NO MORE FAT ON MY THIGHS FOR SHOT

[fresnoborn]

I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN A THREAD SINCE IT'S LATE SATURDAY NITE AND I FOUND ROOM. HERE GOES...I AM IN WEEK 13 AND I HAVE BEEN GIVING MY SHOT IN MY THIGHS WELL, I AM NOTICING THAT I AM RUNNING OUT OF FAT ON MY THIGHS TO GIVE MY SHOT. I HEARD YOU CAN GIVE IT IN THE STOMACH AND THE BACK OF THE ARMS. BACK OF THE ARMS IS OUT OF THE QUESTION SINCE ONLY I GIVE MYSELF THE SHOT AND I CAN'T REACH BACK THERE. I AM SO NERVOUS ABOUT GIVING IT IN THE STOMACH. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE IT NEAR SCARS AND MY STOMACH IS FULL OF SCARS FROM PAST SURGERYS. SOOOO...WHERE DO I GIVE IT? ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS SOMETIMES A SMALL DRIP OF MED THAT COMES DOWN MY LEG AFTER I GIVE THE SHOT, IS THIS NORMAL OR AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG? I ALSO READ THAT YOU SHOULD GENTLY PINCH THE SKIN THEN GIVE THE INJECTION. I DO THAT BUT I KEEP IT PINCHED TILL I PULL THE NEEDLE OUT..I READ SOMEWHERE HERE THAT YOU SHOULD PINCH THEN PUT THE NEEDLE IN AND THEN RELEASE THE PINCH THEN GIVE THE MED. I WOULD THINK THAT LETTING GO OF THE PINCH WHILE THE NEEDLE IS STILL IN, WOULD HURT. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME OUT HERE. THANKS.

[GoofyDad]

Hmmmm. My procrit syringes don't have long needles. Long barrel, but not a long needle. 23mm, 27 1/2 guage, I believe. No stinging the first time either. Per Jim's suggestion, I shot it realllllll slow.

W/ Peg, Nuepogen, and Procrit going on, I just jab one thigh or the other, without much regard to where. I can't tell where I've been, so I don't worry about it. Hope it's OK.  

[NYgirl]

I too was told to leave the needle in for at least five seconds (with either the peg or the Procrit) just to make sure it all gets in there.

I have the same problem with fat - I didn't start with hardly any and the big procrit needle is so much longer than the epi pen there's like no where for it to go into.  Going to have to use my arm or something what a mess.

[cuteus]

I know where you are coming from, it is not only you, of course, that is why I did not direct the comment to you. It happens all the time, people come in asking if they should double the riba because they missed one dose, how to change the shot day, should they take the riba the last wk of tx, etc.  It is fine to ask, but only as a sidekick to having consulted with the provider, not in place of, which happens too often. Well meant members offer their opinion and the poster accepts it without ever consulting with the provider. It is scary and dangerous.  I know some providers make themselves inaccessible, but then there is the pharmacist and the drug co helpline with a knowledgeable Rn on call, calling them is as easy as typing a question here and safer.  We sometimes seem to forget the rules in our eagerness to help and forget to make sure the person asks a professional.
Again, it happens all the time, so it is not personal.
stay well

[fresnoborn]

i reread what i wrote and it didn't look right to me. i didn't mean to sound tacky. i understand where you are coming from and i will keep, what you said, in mind. you are right, when it comes to serious questions i will ask my doctor or pharmacist. thanks for the reminder. take care

[fresnoborn]

FIGUY  I GOT IT ALL STRAIGHT NOW THANKS. YOU GUYS ARE LOTS OF HELP.

CUTEUS  MY GI JUST HIRED A NEW NURSE ASSISTANT WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE DETAILS OF GIVING REDIPEN INJECTIONS. SHE JUST KNOWS THE BASIC STUFF RIGHT NOW BUT I'M SURE SHE WILL CATCH ON REAL QUICK. I USE THIS FORUM WHEN I FEEL THE NEED OR WHEN GI IS UNAVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN VERY VERY HELPFUL TO ME. I KNOW THERE MAY NOT BE ANY DOCTORS HERE BUT THERE ARE OTHER HELPFUL AND USEFUL PEOPLE HERE MOST WITH HEP C THAT UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHERE I AM COMING FROM. ALOT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS I. I READ THE RULES BEFORE I CAME HERE. THANKS ANYWAY FOR YOUR INPUT.

[FlGuy]

I don't have the redi-pen instructions with me but I recall that you should leave the needle in for 5 seconds after the plunger is all the way in.  Sometimes those last couple of millimeters are difficult to press in.  Also, some of the dripping could be from the pressure created in the mixing process.  The instructions also say that after mixing you screw on the needle.  When this happes the pressure release a few drops (expected).  This may be what's running down you leg and not something leaking out of the injection site.
Make sure that when you are doing the mixing and needle prep that the redi-pen is vertical, pointy end up.

[FlGuy]

I don't have the redi-pen instructions with me but I recall that you should leave the needle in for 5 seconds after the plunger is all the way in.  Sometimes those last couple of millimeters are difficult to press in.  Also, some of the dripping could be from the pressure created in the mixing process.  The instructions also say that after mixing you screw on the needle.  When this happes the pressure release a few drops (expected).  This may be what's running down you leg and not something leaking out of the injection site.
Make sure that when you are doing the mixing and needle prep that the redi-pen is vertical, pointy end up.

