looking for tips on getting a good shot

I hope to be starting tx really soon. Does anyone have any tips for making sure you get the shot right?

[jab1979]

I injected all 24 of my shots in rotating locations on the top parts of my thighs and legs. Just pink the skin/fat up, hit at about a 45 degree and go straight in, not slowly, a fast motion, until needle is all the way in. Hold the syringe with one hand while in, and pull back on the syringe to make sure you aren't in the vein. If you get small little air bubbles, that's a good sign you aren't in the vein. Inject all medicine and pull out in the same quick motion, which blood if any, and take a nice long breather.

[OnAPrettyPoison]

LOL!  Jab meant pinch not pink!  Usually the NP will give you lessons right before you start.  Pegasys has a tape that you can watch - peg probably has the same thing.  Don't worry, it's not hard.

[45yroldcnd]

just finished my 9th shot I found it easier in the abdomen, than in the leg, mind you I have a little extra area around my gut. I thought before I started I would prefer the leg, but it did not turn out that way. It seems difficult at first but you will get used to it, just make sure you read the instructions re the injection procedure. Good luck and take care

[APKhaos]

The shots seem worse than they really are. They really don't hurt a bit. Despite knowing that, it's still an unnatural act. Intentionally injecting stuff that can make you feel bad is never easy.

You will be shown how to do it the first time, and its easy after that. I have fairly low body fat [despite 200#] so they told me to forget the 45degrees and go at 90 degrees to the skin. Just take it slow the first time, and ask every question that comes into your mind while you are with the nurse.

The standard rotation for Pegasys [on the patient info] is L abdomen, R abdomen, L upper thigh, R upper thigh. Lately I've been going L abd, R abd. Seems to have a greater effect, and no problem with injection site redness etc.

Don't worry, it will be a lot easier than you expect.

[orphanedhawk]

thanks, I did figure out that jab, meant pinch and not pink. (I am a dyslexic typist if I'm not careful.)
   My doctor isn't close and doesn't have a nurse. However, I've given lots of shots to horses and needles don't bother me.
There is no way I could do it in my belly!! But my thighs are ample enough.  So, is it supposed to go into the, um, blubber or under the skin. What is the target?

[sfbaygirl]

If you have given shots, it will be a breeze. When I gave myself shots (lots) for migraines, I tried the tummy. I hated it! I got bruises. I haven't had one bruise or problem in 31 weeks in my thigh. Sometimes I alternate legs, sometimes not. The needles are small and just get the air out first and go in. Jabbing sounds brutal, I prefer to think of something easier on the mind. I think of Freddie when I think of jabbing! LOL

[orphanedhawk]

With the horses, we'd tap on them on the neck three times, then jab. But , I do know about getting the air out and making sure not to hit a vein. Thanks

[returntosender]

My routine was to inject into thighs, changing legs each week and trying to hit a place without the red circle from previous shot.  I would place toweled ice on the area where I would shoot then swab it with alcohol and then let the alcohol dry.  Make sure it dries or it can cause pain if not.  Make sure that you have the open end of the needle up - in other words, the needle end is like a scooper and the bottom of the scoop should be down not up.  Make sure bubbles are out and go into leg as fast as you can bear but being careful.  Since there are no veins that you can hit at the top of the thigh, you may hit a capillary and although I was told this is not a problem I would still pull out a bit to make sure I wasnt in one.  I would inject slowly with a pumping motion. No reason except that it hurt less if I pumped and allow the liquid time to be absorbed. When empty I would wait a few seconds for the Peg to get absorbed a bit and remove the needle - slooowly.  I found that pulling out quickly causes the sharp end of the needle to cut its way through skin causing more bruising and bleeding. Simple as that. I would do the shot at around 7pm on Friday night like clockwork.  Sat was usually not too bad, Sunday around noon the fireworks would start culminating in a big Monday show and then tapering off Tues, Wed and Thurs to allow me to only feel the miserable Riba and ultimately to be ready for Fri all over again.

[Sally01]

You will get so used to it and it is not even that bad.  Becomes more of an annoyance to just do it.  When I was in the hospital recently I was receiving procrit and neupogen which are also sub cu injections like Peg.  I let the nurse do it only once and it hurt so after that I asked to do it myself.  You will get to know yourself and where it is best for you. After they let me do it it was no problem at all.

[NYgirl]

I take the syringe in my hand, point it at the right spot, close my eyes and JAB away.  it seems to hurt so so so much less if I don't look!  ;)

The most important thing is to make sure the doctor gives you SMALL SMALL needles.  A few times the nurses ordered me large ones and well...wow what a difference.  If you get the little needles you can't feel it at all and it goes in no problem.

Those are my best pieces of shot advice. I remember before I started coming in here going HOW can I do it I just CANT!!!!!! LOL go figure now it's NOTHING.

[GrandOak]

I used the stomach. Find the fleshiest part of your stomach or leg, insert at a 45 degree angle to the skin surface, and jab.

I used the little square Band-aids afterwards because at first there may be a little blood after you extract the needle.  Later it helps remind you where you injected to avoid going in the same spot next time, particularily if you start taking rescue meds too.

When taking rescue meds, I'd do the IFN on one side and the rescue med on the other.

There may be some redness which develops around the injection site, I had it at first, but latter did not.

My experience was that after a few weeks, you'll become so adept that you may find you can inject in your sleep and not have any blood afterwards at all.  But then towards the end I was injecting so often (IFN, Neupogen, Procrit) that it seemed like I was forgetting something on the evenings I wasn't giving myself a shot.

[mntlady]

I am truly afraid of needles and i just did #4 and none of them have hurt at all. One more thing i was told is let the needle stay in a couple of seconds after meds are injected.  Good Luck

[NYgirl]

The interferon shot doesn't really hurt but meds like Procrit tend to hurt more (ouch!) just so you know.

[illo]

Thanks for all of your valuable info.  I will try to find this post again when I will start in a few mos.  You've all taken the 'scare' away with your experiences.

[orphanedhawk]

I'm copying and pasting info. from this site into my documounts for looking at later, in case I can't find this (or other) threads.

[Lady E]

I do the shots in the outside of my thighs or in my side (above your waistband line). After a few days, I get a round red rash where I shot & it lasts for about 2 weeks and goes away. I was advised to use a different shot site every time, so I just rotate between those 4 areas, and avoid where it might still be a little pink from a previous shot.
It's easy & it doesn't hurt. :)
E-East

[Lady E]

Yes, I was also taught to hold the plunger down and count to 5 after you've reached the extent of your injection.