Injection question

A question was recently posted about blood after an injection and it got me to thinking that I had questions along that line myself.

I have only taken 2 injections so far and I have not done the "draw back" to check for blood  before injecting because it seems both of my hands are busy.  One is pinching my skin and the other is holding the injector.  How do I manage to free a hand to pull the thing back a bit to check for blood before injecting?  I watched the video but they don't really give a good view as to how he's doing that.  Because I don't do the draw back, I then tend to worry that I might have done something wrong.

Why is it bad to inject if there is blood on the draw back?  My instructing nurse said it's no big deal but, if it's not a big deal, why does the CD instructor say don't do it?

So, can someone tell me how they actually hold things in order to do the draw back.  Also the plunger thing on my injectors seem very hard to move back and forth and take quite a bit of effort.

[meakea]

I should add that I am on Pegasys as that might make a difference as to the type of injector I use.

[Imma11]

Drawback is to ensure you inject subcutaneously and not intravenously .... but I never did manage to do the drawback either (on week 15 now) and although I have had tiny bloodspots a couple of times all has been well. I think the likelihood of hitting a big vein in the tummy is like .000000001% Anyway, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will reply soon.

[Rockerforlife]

This topic pops up on occassion...no need to pull back...just ram the stuff in...ive tallked wityh my doc bout this...YOU CANNOT HIT A VIEN OR ARTERY..if you were slamming your neck,foot arm...hand...yes...you would have a concern...LOL...just do it...try to no inject it directly into the eyeball

[meakea]

Well, ****!  That explains why I have eyeball pain...lol.

Thanks for the comfort answer.  Plain and simple...I like that.

[meakea]

Oops, my word really wasn't bad...rhymed with sap

Imma...also thank you for your response.

[Marcia2202]

My NP told me not to draw back. I should just inject. I asked her specifically, and she said NO. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Marcia

[jmjm530]

Easy with a little practice. Assuming your're a "rightie", you pinch with the left hand and then push the needle under the skin. Then, with needle still under skin, you move the left hand to the barrel to anchor it. Now you pull back the plunger with the right hand, anchoring the barrel with the left. That way the needle will not pull out when you pull back. Pull back a bit, and see no blood -- you probably never will -- now push the plunger in with right hand, still anchoring with left. Remove. Done. A little tip -- if you twist the plunger a little -- not in or out, but just a twst -- it will loosen thngs up so that when you pull back it won't have that stuck feeling.

Disclaimer: This is what worked for me, I never saw it detailed anywhere.  I do not recommend anyone doing this on their first injection or until they feel quite comfortable injecting without pulling  back and/or instructed otherwise by their medical team.

[Bobby1952]

   Don't worry about it. That little bit of blood is just a tiny capillary. Its almost impossible to hit a vein where we inject it. Its not worth the tbl to draw it back because you may pull it out by mistake. Just pinch and push it in all the way.

[NancyPF]

The second time I gave a shot and pulled back to check for blood, I actually pulled the whole needle out of the barrel and ended up with my medicine all over the chair I was sitting in.   The insurance company was not happy!!!

Nancy

[CoWriter]

You know what would happen if by chance somebody injects directly into a vein because they didn't draw back?

It would make the side effects be SEVERE!

[CoWriter]

Great injection technique!

[jmjm530]

I never get tired hearing those words from a lady.

[epiphiny]

I'm sure you don't, jmjm!!!

Anyway, I just insert needle and fire away.  I've often wondered about the pullback technique but I've never thought it worth the trouble, dont want to risk a screw-up.

While we are on the topic of injecting; does anyone have anything left over in the prefilled syringe after injecting?  

[charm27]

I just insert needle  and thats it. First few times I had blood because I didnt know how much pressure to use so I jabbed myself !

Every now and then I might get a drop but it all depends which angle you go in.
Im on week 43..something I never got use to !

There is always a speck if INF left over.

Good Luck
Charm

[jmjm530]

Anyway, I just insert needle and fire away.
----------------------
That's how I lost my first girlfriend.

does anyone have anything left over in the prefilled syringe after injecting?  
--------------------------------

If you get rid of the bubbles per instructions, you really shouldn't have anything signficant left over. I always injected all the way (till plunger hit the end of barrel) and then held it for a second or two before pulling it out.

I probably didn't start pulling back on the syringe -- nor felt competent enough -- until around week 12. At that point I did see some blood -- probaby a capillary-- but mentioned it to my liver specialist. He asked "you didn't pull back" like I did something wrong. Next time I pulled back and by that time I was very comfortable with the syringe and in fact took a little pride in doing the xtra step. After that got boring I started injecting left-handed using only one hand and even tried injecting using my toes. OK, skip the left hand and toe part, just kidding. But seriously, if someone had shown me how to do it right from the beginning, I'm sure I'd be able to do it. The key again -- at least for me -- was anchoring the barrel with left hand. I was surprised at how little instruction I got from my NP in injection. In fact, I asked if I could do an injection in the office using water while she watched. She looked at me like I was nuts and had me inject into a piece of rubber. Many here don't even get that much instruction. I see no reason why they don't offer a short mini-course in self-injection before tx starts.

[Rockerforlife]

Jim....you are a brave man with your injection remark....if your not around in a hour or so...iil know what happened to you...LOL...ITS HARD TO KEEP A GOOD MANS SENSE OF HUMOR DOWN...pun intended

[CoWriter]

"She looked at me like I was nuts and had me inject into a piece of rubber."

How very rude....LOL

[jmjm530]

Full disclosure: No the first time a female looked at me if I was nuts or asked me to inject into a piece of rubber.

[portann]

Saturday night fever again....

[CoWriter]

ROFL

[Rockerforlife]

Rubbers...injections..."Next time I pulled back and by that time I was very comfortable "

"She looked at me like I was nuts and had me inject into a piece of rubber."
After that got boring I started injecting left-handed using only one hand

Now this is gettn otta hand here...simmer down

[meakea]

You all are just too funny...lol.  It helps to take all the drama out of these darn shot questions.  :)

Thanks for all the responses...it truly helps.

[kitkat14]

ROFL

k