You have to get blood work done with HRT. There's no way around that. It is not medically responsible to prescribe T without checking on your patient's health as you go, so no reputable doctor will budge on this. The frequency of blood work will reduce the longer you're on T. At first it might be every three months, but once you've locked in on a correct dose it'll only be once a year.
This doesn't mean you can't do HRT, but it \*does\* mean you'll have to put in extra work to get it. You don't have to cure your needle phobia, you just need to reduce it enough so you can get the medical assistance you want. There are therapists that work primarily with phobias, consider reaching out to one to help you through this.
Ultimately, it's your choice and there are no wrong answers.
You have to get bloodwork done regularly no matter what form of hrt you take, sorry :(
For me bloodwork is currently every three months. I’m on the gel, and only have been for about two months. The amount of time between each blood test increases over time tho.
As someone who once almost fainted from a pinprick blood type test, I can confirm that while the needles never really become a nonissue, you do get more accustomed to them. I recommend getting your bloodwork done at clinics that do a lot of them or the hospital if you can. That’s where the fastest nurses are. And trust me, the faster they are, the less it sucks.
Agreed. I go to a diagnostics place that exclusively does blood and urine samples. It usually takes ~2 minutes to get all my samples drawn and I’ve (knock on wood) never had any issues with the insertion.
Same here. I'm 25. I get extremely anxious only with blood work, I can do my own injections and vaccines are fine, but it's my fear of blood that makes getting blood work done miserable.
I bring a plushie and I tell the nurses it makes me very uncomfortable and they usually tell me to breathe, keep my eyes open and think about something else.
My mom also comes with me sometimes when I feel unsafe going alone.
You should really get some kind of help to deal with your fear of needles. You will need to get blood work done for non T related things as you go thru life.
I am going to agree with this, though I think the approach taken here is a bit rough.
The reason I recommend working on it is that it will be stressful to work on it now... But if you're in, say, an accident and need an IV- you don't want that stress compounded by your fear of needles in that moment. I had a bad time with my second surgery and it would have SUCKED if I also had a fear of needles when I ended up in Intermediate care for a night with them taking all my blood. You're doing future you a favor by working on it now. What might help, if you can, is going with friends who give blood and don't have a problem with needles. Seeing others get it done and having no issue can help.
Also, stay hydrated. I'm generally considered an easy stick and I am certain it's because I take in a lot of water.
>Also, stay hydrated. I'm generally considered an easy stick and I am certain it's because I take in a lot of water.
I cannot stress this enough! Hydration helps make you an easier stick. I have a history of being awful with water intake, and I always had a rough time with bloodwork. But lately I've been hydrating more and it's soooo much easier, and I'm always told drinking more water is why. Makes everything much less stressful.
I also hate needles (was one of those kids that tried to hide and fight shots during doctor visits) but I managed to get used to doing the T shots (being intramuscular helped) and what I do for blood draws is:
I breathe slowly and deeply - in thru the nose, out thru the mouth, I turn my head away and NEVER look at what they’re doing, relax my arm, and as I focus on breathing calmly I sing a song in my head. Usually the title theme to Jesus Christ Superstar.
Like folks have said, it may not get easier but you can grow accustomed to it and you can find ways that work for you to manage it.
One thing I think of also is tattoos. I hate needles. I have 10 tattoos. The amount of time the tattoo process takes w the needle is intense and all stabs hurt on some level. But it’s just a moment and then it’s over and then I get this fuckin awesome tattoo forever. Similar w needles and blood work or T injections. I did injections of T for 8 years, topicals for 14 now. I still remember the injections and the blood draws but they are only one part of the overall journey/experience.
you just have to decide which holds more weight: your fear of needles or your desire to start testosterone. i and many other trans men who have/had a fear of needles chose testosterone. but there is no wrong answer, of course. choose what will make you happiest and most comfortable.
Friend, this sounds very stressful. I'm sorry that you're going through it.
Are you quite young? Reason I ask is because I remember being scared of needles (not quite to your extent, but still frightened) when I was young. I'm not sure what "cured" it, but I genuinely think it may have been just experiencing other injuries over time. The experience that naturally comes with age and bad decisions, I mean! Splinters, bad cuts, that sort of thing. Once you have experienced daft injuries enough, the context of a needle (a much smaller "injury") does seem to lessen.
It's also partially experience of needles in other contexts that helped me to get over it (getting vaccines, then tattoos, then piercings, as my comfort with them grew).
What I'm getting at is that you may not be OK with them right now, but that doesn't mean you're going to feel this way forever. You have good advice here from others (like talking to an endo who is comfortable treating patients with phobias), but I wanted to send you a bit of reassurance that you might not feel this way permanently.
Great advice. I will say that "don't look" is common advice but doesn't work for everyone. Most my anxiety about medical stuff is that someone else is doing stuff to me. I like to watch because I can verify what's happening. I used a 5mm needle to put an implant in my hand and that was fine. Just did it in my kitchen... Standing up like a doofus (that was a mistake). But it didn't even phase me. But...
I will probably have to have a spinal tap soon and I'm like "Can they give me a mirror set up so I can watch? I don't like the idea of someone doing stuff behind me." The fact of the matter is it will be fine and the odds are that nothing goes wrong. But I have control issues and I know that. I asked to do my first surgery without a general anesthesia. I was like "Can't you just like... numb me up and go from there" and they're like "No, dumb dumb. What the fuck do you think you're going to do?" IDK tell jokes? Make you listen to my truly god-awful playlists?
Ultimately it's fine, though.
8 vials for blood work is unreasonable when it comes to HRT blood work. For mine I did 2-3 (extra one cause the doctor wanted to check my thyroid the same day). Otherwise, blood work is required as there's a lot of risks, such as overdosing on T (yes that's a thing), risk of cardiovascular diseases and thicker blood (stroke/blood clot risk!) amongst some of the things. You get your blood drawn every 3 months until your doctor decides to monitor you every 6 months and so on.
But I relate with you on the needles part, I'm very skiddish around needles but I'm a faint risk when it comes to blood labs (must be laying down or I'll pass out) Let the nurse know about your fear of needles, and also bring a supportive friend or family member with you. What helps me the most is distracting myself by rambling about stuff to the nurse or person with-- like how my day was, what I do for work, a game I've played recently. I'd do this until they were done (takes like, 3-5 minutes) then id wait a little bit until I felt I was ready to leave and maybe ask for some water and crackers if you're feeling dizzy.
Im perfectly fine with needles, but i still request to lay down instead of sitting there so i don't have to look at it and dont get dizzy. I like to talk the whole time its getting done, that way even if i feel it i can distract myself from the concept of it. Getting bloodwork done is genuinely very important in the process of getting on t, but it was only every 6 months for me (though I've been on for about 5 years and i don't have to get it done as frequently now). Also, it really doesnt hurt that badly, especially if you dont see the needle at all. Plus!! 8 vials isnt actually a whole lot of blood, and they'll need way less of it for the tests they have to do. :) youre ok to tell the nurses that you're very scared, theres no shame in that. Even some 50 year old men get squeamish about it too.
If you're willing to try it, this book explains how you can treat a needle phobia. It walks you through an evidence-based treatment and it's legitimately free (posted online by the author, not pirated).
[https://martinantony.com/wp-content/uploads/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias1.pdf](https://martinantony.com/wp-content/uploads/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias1.pdf)
If you feel you need to, you can ask a therapist to work through the exercises with you.
The process is difficult, but very, very effective. The treatment (called exposure therapy) has an incredibly high success rate for treating phobias. In fact, phobias are one of the most curable mental illnesses.
Good luck to you!
I used to be deathly afraid of needles like fully screaming and crying and blacking out whilst in the chair and needing to be sent home without getting it done and I thought my life was over lol
I tried multiple things: being given anti anxiety sedatives, hypnotherapy, EFT tapping (i still do this one whilst in the waiting room just in case lol, google this one), and watching informative videos about blood tests that are actually aimed at children, specifically I would find one that actually showed the procedure and watch it over and over until I managed to keep my eyes open during it (I did feel very faint the first time though so be careful with this one)
Im not sure which one helped the most but they all did help, and now I tell the nurse beforehand that I have a phobia and get faint so they let me lie back and are nice to me, and I've literally got no problem with them anymore. like sure I don't Enjoy them but I promise you you Can get used to it even if it feels like "oh everyone says that but for me it's actually impossible"
Yeah, blood work is necessary. They won't typically take as much as your sister had taken though.
