Question from Mikkimoe

[Mikkimoe]

Getting ready for shot # 2 tomorrow after a pretty rocky first week but have noticed that the site reaction is getting bigger every day. About a 3 1/2 inch round swollen, warm, red welt. Guess this is normal? When do they dissipate? I'm going to look pretty sexy by week 6 (not many fat spots on this scrony body) Is it Ok to inject over welts? Doesn't sound like to much fun.

Isn't there a way they can just put us out for 6 months or a year...freeze dry, direct cranial morphine drip, lobotomy or something...so we can wake up and it's all over?  Oh come on Jim tell me it's so......

guess I should stop scaring the next group of victims huh?

[Trinity4]

I had a really colorful experience with my recent 3rd shot.  Fired away and must have hit a capillary because I've got the biggest, blackish purple bruise about 2" in diameter.  Immediately knew because it started turning as soon as I took the syringe out.  This is on my tummy where no one will see but boy is it ugly.  
Trinity

[jools57]

I'm sorry you are feeling so yukky. Glad your spirits are high, and that you are not depressed! I've found that to be half the battle!
I found that putting an ice pack on the injection site afterwards has helped keep the inflamation down, tho I still get those lovely purple marks.
I made sure my Dr. saw what was happening and he said pretty much the norm.
Hang in there!

[Mikkimoe]

Curious, what your normal weight is and how much you've lost during treatment. Also, if the reason you're losing weight is because of loss of appetite.

My theory is that since I have become chronic maybe 8 months ago the Enbrel has been acting like tx on the HCV. I've taken it for 4 years but I started having all the sx of tx 8 months ago and would get very sick the day after my shots. So I've been losing weight for about that long. Was about 115 before that. Now that I'm on tx also it's like a double wammy. 48 hrs after the first shot I was flat out - up for 2 days till my Enbrel shots and down the next day. Also my VL seem to prove it as well - they are always much lower after my Enbrel shots. So I expect to clear real fast at this rate if I can find room back there. I think I'll have those lingering ones.

It's not so much appitite, although that's part of it - I get hungry but have a hard time eating. I can eat a little (mostly soft things) and then it's like nothing else can go in or I start feeling very ill...like it won't stay there. So I try to just nibble on things all day. I have great intentions going into it, but always bring home 3/4 of my meals for later...then forget them. I also have a very sore throat so cruncy and hard don't work and sweets make me urp. Maybe the combo of IBS, HCV, Hyatel Hernia and RA have something to do with it huh?

I also have that yucky cough...would have to be brownes...but can't do sweets...hate to take more pills. I'll just keep plugging away here - at least my spirits are still high and I'm not depressed.

[Isobella]

Sorry to hear about your injection site issues.

Please don't worry about scaring the next batch of "victims" or in my case, lab rats-the more we know about sx going into this, the better off we all are.

Keep firing those canons geterdone spoke of and know that we are all pulling for you!

Isobella

[hepcD]

I had the red spots around injection site on and off . I used  gold-bond cream on them . Later in tx i was prescribed a steroid based cream. It was for a rash i developed on my ankle but i used it on the spots also. It helped heal them faster . Make sure you are flushing your system with plenty of fluids. Far as eating goes, eat any and everything you can. I had a hard time eating my first twelve weeks. I was prescribed risperdal to help with my appetite. If you continue to have problems with eating ask your doctor about this drug or something similar. It may help.

[jmjm530]

Going into fat is ideal, but I believe a sub Q injection can be quite close to the skin even where there appears to be no fat, but please check with your doctor. Given your husband is helping, I would think you would be able to get at least four injection sites from the buttocks.

Here's an injection site map, just make sure not to inject in or around the belly button and stay away from waistline.
http://www.janis7hepc.com/injecting.htm#Injection%20Shots

Curious, what your normal weight is and how much you've lost during treatment. Also, if the reason you're losing weight is because of loss of appetite, you should start addressing that right now, given your low baseline weight. High density caloric products like "Prosure" can help. Also, if the appetite really disappears, many doctors suggest medical marijuana as both an appetitite stimulant and anti-nausea treatment.

