Aa
Injection sites
All,
Seems like I'm runnning out of places to stick myself. I've used my thighs and abdomen (still freaks me out). On every single injection I have a reaction that lasts a few weeks. I get a red circle, tender to the touch, about an 1.5 inches in diameter, which then turns dark.
Anyway I was wondering if anyone injects the Peg in areas other than thighs and abdomen.
Thanks
br007
Seems like I'm runnning out of places to stick myself. I've used my thighs and abdomen (still freaks me out). On every single injection I have a reaction that lasts a few weeks. I get a red circle, tender to the touch, about an 1.5 inches in diameter, which then turns dark.
Anyway I was wondering if anyone injects the Peg in areas other than thighs and abdomen.
Thanks
br007
I think a couple of clear bubbles on the pull-back is normal. As long as they're not red, plunge away. What I found in the very beginning was that the plunger on the pre-filled Pegasys syringes felt "stuck" when I tried to pull it back, so I chickened out and injected without pulling back. Now what I do is rotate the plunger in the barrel a few times before the injection to loosen it up a bit. Also, unless you're *very* dexterious, you have to let go of the pinched skin since the pull-back requires both hands.
-- Jim
-- Jim
You say.....You know what through me for a loop the first week.
You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. And me and goof knows all about them wild nights you have. Do i need to say more?
You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. And me and goof knows all about them wild nights you have. Do i need to say more?
OK, my 2 bits worth. Pull out don't work. He's 23 now. onward.. We are very lucky that fat is poorly vascularized. I don't think checking for veins is necessary, hence the one way on our redipens. I am counting on poor vascularization. This house has had two rattlesnakes ON THE TOILET in two years. I have been here since november. Did I mention I am counting on poor vascularization in fatty regions.. May find out just how much the ole hubby luvs me....
Jim,
You know what through me for a loop the first week. I push the needle through the skin, then I do the pullback, wow great, no blood coming back in, but wait... are those air bubbles coming back in, didn't I just get rid of them...aw screw it..PLUNGE!
Goof-Yes the pullback method does take dexterity, more than I sometimes have.....my 30yro and 14yro children unknowingly provide excellent attestment to that fact.
:)
You know what through me for a loop the first week. I push the needle through the skin, then I do the pullback, wow great, no blood coming back in, but wait... are those air bubbles coming back in, didn't I just get rid of them...aw screw it..PLUNGE!
Goof-Yes the pullback method does take dexterity, more than I sometimes have.....my 30yro and 14yro children unknowingly provide excellent attestment to that fact.
:)
I tried the pull out method, but well it just never quite did it for me. AZgirl, my nurse said not to bother. I never understood the throw it away and use a new one approach - neither for injectables or condoms, but I digress.
Anyway, in my post above, I was trying to say that after I had completed injecting, upon withdrawing the syringe I discovered the blood in the barrel.
Anybody know why they say to avoid the waistline? I assumed it was just for clothing irritation, no?
Friole, now that you mention it, I do have some belly itching as of late. Hmmmmm....
Anyway, in my post above, I was trying to say that after I had completed injecting, upon withdrawing the syringe I discovered the blood in the barrel.
Anybody know why they say to avoid the waistline? I assumed it was just for clothing irritation, no?
Friole, now that you mention it, I do have some belly itching as of late. Hmmmmm....
thanks yall for all your wonderful sage advice....im sure going to try to get some smaller needles thanks friole for the tip!!!
Hear you on the bubbles, but the trick is to get rid of them before you switch needles.
In any event, if you use a 3ml barrel, any leftover bubbles seem to settle by themselves with a little tapping and patience. After the needle switch, the Procrit needle has the same exact smoothness as the Pegasys needle, which makes sense since they're the same needle :) I noticed more of a difference when I injected into my thigh, probably because the skin was thicker there. But with hardly no fat left in the thighs, a few months ago I switched over to the abdomen exclusively.
You don't seem to have the same problem, but if you want, the pharmacy should swap out your needles if the "Luer-Lok" were specfied. All said, the two-needle approach definitely has a richer ritual to it. LOL.
-- Jim
In any event, if you use a 3ml barrel, any leftover bubbles seem to settle by themselves with a little tapping and patience. After the needle switch, the Procrit needle has the same exact smoothness as the Pegasys needle, which makes sense since they're the same needle :) I noticed more of a difference when I injected into my thigh, probably because the skin was thicker there. But with hardly no fat left in the thighs, a few months ago I switched over to the abdomen exclusively.
