Phatteus Under the Knife!!

[phatteus]

Despite the ills of mankind and the troubles which plague so many people the world over, I am freaking out over an ingrown toenail. I will be going to a podiatrist tomorrow (September 16th) to have it surgically removed.
Now, I am no stranger to pain. My threshold for pain is incredibly high. When I decided that I wanted to call a doctor, I knew that the pain was bad. I can tolerate a lot of pain... This I couldn't tolerate. (Hell, I've been hit squarely in the face with a baseball bat! It hurt.. but I was ok!)
Naturally, my "friends" all offered horror stories about how terrible a procedure it is, and how painful the recovery will be. A few told me that the pain I am in now is far worse than anything I'll be feeling tomorrow. That made me feel a little better.
I have had more severe surgical procedures performed on me than severe ticklings! (sadly, much more) So the trepidation I'm feeling isn't over the procedure. I pretty much know what it will entail, and I also know that I will be in no danger during this simple outpatient procedure. The thing that worries me that most is the fucking needle! As I said, I can tolerate pain, and I don't complain when I'm uncomfortable, but I have a terrible phobia of needles. At the dentist, I never get novocaine. I just changed dentists, and the new guy wanted to give me a filling, so he took out his drill, and took out his needle. I told him no needle, just drill. Well, he looked at me like I had lost my mind. But, he said that if I refused novocaine, he had to honor that request. He drilled the hell out of me, all the while wondering what I was feeling. I was feeling intense pain, but I could handle it. I couldn't handle that needle.
Now, this foot surgery will require local anathaesia. I know this. I won't be able to endure the toe torture without it, but that damn needle is just going to be unpleasant. Just do me a favor and think kind things for me at 3:30 tomorrow.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: Jeez, kid, mellow out! It's just an ingrown toenail! There are people suffering out there, and you're freaking out over a little needle. To that metaphorical slam, I say: "tough".

Anyway, Phatteus will soon be up and active again. I can only hope that the recovery is as quick as I think it will be. That, and I can hope that there will be a beautiful nurse to - er - prep my feet.
Trepidatiously yours:

-Phatteus

 

[naveltkltr1350]

phatteus..good luck brah! you will be ok!

 

[kis123]

It's your pain, your phobia, and certainly your business how you feel about things and you're entitled to it. I used to be so afraid of needles, I would humiliate my mother at every doctor's appointment.


Anyone remember when we used to get shots and boosters at school? I'd be traumatized by the process and would hold up the line with my antics!

Once I got pregnant with my first child, I was basically cured. Ladies, can you count how many times you were poked and prodded during your pregnancy? It's worse when you're heavier since they assume you may get diabetes or something. Funny, everyone who I knew got gestational diabetes was thin prior to pregnancy.

I wish you well on the surgery and a speedy recovery. Try not to look at the needle. It actually does help.

 

[He-Man]

Ugh..man, I know what you mean about needles. And about having more operations than tickling sessions...think I've had around 13 to 15 of them..and I'm only 23.

I agree with anyone who says that if you don't look at the needle, it's a little easier to handle. Also, have you read in some posts where some have said you can psych (or however it's spelled) yourself out to make yourself more or less ticklish? Well, for me, it works with needles. These days, it feels more like a misquito biting me (which hurts alot less than some needle being stabbed into you)

As for the novicane..man, I don't know how you stand the drilling without it😱...did your dentist ever offer to use some of the stuff they rub onto your gumbs to make them numb before the shot?

If he did, it might've helped you to have him use that...when that gets your gumbs numb, and if the dentist pushes the needle in slowwwly...you won't feel a thing. That helped me get over my fear of those big freakin needles...now if they'd just design a less noisy drill, maybe I won't hate those things as much. 😛

Good luck on your surgery...try not to kill the guy givin you your shot 😀

 

[tommytikl]

Hey Phatteus..
Just look away when they stick you...don't look at the needle at all..
In fact bring a magazine to read when they stick you to distract you.
This works...I have no problem once the needle is in but going in "gets to me".
And both of these ideas have worked for me.

Just look away...

Oh yeah, you will be hobbling around for a few days after the surgery.
Oh and cut the "toes" out of an old pair of sneakers, because you will probably want to walk around and lifting your foot in your shoes requires one to lift thier toes and that HURTS after the removal.
It really worked for my father-in-law!

 

[phatteus]

Thanks everyone!

The "Surgery" as it were was a complete success! I simply looked away when the doctor poked me a few times with the needle! (He needed to do four injections, so it was pretty awful, but he even said: This is the most not fun part of the day!) I cursed only once, and hurt my hands gripping the chair, but I survived the injections. Then he left me alone for a few moments before finally coming in and doing the procedure, which took all of 20 minutes.
Today I changed the bandage, and there was a LOT of blood, but the wounds have pretty much stopped bleeding. The pain is infrequent and very slight. So, in all, I would consider it a total success. Phatteus' feet should be completely ticklable in a few weeks! (hint-hint)
I want to thank Naveltiklr, Kis123, He-Man (I have the power!) and TommyTickler for their "help" with my whimpering. I really appreciate it.

 

[Mitchell]

Phatteus, good luck with the ingrown toenail. Pain is no fun. I do have a story to tell you.
Iam not going to lie to you, novicaine in the toe is painful. I've never had an ingrown toenail, but one time I had two plantars warts on my toe, and the underside of the bottom of my foot. The doctor gave me four novacaine shots in my big and second toe to numb the foot, before he removed the warts. Those shots were the most painful thing I've ever had in my life. I dont want to scare you, but be prepared for pain. I also had novacaine when I had four teeth pulled just before I had my braces put on when I was a teenager, four shots on both sides, top and bottom of the gums. That time, I had laughing gas to make me feel dreamy so I wouldnt feel the full brunt of it. I still recall when the dentist went near me to shoot up my gums, screaming in agony even as drugged as I was.
So Good Luck. You'll get the procedure done, and it will be over with.

Mitch