[cuteus]

This forum is for support but it does not take the place of medical guidance, it says so in the disclaimer. If anyone has specific questions or are not sure of what they are doing and how they are doing it, this forum is a guide, but the questions should be directed to a medical professional; pharmacist, PCP, GI, or the drug company's helpline. Please remember to do so. We only like to play doctors here, some more than others.

[jmjm530]

I thought I felt a bit of a temporary "flush" after the shot and maybe some more energy in the afternoon but today I slept alot, so who knows. I think there's as much preservative in the shot as a Big Mac so possibly your husband's bad reaction was due to the preservatives. Also, I'm not sure I got into the muscle and will probably use a longer needle next time.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

If you're not already on Procrit, you should be for your anemia. If you reduce the ribavirin, you may reduce your chances for success. With Procrit, you may not have to reduce the ribavirin and should feel a lot better. Generally, you need 48 weeks if your're a genotype 1. I'm assuming then you're a genotype 2 since you're talking about 24 weeks.

-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

THERE IS A FRENCH STUDY THAT IF YOU ARE A LOW VIRAL COUNT AND YOU ARE AND SHOW CLEAR AT WEEK 4 THAT 24 WEEKS WORKS AS WELL AS 48 WEEKS FOR GENO 1. I WOULD BE AFRAID OF CUTTING IT SHORT UNLESS THE SIDES ARE UNBEARABLE. GOOD LUCK WHICH EVER WAY YOU GO.
BOBBY

[bobbyullc]

TRY THIS
http://www.biotech-intelligence.com/html/html/de23abadef48c89fe11300886e9c25db.html

[cuteus]

the shot is supposed to be sub Q, subcutaneous. means under the skin, it does not have to be in fat tissue. anywhere you can pinch some skin, you should be able to do the shot. even your buttocks.  the drip could be from holding the pinch while injecting. I used to do the same and after releasing the pinch the med was able to go into the tissue instead of dripping out. It is going to hurt the same whether it goes in pinched or not. after 13 wks, I would think we are used to the feeling already.

aubbie:
get procrit soon, your quality of life should not suffer to the point of destruction. INsist on intervention.  Don't try to shortchange yourself on tx length because of a couple of studies that are trying to appeal to the hep c market with shorter tx. People relapse with EVR s also, which means you would have to tx for over 48 wks the next time.  Ask for Procrit so you can finsih your tx in one piece.

[fresnoborn]

I READ YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE SHOT NEAR SCARS. I HAVE SEVERAL SCARS ON MY STOMACH BUT IT IS TOTALLY COVERED WITH SCARS. CAN I STILL GIVE IT IN THE STOMACH WHERE THERE IS NO SCARS AND IF SO WHERE AT IN THE STOMACH? I READ NOT BELOW THE BELLY BUTTON AND NOT IN THE T AREA. CAN YOU GIVE IT BELOW THE BREAST AREA? WHAT ABOUT ON THE SIDES?

[jmjm530]

I inject below the belly button,usuallly to either side, and sometimes toward lower love handles. Just don't inject in belly button or directly along the waist line.

A good diagram here, just scroll down: http://janis7hepc.com/treatment_help.htm#h

[fresnoborn]

WITH THE REDIPEN, DO YOU HAVE TO PINCH THE SKIN?

[v eggie dip]

Hey Jim:

Just wondering how the B-12 shot went?

Beth

[jmjm530]

Fres,
The instructions for redipen are badly written but it appears you do not release the pinch until after the shot. There's also a video but I couldn't load it. http://tinyurl.com/au7a5
If you can't access the video, maybe you should call Shearing's "Nurse In Charge" program Monday.

Veggie,

Did the injection yesterday afternoon. 24-hours later not sure if I feel any difference but maybe it will help my Hgb eventually.
More in the thread "Hepatitis C, Pegasys treatment  and Low WBC" below.

[v eggie dip]

Okay, good...I am glad you didn't get any negative reactions :)

I hope it helps!!

[fresnoborn]

THANKS.

[can-do-man]

Don't you think after 13 weeks you should be talking to your np or doc. if you dont know if your getting it right? Do you not ever see them

[fresnoborn]

YES AFTER 13 WEEKS I DO SEE MY GI, REGULARLY. HE DOES NOT INJECT WEEKLY AND I DO. THIS FORUM IS TO TALK AND DISCUSS WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO DEAL WITH HEP C AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. OKAY?!

[fresnoborn]

BY THE WAY, I DON'T RECALL SEEING YOU ON THIS FORUM BEFORE. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH HEP C? DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW YOU WOULD ATTEMPT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS HERE? GENOTYPE, VIRAL LOAD, TREATMENT, ETC.? DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED. THIS FORUM IS MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME. THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA STAY.

[can-do-man]

GEEZ. you say "don't even get be started", Well excuse me. But id hate to think meds was running down my leg for 13 weeks and i didn''t ask my doc. I wasn't trying to be sh..y, and yes i have hcv and know more then i care to know about this stinkin virus. have a good take