What am I doing wrong?

[lilmoma]

When I gavve myself my injection thursday, it took two times to get it all in, (yuk, 2 shots!) I guess I feel funny about this "subcutaneous" thing, its like, do you go in at an angle, or straight in, the way I do it is pull a bit of skin out and kind of go into it sideways, but I got a "balloon effect" or water balloon effect, and it was like it was just going to pop and go everywhere. What is my problem? I am afraid to "go straight in" for fear it will go into the stomach,.does anybody else experience this problem, and is this just a stupid fear I have.
lilmoma

[can-do-man]

is that really you? How you been girl. Hope you noticed i've been TRYING to keep them in line. your little mutt here.

[anise]

I am feeling really good myself.  Went for an hour walk around the lake and came home ready to watch some movies.  I'm glad you are doing well also.  So far this stuff is not that bad.

[Fisheress]

Be careful with the cat poo in your garden while digging around in it.  Make sure you wear some gloves.  Perhaps some moth balls around the area will distract the cat from defecating in there.  There is a diease that you can get from that.....trying to remember the name of it.......Pregnant woman have to be careful around litter boxes too.  It's called Toxoplasmosis, a very harmful thing!  Even the most healthy people can be exposed to it, so be careful!

[can-do-man]

you said....Oh Can-do,....what can we do to show our appreciation!!!!!
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Hmmmmmmm, Im making my list, checking it twice. Gotta see who's been naughty or nice. Maybe summin extra in santas stocking?

[friole]

Can do -- you mean what I call the rabbits?   Sal and Via (for all the salvia plants they ate????) makes them sound like renegades from south of the border......Don't mind me -- I'm lost most of the time..

hepcla -wow week 28 already?  We are just flying by!  --35 for me.  I am so happy that you got the interferon energy boost.  I get some good energy off it, but overall now, I am just plan fatiqued.  Working 6 days a week doesn't help either.
Wish we had some of that rain.  Got drought conditions here in West Texas

fisheress -- hubby tried to buy some Celebrity tomatos to plant yesterday, but the nursery didn't have any yet.  They said maybe next week. He is even going to get the soil ready so his 85 year old dad can water a couple of plants at his house.  My big rosemary plant died last year, so I need to replace it.  I may go get some herbs to plant tomorrow too - sounds like a great idea --- but how do they do on cat fertilizer?  --- seems to be the bed of choice for my old nasty cat.  I did get two rosemary and 2 thyme plants last fall and kept them in the house to plant in spring -- but they have all croaked except one thyme, and it has powdery mildew and I don't know how to get rid of it.   ... have to wait til I get home to see your pics

[HepCinLA]

Hey Kathy!!

It's a bit wet in LA today.  We're supposed to have quite the storm tonight.  But the good news is that we're heading up to the mountains for some skiing.  Should be plenty of snow!

How are you!  I am doing great!!  I just did shot # 28/48.  A bit tired here and there but not so bad.  Before txt began, I told myself that while I felt good that I'd try to do as much as I can.  Since the sides have been minimal I find that I'm super busy.  Plus my little ones really keep me on my toes.  I joke that I should stay on treatment forever b/c I'm more productive now than before txt.

That's not to say that I don't have my moments.  There are a handful of days during the month when I feel tired and could use a good nap.  But overall, I haven't had many problems.  It's kind of like Snowav said about having a positive attitude and keeping busy during treatment to take your mind off of the sides.  I find that if I keep planning things (camping trips, book clubs, science fairs for the kids, etc) that I don't have time to give into the sides.

Well that's all for me...hope you are doing great!
S.

[lilmoma]

Did ya hear that????????????
Can-do is just trying to keep all us "gals" getting along!!!!!!!!!
Isnt that wonderfully unselfish of him!!!!!!!!
Oh Can-do,....what can we do to show our appreciation!!!!!
You are a very funny man indeed!!!!!!!! Thanks for the smile.
lilmoma

[can-do-man]

Yeah and i bet when you jam that needle in your hubby you have a big evil grin on your face.

you said.... it is just all in my head I guess.... For goodness sakes woman no wonder your having such a hard time. Thats not where this med is suppose to go.

As for trying to get something started. Why is it always little innocent me? Just trying to keep you gals behaving today.

[lilmoma]

Thanks everybody, you are right, I just get nervous, I dont have any problem "jamming" to my hubby when I give him his shot, but I get nervous for some stupid reason when I realize what I am inflicting on myself.
oh yeah,..I did my first shot in front of the nurse,.no prob. it is just all in my head I guess.

Okay Can-do, you sound like your trying to get something started, let's get ready to rumble!!!!!!!!!!!!(hehehehe)

[jmjm530]

Dyce said: "I've onlt injected myself twice but I did it on a 45 % angel"
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Hmmm. That's a new one. I usually do the injections on my dining room table.

[dyce]

I've onlt injected myself twice but I did it on a 45 % angel after pinching the proverbial inch and it worked fine. On the 2nd rd I pulled the plunger back allitle to be sure of no blood and found no problem doing that either. The 2nd rd I was better and I believe practice makes perfect. I found an old insulin syringe and yesterday practiced a few dry rds and that seemed to help.Every1 thier own.

