I'm starting to get really worried about my health. However, my fear of needles is far greater than my fear of death.

I know it sounds rediculous - I can't believe I'm writing this, it makes me sound an even bigger idiot when saying in words that a needle scares me more than the fear of death.

Here's the score: I've not had a needle since I was around 8. I'm in my late 20's now. The last time was before an operation on my eye, the general anaesthetic. I do not remember being scared of it! However, since then, I've been unable to deal with needles.

I've been unwell for a little while, and my doctor has been insisting on blood tests. I've been unable to provide, and my GP has been very good in working with alternative tests, but we've exhausted all of them.

This week my boyfriend told me that he'd picked up syphilis. As this is incredibly easily transmitted, I attended the sexual health clinic and explained the needle issue. They weren't happy, but were sympathetic, and allowed me to take the oral medicine course without testing. Less than ideal, and also problematic that it doesn't allow us to see if the problem has cleared, or even, if I had syphilis in the first place.

My concern is that, given some of the symptoms, I may have had syphilis for a while, and it may have been me that has passed it to my boyfriend.

I'm terrified. I know I need to get blood taken, not just for the sexual health issue, but also for the other outstanding issues, which appear to be getting worse slowly.

My needle phobia is just so strong that despite having been unwell for several years, and this syphilis thing hanging over me, I cannot bring myself to have a blood test.

I'm still a young guy, and I don't feel like one - I feel like an old man, and I need to get over this ASAP.

I've tried hypnotherapy, that didn't do ANYTHING.

I cannot identify a cause

I am fortunate that money isn't a problem - so elaborate or expensive cures are fine.

I am in the UK

Help

I'm sorry to hear about that. I have been afraid of needles for as long as I can remember. However there was once a time that I was able to get a blood test. I was feeling nauseous on and off for a month by then, and my doctor also suggested a series of blood tests. All I did was ask the people to not let me know what they are dong and when. I had my eyes covered at all times and was listening to my ipod on loud. That seemed to get me through the process...it also took around a couple of minutes to finish the procedures.

Anyway, good luck! I hope you can get through this.