– I hate the syringes. I’m in a cold sweat and simply can’t handle them. Tom Erik Eltervåg has spent much of his time at the blood and cancer outpatient clinic at Stavanger University Hospital (SUS). In the summer of 2021, Eltervåg was diagnosed with mole cancer. Afterwards, he went through a tough immunotherapy treatment. Tom Erik Eltervåg has injection phobia. Photo: Ingvild Taranger / news But it wasn’t the treatment itself that was the worst. Although he has tattoos, he characterizes his relationship with needles being inserted into the skin as injection phobia. That’s why he struggled a lot with the stick that came with it. Later, he found out that there is a machine that makes it easier to hit the blood vessels. – When I saw the machine, I thought it was fantastic. Why don’t they have one like this here, where they stab all the time, I thought. He therefore started a fundraising campaign at Spleis so that the department he has spent a lot of time on would get the brand new machine. The areas that are not green show where the blood vessels are. Photo: Ingvild Taranger / news He received NOK 50,000, and with that money SUS bought the machine. The patients let go of the hassle The nurses are happy about Eltervåg’s commitment. Ingfrid Gryte says that the machine is used extensively. – It has become a great aid for us. This makes it easier to get the needle, we spend less time looking for the blood vessels and the patients avoid the discomfort of the needle. She often meets patients who are afraid of syringes. Ingfrid Gryte, nurse at the polyclinic for blood and cancer diseases at SUS. Photo: Ingvild Taranger / news – Some are very scared, while others find it unpleasant and would like to be in front. Most people are very open about it. Peter Samuelsen is a patient on the ward and benefits from the machine. He is not as afraid of the syringes, but greatly appreciates the machine. – It is progress. When they look for the oars, they are not always so easy to find. This machine made it much easier. Peter Samuelsen is happy that the department has got the new machine that makes syringes easier. Photo: Ingvild Taranger / news Can stem from bad experiences Psychological specialist at Diakonhjemmet hospital in Oslo, Elin Fjerstad, says that around 4 per cent of the population has a phobia of injections. Up to 30 percent are anxious about injections. She believes that some of the reasons may be bad events from growing up. Elin Fjerstad, psychologist specialist at Diakonhjemmet hospital. Photo: Kjell Håkon Kielland Larsen – Maybe they have fainted or they have been held fast. Then it becomes a traumatic memory that appears as an echo from the past, in situations where the adults are to be injected. She has met many people who find it shameful to be afraid of taking an injection or a blood test. – I think it’s understandable that children are scared. But the fact that they are afraid as adults is seen as shameful by many. But it’s really nothing to be ashamed of. Fear is the inherited ability of the body to protect us. Without the ability to feel anxiety, we would not actually survive.
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Tom Erik is so afraid of syringes that he raised money so the hospital got a new machine – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