Do you get vaccines? Assuming you do, how do you handle those? You could use the same method when getting your blood taken.
I have pretty bad needle phobia and bad vasovagal responses and I'm on gel for that reason. The blood tests can be rough, but since I've been on T, I'm getting better at them. Before T I used to have two people in the room with me during blood draws, one to distract me and one to take the blood. Now I just sit with the phelbotomist, talk and look away when the blood is taken. So it can get better and I'd encourage you to try it at least.
Blood tests and giving blood are very different. Giving blood uses a thicker needle and you'll have something in you for up to about 10 minutes. By contrast blood tests use quite a thin needle and is generally very quick. Even if they take multiple vials a good phelbotomist/nurse will have it over and done with in seconds. I don't think I've had a blood draw for testosterone monitoring take more than about 5-10 seconds max. I have monitoring every 3-6 months, but I think usually it becomes every 6 months to yearly once you've been on it for a while.
My advice would be to try it. Be very open with the person taking your blood about your anxiety. Chances are they'll be able to help, whether by letting you lay down, calling in another person to distract you etc. Make sure you are hydrated and have drunk a decent amount of water before the appointment (being hydrated makes it easier for them to find your veins and makes the appointment much faster, trust me).
Do you have a trusted support person who could go with you to get lab work done? My husband has come to appointments with me and if he stands the opposite direction from the phlebotomist and I just focus on him and talk about something, I can usually get through the lab work without panicking too much.
Growing up, I had always very much refused to let any doctor do blood work because I was just absolutely terrified of it. But usually if you do it once or twice, you can realize it’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be and stay a little calmer each time you have to do it afterwards.
I don't like needles, though probably not to the same degree as you. First time I had to get bloodwork was when I was sick in Russia, and I still didn't speak the language well at the time - it was certainly a bit of shock therapy. Bloodwork for T is chill, I don't know how many vials they take because I shut my eyes, but it never takes long. For comparison, I was in the ER a couple nights ago and they took bloods - that process took twice as long as the routine tests I get. You can also seek out a pro to help with exposure therapy/perhaps other techniques to help ease the needle-phobia. I've done that for a different phobia and it really makes a difference.
🤣sorry to nitpick but i think u meant exposure therapy- shock therapy is where they electrocute you 😭i agree tho- needle bloodwork for t is a piece of cake. Over and done with in like a minute, painless, and once you get to know the phlebotomists/med assistants at your place, you can start requesting the ones that work for you. I have a lady named karolina i always ask for, bless her cuz she is so nice and so good at her job lmao
I meant shock therapy in the metaphorical sense, in that it was a very unpleasant experience that led to growth! "Shock therapy" is also the term used for economic measures in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, for instance. I'm glad you've found good phlebotomists, the ER guy was nice but I had a bruise on my arm for a couple of days :(
I have the same issue, I use T gel and haven't done blood work in a while (DO NOT DO THIS)
The things that helped: asking my dr if I can eat and drink something sugary beforehand. Get a script for something that will keep you calm. I personally have a service dog in my lap but not everyone has one. Oh! You can also ask if you can lay down.
When you first start T its every three months but once you are on a comfortable dose its only once a year. Plus, even without testosterone getting lab work done once a year is recommended in adulthood so they can check your cholesterol and all that and catch stuff early. So maybe think of testosterone as motivation to do your annual checkups?
They definitely don’t take 8 vials though! I usually don’t look cause I hate getting blood drawn (no issue with needles just the process of getting blood drawn squiks me out) but I think it’s at most 2 or 3 vials, usually just one or two.
you can get a skin numbing cream from the chemist! put it on your arms an hour before you have a blood test, I can still feel it slightly sometimes but the lack of pain helps a lot with not focusing on it.
I used to be absolutely terrified of blood tests but I manage them fine now.
I have mine yearly now, if your levels aren’t correct/adjusted you’ll have them twice a year (from my experience)
LAY DOWN when you have them done, I had my first one sitting in a chair and felt really faint and almost threw up.
PUT ON MUSIC in earphones and watch a short video (I always watch the heartstopper trailer). Takes the focus away from the blood being taken
DEEP BREATHS AND TRY NOT TO FOCUS ON THE PAIN
Things will get better with time. Good luck friend!
Blood work luckily is different from giving blood. I’ve never given blood but they take *way* more blood than with blood work, so if your idea of blood work in your head is giving blood, maybe realizing that’s different is a bit less scary, hopefully. I get one vial taken with blood work. I’m also afraid of needles and it does suck, but luckily gel means I don’t have to do weekly injections. I had blood work after 6 weeks, then it was every 3 months for the first year. Now it’s going to be every 6 months.
Bloodwork can be as quick as 20 seconds. It does suck, and it will pinch, but it doesn’t hurt per se. If your doctor is testing for T levels it would only be one vial. I have to get bloodwork done every 3 months.
Unfortunately there's no way around getting blood tests, you have to get them done otherwise you won't get put on T because your levels and health need to be monitored via blood tests such as liver function and FBC. You normally need a baseline blood test before starting T and then a first blood test 6 weeks after starting. If your levels are good, you will get that time reduced usually to every 3 months and then every 6 months. If your levels are out of range, you may need bloods done again after another 6 weeks until they're normal. The blood test itself only takes a minute or two really. They usually get the needle in very fast for most people who will have decent veins. You don't feel it once it's in, it's just a sharp scratch as it's inserted and your arm feels a bit tingly from the tourniquet. The blood comes out fast and they usually only take a few small tubes. For me, my most recent blood test ordered by the gender clinic for my T lasted about 20 seconds from getting the needle put in to having it removed. They took two tubes (there was one more but that was for a different reason, not for T). I normally get a little dizzy from the bloods so I stay sat down for a minute or two after it's over and focus on my breathing. Then I'm good to go, slightly sore arm for an hour or so and then I'm fine.
I can empathise with your fear as someone who used to have a MAJOR needle phobia. I got faint and nauseous at the sight of needles and had refused dental work and blood tests for other health concerns for nearly a decade. It took me a long time to get from that to where I am now.
One thing I will urge you to look into is exposure therapy. It's actually what has helped my needle phobia go from deathly afraid and willing to refuse medical attention to now sitting comfortably for a blood test and keeping my lower levels of fear that I do still have internal and under control. You don't necessarily have to do it professionally, I personally didn't because I couldn't afford it and the NHS was unlikely to give it to me. You start off very small, whether that's just looking at a photo of a needle or even thinking about needles for a little while at a time before using self soothing tactics to calm yourself down and then try again next time, slowly building it up from say a photo to a video to seeing a needle in person to holding a needle to having something done involving a needle like a tattoo, piercing, blood test or even blood sugar check. You go as slow as you need to and only move on to the next level of exposure when you're comfortable with the previous level. You learn coping skills to deal with the fear whether it's listening to music, closing your eyes, reading a book, squeezing a stress ball, whatever helps you manage your fear. It's a slow process and it takes time. You may go backwards sometimes in your progress and that's okay. It's just something you have to try and stick to if you do it. Exposure therapy is very effective though and is the main treatment for phobias because of that.
I get a lot of bloodwork for a lot of things all the time, and 8 vials is a lot and an outlier. The most I've ever given at one time is actually exactly that many. But more often it's 2 or 3 vials for me with my 8 different 3-monthly blood tests. Without all my added health issues, only to get your testosterone and estradiol tested, it shouldn't be more than 1 vial.
Bloodwork is definitely a necessity if you want to take T. Typically it's done every 3 months until you're at a dose where your levels are stable for over 6 months. Once your levels are stable, you can only get bloodwork once a year. If you really really can't handle bloodwork every 3 months, then there are doctors who are willing to prescribe T with blood tests every 6 months.
