my fiance gives my shots , but I want to , how did you get over it ?

[HappyDeb]

Hey guys,

I want to know if anyone has any tricks of giving yourself the shot. My fiance has been doing it for me so far, but if he has to go away on a trip, or anything , I would like to be self sufficient. I am afraid to do it myself. I tried to the first time and could not poke myself. Any suggestions???????


PLEASE HELP ME THROUGH THIS FEAR, Debbie:(

[alagirl]

WOW.  I have been giving myself shots for sooooooooo long.  Since I was a kid practically.  I'm trying to remember what it was like psyching myself up to do it.  It started out with allergy shots.  Those were the hardest shots for me to give myself.  Then I started having migraines at age twelve.  It became very easy then, because you weigh the pain of a migraine vs the discomfort of giving yourself a shot and the migraine wins out pretty easily.  So by the time I needed to start giving myself epogen to keep my blood cell count up, shots were easy.  I do remember though those first days sitting there trying to psych myself up.  I'd hold the needle and say 1, 2, 3.  But then on three I really wouldn't do it.  lol

I think my trick was not to poke the needle in fast.  I found that really scary.  I would get the smallest needles I could (like diabetes or allergy syringes) if it would hold the quantity of medication you're using, then either pinch or don't pinch your skin (I never noticed that there's a difference frankly, and push the needle in slowly instead of popping it in.  It hurts less and it is much less scary that way and its much easier than trying to psych yourself to jam a needle into your skin.  Also, pushing the liquid in slowly and raising it to room temp first causes it not to leave such a big knot under your skin and helps it to hurt less.  And I've always been one for personal comfort and lack of pain when at all possible.

[pigeonca]

Try draping the area - the way they do in surgeries.  Take a handkerchief or any clean fabric you're willing to cut, and cut out a circle, about 2 inches in diameter.  Put it on your tummy or thigh.  Then squeeze the area.  There will be skin showing in the hole you cut.  Jab that needle into the skin, not too hard, but not slow either.  That's how I did it the first time.  Somehow this method distances you from "the skin," makes it feel separate from you.  After one or two times, you won't need the cloth.

[koala68]

Once you overcome your initial fear/apprehension, you will see that it's actually very simple to do. Just relax when you do it, so you get tense. The needle is so thin, you almost never feel anything.
I bungee jumped 250feet straight into a deep canyon two years ago. I figured out I could handle a tiny little shot once a week as well. Good luck!

[antman]

i did over 30 of them and can say it's no big deal. the last one though i think i hit a capillary in my thigh 'cause when i pulled the needle out blood shot out like it was under pressure. that was last Friday and i didn't die yet! although the day isn't over yet. good luck, just think about something pleasant, like the end of tx or something. good luck.

[Alady1620]

Just do it.  Psyche yourself up and decide you're going to do it.  It's not that big of a deal.

[Whrose]

you can do it!  i promise.
one thing that might help is after you prepare all materials and locate the spot (belly is the easiest)
look at the spot and picture the worst annoying person in your life.(use all sense's here) then stab with the needle. ahhhh. now did that not feel good! (caution only one stick allowed)
good luck

[debnevada]

Out of 22 shots i've only had blood return one time and i was worried about whether i should use it again or not.

I did call Pegassist nurse after i had restuck myself with the needle. They don't advise against a "restick" with the same needle  but i did it and nothing happened that was adverse.

So it doesn't happen often AND if it does, it's really not a huge deal, i've learned.

Deb

[jmjm530]

I was told to practice on a ripe tomato but never could go through with it and always ended up asking them out.

[FloridaMouse]

I went through 48 weeks of treatment and was so chicken that I did not give myself a shot until ...

Shot number 48!  Yeppers I did the last one myself and it wasn't all that bad.  Good thing I did 'cause I've had to start on Humira injections for Rheumatoid Arthritis and that's a life long commitment LOL.  The Humira needle is much longer than my PegIntron was.

Mouse
genotype 1a, Stage 3, Grade 3
Finished tx 4/13/07
Hoping for SVR in Sept. 2007

[FlGuy]

Sometimes it's easier if you create a situation that leaves you no alternative but to do what you must do.  Break up with your fiance'.

[JodyLynn]

I can only do it in my legs lol cant do the stomach yet to scared. My biggest fear is that  blood will get in the chamber and that just freaks me out, i know id have to throw it away and then wonder what id do for another shot.

[dointime]

I can't look and jab at the same time.  My hand just won't move however much I want it to.  I have to aim then look away before sticking the needle in.

[lalas0]

I too had a hard time giving myself injections. I would set the shot up first and take a deep breath grab a piece of flesh and count one two three go and then stop and say no I cant do it. then I would have to talk myself back into it and count one two three go and jab the needle in slowly push the plunger and be done with it. Remember please to put your used needles in  sharps container and not just the trash. If a child or another person gets jabbed by this needle they to can get the virus. So please dispose of needles properly. I also had an incident where i hit a blood vessel and it turned black as night and was tender to the touch. Plus after I had the injections I would be sick for at least one to two days. That was the part i dreaded most. I went thru 6 months tx twice with a 6 month break in between. The peginterferon and ribiviron did not work for me. My viral load got worse. I am now going to see my 3 Dr. for this hopefully from him I will finally hear that lovely statement Sustaind viral response. Keeping fingers crossed.

[HappyDeb]

I hit the enter button rather then the tab, woops am I bad. Yes I am just frecked about jabbing myself, But I will try this Friday when my procriet shot is due, and then sun. when my peg. is due. I will be thinking life or death, thank you. Meki you are one funny woman. I love your sense of humor, use that always, that is a cure upon itself.I will take alittle of what everyone has said, and use it for my braveness, thank you again all my dear friends.


