First time tonight

Hi all,
I have a couple of questions about the injections. I was thinking that yesterday when I went to the nurse and got my medicines that she would do the first dose, but she said  I had to be more hydrated and it's best to do right before bed. So tonight comes and I totally freaked out and couldn't do it. My roommate had to help me:( I feel really bad for wimping out but it overwhelmed me. I got confused about the way the nurse showed me to do it and the way the literature in the pack said to do it. She told me just straight in and slowly push, the pamphlet said at an angle and then pull the plunger back just a bit to see if there was blood. We did it the way the nurse said, but I was upset not knowing what would happen.The other question is it normal to be sore, not at the injection site but about 5 inches above it? I know these concerns are probably not serious, and I didn't think I would be so scared about all this when the time came. Right now, all I know is that I hope I can sleep! :)

[GoodByeHepC]

Hi Stylee,

I'm on Peginteron - Redipen Single dose delivery system.
I've never heard of anyone pulling the plunger to see if there is blood. I don't think you can even do that with the Redipen.
Looking for blood is something that people do when injecting directly into a vein.
Peginteron is injected into fatty tissue so it's more like getting a vaccine shot.

I was freaked out by giving myself injections at first. My nurse also suggested going straight in while the instruction booklet suggested a slight angle. If you have a good layer of fat at the injection site don't worry too much about the angle. The needles are not long enough to hurt you.

As soon as you realize that the needle doesn't hurt you start to get more comfortable with it. I push it in pretty fast and I can hardly feel it. I find that I have less of a reaction in areas with more fat like my belly or Love Handles. My skin reaction emerge after about 3 days and very slowly go away over time.

I've never felt pain 5 inches above the injection sight so that may be unrelated. I have experienced very dry skin several inches around the injection sight though.

I take my shot in the early evening and I take Tylenol just before I lay down to go to sleep. I'm on my 8th shot and so far sleeping has been OK (knock on wood).

Be brave. Once you get over the fear of injection you'll be on your way to recovery and you'll feel good about it!

best of luck to you.

[GingerB]

I remember being so very nervous in the beginning when doing the injections.  In time you will be more comfortable with it.  I use the Pegasys syringes.  My nurse told me to pull back slightly on the plunger to check for blood, but my doctor told me not to.  Pulling back is probably the technically proper way to do it, but I tried and I could not easily pull back on the plunger, so I do not pull back, and I have heard from others that they do not pull back either.   The angle to inject is anywhere in between 45 and 90 degrees.  I pinch the skin when I inject.  For me, injection night is not the easiest thing to do, but I just psyche myself, and tell myself it will be ok,  and try to do it without worrying about it and everything turns out to be ok.  It'll get better. Good luck!  GingerB.

[nygirl7]

I tell you what - I was so scared that I just took the needle and jammed it in and hit PRESS and bing bang boom it was done.

Perhaps they can switch you over to the redi-pen if you are on intron?  I don't understand why that nurse sent you away without doing it because on treatment we get SO dehydrated that if that was true none of us would ever have been able to do any shots.

Oh by the way I did 72 weeks and totally got over an phobia of needles I ever had.  I seriously just did it the way I wrote about and have been SVR for over a year now.

As long as you get the medicine into a fatty part of your body - you are just fine.

And yes it can hurt lower because I guess that is where the medicine spread to, I mean it's gotta go somewhere right?

Good luck it sounds like you did just fine.

Just follow along with the directions each time so you don't get confused and don't worry about straight or angled too much - just get the stuff IN.

[vik97]

You'll be just fine.  I postponed the beginning of treatment for a whole year because I was deathly afraid of needles,  I was sure there was no way I could inject myself.  The N/P injected me the first 4 weeks but then the injection day fell on a holiday and I had to do it myself.  It didn't hurt at all.  As it turns out, I was able to overcome a lifelong fear of needles.

Vik

[Syllee]

Thanks so much for your responses! For someone who has a fear of all medicines, needles, doctors etc , I have been forced to come a long way. The fear of the unknown is most always worse than the reality. I'm so happy to hear that those of you did this and cleared the virus, and those who are still in tx are hanging in there. You are very inspiring and awesome to come and share your experiences with everyone. Thank you again:)