What am I doing wrong?

[lilmoma]

When I gavve myself my injection thursday, it took two times to get it all in, (yuk, 2 shots!) I guess I feel funny about this "subcutaneous" thing, its like, do you go in at an angle, or straight in, the way I do it is pull a bit of skin out and kind of go into it sideways, but I got a "balloon effect" or water balloon effect, and it was like it was just going to pop and go everywhere. What is my problem? I am afraid to "go straight in" for fear it will go into the stomach,.does anybody else experience this problem, and is this just a stupid fear I have.
lilmoma

[Fisheress]

Check this out

Self-injection video for patients starting with PEGASYS Prefilled Syringes

http://www.pegassist.com/reg/using/started/taking.asp#

Look for the video on the page

[friole]

Either you are going in at too great an angle or perhaps you are injecting too fast. You are using the 1/2" needle, right?  You have to push it all the way in so the syringe rests on your flesh.  I had a terrible time in my first month because they gave me one inch needles, and I found  myself moving it in and out as I injected, trying not to go too deep.

Like Fish, I have no problem pinching an inch and injecting into the pinched inch, but as I inject I loosen my grip - so the fluid has room to go.  I am still undecided on straight in or 45% angle - I use both methods.  Thighs still work beter for me for the Peg, and stomach for the Procrit and Neupogen

Hey fish, how are you this fine morning?

[kespr]

I always injected @ a 45 degree angle and depending on length of needle put it all the way in. Sometimes it would seem to bubble up at the injection site but I would just try to rub it in around the area to help spread it around

[Fisheress]

Hi Kat!  Sent ya a email and pics a little while ago..  You must be working huh?  I am trying to avoid the tramsom kickers and sail sniffers today myself.  Still here a the house.

Hope lilmoma checks out the video, thats exactly how my cordinator showed me how to do it.  Works well for me!

Have a great day!

Fsiheress

[can-do-man]

Im so happy to see you gals behaving here today, Does my heart good. Keep up the good work. Gotta go wipe this tear in my eye. Bless your little pea pickin hearts.

[fishdoc]

Hey fisheress, same here!!  I planted a lovely miniature rose two weeks ago, and this morning it is completely gone!! down to just below the surface... lots of cottontail rabbits!!  So I think it is going to be containers until I get a fence up!!hubby offered to shoot them, and said "we could eat them" ... yeah right!!  I don't think so...  your in TX right?  tis the season here too. Enjoy...

[Fisheress]

THE DAY IS NOT OVER SO DRY YOUR EYES!  hehehehe

[Fisheress]

AHHHHH, so sorry to hear the bunny's are getting your plants.  I have a Westie that keeps everything out of the yard.  Silly rat dog!  Planting my celebrity tomatoes tomorrow along w/all my herbs (Corriander, oregano, 3 different kinds of basil, serrono peppers, celentro and carrots), my rosemary is huge, lasted thru the winter.  I just love digging in the soil, does a mind and body good!

Yes, on tx, in study here at the Liver foundation at the med center in Houston.  Neg since week 12. Cop & peg, 1A, shot #27/48 tonight.

Enjoy this beautiful weather.

OOPS can-do-man...I'm still behavin but there is still the rest of the day left!

Fish

[HepCinLA]

Your going at too steep of an angle.

I used to have problems getting the needle in and sometimes it would take 2 or 3 tries.  What I found was that I was going to slow which made it harder to penetrate the skin.

Next time  just try to get the needle in as quickly as possble using a little bit of force.  I found it hurts less and the needle goes in much smoother.

[friole]

Fish -- yep -- I am at work.  But every time I have to go online to do something for work, I can't help but come here and see what's happening.  Got spring fever big time.  Glad you're not out there swabbing the decks hahaha.

Fishdoc -- I know all about those wabbits --- hubby and I planted a whole bunch of salvia plants one time and the wabbits just loved them.  Ever since then we have called all rabbits Sal and Via.

calling nygal --- what did you think of our scifi lineup last night -- or did you Tivo them?  Can't believe we have to wait until October to find out what happens with those dam Cylons!  BUt I like Doctor Who and I am glad they are bringing him into the Friday lineup -- so maybe all is not lost.  But with all these seaxon enders, this is really going to confuse my Friday night shot/scifi ritual.

Can do -- and are you behaving yourself today?  If so, why?

[friole]

And how are you today in sunny California?  Is all going well with treatment?  Do you still have energy to spare to run after kids?

[can-do-man]

Can do -- and are you behaving yourself today? If so, why?
______________________________________________________________

Who me? Always, you must have be confused with beagel bailey. Oh BTW could you give me a little more detail on that post to fishdoc you made. You know the one on thats what they call them?

Fish, you just keep behaving yourself. Just try to act more like me here. Above the gutter talk ok? Oh BTW i love eating "FISH" could munch on it all day.