You don't seem to have the same problem, but if you want, the pharmacy should swap out your needles if the "Luer-Lok" were specfied. All said, the two-needle approach definitely has a richer ritual to it. LOL.
-- Jim
Your method of injection is exactly how the NP told me to do it. But then the pharmacy gave me those syringes with the undetachable needles so I use them. I am aware that the needle is dulled from the rubber but still don't seem to have a problem or injection reactions. However, the prefilled Peg needles definitely does go in smoother. THe one time I tried to change out the needle on a procrit dose, I ended up with a bunch of bubbles, and by the time I got those out, I had less than 1cc to inject. Thus I went back to the others.
NY said: "Oh so you switch needles so the needle is still "poppin' fresh" and breaks the skin easier?
------------------------------------
That's exactly it. Same princple if you inject into your thigh. Absolutely no reason why you need more than a 1/2" long needle for a SQ injection. If I remember correctly, the needles and barrels are quite cheap, so you might just pay out-of-pocket instead of waiting for the insurance process. Just remember that when you change needles, you're holding the syringe UPRIGHT (needle to ceiling) or you're going to be sucking EPO off the floor. LOL.
-- Jim
------------------------------------
That's exactly it. Same princple if you inject into your thigh. Absolutely no reason why you need more than a 1/2" long needle for a SQ injection. If I remember correctly, the needles and barrels are quite cheap, so you might just pay out-of-pocket instead of waiting for the insurance process. Just remember that when you change needles, you're holding the syringe UPRIGHT (needle to ceiling) or you're going to be sucking EPO off the floor. LOL.
-- Jim
Oh so you switch needles so the needle is still "poppin' fresh" and breaks the skin easier? I simply cannot inject into my stomach - even if I had some fat there I mentally can't. GOT to use the leg it's the only thing that I can do (and I sort of close my eyes still)
I too warm up my Epogen (usually about 15 minutes or so). The needles that are attached to the 3ml barrel are just HUGE in comparison to the smaller 1s....
I have to call to set up my PCR (make sure that paper work is waiting there when it's TIME) and I will ask her to call them in as you said to the pharmacy. Then I will make them take back the unopened ones I have.
It's amazing I remember when I first asked you how to inject the meds...it all sounded like gobbledeegook but just reading it now it's like oh yeah that's what i do...uh huh yup LOL
Amazing how much "knowledge" you get on this board that you really didn't ever think you would have! :)
I too warm up my Epogen (usually about 15 minutes or so). The needles that are attached to the 3ml barrel are just HUGE in comparison to the smaller 1s....
I have to call to set up my PCR (make sure that paper work is waiting there when it's TIME) and I will ask her to call them in as you said to the pharmacy. Then I will make them take back the unopened ones I have.
It's amazing I remember when I first asked you how to inject the meds...it all sounded like gobbledeegook but just reading it now it's like oh yeah that's what i do...uh huh yup LOL
Amazing how much "knowledge" you get on this board that you really didn't ever think you would have! :)
It wasn't until about the sixth shot I had the dexerity/confidence to "pull back" on the plunger before the shot. So far, haven't hit a vein, but if I did, I'd simply move the needle to a slightly different site before injecting, per instructions from my NP. BTW blood drops on the skin appearing after the shot does not mean you injected into a vein, just passed through one. That's what the bandaids are for :) Not sure how important the "pull back" is but it's in all the instructions, and once mastered, it does give you the pride of excellence :) not to mention no anxiety or questions whether you hit a vein. The waistline (and esp belly button) is to be avoided because that's where you'll find more veins and arteries.
NY,
I'm not sure exactly what you're doing/buying with the Procrit, but after tried just about every needle/barrel combination, I'll tell you what works for me.
I use a BD 3Ml syringe (barrel) with the "Luer-Lok" tip system. The barrel comes without the needles. I then order TWO needles for each barrel. The needles are the B-D 27 G 1/2 gauge "PrecisionGlide" needle. These are about if not exactly the same size needles you get with the Pegasys syringes and probably slighly longer than with the Peg Intron Redipen device. If your pharmacy doesn't supply the syringes, your doc or NP can simply write you a script for both.