Dyce

[can-do-man]

chev says...you got any soy icecream for your lactose intolerant gal? a special order? maybe personally delivered?
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Soy icecream? Oh my you got to be kidding. You know for you i'll do my best. Personally delivered? No problem, One thing though you won't have to worry about this ole mutt licking that bowl clean. Well not the icecream bowl that is. :)

[jmjm530]

I believe the instructions say, inject between a 45 and 90 degree angle. That said, my NP demonstrated my first Procrit injection, as you did it -- very shallow angle, just under the skin.

You can experiment a little, but a 45 degree angle in the recommended abdomen areas works best for me.

I also got the "balooning" effect when I injected into my thigh where I have very little fat and also was afraid to inject straight in.  If you do get the baloon effect, simply slow down (or temporarily stop) the injection process and allow the meds to dissipate a little under the skin. Bottom line, as long as it goes in, and doesn't come out, you should be OK.

-- Jim

[Fisheress]

Not one to give much advice here but personally I think you are injecting directly under your skin which is giving you the baloon effect.  I have not lost any weight or inches therefore I am able to pinch an inch around my waist somewhere, hold the pinch until I stick myself, let go, draw back to check for blood then inject.  I never inject at an angle although that make work well for others.  The first few months I used to get injection site red marks but no longer get them.  I don't use my legs anymore because I get a weird creepy crawly sensation days to follow so I continue to alternate around my waist and tummy.

Hope this helps.  Off to go plant my garden!  hmmmm fresh tomatoes soon! Yes, sping fever has set in!

Have a good weekend everyone!
Fisheress

[lilmoma]

You are so right!!!!!!
I do rest on my saturdays, and I gobbed the lotion on. I am like you, I have always taken pretty good care of myself, and still like show it off sometimes, I am dreading the day my hair begins to thin or fall out, I will prolly run to this forum crying like a baby, OMG it is so hard to even think of. Promise me you wont laugh at me if I come undone!?????????
lilmoma

[NYgirl]

Show that skin while you still CAN!!!!!!

Make sure to moisturize your whole body every single day - more than once a day at least so that you don't end up looking like some of us do.  Until I found the Gold Bond nothing worked for me at all..and all the scratching of all the bumps had lead to not only the big red welts now but scars as well.  :(

For someone who really always tried to take good care of themself - this is almost as bad as all the hair that's taken a vacation on me.

PS It's not 3 and I am just going to get in the shower. Saturday on treatment is considered my "day of rest" and I can rest as long as I want! It's the thing (reward system) besides fudgicles that has made tx bearable!  :)

[lilmoma]

I am feeling pretty darn good actually, how bout you?
I just finished getting dressed (I know it almost 2:00) I decided on a cute summer outfit (show a little skin)and now i feel ready to go do something!!!!!! Whoo Hooo!
lilmoma

[anise]

I am still trying to get used to sticking myself with the needle.  Last thursday I did it myself with the NP watching.  Thankfully, it slid in like 'butter'.  I put the bevel point of the needle up and positioned it next to my skin and gently pushed it in.  I did get some liquid coming out, but the NP said 'not to worry'.  

The NP also mentioned that the stomach doesn't have many veins and not to worry about drawing the needle back to see if you get blood.  Both her and my Hepatologist don't agree with the Pegasys video tape about the veins (according to them, the subcutaneous area doesn't harbor major veins).

So how else are you feeling?

[Fisheress]

Here ya go, more info on this....

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

Copy and paste this in your browser

[lilmoma]

I spent 5 days in the hospital with "Cat Scratch Fever", extremely painful, thought I was going to lose my hand, antibiotics would not kill, I used think that was just a great song, cat fecal matter can be very dangerous.
lilmoma

[NYgirl]

Oh boy...we're starting early today aren't we?  ;-)

Well you do know that I do always say that I like to do it fast and hard - but in this case it's about just getting it over as fast as possible.  Sometimes I take it easy though because I like to see it going in and injecting. Depends on my mood.

[Fisheress]

Above the gutter talk ok? Oh BTW i love eating "FISH" could munch on it all day.
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OK, gonna behave today, you got me!..........Not gonna touch that one! :)

[can-do-man]

you said....just jam it in. It's not hard...you just have to GO FOR IT all at once and you'll be fine.
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As soon as i saw your name i just do the behaving would end.

Gutter talk, Gutter talk, its a wonder you can walk.

[NYgirl]

I don't make a very bid deal of it honestly - pinch the skin together and then just jam it in.  I don't put a lot of worry or work into it because as long as it gets in there...it's not a science or anything.

You just stick and push.  It sounds like you get nervous about it.

I had a lesson before hand with my nurse practitioner...can you contact the doc office and ask them to have the NP walk you through it first?

It's not hard...you just have to GO FOR IT all at once and you'll be fine. I mean really just get it under your skin and go for it :)