Self Injecting - Is it Hard?

[NYgirl]

I just found out that when I start my treatments later this week I will have to learn to do the self injecting on my own.

I've never done anything like this and am not sure that I can (chicken little is my new name).

Has anybody had any trouble? How did you get over it? Is it hard to do?

Please let me know how I am going to do this. I'm just freaked out as it is about being worried about starting the tx and now this made me even more scared.

Thanks guys.

[NYgirl]

LOL how far away is Long Island from me? NOT FAR!!!!!  

We do have a big group going on here and could throw quite some crazy party!  Why they would be sure we were drunk (even though we wouldn't be) because we are all so crazy!  :) Meant in the nice way of course!

I would totally be up for it as long as I dont get major sx which I just am going to refuse to get!

I never knew negative could be my favorite word until your post you know!  :) :) :) :)

[cuteus]

my half sister is in Westchester! and you have a lot of MH members nearby, Amerabrit, who is MIA, lives close by, and rearfang, cquest, donl( in MAss), I am in LI, Don Alfonso in the city, we have enough people for a big party!

[carpedi]

I'm on #12/48 this week and to date my hair is still firmly attached! Don't know if it'll stay that way, but so far, so good.

[NYgirl]

Thank you EVERYBODY for all the help.  I felt so much better about everything last night. I even bought a notebook to use as a journal for all the things I don't want to forget.

I don't know what I would do without you all.  My doctor has told me NOTHING at all about anything really (maybe my fault as I did not have the right questions yet) but since he's not been through it...he wouldn't really have a handle anyways.

Another quick question I thought of:  what about hair loss? Is it not so bad (as my doctor told me) or does it all pop out?

PS I am in Westchester County right outside NYC.

Debby

[friole]

Such good info on this thread, I haven't thrown in my 2 cents.  

Before my first shot (am on 9 now) I watched the Pegysys video and it looked so easy I told myself, I can do that - and called the nurse and said I would forego the lesson.

Picked up my prescription on shot day and it was NOT the tidy prefilled syringe, but the vial.  I asked the pharmacist and he said that the "prefilled" was not circled on the rx so I had to have the vials.  Then they gave me some syringes - 22 gauge (huge) with 1" needles. Yikes! That was a nightmare, but I got through it.  Was not as tidy as I anticipated tho.

I posted here and people told me what size needle to have (27ga or 25ga) and I got those for the next 3.  Before I refilled I talked to the nurse and she straightened out the pharmacist who apparantly was pretty green and didn't know that the  prescription was ONLY for the prefilled syringes. THose are so much easier, I can assure you. That first shot took a 1/2 hour and now I can almost do it in a commercial.

regarding viral load.  I think the standard that everyone uses here is international units (IU) per mililiter (mL) of blood.  I don't see many speaking in terms of the one.numbers.  Mine was 1,520,000 before tx.

I use the Janis sight each step of the way. In understanding viral load, biopsy results, and a multitude of other things.  There is indeed a wealth of info there.

Glad you are getting started and have found this place
Kathy

[rearfang]

NYgirl,
Just wanted to welcome you. I've only been posting short responses the past several weeks, so I'm glad to see that all these folks are coming to your rescue. BTW where are you in NY?

Don, Giidy, Whoa, maj,
Hi you guys! I've been thinking about all of you. (Cuteus, too, but she's been ever-present, as always, and I mean that in the absolute BEST sense!)
Lauren