First, I let the Procrit (don't shake, don't stir) warm up to room temp which seems to take 20-30 minutes. Then I pop the cap and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe to keep the field sterile per instructions. Now I screw on the syringe needle to the barrel and back it up 1ML. I then inject 1ML of air into the Procrit vile, making sure the air goes into the space above the Procrit and not into the Procrit itself. Then I turn the Procrit vile upside down and slowly draw back on the barrel letting the Procrit flow into the syringe. Sometimes you may have to do a little back and forth (inject some back into the vial) in order to suck all the Procrit out.
Now...and here's the important part...once you've sucked up all the Procrit, with the barrel pointed upward (duh) unscrew the needle and insert a second needle. Now go ahead with your injection. Briefly, I use the abdomen, above or below the navel, somewhat off center or at the love handles. I do the pinch thing, then let go, draw back, and inject at about 45 degrees.
Before I started switching needles mid shot, I had a rough time getting the needle through the skin. The culprit turns out to be a dulled needle because it passes through the rubber stopper. By switching needles in the middle, the needles sails right on through. Good luck.
-- Jim
NY,
I'm not sure exactly what you're doing/buying with the Procrit, but after tried just about every needle/barrel combination, I'll tell you what works for me.
I use a BD 3Ml syringe (barrel) with the "Luer-Lok" tip system. The barrel comes without the needles. I then order TWO needles for each barrel. The needles are the B-D 27 G 1/2 gauge "PrecisionGlide" needle. These are about if not exactly the same size needles you get with the Pegasys syringes and probably slighly longer than with the Peg Intron Redipen device. If your pharmacy doesn't supply the syringes, your doc or NP can simply write you a script for both.
First, I let the Procrit (don't shake, don't stir) warm up to room temp which seems to take 20-30 minutes. Then I pop the cap and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe to keep the field sterile per instructions. Now I screw on the syringe needle to the barrel and back it up 1ML. I then inject 1ML of air into the Procrit vile, making sure the air goes into the space above the Procrit and not into the Procrit itself. Then I turn the Procrit vile upside down and slowly draw back on the barrel letting the Procrit flow into the syringe. Sometimes you may have to do a little back and forth (inject some back into the vial) in order to suck all the Procrit out.
Now...and here's the important part...once you've sucked up all the Procrit, with the barrel pointed upward (duh) unscrew the needle and insert a second needle. Now go ahead with your injection. Briefly, I use the abdomen, above or below the navel, somewhat off center or at the love handles. I do the pinch thing, then let go, draw back, and inject at about 45 degrees.
Before I started switching needles mid shot, I had a rough time getting the needle through the skin. The culprit turns out to be a dulled needle because it passes through the rubber stopper. By switching needles in the middle, the needles sails right on through. Good luck.
-- Jim
I use the regular syringe for the Epo - no redipens for that! ;-)
I have NO IDEA where they have needle exchanges and I would be just too nervous if I did - it'd probably be in one of the "bad" parts of town that would freak me out. Now I had no problem going to them at 2am looking for drugs in the olden days...why would I be scared now? Makes no sense but it's the way it is.
So I just pay for them. I have to admit I HATE those 3s though. I have to actually use a PULLOUT method with them and hit the needle in and then pull it half way out - there just is NO fat for that sucker to hit otherwise!
I guess the pullout method might not be so common but...some of us do use it ;-)
PS Shoot I am afraid to even touch an old needle let alone reinject it. My luck...I'd run out and have just cleared and then stuck it back into my body again LOL. That's just what would happen to me.
I have NO IDEA where they have needle exchanges and I would be just too nervous if I did - it'd probably be in one of the "bad" parts of town that would freak me out. Now I had no problem going to them at 2am looking for drugs in the olden days...why would I be scared now? Makes no sense but it's the way it is.
So I just pay for them. I have to admit I HATE those 3s though. I have to actually use a PULLOUT method with them and hit the needle in and then pull it half way out - there just is NO fat for that sucker to hit otherwise!
I guess the pullout method might not be so common but...some of us do use it ;-)
PS Shoot I am afraid to even touch an old needle let alone reinject it. My luck...I'd run out and have just cleared and then stuck it back into my body again LOL. That's just what would happen to me.
As a point of reference, Redi-pens don't even allow the pull-back function to see if a vein was hit. I think that's the premise behind short needles and pinching skin is to avoid that.
