Anyone inject in their thighs?

[adamben101]

I just did my 23rd shot in the stomach.  No issues except every injection site turns red and itchy for a week or two.  With beah season coming up, I was thinking about switching to the legs.  Any thoughts?  Easier / harder?  I've got some extra cushion on my belly but not much fat on the thighs.  All comments welcome!  Thanks!

[adamben101]

Thank you everybody for the great responses!

[Dee1956]

Hi I had to use stomach, tried thigh once and had a bad reaction, I guess not enough fat
Best wishes

[TransplantGal]

The only time I've been treated was back in '93, right after diagnosis.  At that time, the only treatment was interferon injections 3 x a week.  I was only on therapy for about 6 wks., due to very low WBC counts, but during the weeks I was injecting, I used my thighs.  Unlike those who have said they had/have red spots, I got bruises. ..every single injection.  It looked like someone had beaten me up.  I was afraid to do them in my stomach.

I recently had a liver transplant (thanks to no treatment which led to cirrhosis and HCC), but will need treatment at some point.  The next time, I will inject in the tummy.

[Idyllic]

My stuff came with a handout that shows injection sites and how you rotate them:

It kind of looks like this one:
http://images.rxlist.com/images/rxlist/interferon_beta8.gif


I rotated in this manner last time around as well as this one. I have never had any problems but when I read about them on here I figure it must be the luck of the draw who it happens to. When I administer my shot I still follow all the steps on this huge handout with all these images. It's like a ritual.

[beeblessed]

Hi.  I used my tummy until Week 17.  Then rotated with thighs and tummy.  Just did tummy shot last night, Week 27.  I prefer tummy injections because I do have a little cushion and did not hurt much.  (Stay away from the midline, where tissue seems more dense, making it difficult to inject and painful; found out on accident)  When doing the thighs, I squeeze up a good chunk of thigh, which seems to help lessen the pain.  Unfortunately, I have bled from my thighs every time I have used them.  I had to rotate sites when I added Procrit and when my tummy started chaffing.

[desrt]

When using the thigh, use the top of the leg rather than the outside portion.
This helps to avoid the chance of hitting the sciatic nerve.

[belle19]

i'm in my 36th week and i've only used the thighs.  i am skinny but i rotate on each side and no longer have any marks anymore.  injecting in my stomach sounds harder to do.  just my personal opinion.  belle

[indy531]

Told by hep doc nurses to use tummy only for better absorption; have done 24/28 sticks.

[80mecheng]

I was told the same but after 24 weeks and now 2 weekly shots I am running out of locations that aren't sore in the stomach.  Between the weekly blood tests and shots I feel like a pin cushion.

[bbj2856]

The nurse told me the stomac was better becase there is not any muscle in it. She aid thigh seemed to get very sore. So far i have done tummy

[80mecheng]

I am 24 weeks into a 28 week cycle and 5 weeks after adding Procrit.  Net effect is I have been alternating stomach, thigh during each week (left thigh, right ab, then switching right thigh, left ab).  I have to say the Procrit is fairly painful and a little easier to take in the thigh.

[suezeeque]

For some reason I only bruised when I used a thigh.  :(

[crigger]

I always use the thigh. I just go from one side to the other each week.

[TexSunflwr]

I did my first 7 in my stomach. My last shot, my 8th, I chose a spot in my thigh. I haven't noticed much difference in either spot in terms of after effects. In both sites i got a small, slightly red, round rash around the injection site.

I always dread the shots. I feel squeemish about them.

[kmatucson]

I did, right thigh, left thigh, right stomach, left stomach..  That way, it seemed that I was rotating enough to lessen the discomfort..  Still got the red spots, but by the time I got back around, they were not as bad..

[flcyclist]

Hey Adam,  either is fine and I think just a personal preference.  I've only done the stomach, rotating from one side to the other each week, sometimes different areas if still irritated.  Hope all is well.

[Ironpony]

I have injected twice in the thigh with no problems or sensitivity. I feel weird about the stomach; just my personal preference.

[pooh55811]

I usually inject in my thighs. It seemed to work okay for several weeks and then I ran out of spots that were not red (like you did). Then I injected in my stomach for two weeks until I got a bad rash on my stomach and had to stop injecting there and go back to the thighs.

I don't like either place, lol. I think they are probably about the same in difficulty (difficult for me anyway). I do have enough fat in both areas so that is not a problem. Maybe some skinny people will tell you the best way to inject into skinny thighs.