Injection question

Hi,

Up to this point I had the Nurse practicioner give me the shot at the office every friday. I'm in the 6th week of vertex study and was required to go for bloodwork every week anyway so I figured let them do the shot. I don't like needles to much. well this was the first week I did not have to go to the study center so had to do the shot myself today. here is what happen: i did everything by the book but now concerned about a few things, I "think" I  put the needle in at a 45 angle and when I pulled it out after injecting a drop of clear liquid (peg I guess) then a drop of blood. I pulled back and checked for blood before pushing in the peg and of course there was no blood. It bled a few droplets of blood for about a min then stopped. Now the injection site is bruised purple/black. I did notice that the nurse always went straight in and this was the first time at 45 degree angle. When the nurse did it no clear liquid or blood ever came out. The only thing was about a week later the site would turn red and itch some. The only thing I can think of is I went in at to much of an angle, almost horizonal straight under skin. Think the injection will get into my system ok? hate to blame something but I made the mistake of watching the pegasys video, the one with the black dude that is shaking when he gives himself the shot. This kind of threw me off, I should of just read the instructions and not looked at the video. I probably would have went straight in but the video emphasizes "inject at an angle". Oh well the damage is done, just hope I did not totally mess it up. Thanks in advance for any comments

[bajawoman]

"black dude that is shaking" I am sorry copyman but that was funny I had a good laugh  could visualize it then wondered why they put that guy on the instructional video


Where did you inject yourself? Stomach or Thighs or Upper Arms  my GI said when I inject myself (eventhough I have not started yet) he recommended thigh or upper arm but most here seem to prefer the stomach?

From what I read you do not need to pull back that is only to make sure you are not hitting a vein or artery but those areas mentioned are pretty safe what I read here as no one draws back that seems to be difficult at best so straight in maybe a slight angle and not drawing back would not cause movement

I mean seems you are suppose to pinch okay then you are suppose to stick the needle in fairly rapidly I would think being very direct then are you suppose to draw back with the same hand that did the injection seems hard to do without moving the pen or
surenge (spelling)  

Seems from what I gathered here on this forum it is  like an insulin injection just pinch stick and squirt so stomach or thighs where there is fat to pinch and you can see better

I would thing also the upper arm would be tough to get the right angle 45 degree angle is not much could look like she is putting it straight in but 45 degrees is not much and if there was movment that could cause brusing instead of the old in and out

Good Luck bet it is like second nature after you do it a few times maybe do it with the nurse next time  just a thought

[Isobella]

You are fine =)  My trial nurse also said to do the 45 degree angle.  Sometimes I have a little blood, sometimes I don't.  I have heard you can avoid that peg drop at the end if you leave the needle in for 5 seconds after injecting...I did that yesterday...but honestly you are fine.  

I inject into my stomach--what I call the "frupa"---sometimes I pinch, sometimes I just lean to one side and it "autopinches", lol!   When I get too many red itchy splotches there, I go for the hip area--tho that seems to bruise more.

Soon the effect of the meds will kick in and you will have no doubt that they are in your system....and you will get better at injecting-don't worry.

Wish you the best.....keep us posted =)

Izzy

[orleans]

pretty sure you just cut a very small vesel. I always go at a 45 angle. every so often I get a drop of blood. Only once of 15 did I get a little more and bruised. you're fine. jerry ps NOBODY much likes needles!

[Trinity4]

I've did the same thing at least 3 times when I first started. I had an ugly bruise one time for 2 months.  You hit a capillary (sp) but the peg goes under the skin immediately so don't worry about losing too much by it leaking out.  I still bleed sometimes.  I don't draw back anymore, just fire away.
Leave the needle in for 5 sec before removing.  Angle sounded right, make sure the bevel on the needle is facing you. Lucky you, you have nurse to give the shots.  
If you start doing it on your own, I promise you'll become an expert.
Trin  

[copyman]

thanks everyone. i forget to say so far all shots have been in the stomach. i was serious about the black dude. i have this tape from pegasys that was sent to me when I was going to start SOC tx about 2.5 yrs ago. now that i think of it that tape was one reason i chickened out and never started back then :-)

[eureka254]

It was the little red-headed nurse that scared me... she looked like she was half a second from breaking into tears the whole way through the video!

[kickboxingmom]

Tonight I took my third shot and also had a few small drops of blood and one drop of peg.It's ok because during my first shot NP said,Normal.I have a chart from the Dr.If you want I'll take a close up picture and send it to you.When redipen is empty hold for the count of five, then remove.
I'll have to watch the video now,lol !
Good Luck,
Tammy

[epiphiny]

Hey, you did fine!  I also don't drawback, and on the one time I did, as an experiment, I had a similar experience to yours.  I hadn't watched the black dude, tho :)

I also leave the needle in for about 10 secs after complete depression of the plunger (I'm using the Roche Prefilled Syringe) AND once I remove the needle I hold down a fresh alcohol swap on the injection site to be double sure there is no leakage.  Then I cover the site with tiny band aid.

I only use my stomach cos that's where the plumpest, injectable skin is, hehe.  One time I did it in my hip but bruising occured.

You'll get the hang of it and before you know it you'll be injecting while watching your favourite TV show!

Epi :)

[Trish77]

I used syringes and vials for my injections and pre-filled syringes for the epogen.  I'd say don't get too hung up on the 45 degree angle, I injected at between 45 and 90 degrees with closer to 90 degrees with no issues.  If you're using the beveled tip needles then yes, the bevel up helps.  The first few injections I checked for blood by pulling the plunger back and then just didn't bother after that.  I held the needle in for a 10-count after every injection and I don't recall any seepage happening.  I used my abdomen for all injections, INF and epogen/neupogen for the whole time.  You'll get good at it after awhile.  I'd still kind of take a breath before every injection and say "here I go" but as usual, thinking about it was worse than doing it...except for the times I poked myself pulling the cap off the syringe. :)

Hang in there, you'll do fine.

Trish

[Rockerforlife]

For Gods sake...just ram the damn thing in..dont worry about the angle or pulling back for blood ...you are not going to hit any veins or arties....its just under the skin into fat

[CMcH]

I am sure you are fine. I bet they allow for some leakage knowing that when you clear the air bubbles and later draw back there will be a drop or two lost. I have not been that careful  I never knew about the 5-10 second rule. I will have to try that.
I think I must be getting enough due to UND at 4 wks & 24 wks plus plenty of sides to show for it.
No need to worry even different nurses will leave marks or not when they do it.
I wish you SVR from this Vertex study.
Keep us updated.
Connie