Tator, You out there? or you playing hide and seek again? Thinking of eating i love to eat tator tot too. One of my favorite snacks.

Keep up the good work gals, im counting on it.

[NYgirl]

I don't make a very bid deal of it honestly - pinch the skin together and then just jam it in.  I don't put a lot of worry or work into it because as long as it gets in there...it's not a science or anything.

You just stick and push.  It sounds like you get nervous about it.

I had a lesson before hand with my nurse practitioner...can you contact the doc office and ask them to have the NP walk you through it first?

It's not hard...you just have to GO FOR IT all at once and you'll be fine. I mean really just get it under your skin and go for it :)

[can-do-man]

you said....just jam it in. It's not hard...you just have to GO FOR IT all at once and you'll be fine.
________________________________________________________________

As soon as i saw your name i just do the behaving would end.

Gutter talk, Gutter talk, its a wonder you can walk.

[Fisheress]

Above the gutter talk ok? Oh BTW i love eating "FISH" could munch on it all day.
________________________________________________________________

OK, gonna behave today, you got me!..........Not gonna touch that one! :)

[NYgirl]

Oh boy...we're starting early today aren't we?  ;-)

Well you do know that I do always say that I like to do it fast and hard - but in this case it's about just getting it over as fast as possible.  Sometimes I take it easy though because I like to see it going in and injecting. Depends on my mood.

[lilmoma]

I spent 5 days in the hospital with "Cat Scratch Fever", extremely painful, thought I was going to lose my hand, antibiotics would not kill, I used think that was just a great song, cat fecal matter can be very dangerous.
lilmoma

[Fisheress]

Here ya go, more info on this....

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

Copy and paste this in your browser

[anise]

I am still trying to get used to sticking myself with the needle.  Last thursday I did it myself with the NP watching.  Thankfully, it slid in like 'butter'.  I put the bevel point of the needle up and positioned it next to my skin and gently pushed it in.  I did get some liquid coming out, but the NP said 'not to worry'.  

The NP also mentioned that the stomach doesn't have many veins and not to worry about drawing the needle back to see if you get blood.  Both her and my Hepatologist don't agree with the Pegasys video tape about the veins (according to them, the subcutaneous area doesn't harbor major veins).

So how else are you feeling?

[lilmoma]

I am feeling pretty darn good actually, how bout you?
I just finished getting dressed (I know it almost 2:00) I decided on a cute summer outfit (show a little skin)and now i feel ready to go do something!!!!!! Whoo Hooo!
lilmoma

[NYgirl]

Show that skin while you still CAN!!!!!!

Make sure to moisturize your whole body every single day - more than once a day at least so that you don't end up looking like some of us do.  Until I found the Gold Bond nothing worked for me at all..and all the scratching of all the bumps had lead to not only the big red welts now but scars as well.  :(

For someone who really always tried to take good care of themself - this is almost as bad as all the hair that's taken a vacation on me.

PS It's not 3 and I am just going to get in the shower. Saturday on treatment is considered my "day of rest" and I can rest as long as I want! It's the thing (reward system) besides fudgicles that has made tx bearable!  :)

[lilmoma]

You are so right!!!!!!
I do rest on my saturdays, and I gobbed the lotion on. I am like you, I have always taken pretty good care of myself, and still like show it off sometimes, I am dreading the day my hair begins to thin or fall out, I will prolly run to this forum crying like a baby, OMG it is so hard to even think of. Promise me you wont laugh at me if I come undone!?????????
lilmoma

[Fisheress]

Not one to give much advice here but personally I think you are injecting directly under your skin which is giving you the baloon effect.  I have not lost any weight or inches therefore I am able to pinch an inch around my waist somewhere, hold the pinch until I stick myself, let go, draw back to check for blood then inject.  I never inject at an angle although that make work well for others.  The first few months I used to get injection site red marks but no longer get them.  I don't use my legs anymore because I get a weird creepy crawly sensation days to follow so I continue to alternate around my waist and tummy.

Hope this helps.  Off to go plant my garden!  hmmmm fresh tomatoes soon! Yes, sping fever has set in!

Have a good weekend everyone!
Fisheress

[jmjm530]

I believe the instructions say, inject between a 45 and 90 degree angle. That said, my NP demonstrated my first Procrit injection, as you did it -- very shallow angle, just under the skin.

You can experiment a little, but a 45 degree angle in the recommended abdomen areas works best for me.

I also got the "balooning" effect when I injected into my thigh where I have very little fat and also was afraid to inject straight in.  If you do get the baloon effect, simply slow down (or temporarily stop) the injection process and allow the meds to dissipate a little under the skin. Bottom line, as long as it goes in, and doesn't come out, you should be OK.

-- Jim