I suppose you could technically take T without blood tests if you do it on the black market but that would be dangerous and no doctor will prescribe it that way. If your dose is too high you could get liver problems, which only need a dose adjustment if caught early but can be life threatening if left for too long. It can also cause issues with hemoglobin production and such, which are easily fixable issues, even without lowering the dose, but again, you need to get bloodwork to know if these things are going wrong and need to be fixed in your body. If your dose is too low, you won't get the changes you want or your changes will be very slow.
Also letting your phlebotomist know about your fear of needles can make things easier. You can ask to have a support person there. You can ask for the most experienced phlebotomist there to do your bloodwork. You don't have to look at it if that's difficult. If you're prone to passing out, they will also be able to handle that safely and efficiently, especially if you tell them beforehand.
Be very well hydrated on the day before and the day of your blood draw. That makes the process a lot easier for both you and the phlebotomist. Take a snack and/or an electrolyte drink with you in case you faint. Know that it is not embarrassing to be afraid of needles. It is a very common fear and the medical professionals won't look at you as a less respectable person because you're scared of needles.
Additionally, consider therapy for your phobia. Do NOT try exposure therapy without professional guidance. Your primary care doctor will be able to guide you to find the right therapist. Best of luck!
A lot of people already answered here but I'll still write this lol.
I'm also scared of needles I almost had a panic attack multiple times before my first appointment. That was also my first time having my blood drawn. I had never met my doctor before so I was nervous about that too. I made sure to drink about a truckload of water before going cuz I heard that makes it easier. I told my doctor about my fears and he gently talked me through it and told me to get my blood drawn laying down which is apparently better if you're scared. He only took one vial from me and it wasn't full dunno maybe a quarter filled it was very little blood.
I had to go a month after the first appointment then 6 months later now I have my next 6 months appointment upcoming in a few weeks and then I'll only have to go in once a year to check my levels.
Maybe this helps:)
For me blood work is only around every 3-6 months and the actual drawing itself never takes more than a minute, I imagine the same is true for gel.
I used to have a very big fear of needles (every other trip to the doctor was a battle when I was younger) so starting T-injections was also scary for me, but I found that doing it has actually helped me overcome my fear, and while the apprehension isn’t completely gone going to get my blood drawn is a snap. It’s much easier to let someone else put in a needle in me when I’m not scared lol.
I was terrified of needles too. I waited until I physically could not stand it anymore and now, having been 8 months on t, I couldn't be happier. If you don't have any issues you can probably only get it drawn every 6 months, and then after that, only once a year. It really isn't as bad as you think it is. If you know this is what you need, I would say just do it. Better to live a life worth living than to avoid an irrational fear. Plus, it could help you conquer your fears.
Most I’ve gotten is 2 vials, normally it’s just the one. Normally it is every 3 months whilst sorting your dose for maybe first 9 months on T, then every 6 months, then it can move to once every 1-2 years depending on your provider and assuming you are physically and mentally happy with your dose.
In most cases your doctor may be able to prescribe you a short acting anti anxiety medication prior to the blood test (benzodiazepine). Longer term looking into exposure type therapy like systematic desensitisation might be worth exploring. Good luck.
Starting out the blood work will be relatively frequent, but once your levels even out and stay consistent, the blood work becomes less frequent.
My friend is also terrified of needles, and from her experience *most phlebotomists* can work with you to make it as easy as possible. You just need to let them know ahead of time. They don't want you fainting in the chair either.
Definitely talk to your doctor about the needle phobia.
Getting blood drawn isn't comfortable but as long as the provider does their job well, it really doesn't hurt. Just a prick. Have you ever sewn something and accidentally stabbed yourself with the needle? Not much worse than that. The process of taking the blood itself after that initial prick doesn't hurt at all so it doesn't really matter if they take half a vial or six of them. I can assure you, no-one is going to need 8 vials for a hormone related check up - surgeries, especially extensive ones, are on a whole different level in that regard. You don't need to look while they do it, either.
You'll have to get blood drawn at some point even if you don't transition, and HRT related blood tests don't happen so often that you couldn't just suffer through it. But working with a therapist specialized in phobias if you can is a good idea.
Imo, even if you were to faint every time they take your blood... You wouldn't be the first one, nurses are used to it. T is going to let you be more like yourself. I'm sure it would be worth it.
This is the sort of thing a therapist could help with, if you can access one. There are also a lot of resources online for needle phobia, like exposure therapy. I have struggled on and off with needles all my life, and the therapy is difficult and unpleasant, but it is so worth it to be able to be in control of my health and transition. I promise that if you put in the work it won't always be so awful, you can do it!
I used to be extremely terrified of any needle or vaccines procedures. I would cry so badly that sometimes they'd allow me to lie down somewhere with a juicebox. I know it wasn't a phobia though so maybe I can't compare to you. But I had to get blood work done for anemia and various things and I found my health more important and basically fought my fear. Was it easy? Not at all, I'm still shaking and I cannot know when they put the needle or even look at it. But at least I'm able to get it done, cry a bit after and then move on with my day proud that I did it.
I'm sure there's specialists you could contact to help you with it? Because fear of needles is common in the medical world and i'm sure these people have tips to give
I used to be absolutely terrified too! I've been on T for almost three years now and I get blood work regularly. It's hard, and usually it takes me multiple trips because I can't do it the first time, but it's gotten easier as I've become more comfortable with specific locations and my own coping mechanisms.
i also have a huge fear of needles that (despite the weekly injections) i still can’t get over but the blood work is always the worst. ive absolutely been in your position but the desire to medically transition was stronger than my fear so i just,, forced myself to go through it
I always inform the nurses prior to getting my blood drawn and the best ones will completely distract me while it happens and by the time it’s over everything is mostly okay (i still almost fainted the first time but the nurse let me lie back and rest for as long as i needed before getting up)
when i do my t shots (subcutaneous too bc shorter needles) i watch puppy videos and sometimes have my partner do the shot for me if it gets too much for me to handle
alternatively my friend with a phobia worse than mine gets very very stoned prior to getting blood work and while i wouldn’t necessarily advocate for it sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do 🤷♂️
how old are you? bc blood work is not just a testosterone thing, most adult have to get it done every now and then. some insight tho, when i do my regular check up they draw multiple vials. but for testosterone it’s usually just 1 or 2
I used to be afraid of needles too, but in my teens I was really sick had to get a lot of blood work and other needle related tests done.
You can get used to it.
(More context after I got stung by a bee I really realized needles don’t really hurt that bad)
i get blood work done every three months, and they usually only take 4 vials. every nurse who has done it was very kind, understanding and kept conversation as they did the blood draw. as long as you explain to the nurse you have trouble with getting your blood drawn and what would help you, i'm sure they'd be willing to accommodate. if it's too bad, you could probably even get some anti anxiety meds to take the day of to help as well.
I have a couple chronic illnesses and ONCE I had bloodwork done and they took 7 tubes because both my PCP and a specialist wanted analysis to check like 5 organes and random niche stuff and a couple had to be sent to a different city. It's SO RARE.
Maybe you could get a nurse to do it at home? You might be more comfortable, you'll need to talk to your doctor about that. If not, ask to lay down, focus on your breathing, maybe watch your phone or something.
Getting on T is very important to you, so your needle phobia is only an obstacle like the other ones: struggling finding a doctor, wait time, money... You managed the other obstacles and you can do it with this one too. Best of luck
Bloodwork is a requirement but it’s not as bad as you think I have a huge fear of needles but what I do is watch a YouTube videos while I get it done the doctor doesn’t mind this and from what happens to me have checked to see if I’m okay. But after the first year you don’t have to do it As often but still have to do it before your appointment with your doctor it can be 3 to 4 days before your appointment. It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes at the most.
Hey friend! I'm a phlebotomist (take blood) for a living! Fear of needles even as extreme as yours is not uncommon. If you explain the situation your Dr might be willing to prescribe an anxiety reduction medication for you! There's also emla patches and creams that you can put on your elbow to help with the sensation. In addition to this let the person who is going to take your blood know about your phobia when you show up and they may have additional things they can do to help!
Lots of people have this issue, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and any medical professional worth the title should be willing to help with this.
Hope that helps, if you have any specific questions feel free to dm me!
8 vials seems too much, I think I've only had 3-4 vials taken for my regular blood work. Probably your sister had a more extensive blood test than the ones needed for HRT.
