I have a history of not tolerating needles well. I have been known thrown up (I now fast beforehand), broken out in cold sweats, fainted (literally fell to the floor while walking past someone who was giving blood), put cold rags on my head/neck/shoulders, tried deep breathing and positive messages, been a chatterbox to the nurse to take my mind off of it. But still, my heart races and I am inconsolable. It’s absolutely ridiculous and I wish I was better but I am just not. So enter the world of infertility and I am a an absolute nervous wreck.

I’ve been like this since a young child. Over the years, some things have helped a little bit: eating ice (keeps me from feeling too hot in the cold sweats), putting ice on the injection spot beforehand (this works wonders but the nurses hate it because it slows blood flow)..... so what are my options from here?! Numbing cream maybe? The only needles I can tolerate are those at the dentist (right?!) and I’m starting to wonder about the lidocaine maybe helping me out. But there are conflicting studies about lidocaine in the bloodstream while pregnant and nursing.

Thoughts? Anyone else in the same boat? Anyone in the medical field seen a miraculous healing of the needle phobia?

I’m literally considering not going down the infertility treatment road because of this phobia - I just don’t think I can take all the stress. So please advise!!!!