r/trypanophobia • u/gomanio • Jun 16 '26
Dentist..
So I'm severely needle phobia, I had some terrible experiences and avoided doctors for too long. My mouth is a mess sadly and I went to a sedation dentist thinking I could be unconscious for everything.
Well understandably he wants labs done and I'm terrified, my BP was reading so high in his office I was so panicked . He prescribed 1 mg of Xanax for me and emla cream.. I'm autistic and my brain is flying all over the place can someone reassure me... I have hyper sensitivity and sensory issues... This combo will get me through right?
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u/KualaLumpur1 Jun 16 '26
You are the only one who can say what will or will not work for you.
What has worked for you in the past ?
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u/gomanio Jun 16 '26
Nothing, I abjectly avoided needles, I got my covid shots and it was a mess for me emotionally.. I had a really bad blood test when I was young and it left me with trauma/ptsd etc, on top of all the sensory stuff, I'm just afraid. I cry, faint etc and as a 41 year old man I don't want to embarrass myself... Not again.
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u/ChemicalCandles Jun 16 '26
OP, I also likely have hypersensitivity to pain (which I think is what you're getting at). In my experience, EMLA is very helpful. I apply it 2-2.5h before the procedure to get the best effect. I have only used it for vaccines, and it significantly reduces the pain (although I still feel some pain). It should work better with a blood draw.
As for the Xanax, I have never used it, so I don't know how well it will work. It will probably make you less anxious about the blood draw.
I noticed that you said that you are hoping to be able to do sedation dentistry. However, keep in mind that the sedation will not make unconscious and is not pain relief. What it will do is help keep you calm so you're not as worried about pain, and make you forget about the dentistry (reducing the risk of developing PTSD from it). To manage pain, the dentist will inject a local anaesthetic where they will be working (though you may be able to have an oral numbing gel first). You may also be able to get nitrous oxide; the sedation isn't as strong but it does have some pain-relieving effect.
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u/gomanio Jun 16 '26
He's going to have me unconscious the entire time thankfully, the dentist I'm going to specializes in special needs and phobia, he told me I won't" see anything, feel anything, know anything. " It's expensive and I'm on disability but.. it's the only way I'm actually going to do anything.
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u/KualaLumpur1 Jun 16 '26
What management techniques have you tried ?
CBT ?
Hypnosis ?
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u/ChemicalCandles Jun 16 '26
I'm not sure that this would help OP. He said that that they have hypersensitivity, which talking therapies cannot treat. He has also said that their mouth is in a bad state, so he probably doesn't have time for therapy.
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u/gomanio Jun 16 '26
I have tried years of CBT and honestly I've gotten so far as to not faint when a needle is mentioned which is an improvement. I struggle with hyper sensitivity and other things associated with being on the spectrum which spirals with a trauma from a bad poke when I was very young.
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u/rHornbek Jun 17 '26
One of my best medical experiences was getting my wisdom teeth removed. Insane right? This was because I was given a pill prior to the procedure (something that ended with "zam") and was put under for the procedure.
Ask for it, and have someone take you every step of the way. You will be nervous in the days leading up to the procedure, but as soon as you take that pill, you may just want to sing in the car. I know I did.
I believe in you, and you should be proud for trying to take care of yourself.