Injections on yourself

[Noggin]

Ok

I am VERY needle averse. I can deal with injections and, now, blood letting, but I am seriously not keen and generally look the other way!


I have been prescribed an anticoagulant injection to have every day. A nurse will be coming every other day to change the dressing on the scar, but I was wondering if I should ask her to show me how to do the injection so that she doesn't have to come EVERY day


But - I've never injected anyone and definitely not myself!!


Anyone had to do this? Can a slightly phobic (or very averse) person manage?!!


Also, since I'm now home and won't be sitting on my arse all of every day (have to get up and hop around to make cuppas and sort stuff in general) do you think I can get away with asking for the injections to be reduced?? (I still have a hand sized bruise from the first two, since then I've used an ice pack immediately afterwards and it's not been so bad, but they are not nice at all )

[Cousin Jack]

Had to do it for a few days when I broke my foot. Piece of piss, I was very nervous before the first one, but after that I managed fine and stopped worrying.

Mine had to be given into my belly fat and I barely felt them.

[Noggin]

Had to do it for a few days when I broke my foot. Piece of piss, I was very nervous before the first one, but after that I managed fine and stopped worrying.

Mine had to be given into my belly fat and I barely felt them.

These can go thigh or belly - so far (because I've been sat wearing a hospital gown!) they've been in my right thigh.

But that's good to hear. I've got 30 days worth So I guess I'll either be properly phobic by the end or over the 'averse'!!


I'll ask the nurse in the morning - before I get freaked out by the staples again!!

[gremlin]

Practice on an orange. Or volunteer. I suspect a willing orange will be easier to find.

If they're allowed to let you self-inject, they'll show you how. It's not difficult. I always remember my mate's little boy injecting his own insulin from the age of about 6 onwards.

Easy-peasy, just ask any heroin-riddled addict curled up in a doorway.

[Yambo]

I was injecting my wife for a couple of months during her illness - "You don't need to send the District Nurses round, he can do it." So I did.

Last year while I was getting my new heart meds sorted I had to inject myself for a couple of weeks. It wasn't any problem, the needles were quite fine and I could hardly feel them going in. Bit of a non-event really but then needles don't worry me.

[The Martian]

Just get yourself addicted to heroin and you'll soon pick it up.

Probably good for the pain too

[Noggin]

I was injecting my wife for a couple of months during her illness - "You don't need to send the District Nurses round, he can do it." So I did.

Last year while I was getting my new heart meds sorted I had to inject myself for a couple of weeks. It wasn't any problem, the needles were quite fine and I could hardly feel them going in. Bit of a non-event really but then needles don't worry me.

I think that's the biggest issue - I really hate needles when someone used them on me!! but maybe if I'm doing it might be ok!!

Just get yourself addicted to heroin and you'll soon pick it up.

Probably good for the pain too

Isn't heroin an opiate? Given that opiates don't seem to have any effect on me, I'd need a LOT, so probably not worth it!! LOL

[Noggin]

Just talking to a couple of friends and they've both said, just let the nurse come over!! LOL

First said - they will be up here anyway and it's a service that's offered, so just let them!!

Second pointed out that they get paid to do it (injections and dressing changes) so might as well let them!!!


Soooo - I'll maybe leave it a couple of days and then ask her. TBF, I'm totally wiped out this evening and in a bit of pain, so might just let people look after me (sort of) for a few days before I start trying to be independent!!

Tomorrow I have to work out how to do the steps outside the building - think i have a plan for down, not so sure about up!! And then hop from physio to a bar to meet a mate. So tomorrow I'm not going to be much better!! LOL


At least, now I'm home, I have access to the HRT again so might go back to not bursting into tears at the slightest (non) reason!!

[Saga Lout]

What they said ^^, Easy as falling off a... erm... whatever it is you happen to be on at the time.

I had to inject myself with EPO once a month for a couple of years until they decided I didn't need it any more. The nurse will show you how.

[wull]

I gave them to my wife when she got home after Guy was born, once per day until the box was done, think there were maybe 10 or so, alternating between each leg just so one didn’t end up badly bruised.

It was a piece of piss and she’s a whinging coont when it comes to things like that. I mean she just spat a bairn out albeit out the sunroof as she calls it, slacker!