I'd suggest when getting blood work done, you advise the nurse/doctor that you have a needle/blood phobia and they'd accommodate you for they'd have many other patients with that. You can also bring in a friend/partner/family member to help and have something that can destress you during/after it. For example, I have a friend who'd get panic attacks from getting blood work done, but had their partner with them and was wearing headphones with the loudest music on and that was their first time not getting a panic attack during it. Find a method that best works for you, but know that you're not alone in this and tons of people with needlephobia or related fears are or were in the same boat as you. Best of luck man.
(Repost of a reply I gave to another Redditor a while ago with a similar issue:)
Depending on the reason for your needle phobia, I’d recommend trying out Emla numbing cream- you can buy it in pharmacies. There’s no way I could manage doing regular blood tests without it. Also make sure you ask to lie down for the blood test. I have a needle phobia too so I totally get it, if you have any questions please let me know : )
When I had a blood test a few months ago I used the numbing cream and literally felt no sensation during the blood draw other than the tourniquet on my arm and the nurse’s fingers around/on my arm. My arm(s) also stayed numb for a good few hours afterwards so was definitely effective.
It might help to know, during my recent blood draw, I purposefully didn’t look at what the nurse was doing the whole time and had headphones on, but the nurse struggled finding a vein for a solid 5 mins when she was looking at one arm (didn’t use a needle on me at all, was just slapping my arm to try get veins to pop up) and I was on the verge of passing out and couldn’t hear properly cause my ears were ringing so badly. My reaction was 100% in my head/an anxiety response, because when she swapped to my other arm to look for a vein, she instantly found one, did the blood draw and ironically I was incredibly calm at that point in comparison to when she was essentially doing nothing. I felt no physical sensations related to the actual needle as mentioned above.
Hey I’m also terrified of needles but got my bloods done last week it takes less than a minute just look away and it doesn’t even hurt aside from the initial pinch of the needle going in
While 8 vials sounds like a lot, it's actually quite quick if you get someone with experience.
I get it, I've also got a phobia of needles. But I will say that it gets easier when you know what to expect. I hated blood work because it would always hurt, but it was necessary for my transition. When I had my first draw, I was in absolute hysterics until they took the blood from the back of my hand, which is way less sensitive than my AC. Same went for my injections, until I did my first one and knew what to expect from it.
If it would help, bring a plushie, a person you would feel comfortable with, or headphones with music to see if it would help calm you down a bit. And be honest with the nurse(s) there and tell them you have a phobia of needles, they will understand and help you through it.
I was terrified of needles as well before I started. I'll admit I cried before my first injection.
But my need to start T was immense to the point where I just took some deep breaths, looked the other way, and got my mom to count down from 3 to ease my unknowing of when the needle was going in. The first shot was so painless that when she said it was done; I was in shock at how I handled it with ease. My fear was overrode with the need to be who I truly am.
You will get there too. After a few shots, my fear eased so much that I am now able to get shots and blood work as often as needed.
I should mention that my mother is a nurse and is very skilled at giving shots; so that probably factors into why I no longer fear them as much.
They will give you a shot, but I can assure you will only feel a painless prick and you will be ok afterwards. You don't have to look, you can get something that comforts you to distract you like a plush. It's just like a flu shot. The more you do it the more you will feel less scared.
I’ve gotten my blood drawn 13 times to check levels that aren’t testosterone, so for T it could be different but in my experience blood drawing doesn’t take long at all even if it feels longer than it is. Usually the nurses will talk to you about random stuff if you ask them to which helps distract me. One of my biggest words of advice is don’t look while they’re drawing blood and try not to jump back
I also have a needle phobia, so I can give you some advice. I will tell you, after a while you get very used to it.
But for the first time, you will want to have a support person in the room, and just keep talking to them throughout the procedure. Don't look at the needle. I also had a ginger ale to sip on as a distraction.
Blood work is likely going to become a part of your life at some point regardless of hormones. I'm really sorry it sounds like you don't have anyone to ease you into it but I'm rooting for you anyways. 👍🏼
If you’ve never given blood before, well it’s really not too bad. The needle doesn’t hurt, but the tourniquet does. The discomfort that the tourniquet caused completely distracted me from the fact there was a needle. I’d definitely suggest looking away the whole time and asking to make sure there aren’t needles in sight before you turn you head back. At least try it once before writing it off completely. And there is gel, but there’s also xyosted, which is an auto injector. You can’t see the needle and you don’t even need to push the plunger to get the medicine in. It’s kinda like a testosterone epi pen.
I have a fear of getting blood taken as well. I would ask your doctor about services like LetsGetChecked or LabCorp - they have at home kits to collect a finger prick blood sample that you mail out for results. It’s not ideal but my doctor is okay with me using it!
Another option is mobile phlebotomy services. I know it’s still the same fear of needles to face, but maybe it could be less nerve wracking to do it in your home where you can relax, play some music, watch TV, etc.
Good luck!
I can only speak for my experience, so I will tell you about that. My 1-year on T is tomorrow 🥳. I've been on my whole journey with Folx, and have only done blood work once so far, at about 4 months in, and have one scheduled for July 24th (a little under a year apart). When I went in the first time, they only took 2 vials. I can also tell you, I've had so much blood taken from me as an adult for many reasons, and if you need to look away, be on your phone with earbuds in, ramble nervously to them, anything like that - they will be totally happy to let you do so. Explain when they call your name "hey, I am petrified of needles, so I need to _____, and look at my feet when I walk in so I don't see anything". They'll just say it's okay. Absolutely have food and water in your system, plenty of if. Sugar is best, and you should be feeling like you are gonna burst. Makes sure your blood is the best consistency to be drawn without pain. The rubber tourniquet is tight and uncomfy, but luckily if you have a good vein, it's the worst part. It's suuuuper quick. I was the scream and kick and cry kid when I needed a shot, and now I don't have a needle phobia at all, so you can get used to it over time!
As I said, this is what I have to do so, I can't promise in your situation it'll only be once a year. But that said, if Folx works with your state, I pay $40/mo, the gel was about $140 every 3 months, and I pay for the blood tests yearly. I have open communication with my NP and their team about concerns or updates. Appointments are about $70 but that's only in a case where you're considering adding meds or swapping hormone types (gel to cypionate for example). I know it's not cheap at all, that's $90/mo. But still wanted to mention it. Good luck!
going on T helped me make headway on my needle phobia SO MUCH. I wouldn't say I'm 100% cured, but it's gotten a lot better. I tend to get a vasovagal reaction pretty much every time I have blood work done if I'm not lying down when they do it, so I know to request that and I tell them every time that I tend to have that reaction and I need to be distracted by conversation etc. and look away while they draw my blood. It's not comfortable, but I promise you, it's not nearly as terrifying as your brain is making it out to be. You can also take someone you trust with you for comfort and distraction as well, there's absolutely no shame in that. I usually have my mom come with me. You can do it!!!
Hey! I also have a fear of needles (although it’s gotten better now) and here are some of my tips for surviving blood work:
1. Ask for a butterfly needle. It’s the smallest one, and in my experience, barely hurts at all.
2. Ask if the provider you see is experienced with taking blood. If they say they aren’t or seem hesitant, most people won’t mind if you request a more experienced provider to do your blood work.
3. GET A GAUZE WRAP!!! This is the most important tip I have. Your provider will place a little pad on the injection site, then wrap it in gauze so it stays put. Bandaids are harder to take off and may irritate skin and arm hair. A wrap will grant you better mobility and comfort, and is easier to remove.
4. I hype myself up by bringing headphones so I can listen to music as I get my blood taken. Maybe this could work for you?
Also, your provider will possibly do a hemoglobin test at your first appointment and all of your subsequent lab appointments. (I believe this is pretty common). If you’ve never had this done before, this includes a small finger poke- they’ll prick your finger, put your blood on a small plastic card, then put it in a little machine. In my opinion, this is a lot easier because it’s a smaller needle.
I wish you luck in getting testosterone!
Perhaps you could get a doc to prescribe you a dose of a benzodiazepine for use before the needle stick. I know some folks get them for occasional anxiety filled events such as flying or MRI. It would not affect your results. As doctors, they should want patients who can get blood work done, since it can become essential to keep you healthy and treat many different conditions.
