questions about injecting interferon

[ShoshanaPNW]

How would a person know if she hit a vein while giving herself an injection? Is it common for injections in the thighs to bleed more than injections in the abdomen? Thanks.

[Alady1620]

I put all 48 of mine in my belly and didn't have a problem.  Plenty of fat there to protect the veins.  LOL

[dointime]

My injection sites get inflammed so I have to alternate between thigh and abdomen.

I think I did puncture a small vein once by jabbing too close to my belly button.  I knew because the jab hurt more than usual and several drops of blood ran out afterwards.  Usually I only get a spot of blood the size of a pin head.  I didn't feel any ill effects afterwards so I guess it was OK.  

On my thigh it is more tricky because there seem to be more veins.  I look in the mirror and press and squeeze prospective sites to see if I can find a bit of fat which is vein free, then I draw a circle round it with a pen to guide me when doing the jab.

dointime  

    

[CockSparrow]

I also only injected in the abdomen. I found that if the needle stung a little i probably hit a vein, drew blood anyway. I just took it out and moved the injection site a little, It didnt happen very often.

CS

[meki]

First, the chances of you hitting a vein are very minor. You would see a "flash" of red going into the tube --- and blood would be mixing with the medicine inside the "cannister" part of the tube.

I highly doubt that you'll hit a vein with these tiny needles in your abdomen or thigh area.

I didn't do injections on the thigh - I did mine all in the abdomen area. (muscle vs. fat... To me muscle would hurt hella more where fat - just kind of accepts the intrusion and goes back... well ok then.. *smile* I kind of have a little chub in the abdomen...)

But sometimes I bled more than others - I think it really depends on your platelets, and/or your clotting capability. So be prepared with a bandaid, apply pressure and all that jazz.

Now - these needles could hit a vein in your arm "crook" or where veins are more close to the surface. But I think you're pretty darn safe in the thigh or abdomen area... So don't panic. OK?

Meki