[hawker]

I've had to self-inject for years dueto rheumatoid arthritis, inherited from a grandparent probably. Anyway I have to inject what is called a biological therapy every two-weeks, just ndr the sj=kin dso asier, = less painful than into some muscle! Your best technique is to hold a fold of kin. pinch it quite hard-enough so so you can feel it i a bit uncomfortable; themn insert the needle through the skiat the base of that pinched skin. I think your mind/body feels the pinch instead of the needle and the injection can be given easiy and painlessly under the skin. The key is getting that fold of skin in a firm nip/pinch!

HTH?. Good Luck!

Hawker.

[Noggin]

I've had to self-inject for years dueto rheumatoid arthritis, inherited from a grandparent probably. Anyway I have to inject what is called a biological therapy every two-weeks, just ndr the sj=kin dso asier, = less painful than into some muscle! Your best technique is to hold a fold of kin. pinch it quite hard-enough so so you can feel it i a bit uncomfortable; themn insert the needle through the skiat the base of that pinched skin. I think your mind/body feels the pinch instead of the needle and the injection can be given easiy and painlessly under the skin. The key is getting that fold of skin in a firm nip/pinch!

HTH?. Good Luck!

Hawker.

Thank you. The nurse says there is no need as one of them is up here every day, so they will come and do it. I'm quite relieved actually. Ok, following your instructions I'd possibly get less lumps and bruises than when they do it. But I'd have to manage using a needle on myself

But, if there's a day she can't make it, I might have to try

[Felix]

Junkies have been doing it for years. Get on with it

I was wondering when the first lockdown was introduced and doctors decided to treat up all like lepers and shut shop unless you had a leg hanging off or covid. I only need stabbed once every 12 weeks for B12 and was looking to do it myself but chatting to an NHS carer in the street she said she would do it for me if need be. Turned out the Dr Surgery did a U turn and let the nurses do there job at the Surgery while they went to the golf course. I remember when i was a kid and still talking to the sperm donor prick who called himself dad having to inject himself with insulin. He seemed to have no problem. Doubt i would attempt it if it was to go in a vein though.

[Noggin]

Junkies have been doing it for years. Get on with it

I was wondering when the first lockdown was introduced and doctors decided to treat up all like lepers and shut shop unless you had a leg hanging off or covid. I only need stabbed once every 12 weeks for B12 and was looking to do it myself but chatting to an NHS carer in the street she said she would do it for me if need be. Turned out the Dr Surgery did a U turn and let the nurses do there job at the Surgery while they went to the golf course. I remember when i was a kid and still talking to the sperm donor prick who called himself dad having to inject himself with insulin. He seemed to have no problem. Doubt i would attempt it if it was to go in a vein though.

I know it's not difficult as such. I just have issues with needles. Not quite phobic, but close!!! So the thought of doing it to myself is not a good one!!

TBF though, I doubt I could make any worse lumps and bruises from that injection than various nurses have done!! I still have a MASSIVE bruise from the first two. Thing is that that particular nurse COULD do it without bruising as I can't even find the mark from the last one he did. He was just being a dick for the first two

But, TBF, if the nurse is willing to drop in for the couple of mins it takes, I'll let her

[Felix]

I know it's not difficult as such. I just have issues with needles. Not quite phobic, but close!!!

That reminds me of two weeks ago i was again at the Surgery as they wanted blood samples. The guy taking the blood was asking "How can you watch that?" It was not so much the blood he hated to see but the blood coming from his own body.

Nowt as queer as folk what reminds me again. I am yet to hear back if they found anything

[asmethurst99]

I inject draw blood nearly every day- not keen on having done on me though.
It will take one go and you’ll be wondering what the fuss was .

[Count Steer]

I know it's not difficult as such. I just have issues with needles. Not quite phobic, but close!!!

That reminds me of two weeks ago i was again at the Surgery as they wanted blood samples.....

Nowt as queer as folk what reminds me again. I am yet to hear back if they found anything

Similar here. They said they'd be in touch by phone and agreed a time and date. Not a peep.

Went onto Patient Access and went through the results myself (which were all there before the agreed phone appointment). It tells you the expected range for each value and whether your result is normal or not.