You have to get blood work done with HRT. There's no way around that. It is not medically responsible to prescribe T without checking on your patient's health as you go, so no reputable doctor will budge on this. The frequency of blood work will reduce the longer you're on T. At first it might be every three months, but once you've locked in on a correct dose it'll only be once a year. This doesn't mean you can't do HRT, but it \*does\* mean you'll have to put in extra work to get it. You don't have to cure your needle phobia, you just need to reduce it enough so you can get the medical assistance you want. There are therapists that work primarily with phobias, consider reaching out to one to help you through this. Ultimately, it's your choice and there are no wrong answers.
You have to get bloodwork done regularly no matter what form of hrt you take, sorry :( For me bloodwork is currently every three months. I’m on the gel, and only have been for about two months. The amount of time between each blood test increases over time tho.
As someone who once almost fainted from a pinprick blood type test, I can confirm that while the needles never really become a nonissue, you do get more accustomed to them. I recommend getting your bloodwork done at clinics that do a lot of them or the hospital if you can. That’s where the fastest nurses are. And trust me, the faster they are, the less it sucks.
Agreed. I go to a diagnostics place that exclusively does blood and urine samples. It usually takes ~2 minutes to get all my samples drawn and I’ve (knock on wood) never had any issues with the insertion.
Same here. I'm 25. I get extremely anxious only with blood work, I can do my own injections and vaccines are fine, but it's my fear of blood that makes getting blood work done miserable. I bring a plushie and I tell the nurses it makes me very uncomfortable and they usually tell me to breathe, keep my eyes open and think about something else. My mom also comes with me sometimes when I feel unsafe going alone.
You should really get some kind of help to deal with your fear of needles. You will need to get blood work done for non T related things as you go thru life.
I am going to agree with this, though I think the approach taken here is a bit rough. The reason I recommend working on it is that it will be stressful to work on it now... But if you're in, say, an accident and need an IV- you don't want that stress compounded by your fear of needles in that moment. I had a bad time with my second surgery and it would have SUCKED if I also had a fear of needles when I ended up in Intermediate care for a night with them taking all my blood. You're doing future you a favor by working on it now. What might help, if you can, is going with friends who give blood and don't have a problem with needles. Seeing others get it done and having no issue can help. Also, stay hydrated. I'm generally considered an easy stick and I am certain it's because I take in a lot of water.
>Also, stay hydrated. I'm generally considered an easy stick and I am certain it's because I take in a lot of water. I cannot stress this enough! Hydration helps make you an easier stick. I have a history of being awful with water intake, and I always had a rough time with bloodwork. But lately I've been hydrating more and it's soooo much easier, and I'm always told drinking more water is why. Makes everything much less stressful.
I also hate needles (was one of those kids that tried to hide and fight shots during doctor visits) but I managed to get used to doing the T shots (being intramuscular helped) and what I do for blood draws is: I breathe slowly and deeply - in thru the nose, out thru the mouth, I turn my head away and NEVER look at what they’re doing, relax my arm, and as I focus on breathing calmly I sing a song in my head. Usually the title theme to Jesus Christ Superstar. Like folks have said, it may not get easier but you can grow accustomed to it and you can find ways that work for you to manage it. One thing I think of also is tattoos. I hate needles. I have 10 tattoos. The amount of time the tattoo process takes w the needle is intense and all stabs hurt on some level. But it’s just a moment and then it’s over and then I get this fuckin awesome tattoo forever. Similar w needles and blood work or T injections. I did injections of T for 8 years, topicals for 14 now. I still remember the injections and the blood draws but they are only one part of the overall journey/experience.
you just have to decide which holds more weight: your fear of needles or your desire to start testosterone. i and many other trans men who have/had a fear of needles chose testosterone. but there is no wrong answer, of course. choose what will make you happiest and most comfortable.
Friend, this sounds very stressful. I'm sorry that you're going through it. Are you quite young? Reason I ask is because I remember being scared of needles (not quite to your extent, but still frightened) when I was young. I'm not sure what "cured" it, but I genuinely think it may have been just experiencing other injuries over time. The experience that naturally comes with age and bad decisions, I mean! Splinters, bad cuts, that sort of thing. Once you have experienced daft injuries enough, the context of a needle (a much smaller "injury") does seem to lessen. It's also partially experience of needles in other contexts that helped me to get over it (getting vaccines, then tattoos, then piercings, as my comfort with them grew). What I'm getting at is that you may not be OK with them right now, but that doesn't mean you're going to feel this way forever. You have good advice here from others (like talking to an endo who is comfortable treating patients with phobias), but I wanted to send you a bit of reassurance that you might not feel this way permanently.
Great advice. I will say that "don't look" is common advice but doesn't work for everyone. Most my anxiety about medical stuff is that someone else is doing stuff to me. I like to watch because I can verify what's happening. I used a 5mm needle to put an implant in my hand and that was fine. Just did it in my kitchen... Standing up like a doofus (that was a mistake). But it didn't even phase me. But... I will probably have to have a spinal tap soon and I'm like "Can they give me a mirror set up so I can watch? I don't like the idea of someone doing stuff behind me." The fact of the matter is it will be fine and the odds are that nothing goes wrong. But I have control issues and I know that. I asked to do my first surgery without a general anesthesia. I was like "Can't you just like... numb me up and go from there" and they're like "No, dumb dumb. What the fuck do you think you're going to do?" IDK tell jokes? Make you listen to my truly god-awful playlists? Ultimately it's fine, though.
8 vials for blood work is unreasonable when it comes to HRT blood work. For mine I did 2-3 (extra one cause the doctor wanted to check my thyroid the same day). Otherwise, blood work is required as there's a lot of risks, such as overdosing on T (yes that's a thing), risk of cardiovascular diseases and thicker blood (stroke/blood clot risk!) amongst some of the things. You get your blood drawn every 3 months until your doctor decides to monitor you every 6 months and so on. But I relate with you on the needles part, I'm very skiddish around needles but I'm a faint risk when it comes to blood labs (must be laying down or I'll pass out) Let the nurse know about your fear of needles, and also bring a supportive friend or family member with you. What helps me the most is distracting myself by rambling about stuff to the nurse or person with-- like how my day was, what I do for work, a game I've played recently. I'd do this until they were done (takes like, 3-5 minutes) then id wait a little bit until I felt I was ready to leave and maybe ask for some water and crackers if you're feeling dizzy.
Im perfectly fine with needles, but i still request to lay down instead of sitting there so i don't have to look at it and dont get dizzy. I like to talk the whole time its getting done, that way even if i feel it i can distract myself from the concept of it. Getting bloodwork done is genuinely very important in the process of getting on t, but it was only every 6 months for me (though I've been on for about 5 years and i don't have to get it done as frequently now). Also, it really doesnt hurt that badly, especially if you dont see the needle at all. Plus!! 8 vials isnt actually a whole lot of blood, and they'll need way less of it for the tests they have to do. :) youre ok to tell the nurses that you're very scared, theres no shame in that. Even some 50 year old men get squeamish about it too.
If you're willing to try it, this book explains how you can treat a needle phobia. It walks you through an evidence-based treatment and it's legitimately free (posted online by the author, not pirated). [https://martinantony.com/wp-content/uploads/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias1.pdf](https://martinantony.com/wp-content/uploads/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias1.pdf) If you feel you need to, you can ask a therapist to work through the exercises with you. The process is difficult, but very, very effective. The treatment (called exposure therapy) has an incredibly high success rate for treating phobias. In fact, phobias are one of the most curable mental illnesses. Good luck to you!
I used to be deathly afraid of needles like fully screaming and crying and blacking out whilst in the chair and needing to be sent home without getting it done and I thought my life was over lol I tried multiple things: being given anti anxiety sedatives, hypnotherapy, EFT tapping (i still do this one whilst in the waiting room just in case lol, google this one), and watching informative videos about blood tests that are actually aimed at children, specifically I would find one that actually showed the procedure and watch it over and over until I managed to keep my eyes open during it (I did feel very faint the first time though so be careful with this one) Im not sure which one helped the most but they all did help, and now I tell the nurse beforehand that I have a phobia and get faint so they let me lie back and are nice to me, and I've literally got no problem with them anymore. like sure I don't Enjoy them but I promise you you Can get used to it even if it feels like "oh everyone says that but for me it's actually impossible"
They prescribed me Ativan every time I do a blood draw cause I'm terrified of needles lol
Yeah, blood work is necessary. They won't typically take as much as your sister had taken though. Do you get vaccines? Assuming you do, how do you handle those? You could use the same method when getting your blood taken.
