiety attack over it. I have to FAST for 9 - 12 hours before the test... DUH! I don't know why I forgot that.

I won't have time tomorrow before work (and I eat dinner too late anyway) - so I'll have to do it Friday AM.

I feel better about it, though... so hopefully I'll still feel calmer about it on Friday.

Thanks for the support. I know it's a silly little finger prick, but it's a weird phobia of mine and I really was having an anxiety attack over it...

Message edited 8/27/2008 7:56:56 PM.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

oh no....I understand! I hattttttttttttte them !I freakedat the doctors office.
Long story short..they did it and I felt nothing!!!!!!!!!!!
its not like the others u r thinking--the prick test for what u r doing is painless...I swear***********

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

You can do it!!!! My DH does it several times a day and he insists that it does not bother him one bit. In fact, I keep showing him these alternative blood sugar test kits that he can get but he is fine doing it this way. The only advice I know is that once you start and you are going for it, do not pull your finger back, just let it prick your finger.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Can you use your foreearm? I test my glucose daily and I didn't like using my fingers and I never got enough blood out, so my dr. said it's ok to use my forearm. It didn't hurt as much for me.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

The side of the finger does not hurt as much as the tip.

They also make special lancets (finger pricking things) for babies that we use on infants, and I'm pretty sure they do not hurt because the kids don't cry when they are poked, they don't even realize what happened.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by imagin916

Posted by GoldenRod

Posted by imagin916

The side of the finger does not hurt as much as the tip.

They also make special lancets (finger pricking things) for babies that we use on infants, and I'm pretty sure they do not hurt because the kids don't cry when they are poked, they don't even realize what happened.

For me, the smaller lancets just mean I have to squeeze my finger harder, which actually hurts more than the prick. Maybe I just have thick skin, but I can't use them.....

The ones we use at work we also use on adults, maybe try a different type? If the skin is too thick where you are sticking, try sticking somewhere else on the finger, or a different finger. You can also use the toes if you so dare

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

This post makes me think you may have been sleeping beauty in another life Kara! Hope you are feeling better today!

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by GoldenRod

Posted by imagin916

Posted by GoldenRod

Posted by imagin916

The side of the finger does not hurt as much as the tip.

They also make special lancets (finger pricking things) for babies that we use on infants, and I'm pretty sure they do not hurt because the kids don't cry when they are poked, they don't even realize what happened.

For me, the smaller lancets just mean I have to squeeze my finger harder, which actually hurts more than the prick. Maybe I just have thick skin, but I can't use them.....

The ones we use at work we also use on adults, maybe try a different type? If the skin is too thick where you are sticking, try sticking somewhere else on the finger, or a different finger. You can also use the toes if you so dare

They may work for Kara. I have calluses on my fingers from testing so often, which is probably why I can't use the smaller ones. I'm so used to them by now, I could probably use a steak knife and it wouldn't bother me....

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

Posted by imagin916

I guess you do get used to it for a while, but I give you and everyone else credit who has to stick their fingers, I don't know if I could do it every day.

Message edited 8/28/2008 2:15:48 PM.

Re: help - scared - have to prick my own finger

I tested my blood sugar the other day.

My mom just got a monitor from her dr. and I was curious to see what mine was, so she did it for me.

I expected it to hurt soooo much, I winced and cringed while I waited for her to push the plunger.

It was NOTHING!! I barely felt it!

(Also- My finger didn't bleed enough to get a reading so I had to do a finger on the other hand also )