                                                                  Debbie :)

[tulips27]

Hi Deb glad you are doing well. You'll get the hang of it and you''ll be fine. What everyone said is  right just jump in and do it. Im not tx yet ...but when I do I would jab myself all day if I HAD TO...I would do anything to eliminate this virus.

I wish you the best! You'll do it. There are good people all rooting for you here

G O O D   L U C K :}

[lostpass]

My doctor had given me the first shot and it really did not hurt... that was the kicker.  Prior to this , all of my life, I never would look when I got a needle.... darn, and now I had to give myself  one every week... I went and pretended I was in Iraq.  Do it or they will kill me.  My husband was in the room with me, a nurse and the Doc.  I wanted to please him and he did not like the idea that he would do it.  I pinched my belly fat and did as the nurses had instructed me... Yes, I was shaky, but that didn't matter.  It is not a big needle and it is sharp and not really painful.  If it was painful then I would have had a problem.  I heard them all clapping from the hall at the nurses station. My husband was very proud of me and commented.  "wow, I don't think I could have done that!"  Another Dr. I see confessed that he would have a hard time giving himself a shot and I could not believe it... You'd be surprised his nurse had said to me.  So, I was all puffed up at my succcess.  The nurses at the hospital were so good to me, and if I had had a problem with this (My Dr. was housed at the hospital{ worked from there }they said just to come in and they would give me the shot.  But it was all so much more convenient at home.  To make a short story long lol lol  It was because it was not painful that helped me to do it.  I gave them in my thighs and stomach rotating each time the spot.  I would get black and blue and it ached after but no big deal.  Good luck pretending that it is do or die.  Hey, it worked for me. my best lostpass.       P.S.It sounds worse than it really is, but keep that a secret after you accomplish the feat and it is old hat.... your friends will cringe and think you are a super heroe.  Diabetics have to do this too.

[dancegirl54]

You got some great feedback - I just wanted to let you know that I'm rooting for you. My son just finished 48 weeks and is doing great! He has set an example for my daughter and I who will eventually follow. He has hemiplegia - only has use of one arm/hand, and is mildly cognitively impaired.  After the first month HE DID EVERY SHOT HIMSELF, including preparation. You can do it!!!!!

Lisa

[meki]

Yeah --- Total determination.

LOL!

Here - check it out...

I swabbed the area - set up my needle (warming it - flicking it - taking cap off - needle on. Then swabbed my belly area.

I grabbed a side of my belly area - put my thumb at the bellybutton indentation.

And spread my hand into a "C" pattern... making a "roll" out of my belly area. In my case I had a lotta roll... LMAO! KEEP that roll held - all the way through...

I picked up said clean needle set up - and held it in my hand. Ready to go - just like a like I was holding a knife that I was going to stab something --- needle point down and uncapped ---- thumb in the ready to push the Jeapordy button plunger.

Anyhow - I looked at the spot on my belly  for a few moments ---- inhaled through my mouth - pursed my lips together - grit my teeth...

Then I put the needle almost on the skin... Breathed out..

Inhaled a big gulp of breath and then  "PUUUUUUSHED"  through the skin.

Once the needle is in all the way - I would then place the pinky side of palm to wrist -  against my stomach for stabilization.

Then I would check to see quickly to see if any blood had flashed up into the chamber... If none - I would push the plunger with my thumb.

I would then pull the needle out -  put it on the counter on top of a paper towel - let out my breath --- and look down to see if was bleeding...

Grab a bandaid from the counter - while still holding roll - rip said bandaid open with teeth - pull off the slides and put it on --- finally letting go of the belly roll.

Then I'd clean up.

Well - that kind of how my sex life goes too... Sigh --- lovely... LOL!

Anyhow don't worry - first time is always hard ---- you'll be a pro in no time.

Got to the point - I was doin my own Vitamin b shots --- and the doc even let me innoculate myself --- LOL!

Good luck!

Meki

[GrandmaA]

The be in charge phone no. is 1-888-437-2608.  Online at www.beincharge.com
Good luck to you Debbie. You can do it. We all had apprehension at first but we want to get well, so we do it. We want to get rid of this virus.

[GrandmaA]

They have an injection class here. The nurse practitioner is very nice. There is also a big laminated paper with full instructions and how to do everything in the proper order from the drug company. I think there are 4 steps. They are trying to make it as easy as possible. Are you doing peg intron or pegasus? Patients at the clinic get their shots there by the nurse. I have been doing peg intron for the past 49 weeks. The Procrit shot sometimes makes a bruise. There's an advice help nurse if doing peg intron at Be In Charge. You can talk to registered nurses 24/7. I don't know about the pegasus but I'm sure they have help too.

[Myown]

It sounds like you haven't had any problem as far as thinking the needle hurts because you didn't mention that, so it is just fear that is holding you back. I had that also. Ya know that hesitation that we all have before we dive or jump into a pool? We all have that. How do you get beyond that? You just "do it." It was scary to me also, but once you do it, it is so easy. I did fine all the way thru and then the last few shots I had that fear come back. I don't know why. But then again I just forced myself to stick it in. Once you do it yourself (and you will) don't go back to having your fiance do it.

I'm sure you will be fine. Let us know how you make out.
Good luck!

[chevyelcam79]

Debbie,

Actually, there is nothing to it!  YEah, you get a weird feeling in your throat and stomach and you look at it and think "how can I do this?".  But bottom line is that you know you have to!  Just take something before to calm your nerves (if you have it).  Breath, talk to it, wipe, blow, breath, and do it!

Sounds easy huh?  Just think that when you do it, that is one less you have to do!

Shari