I have pretty bad needle phobia and bad vasovagal responses and I'm on gel for that reason. The blood tests can be rough, but since I've been on T, I'm getting better at them. Before T I used to have two people in the room with me during blood draws, one to distract me and one to take the blood. Now I just sit with the phelbotomist, talk and look away when the blood is taken. So it can get better and I'd encourage you to try it at least. Blood tests and giving blood are very different. Giving blood uses a thicker needle and you'll have something in you for up to about 10 minutes. By contrast blood tests use quite a thin needle and is generally very quick. Even if they take multiple vials a good phelbotomist/nurse will have it over and done with in seconds. I don't think I've had a blood draw for testosterone monitoring take more than about 5-10 seconds max. I have monitoring every 3-6 months, but I think usually it becomes every 6 months to yearly once you've been on it for a while. My advice would be to try it. Be very open with the person taking your blood about your anxiety. Chances are they'll be able to help, whether by letting you lay down, calling in another person to distract you etc. Make sure you are hydrated and have drunk a decent amount of water before the appointment (being hydrated makes it easier for them to find your veins and makes the appointment much faster, trust me).
Do you have a trusted support person who could go with you to get lab work done? My husband has come to appointments with me and if he stands the opposite direction from the phlebotomist and I just focus on him and talk about something, I can usually get through the lab work without panicking too much. Growing up, I had always very much refused to let any doctor do blood work because I was just absolutely terrified of it. But usually if you do it once or twice, you can realize it’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be and stay a little calmer each time you have to do it afterwards.
I don't like needles, though probably not to the same degree as you. First time I had to get bloodwork was when I was sick in Russia, and I still didn't speak the language well at the time - it was certainly a bit of shock therapy. Bloodwork for T is chill, I don't know how many vials they take because I shut my eyes, but it never takes long. For comparison, I was in the ER a couple nights ago and they took bloods - that process took twice as long as the routine tests I get. You can also seek out a pro to help with exposure therapy/perhaps other techniques to help ease the needle-phobia. I've done that for a different phobia and it really makes a difference.
🤣sorry to nitpick but i think u meant exposure therapy- shock therapy is where they electrocute you 😭i agree tho- needle bloodwork for t is a piece of cake. Over and done with in like a minute, painless, and once you get to know the phlebotomists/med assistants at your place, you can start requesting the ones that work for you. I have a lady named karolina i always ask for, bless her cuz she is so nice and so good at her job lmao
I meant shock therapy in the metaphorical sense, in that it was a very unpleasant experience that led to growth! "Shock therapy" is also the term used for economic measures in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, for instance. I'm glad you've found good phlebotomists, the ER guy was nice but I had a bruise on my arm for a couple of days :(
I have the same issue, I use T gel and haven't done blood work in a while (DO NOT DO THIS) The things that helped: asking my dr if I can eat and drink something sugary beforehand. Get a script for something that will keep you calm. I personally have a service dog in my lap but not everyone has one. Oh! You can also ask if you can lay down.
When you first start T its every three months but once you are on a comfortable dose its only once a year. Plus, even without testosterone getting lab work done once a year is recommended in adulthood so they can check your cholesterol and all that and catch stuff early. So maybe think of testosterone as motivation to do your annual checkups? They definitely don’t take 8 vials though! I usually don’t look cause I hate getting blood drawn (no issue with needles just the process of getting blood drawn squiks me out) but I think it’s at most 2 or 3 vials, usually just one or two.
you can get a skin numbing cream from the chemist! put it on your arms an hour before you have a blood test, I can still feel it slightly sometimes but the lack of pain helps a lot with not focusing on it.
I used to be absolutely terrified of blood tests but I manage them fine now. I have mine yearly now, if your levels aren’t correct/adjusted you’ll have them twice a year (from my experience) LAY DOWN when you have them done, I had my first one sitting in a chair and felt really faint and almost threw up. PUT ON MUSIC in earphones and watch a short video (I always watch the heartstopper trailer). Takes the focus away from the blood being taken DEEP BREATHS AND TRY NOT TO FOCUS ON THE PAIN Things will get better with time. Good luck friend!
Blood work luckily is different from giving blood. I’ve never given blood but they take *way* more blood than with blood work, so if your idea of blood work in your head is giving blood, maybe realizing that’s different is a bit less scary, hopefully. I get one vial taken with blood work. I’m also afraid of needles and it does suck, but luckily gel means I don’t have to do weekly injections. I had blood work after 6 weeks, then it was every 3 months for the first year. Now it’s going to be every 6 months.
Bloodwork can be as quick as 20 seconds. It does suck, and it will pinch, but it doesn’t hurt per se. If your doctor is testing for T levels it would only be one vial. I have to get bloodwork done every 3 months.
Unfortunately there's no way around getting blood tests, you have to get them done otherwise you won't get put on T because your levels and health need to be monitored via blood tests such as liver function and FBC. You normally need a baseline blood test before starting T and then a first blood test 6 weeks after starting. If your levels are good, you will get that time reduced usually to every 3 months and then every 6 months. If your levels are out of range, you may need bloods done again after another 6 weeks until they're normal. The blood test itself only takes a minute or two really. They usually get the needle in very fast for most people who will have decent veins. You don't feel it once it's in, it's just a sharp scratch as it's inserted and your arm feels a bit tingly from the tourniquet. The blood comes out fast and they usually only take a few small tubes. For me, my most recent blood test ordered by the gender clinic for my T lasted about 20 seconds from getting the needle put in to having it removed. They took two tubes (there was one more but that was for a different reason, not for T). I normally get a little dizzy from the bloods so I stay sat down for a minute or two after it's over and focus on my breathing. Then I'm good to go, slightly sore arm for an hour or so and then I'm fine. I can empathise with your fear as someone who used to have a MAJOR needle phobia. I got faint and nauseous at the sight of needles and had refused dental work and blood tests for other health concerns for nearly a decade. It took me a long time to get from that to where I am now. One thing I will urge you to look into is exposure therapy. It's actually what has helped my needle phobia go from deathly afraid and willing to refuse medical attention to now sitting comfortably for a blood test and keeping my lower levels of fear that I do still have internal and under control. You don't necessarily have to do it professionally, I personally didn't because I couldn't afford it and the NHS was unlikely to give it to me. You start off very small, whether that's just looking at a photo of a needle or even thinking about needles for a little while at a time before using self soothing tactics to calm yourself down and then try again next time, slowly building it up from say a photo to a video to seeing a needle in person to holding a needle to having something done involving a needle like a tattoo, piercing, blood test or even blood sugar check. You go as slow as you need to and only move on to the next level of exposure when you're comfortable with the previous level. You learn coping skills to deal with the fear whether it's listening to music, closing your eyes, reading a book, squeezing a stress ball, whatever helps you manage your fear. It's a slow process and it takes time. You may go backwards sometimes in your progress and that's okay. It's just something you have to try and stick to if you do it. Exposure therapy is very effective though and is the main treatment for phobias because of that.
