3rd injection - think I screwed up

[rezin8]

Hi guys, I know I'm new here, but I'm a little concerned.  I took my third injection today about 2:30 CDT.  I had some of the interferon come out of the hole after I pulled the needle out.  Not much, but I can't help but feel like I screwed something up.  Not only that, but I did it about 2 inches left of my belly button and I'm having terrible pain in the groin area.  Any one experienced things like this before?

[Andromedae]

Having some come back out may mean that you did not go deep enough but it may also mean that you did not fully empty the syringe before you withdrew the needle.  Difficult to tell.  You should be injecting into a pinched fold of fatty area skin at between a 45 to 90 degree angle.  Much less than 45 degrees and you may be injecting too shallowly.

As for the pain, when did the pain first start in relation to when you gave yourself a shot?  

[rezin8]

It may have been less than a 45.  The pain started 2-3 minutes after the injection and just got worse.  It's since lightened up, but still there.

The reason I think I screwed this up is because I should have started with my side effects now and there' not really coming on.  I wonder if I got all the meds where they need to be.

[Andromedae]

Well the 45 degree thing isn't all that critical really.  It does sound like there's a relation between the injection and your pain so if the pain is intense I'd really recommend that you call your doctor.  

Some pain from having an injection is normal (as we all know) and some people are more sensitive than others to the Peg.  It is possible to develop a severe allergic reaction to the  injection so if the pain continues to increase and you notice severe swelling anywhere on your body and/or have difficulty breathing within the first 6-12 hours of the shot you should call your doctor or go to the emergency room to be seen immediately.

And by the way minor allergic reactions to the Peg (some swelling, redness,soreness and rash) are unfortunately normal side effects.

[Trinity4]

The needles are so small that it's very difficult to inject into a vein or muscle.  You may have hit a small nerve which caused some pain in the groin area.  I've injected and had some peg leak out of the needle where it attaches to the syringe.  Didn't tighten it enough.   I've also had some peg leak out of the injection site as well.  Overall, I'm quite sure you got the appropriate amount of peg.  Side effects don't always occur at the same time -  they may lessen the longer you are on tx.  I had a peg reduction on wk 8 & 9 and had some pretty bad sx and done full dosage with no sx.  You just really never know how you will be effected.  I think you'll be fine but if the pain doesn't go away completely, you may want to talk to your doctor about it.
Trin

[rezin8]

Well, the pain has gone away this morning, but I'm puzzled because there' no intense side effects like the last 2 injections.  I really don't feel anything; and that's what's got me freaking out.  Maybe I really did screw something up and not get the meds in right...

[Trinity4]

Don't freak about it.  Anyone on this board will tell you sx don't follow an exact course.  You can suffer one week and be totally sx free the next.  Side effects don't always occur exactly on the same day and time nor does it mean because you are sx free the peg isn't working.  That peg went somewhere whether it was straight to your groin (which is highly unlikely) or in the subcutaneous area of your stomach.  Don't worry....I'd be ecstatic if the sx weren't kicking in.  
Trin

[rita863]

Ditto on what Trin says

Trin i would also be estactic if my sides werent kicking in,

peace
rita

[rezin8]

Well, I'm not going to make the mistake and take the chance of screwing this up again.  My wife is an MD (just graduated and starting her residency next month) and I'm just going to have her give me the damn injections.  She did the first one, but she made me do the last 2 so I can get used to it.  Oh well, I'm not taking that chance again.

She's telling me the same thing about the sx.  I was just expecting to me laid up for a weekend again, and it seems like I might actually be able to get something done for a change!

-Greg

[Trinity4]

No doubt!!  I've got a new sx that reared it's ugly head.  Started around shot 15.  I inject on Friday evenings and I get hyper unlike anything I've ever experienced.  As you can tell by my posts I was up pretty late last night.  It's not just insomnia, it's like my whole body is in overdrive.  I'm avoiding caffine, sugar, carbs - nothing helps.  After 17 shots it's not like I have anxiety about it anymore.  I work all day so I might change my injection time to Friday morning and that way I can be hyper all day at work and maybe get some stuff done!!!  When I first started, doc recommended Friday evenings so that I had the weekend to deal with the sx - I'm so used to them now it won't make any difference one way or the other.  Ain't tx fun!!!
Trin