Injection problems

[Qrtrmoon]

Suddenly I have started bleeding at the site of each injection.  It doesn't seem to matter if I use the auto injector or not.  I am worried I am not getting the full dose of med because of this?  Should I be concerned?  Is it something I am doing differently and just not realizing I am doing it?  I recently switched from Rebif to Copaxone but I was having the problem with Rebif before I switched about 50% of the time now it seems to be increasing.  

[Quixotic1]

** although I do tend to clot slowly and bleed heavily and have all my life.  Have always had problems after any surgery.  **

Now, I know that it is human to think that everyone who has your symptoms must surely have your diagnosis, BUT, I come from a family who always said the samething.  We discovered a few years ago that we have Von Willebrands Disease, a genetic problem with difficulty clotting.  The bleeding is worse with surgery.

There are two pathways to forming a clot.  One is where the injury is ragged and a lot of "tissue juice" is exposed.  My clotting is normal then.  The other pathway is with very clean cuts - like surgery - where minimal tissue is exposed.  That is where VWD shows up.

Now, I used Avonex, which is an intra-muscular injection and did not have problems with the injection site bleeding except once when I must have hit a little arteriole and the blood spurted up twice and then quit.

Quix

[Heather3418]

Not to worry about "losing any medication" with these bleeds.  Enough of the Copaxone is staying in there to do it's job.  Trust me on this one.

It's a good idea is your suspect that you are going to have a slight bled, to keep a piece of guaze or cottom ball handy and immediately put it over the injection site for a moment with very slight pressure.  Do not rub the spot and do not scratch the spot.

Contact your doctor as Quix say and just let them know that you started having these problems.  It might be worth the little money to buy some small circle bandages and just put one on the injection site.

You ARE getting enough of the Copaxone, as Shared Solutions told me.  Sometimes, the medication would run down my leg, especially when I hit a pocket of fat or a little scar tissue from a precious shot.  SS told me not to worry, that I was getting enough medication to stay on track.

Sorry you are having these problems, but good for you, for staying on track.

Heather

[meg321]

I also bleed just a drop sometimes, it was more when I started.  Unless you are bleeding a lot I think its pretty normal..

I would call Shared Solutions..I know after I started I had all kinds of women eeping track of me.  Did you have a nurse come in to get you started?

good luck with that..

meg

[Qrtrmoon]

I use 6 as a standard setting but like I said even if I don't use the auto injector I bleed, and doesn't really seem to matter which area I inject.  I am not skin and bones but I am not heavy either.  I am 5'2" and weigh 125pds.  So I can definitely pinch an inch lol I just turned 56 and ugh as we age our skin does tend to get thinner I am wondering if that has has anything to do with it.  I have noticed the past year or so even the smallest scratch tends to bleed, and don't know if that has to do with (again ugh) age or the long term meds or ???

[Qrtrmoon]

Just had a complete CBC everything was fine there, although I do tend to clot slowly and bleed heavily and have all my life.  Have always had problems after any surgery.  

[charmed6418]

I bleed when I hit a muscle, you may also want to lower your setting. I'm very lean so I don't have much fat, so I bleed for time to time about like a drop.

[LoveMyBostons]

I often bleed a little with my thigh injections. Not much, but more than a drop. What settings are you using?

[Quixotic1]

Hi!  though this may be an injection technique problem, you first have to ensure that it is not a bleeding rpoblem in the blood.  Please contact yor PCP and tell him about the sudden bleeding and ask if he needs to order a CBC and chem panel.

Quix

[HVAC]

If you do not go in perfectly straight with the needle and pull out straight slowly it will bleed. I put a flat cotton pad and ice on it for a minute. My husband has to help me with certain sites because I go in crooked.

Alex