NY: In NY can't you exhange needles wherever lottery tickets are sold?
NY: In NY can't you exhange needles wherever lottery tickets are sold?
don't feel bad my stupid NP called me in 3s. Yup not even 1s. They are freaking HUGE.
I've been using them for a few months for the Epogen and let me tell you it's a nightmare. but I paid for them and have to find out if I can exchange at the pharmacy. Hey another $20 is another $20.
NY is a pain with needles. I could just drive over the boarder into CT where I work and buy them for like a buck and get what I want.
I've been using them for a few months for the Epogen and let me tell you it's a nightmare. but I paid for them and have to find out if I can exchange at the pharmacy. Hey another $20 is another $20.
NY is a pain with needles. I could just drive over the boarder into CT where I work and buy them for like a buck and get what I want.
goldyn -- what the heck are they doing to you giving you 1" needles? March right back to that pharmacy and get 1/2 inch needles - 27ga or smaller. I was prescribed the prefilled syringes but my first rx was filled with vials instead. They gave me 1", 22 ga needles -- just huge! I really struggled through that first shot, then posted here and found out what I should have. You get too deep with a 1" needle. You need the 1/2" to stay in the fat layer, plus you can just jab it in all the way and not worry about it moving in and out.
azgirl - When you read all the literature, they tell you to pull back to make sure you are not in a vein. In practicality I never mastered that art - I think I would need a third hand so I don't do that anymore. I do make sure there is no obvious vein by my shot area. I don't think it will hurt you if you do get it in a vein, except that the side effects would probably be very severe. I believe interferon is injectable (by professionals) in the vein or subcutaneous.
bronx - sorry you are having such site reaction problems. Could your platelets be really low? Perhaps vitamin E would help.. both orally and to break open the capsules and put it one the site -- vitamin E is known to stop scar tissue from forming.
goof -- you know I tried to vary things up but the peg still works better in my thigh. When I do the belly shot with the peg, it itches like heck for weeks. So back to the thighs with the peg, saving the belly for the Procrit and Neupo.
azgirl - When you read all the literature, they tell you to pull back to make sure you are not in a vein. In practicality I never mastered that art - I think I would need a third hand so I don't do that anymore. I do make sure there is no obvious vein by my shot area. I don't think it will hurt you if you do get it in a vein, except that the side effects would probably be very severe. I believe interferon is injectable (by professionals) in the vein or subcutaneous.
bronx - sorry you are having such site reaction problems. Could your platelets be really low? Perhaps vitamin E would help.. both orally and to break open the capsules and put it one the site -- vitamin E is known to stop scar tissue from forming.
goof -- you know I tried to vary things up but the peg still works better in my thigh. When I do the belly shot with the peg, it itches like heck for weeks. So back to the thighs with the peg, saving the belly for the Procrit and Neupo.
Double vision is the problem. It's on your end....
hahahahahahahahah
Something about this server at work every once in a while it causes it to double post I don't know why even if I'm NOT hitting it again before it goes. It is a major pain.
hahahahahahahahah
Something about this server at work every once in a while it causes it to double post I don't know why even if I'm NOT hitting it again before it goes. It is a major pain.
I thought if you pulled back on the syringe and there was blood in it you had to throw it away?
deb in az
deb in az
roxxiroo im glad to know im not the only one that looks for those blood vessels..,i wish i could say 20 but that would mean i woulndnt have to sweat out this 12th week pcr and that would be to easy we all have to go through the right of passage. srrator; my shot last week did the same thing i swear i went dizzy..thought i was going to faint because i just knew it went straight to my brain and was frying it but then i was ok but did have stronger sides and fell asleep within an hour and hat was wierd for me..
goofydad; i get so nervouse that i dont know if i could pull out and check to see if there is any blood...but i think i will try fri that would give a little piece of mind...your on 24 yawzzzzza!!!!!
goofydad; i get so nervouse that i dont know if i could pull out and check to see if there is any blood...but i think i will try fri that would give a little piece of mind...your on 24 yawzzzzza!!!!!
sorry guys got you mixed up in my response ive been doing stuff like that alot....ah the smell of brain fog in the morning.
Whats with you, is it just double the fun? Its either double dosing, double the ice cream or double the post. Is there any thing else you like to do twice? :)
I don't pull back on the syringe so I don't know about that.