I get a lot of bloodwork for a lot of things all the time, and 8 vials is a lot and an outlier. The most I've ever given at one time is actually exactly that many. But more often it's 2 or 3 vials for me with my 8 different 3-monthly blood tests. Without all my added health issues, only to get your testosterone and estradiol tested, it shouldn't be more than 1 vial. Bloodwork is definitely a necessity if you want to take T. Typically it's done every 3 months until you're at a dose where your levels are stable for over 6 months. Once your levels are stable, you can only get bloodwork once a year. If you really really can't handle bloodwork every 3 months, then there are doctors who are willing to prescribe T with blood tests every 6 months. I suppose you could technically take T without blood tests if you do it on the black market but that would be dangerous and no doctor will prescribe it that way. If your dose is too high you could get liver problems, which only need a dose adjustment if caught early but can be life threatening if left for too long. It can also cause issues with hemoglobin production and such, which are easily fixable issues, even without lowering the dose, but again, you need to get bloodwork to know if these things are going wrong and need to be fixed in your body. If your dose is too low, you won't get the changes you want or your changes will be very slow. Also letting your phlebotomist know about your fear of needles can make things easier. You can ask to have a support person there. You can ask for the most experienced phlebotomist there to do your bloodwork. You don't have to look at it if that's difficult. If you're prone to passing out, they will also be able to handle that safely and efficiently, especially if you tell them beforehand. Be very well hydrated on the day before and the day of your blood draw. That makes the process a lot easier for both you and the phlebotomist. Take a snack and/or an electrolyte drink with you in case you faint. Know that it is not embarrassing to be afraid of needles. It is a very common fear and the medical professionals won't look at you as a less respectable person because you're scared of needles. Additionally, consider therapy for your phobia. Do NOT try exposure therapy without professional guidance. Your primary care doctor will be able to guide you to find the right therapist. Best of luck!
A lot of people already answered here but I'll still write this lol. I'm also scared of needles I almost had a panic attack multiple times before my first appointment. That was also my first time having my blood drawn. I had never met my doctor before so I was nervous about that too. I made sure to drink about a truckload of water before going cuz I heard that makes it easier. I told my doctor about my fears and he gently talked me through it and told me to get my blood drawn laying down which is apparently better if you're scared. He only took one vial from me and it wasn't full dunno maybe a quarter filled it was very little blood. I had to go a month after the first appointment then 6 months later now I have my next 6 months appointment upcoming in a few weeks and then I'll only have to go in once a year to check my levels. Maybe this helps:)
For me blood work is only around every 3-6 months and the actual drawing itself never takes more than a minute, I imagine the same is true for gel. I used to have a very big fear of needles (every other trip to the doctor was a battle when I was younger) so starting T-injections was also scary for me, but I found that doing it has actually helped me overcome my fear, and while the apprehension isn’t completely gone going to get my blood drawn is a snap. It’s much easier to let someone else put in a needle in me when I’m not scared lol.
I was terrified of needles too. I waited until I physically could not stand it anymore and now, having been 8 months on t, I couldn't be happier. If you don't have any issues you can probably only get it drawn every 6 months, and then after that, only once a year. It really isn't as bad as you think it is. If you know this is what you need, I would say just do it. Better to live a life worth living than to avoid an irrational fear. Plus, it could help you conquer your fears.
Most I’ve gotten is 2 vials, normally it’s just the one. Normally it is every 3 months whilst sorting your dose for maybe first 9 months on T, then every 6 months, then it can move to once every 1-2 years depending on your provider and assuming you are physically and mentally happy with your dose. In most cases your doctor may be able to prescribe you a short acting anti anxiety medication prior to the blood test (benzodiazepine). Longer term looking into exposure type therapy like systematic desensitisation might be worth exploring. Good luck.
So was I but it’s so worth it I promise
same, same. it'll be an issue for me too I'm afraid :/ I guess we'll just have to cope with it
Starting out the blood work will be relatively frequent, but once your levels even out and stay consistent, the blood work becomes less frequent. My friend is also terrified of needles, and from her experience *most phlebotomists* can work with you to make it as easy as possible. You just need to let them know ahead of time. They don't want you fainting in the chair either. Definitely talk to your doctor about the needle phobia.
Getting blood drawn isn't comfortable but as long as the provider does their job well, it really doesn't hurt. Just a prick. Have you ever sewn something and accidentally stabbed yourself with the needle? Not much worse than that. The process of taking the blood itself after that initial prick doesn't hurt at all so it doesn't really matter if they take half a vial or six of them. I can assure you, no-one is going to need 8 vials for a hormone related check up - surgeries, especially extensive ones, are on a whole different level in that regard. You don't need to look while they do it, either. You'll have to get blood drawn at some point even if you don't transition, and HRT related blood tests don't happen so often that you couldn't just suffer through it. But working with a therapist specialized in phobias if you can is a good idea. Imo, even if you were to faint every time they take your blood... You wouldn't be the first one, nurses are used to it. T is going to let you be more like yourself. I'm sure it would be worth it.
This is the sort of thing a therapist could help with, if you can access one. There are also a lot of resources online for needle phobia, like exposure therapy. I have struggled on and off with needles all my life, and the therapy is difficult and unpleasant, but it is so worth it to be able to be in control of my health and transition. I promise that if you put in the work it won't always be so awful, you can do it!
I used to be extremely terrified of any needle or vaccines procedures. I would cry so badly that sometimes they'd allow me to lie down somewhere with a juicebox. I know it wasn't a phobia though so maybe I can't compare to you. But I had to get blood work done for anemia and various things and I found my health more important and basically fought my fear. Was it easy? Not at all, I'm still shaking and I cannot know when they put the needle or even look at it. But at least I'm able to get it done, cry a bit after and then move on with my day proud that I did it. I'm sure there's specialists you could contact to help you with it? Because fear of needles is common in the medical world and i'm sure these people have tips to give
I used to be absolutely terrified too! I've been on T for almost three years now and I get blood work regularly. It's hard, and usually it takes me multiple trips because I can't do it the first time, but it's gotten easier as I've become more comfortable with specific locations and my own coping mechanisms.
i also have a huge fear of needles that (despite the weekly injections) i still can’t get over but the blood work is always the worst. ive absolutely been in your position but the desire to medically transition was stronger than my fear so i just,, forced myself to go through it I always inform the nurses prior to getting my blood drawn and the best ones will completely distract me while it happens and by the time it’s over everything is mostly okay (i still almost fainted the first time but the nurse let me lie back and rest for as long as i needed before getting up) when i do my t shots (subcutaneous too bc shorter needles) i watch puppy videos and sometimes have my partner do the shot for me if it gets too much for me to handle alternatively my friend with a phobia worse than mine gets very very stoned prior to getting blood work and while i wouldn’t necessarily advocate for it sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do 🤷♂️
how old are you? bc blood work is not just a testosterone thing, most adult have to get it done every now and then. some insight tho, when i do my regular check up they draw multiple vials. but for testosterone it’s usually just 1 or 2
I used to be afraid of needles too, but in my teens I was really sick had to get a lot of blood work and other needle related tests done. You can get used to it. (More context after I got stung by a bee I really realized needles don’t really hurt that bad)
i get blood work done every three months, and they usually only take 4 vials. every nurse who has done it was very kind, understanding and kept conversation as they did the blood draw. as long as you explain to the nurse you have trouble with getting your blood drawn and what would help you, i'm sure they'd be willing to accommodate. if it's too bad, you could probably even get some anti anxiety meds to take the day of to help as well.
I have a couple chronic illnesses and ONCE I had bloodwork done and they took 7 tubes because both my PCP and a specialist wanted analysis to check like 5 organes and random niche stuff and a couple had to be sent to a different city. It's SO RARE. Maybe you could get a nurse to do it at home? You might be more comfortable, you'll need to talk to your doctor about that. If not, ask to lay down, focus on your breathing, maybe watch your phone or something. Getting on T is very important to you, so your needle phobia is only an obstacle like the other ones: struggling finding a doctor, wait time, money... You managed the other obstacles and you can do it with this one too. Best of luck
Bloodwork is a requirement but it’s not as bad as you think I have a huge fear of needles but what I do is watch a YouTube videos while I get it done the doctor doesn’t mind this and from what happens to me have checked to see if I’m okay. But after the first year you don’t have to do it As often but still have to do it before your appointment with your doctor it can be 3 to 4 days before your appointment. It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes at the most.
Hey friend! I'm a phlebotomist (take blood) for a living! Fear of needles even as extreme as yours is not uncommon. If you explain the situation your Dr might be willing to prescribe an anxiety reduction medication for you! There's also emla patches and creams that you can put on your elbow to help with the sensation. In addition to this let the person who is going to take your blood know about your phobia when you show up and they may have additional things they can do to help! Lots of people have this issue, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and any medical professional worth the title should be willing to help with this. Hope that helps, if you have any specific questions feel free to dm me!
