Anyone Know a Good Understanding Doc for a Needlephobic TTC #1?

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

My husband and I have been TTC #1 for almost a year now with absolutely no luck. Before we started trying, I went through almost a year of therapy to help "get over" my lifelong fear of needles. Trust me, when I say fear, I don't just mean nausea and dislike, I mean physical terror...so bad that several nurses refused to do bloodwork even if I would try because my blood pressure was too high. So, without going through the gory details, I made it through the therapy although I am far from "over it" and have gotten through the Day 3 and Day 21 tests. Unfortunately, my Day 21 progesterone levels came back low at 4.63 and, instead of discussing our options like we had planned, the doctor wants to do another Day 21 blood test before we sit down. After pushing back a bit about why we would need this, she was VERY unsympathetic, explaining that she would not only need this but also a biopsy before pursuing any treatment (contrary to our earlier plan) and saying that I should "just get over it." Accordingly, I am on the hunt for a new doctor.

While I am fully aware that needles are involved in diagnosing and treating infertility (and potentially a lot of them), I would be much happier is the doctor would at least make an attempt at minimizing them and proceeding with a treatment plan I am comfortable with...I was wondering if:

(1) anyone else had found a good sympathetic doctor that they could recommend; or

(2) anyone had faced a similar phobia and managed to minimize, to the extent possible, such procedures and tests while TTC and pregnant?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should try acupuncture? I hear it's great for phobias.

Obviously, I'm joking.

[Anonymous]

That sucks, OP.

I think my day to day interaction with RE is with the nurses. The nurses at Dominion are fantastic.

How is your husband with needles? Perhaps he could give you the daily injections (if it comes to that).

Having someone sympathetic is really important. You realize how "irrational" your fears are - but they still exist.

Drs Gordon & Reh are wonderful and kind. Dr. D is pretty cool, too. But he may be a little more direct.

Good luck. Try not to worry. Just think of the epidural! ha, kidding.

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to you. This is hard enough even with no fear of needles.

Unfortunately they really do need to do the bloodwork so they can monitor your hormone levels. They would be irresponsible not to, and going unmonitored is risky and unethical. I agree with PP-- connecting with a sympathetic nurse, especially the person who does the testing, is really important. If you are worried about giving yourself shots, you can make arrangements to get them done in the dr's office or you can hire a nurse to give them to you.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately this whole process is a bit needle heavy. And I don't really have any advice, and I think I'm "normal queasy" when it comes to needles, but honestly, on a scale of 1-10 with needles in the stomach -- with 1 being doesn't hurt at all and 10 being worst pain ever. Follistim shots are 1, some days a 2. It does not hurt. I agonized for weeks before I did the shot -- there are lots of youtube videos about follistim shots, who knew? The day I started the shots, I was a nervous wreck all day long. Then I did it, and seriously, it was easy. Anyway, sorry I don't have any helpful advice, but I agree with the other posters -- find a sympathetic nurse. Take deep breaths -- do that yoga ujayi breathing. It'll be over in SECONDS.

[Anonymous]

I'm very sympathetic and understand that this is a real issue for you, so I don't mean to minimize it--but I don't know where you're going to find someone who can minimize needles. It's just that kind of process. You don't want them going in blind and it would be irresponsible for them to offer diagnoses or treatment without the testing. Sorry. Maybe it was the doctor's attitude that bothered you; I imagine you won't really find that much better elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

OP - I also would recommend Dr. Gordon as someone who would be patient and flexible with your issue.

And, while I didn't have the phobia you have, I also was a bit needle phobic at the beginning of IF and by the end was giving myself three injections a day without any thought. So it is something you probably can work through some more to get through treatments.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the advice of all thus far...it is sincerely appreciated.

FWIW since it has come up in a few posts, I thought I should clarify again that I completely understand that many needles are involved in IF treatment and in pregnancy itself. My only hopes are that (1) repeat testing that truly is unnecessary or purely confirmatory could be minimized, and (2) I could find a doctor who is willing to talk about what is truly necessary versus "optional."

I am not suggesting that any doctor work "blindly" or unethically. My point is more that I have had symptoms of a LPD for over a year and had the confirmatory blood tests that the doctor ordered after she said that if my PG came back low she would move on to medication, treatments options, etc. Now that the bloodwork did indeed show low PG as expected, she now wants more bloodwork and a biopsy. If she had said that going in and explained it, I would have at least had time to mentally prepare and would have more fully understood the necessity. The reverse course where it always seems to be "one more blood test/invasive medical procedure I didn't mention" really doesn't work for me, and I would think there have to be doctors who understand that.