I don't know if you would have to throw the syringe away or not but I do know we can't use them twice.
I just take that needle and plung it in. Since it's going in to fat I pray I dont hit any veins - I dont' think I could if I tried.
I don't know if you would have to throw the syringe away or not but I do know we can't use them twice.
I just take that needle and plung it in. Since it's going in to fat I pray I dont hit any veins - I dont' think I could if I tried.
I don't pull back on the syringe so I don't know about that.
I don't know if you would have to throw the syringe away or not but I do know we can't use them twice.
I just take that needle and plung it in. Since it's going in to fat I pray I dont hit any veins - I dont' think I could if I tried.
I don't know if you would have to throw the syringe away or not but I do know we can't use them twice.
I just take that needle and plung it in. Since it's going in to fat I pray I dont hit any veins - I dont' think I could if I tried.
I've been pretty lucky there too as far as hardly any marks from injections. I do the peg prefilled(sure looks bigger than a 1/2 inch Goof. I have done all my shots in the right or left of and 1-2in down from the belly button. I imagine a 3x3 square on either side and shoot in there. Have noticed a difference if I don't make sure that little flat or spoon side is facing up.
Goldyn- I put the instructions in front of me and read em each time as I'm going.With my instructions after I go in with the needle I pull back 'slightly' w/plunger, if no blood comes in the needle I go. One time I noticed as I went through the skin it stung a little,then I noticed just a little blood around the entry point. So I took the needle out and moved over an inch before continuing.
BTW NY Girl, I did #24 Saturday(I believe Goof and I started 9/17, a wk ahead of you). I'll go for my 24wk pcr Thurs of Friday hopefully.
goldyn
Happy darts,
Don
Goldyn- I put the instructions in front of me and read em each time as I'm going.With my instructions after I go in with the needle I pull back 'slightly' w/plunger, if no blood comes in the needle I go. One time I noticed as I went through the skin it stung a little,then I noticed just a little blood around the entry point. So I took the needle out and moved over an inch before continuing.
BTW NY Girl, I did #24 Saturday(I believe Goof and I started 9/17, a wk ahead of you). I'll go for my 24wk pcr Thurs of Friday hopefully.
goldyn
Happy darts,
Don
OOOOOOOOOOOoooh I could make them in the kids pops maker that you use in the summer time! I cn find some at the store soon! That would be so AWESOME to make my own! What a great idea you just gave to me thank you! And I could even make them like mocha or cinnamon in there and stuff if I wanted LOL. Oh I'm already going nuts huh!
You are lucky you have a needle giver. Boy let me tell you in the beginning I was sure i could NEVER do it. But being a New York Italian girl....I was like oh i am NOT such a pansy my family will laugh at me and I just jammed the sucker in and you know it wasn't bad at all.
My mom came with me to the lesson cause she figured in all truth I'd punk out...and she'd come up and get me in the butt while i was sleeping. As she said you are MY child...no matter how big you get and if this medicine is going to help you I CAN DO IT.
I cried. She is so phobic she doesn't even take Tylenol but she'd do it for me.
Family MATTERS doesn't it? :)
PS you are lucky to have a husband to do it for you - i'm glad my mom is doing it for me if it was my xhusband...I dont think he'd be putting in the "right" medicine and I'd be nodding out all night long and not getting any better. He is a jerk who thinks I might as well quit tx cause it's hard. LOL.
Idiot - you don't quit things because they are HARD that is the most important time to continue!
You are lucky you have a needle giver. Boy let me tell you in the beginning I was sure i could NEVER do it. But being a New York Italian girl....I was like oh i am NOT such a pansy my family will laugh at me and I just jammed the sucker in and you know it wasn't bad at all.
My mom came with me to the lesson cause she figured in all truth I'd punk out...and she'd come up and get me in the butt while i was sleeping. As she said you are MY child...no matter how big you get and if this medicine is going to help you I CAN DO IT.
I cried. She is so phobic she doesn't even take Tylenol but she'd do it for me.
Family MATTERS doesn't it? :)
PS you are lucky to have a husband to do it for you - i'm glad my mom is doing it for me if it was my xhusband...I dont think he'd be putting in the "right" medicine and I'd be nodding out all night long and not getting any better. He is a jerk who thinks I might as well quit tx cause it's hard. LOL.
Idiot - you don't quit things because they are HARD that is the most important time to continue!
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