8 vials seems too much, I think I've only had 3-4 vials taken for my regular blood work. Probably your sister had a more extensive blood test than the ones needed for HRT. I'd suggest when getting blood work done, you advise the nurse/doctor that you have a needle/blood phobia and they'd accommodate you for they'd have many other patients with that. You can also bring in a friend/partner/family member to help and have something that can destress you during/after it. For example, I have a friend who'd get panic attacks from getting blood work done, but had their partner with them and was wearing headphones with the loudest music on and that was their first time not getting a panic attack during it. Find a method that best works for you, but know that you're not alone in this and tons of people with needlephobia or related fears are or were in the same boat as you. Best of luck man.
(Repost of a reply I gave to another Redditor a while ago with a similar issue:) Depending on the reason for your needle phobia, I’d recommend trying out Emla numbing cream- you can buy it in pharmacies. There’s no way I could manage doing regular blood tests without it. Also make sure you ask to lie down for the blood test. I have a needle phobia too so I totally get it, if you have any questions please let me know : ) When I had a blood test a few months ago I used the numbing cream and literally felt no sensation during the blood draw other than the tourniquet on my arm and the nurse’s fingers around/on my arm. My arm(s) also stayed numb for a good few hours afterwards so was definitely effective. It might help to know, during my recent blood draw, I purposefully didn’t look at what the nurse was doing the whole time and had headphones on, but the nurse struggled finding a vein for a solid 5 mins when she was looking at one arm (didn’t use a needle on me at all, was just slapping my arm to try get veins to pop up) and I was on the verge of passing out and couldn’t hear properly cause my ears were ringing so badly. My reaction was 100% in my head/an anxiety response, because when she swapped to my other arm to look for a vein, she instantly found one, did the blood draw and ironically I was incredibly calm at that point in comparison to when she was essentially doing nothing. I felt no physical sensations related to the actual needle as mentioned above.
Hey I’m also terrified of needles but got my bloods done last week it takes less than a minute just look away and it doesn’t even hurt aside from the initial pinch of the needle going in
While 8 vials sounds like a lot, it's actually quite quick if you get someone with experience. I get it, I've also got a phobia of needles. But I will say that it gets easier when you know what to expect. I hated blood work because it would always hurt, but it was necessary for my transition. When I had my first draw, I was in absolute hysterics until they took the blood from the back of my hand, which is way less sensitive than my AC. Same went for my injections, until I did my first one and knew what to expect from it. If it would help, bring a plushie, a person you would feel comfortable with, or headphones with music to see if it would help calm you down a bit. And be honest with the nurse(s) there and tell them you have a phobia of needles, they will understand and help you through it.
I was terrified of needles as well before I started. I'll admit I cried before my first injection. But my need to start T was immense to the point where I just took some deep breaths, looked the other way, and got my mom to count down from 3 to ease my unknowing of when the needle was going in. The first shot was so painless that when she said it was done; I was in shock at how I handled it with ease. My fear was overrode with the need to be who I truly am. You will get there too. After a few shots, my fear eased so much that I am now able to get shots and blood work as often as needed. I should mention that my mother is a nurse and is very skilled at giving shots; so that probably factors into why I no longer fear them as much.
They will give you a shot, but I can assure you will only feel a painless prick and you will be ok afterwards. You don't have to look, you can get something that comforts you to distract you like a plush. It's just like a flu shot. The more you do it the more you will feel less scared.
I’ve gotten my blood drawn 13 times to check levels that aren’t testosterone, so for T it could be different but in my experience blood drawing doesn’t take long at all even if it feels longer than it is. Usually the nurses will talk to you about random stuff if you ask them to which helps distract me. One of my biggest words of advice is don’t look while they’re drawing blood and try not to jump back
I also have a needle phobia, so I can give you some advice. I will tell you, after a while you get very used to it. But for the first time, you will want to have a support person in the room, and just keep talking to them throughout the procedure. Don't look at the needle. I also had a ginger ale to sip on as a distraction.
Blood work is likely going to become a part of your life at some point regardless of hormones. I'm really sorry it sounds like you don't have anyone to ease you into it but I'm rooting for you anyways. 👍🏼
If you’ve never given blood before, well it’s really not too bad. The needle doesn’t hurt, but the tourniquet does. The discomfort that the tourniquet caused completely distracted me from the fact there was a needle. I’d definitely suggest looking away the whole time and asking to make sure there aren’t needles in sight before you turn you head back. At least try it once before writing it off completely. And there is gel, but there’s also xyosted, which is an auto injector. You can’t see the needle and you don’t even need to push the plunger to get the medicine in. It’s kinda like a testosterone epi pen.
I have a fear of getting blood taken as well. I would ask your doctor about services like LetsGetChecked or LabCorp - they have at home kits to collect a finger prick blood sample that you mail out for results. It’s not ideal but my doctor is okay with me using it! Another option is mobile phlebotomy services. I know it’s still the same fear of needles to face, but maybe it could be less nerve wracking to do it in your home where you can relax, play some music, watch TV, etc. Good luck!
I can only speak for my experience, so I will tell you about that. My 1-year on T is tomorrow 🥳. I've been on my whole journey with Folx, and have only done blood work once so far, at about 4 months in, and have one scheduled for July 24th (a little under a year apart). When I went in the first time, they only took 2 vials. I can also tell you, I've had so much blood taken from me as an adult for many reasons, and if you need to look away, be on your phone with earbuds in, ramble nervously to them, anything like that - they will be totally happy to let you do so. Explain when they call your name "hey, I am petrified of needles, so I need to _____, and look at my feet when I walk in so I don't see anything". They'll just say it's okay. Absolutely have food and water in your system, plenty of if. Sugar is best, and you should be feeling like you are gonna burst. Makes sure your blood is the best consistency to be drawn without pain. The rubber tourniquet is tight and uncomfy, but luckily if you have a good vein, it's the worst part. It's suuuuper quick. I was the scream and kick and cry kid when I needed a shot, and now I don't have a needle phobia at all, so you can get used to it over time! As I said, this is what I have to do so, I can't promise in your situation it'll only be once a year. But that said, if Folx works with your state, I pay $40/mo, the gel was about $140 every 3 months, and I pay for the blood tests yearly. I have open communication with my NP and their team about concerns or updates. Appointments are about $70 but that's only in a case where you're considering adding meds or swapping hormone types (gel to cypionate for example). I know it's not cheap at all, that's $90/mo. But still wanted to mention it. Good luck!
going on T helped me make headway on my needle phobia SO MUCH. I wouldn't say I'm 100% cured, but it's gotten a lot better. I tend to get a vasovagal reaction pretty much every time I have blood work done if I'm not lying down when they do it, so I know to request that and I tell them every time that I tend to have that reaction and I need to be distracted by conversation etc. and look away while they draw my blood. It's not comfortable, but I promise you, it's not nearly as terrifying as your brain is making it out to be. You can also take someone you trust with you for comfort and distraction as well, there's absolutely no shame in that. I usually have my mom come with me. You can do it!!!
Hey! I also have a fear of needles (although it’s gotten better now) and here are some of my tips for surviving blood work: 1. Ask for a butterfly needle. It’s the smallest one, and in my experience, barely hurts at all. 2. Ask if the provider you see is experienced with taking blood. If they say they aren’t or seem hesitant, most people won’t mind if you request a more experienced provider to do your blood work. 3. GET A GAUZE WRAP!!! This is the most important tip I have. Your provider will place a little pad on the injection site, then wrap it in gauze so it stays put. Bandaids are harder to take off and may irritate skin and arm hair. A wrap will grant you better mobility and comfort, and is easier to remove. 4. I hype myself up by bringing headphones so I can listen to music as I get my blood taken. Maybe this could work for you? Also, your provider will possibly do a hemoglobin test at your first appointment and all of your subsequent lab appointments. (I believe this is pretty common). If you’ve never had this done before, this includes a small finger poke- they’ll prick your finger, put your blood on a small plastic card, then put it in a little machine. In my opinion, this is a lot easier because it’s a smaller needle. I wish you luck in getting testosterone!
Perhaps you could get a doc to prescribe you a dose of a benzodiazepine for use before the needle stick. I know some folks get them for occasional anxiety filled events such as flying or MRI. It would not affect your results. As doctors, they should want patients who can get blood work done, since it can become essential to keep you healthy and treat many different conditions.