-- Jim

[Mikkimoe]

OK - guess I'm in trouble. My injection was on my hip (hubby gives them). The hip and bun is my ONLY fat reservoir. I have NO fat on my tummy or legs or arms. I weigh 100 lbs now at 5'6" and trust me I am trying like crazy to stop losing weight. I am having a pretty rough time eating. Can do the soft stuff so do lots of protien drinks, yogurt and oatmeal. Sweets make me urp. On top of that I have to also take two Enbrel shots per week for my RA.

Maybe they should just stick a main line in huh....cept my veins won't take it. I am a bit concerned about the infection desrt spoke of - were the others red and swollen and OK?

[meki]

I found mine were like brown spots that slowly spread --- and it looked really weird - like something out of a horror movie. I'm very fair skinned - and it wasn't pretty.

I'm a chubby kinda gal - so I used my belly area --- let me tell you - no chance I was gonna get harpooned out there in a bikini - so darn it all - belly it was! LOL!

Anyhow - yeah - they're very uncomfortable - and itchy --- and for some - welty.

Much luck to ya.

Meki

[geterdone]

One other thing I have found out is that thinner people do not have extra padding so when injecting there is not enough (lack of better words) fat to inject into in between the layers so you’re basically injecting just under the deeper layer of skin. I had this happen quite often after losing weight and thigh mass, I would inject and then a knot would well up would form under the skin and sting from stretching and be warm but it only lasted a couple of hours until it was absorbed into the body. Might be time to do the belly jelly.

jasper

[jmjm530]

You should be able to get 6-8 injection locations (4-6 abdomen and one on each thigh) which hopefully will allow the welts to dissipate before injecting into the same spot twice -- assuming they don't stay too big. Your doctor can also prescribe topicals to help the healing process, so if in doubt, march over to the office, show the welts, and see if they want to suggest something, because what may sound normal as written here, may in fact not be and may need to be addressed. As to being "put out" for six months, etc, -- I had the same thought myself when treating.

Be well,

-- Jim



-- Jim

[desrt]

Large flat, red, round spots that start fading after a few weeks are the norm. "Swollen" and/or "warm" could possibly indicate cellitis (tissue infection) and needs to be checked out and dealt with sooner rather than later. I have a hunch that those of us who spend a lot of time around animals may be more prone to this due to the greater variety of bacteria on the skin.

I hear what you say about being knocked out for six months. How about a Versed transdermal patch?

[Trish77]

Mikki, have been wondering how your first week went .. I'm sorry it's been rocky for you.  Hang in there, girl.  Post as necessary!!

Trish

[Trish77]

Okay... I insist that has to be the next video ... the lyrics would fit so WELL with that tune.. man.. I can see it all playing out in my head... hup, two, three.. four.  Loved singing that tune when I was a kid...my grandma used to play it in the house...lol.  How 'bout you and Cruel get right on that?  :)  Requires a group of male voices in that one and some sound effects maybe...... ;->

Trish

[geterdone]

Unfortunately, when slaying the virions the repercussions of the fired cannons leaves sustained residual damage for the duration of the battle. By week 20 I ran out of the fat on the upper thighs of the well marked battles and moved to the breadbasket of the war and the continuing bombardment of the #27 percussion strike force. It was a hellelaious battle for the next 33 weeks for there was no ground untouched on either side of the button zone and at the end of the battle; it is still unknown who has won the war but the residual effects of the 112 strikes at the battle grounds has slowly dissipated over time. Just think of the bruising left behind after each strike as badges of honor of a well fought war.

Well… we fired our cannons and the virions kept a' comin, but there wasn't as many as there was a while ago, we fired once more and they began a run’ in and couldn’t figure out which way to go, we ran ‘em through briers and we ran ‘em through the bushes and we ran ‘em until they had no place else to go, we ran them so hard they began to fallen and that’s how we won the battles on their home grounds…, hup, two, three four…

geterdone and keep firing!!! LOL

jasper

[charm27]

I only had one  mark on my leg at it was fromthe first shot. I was so nervous about it I jabbed myself with the syringe so hard not knowing how much pressure to use.
Never had another mark.

[CockSparrow]

No dont inject over the welts. Bad. Keep them apart, Inject one side then the other, Upper/Lower etc.
Mine lasted about 4 weeks, so I always had about 4 or 5 on the go at any given time.
CS

[CockSparrow]

Sounds like you are having similar Injection Site reactions to me.
I found not using the alcohol swab helped. Didnt stop the ISR but reduced the itch and swelling. Whatever you do dont scratch.

CS