Aa
Advice on Shots Please
Hi Everyone
Ok I have no idea how you guys do this,
tonight i had to give myself a shot in the back of my arm, right now i am on the upper sections, well this proved to be impossible, how on earth do i hold the auto injector, push it down and release the button with one hand while trying to hold the darned thing still, the shot never reached my arm lol, as it moved as i was trying to hold it in place,
My hubby is out of town so no one here to help me do it, should i just go back to the middle section of my stomach, i did the upper last week, and just wait for the arms and hips for when hubby is home to help me,
I just wasted that shot, do i miss it, and then just take the next dose the day after next, or do i start all over
Gees I tell u I am making a real pigs ear of this,
thanks
Tyler
Ok I have no idea how you guys do this,
tonight i had to give myself a shot in the back of my arm, right now i am on the upper sections, well this proved to be impossible, how on earth do i hold the auto injector, push it down and release the button with one hand while trying to hold the darned thing still, the shot never reached my arm lol, as it moved as i was trying to hold it in place,
My hubby is out of town so no one here to help me do it, should i just go back to the middle section of my stomach, i did the upper last week, and just wait for the arms and hips for when hubby is home to help me,
I just wasted that shot, do i miss it, and then just take the next dose the day after next, or do i start all over
Gees I tell u I am making a real pigs ear of this,
thanks
Tyler
Hi
I agree with you, I believe I need more training, the Beta nurse came out for the first shot, and walked me through how to mix it, and put the auto injector together, and she had me do the first shot in my stomach,
To think that nurses have to train to do this sort of thing, and we are just expected to do it, after one training session kinda scary!
My arms and legs are like knitting needles, so hardly any flesh on them, my thighs really hurt when i did them, but the pain soon went, I found that pressing my legs down into the chair helped me as it spread what little fat i do have, lol
I will be calling the Beta nurse tomorrow, and asking her to come out when i go up to the next dose which is actually my next shot on Saturday,
ErinZoe23
I think i would have freaked too had the needle not gone in properly, though i am getting better about it, that is one thing about the auto injector you cannot see the needle till the shot is done, and that's the way i like it, if i see a needle coming at me, i would be gone faster than the wind, hee hee
Thanks again
Tyler
I agree with you, I believe I need more training, the Beta nurse came out for the first shot, and walked me through how to mix it, and put the auto injector together, and she had me do the first shot in my stomach,
To think that nurses have to train to do this sort of thing, and we are just expected to do it, after one training session kinda scary!
My arms and legs are like knitting needles, so hardly any flesh on them, my thighs really hurt when i did them, but the pain soon went, I found that pressing my legs down into the chair helped me as it spread what little fat i do have, lol
I will be calling the Beta nurse tomorrow, and asking her to come out when i go up to the next dose which is actually my next shot on Saturday,
ErinZoe23
I think i would have freaked too had the needle not gone in properly, though i am getting better about it, that is one thing about the auto injector you cannot see the needle till the shot is done, and that's the way i like it, if i see a needle coming at me, i would be gone faster than the wind, hee hee
Thanks again
Tyler
Hi Tyler! I think I can help, but I hope you will understand because I'm gonna have to describe to you what I used to do, and showing you would be so much easier! I was on Betaseron for 6 months, but it did not work for me, so now I'm on Copaxone, but I SO understand what you are going through.
First, I THINK I know what happened when you took the vial off and squirted it all over the place. So, you have the contraption on the vial (what you use to reconstitute the Betaseron and put it back in the syringe), and you depressed the plunger of the syringe which sends the saline into the vial with powder, which liquifies (or reconstitues) the Betaseron. Well, after you depress the plunger, and while you are mixing it, you want to be sure to KEEP depressing the plunger while you are gently mixing the Betaseron (remember, no shaking, just gentle agitation, like swirling). If you let up on the plunger during this, you will notice that the liquid is going back in to the syringe, which is what you want after the drug is thoroughly mixed. So, you're holding down the plunger, and mixing the drug for a few minutes. When it is time to refil the syringe (and therefore empty the vial), turn the contraption so that the vial is on top and the syringe at the bottom. Then, release the plunger. The now reconstitued fluid should flow into the syringe, and the plunger should be moving on its own. If you remove the vial during this process (while the plunger is still moving and there is still fluid in the vial), you will have the stuff squirting everywhere. What I think may be happening is that you are letting the syringe fill, and then probably moving it to check to see how much is in there, and that possibly lets the drug move BACK into the vial, so that when you take off the vial, it squirts. So, as the syringe is filling, the whole contraption should be horizontal with the vial on top (so the liquid squirts down) and when you are ready, turn the whole thing vertical. You should have a milliliter of drug in the syringe, and the vial should be empty, or nearly so. No matter what it is going to make a hissing sound when you take off the vial. I hope all that makes sense and helps. Worse comes to worse, call the nurses. They are great about answering questions, both for how to inject and how to prepare the injection.
Incidentally, I had the same issue as you, in regards to holding the auto injector and how to inject into my arm. I was determined to learn because my husband is in the navy and there are times when he isn't going to be home, so I was determined to do all of the sites myself. Without showing you, it is really hard to describe, but maybe one of the Beta nurses could describe/show you better. Take the autoject in your hand, and to position to do your arm, hold it in the corner between your index and middle finger. You should be able to "cuddle" the top of the injector there, and use your thumb to depress the trigger. It is hard to describe, but it works for me. And yeah, you are gonna have to press into your arm a little bit, so use a good depth for you. I am overweight and have a good amount of fat in my arms. To prepare to inject, I know this sounds silly but this is what I do....I hold my arm out straight, and jiggle it. You know the part of the bottom of your arm that jiggles? That's the subQ tissue you want to inject into. I know it is silly but works for me. Then, I sit on a chair, take the arm I am going to inject, and lay my arm on the back of the chair in such a way that I push that subQ tissue/fat that's on the bottom of my arm "towards" me on the chair. Again, so hard to describe, I wish I could show you! You still might have to inject kind of upwards, but at least the site is pushed towards you and is easier to reach. Works really well for me.
Anyway, I know this was really long and wordy, and I hope it helped in some way. Regardless, I highly recommend the number for the BetaSeron nurses, as they helped me out a lot. They can talk you through whatever problems you are having, or teach you how to hold the autoinjector. Good luck!
First, I THINK I know what happened when you took the vial off and squirted it all over the place. So, you have the contraption on the vial (what you use to reconstitute the Betaseron and put it back in the syringe), and you depressed the plunger of the syringe which sends the saline into the vial with powder, which liquifies (or reconstitues) the Betaseron. Well, after you depress the plunger, and while you are mixing it, you want to be sure to KEEP depressing the plunger while you are gently mixing the Betaseron (remember, no shaking, just gentle agitation, like swirling). If you let up on the plunger during this, you will notice that the liquid is going back in to the syringe, which is what you want after the drug is thoroughly mixed. So, you're holding down the plunger, and mixing the drug for a few minutes. When it is time to refil the syringe (and therefore empty the vial), turn the contraption so that the vial is on top and the syringe at the bottom. Then, release the plunger. The now reconstitued fluid should flow into the syringe, and the plunger should be moving on its own. If you remove the vial during this process (while the plunger is still moving and there is still fluid in the vial), you will have the stuff squirting everywhere. What I think may be happening is that you are letting the syringe fill, and then probably moving it to check to see how much is in there, and that possibly lets the drug move BACK into the vial, so that when you take off the vial, it squirts. So, as the syringe is filling, the whole contraption should be horizontal with the vial on top (so the liquid squirts down) and when you are ready, turn the whole thing vertical. You should have a milliliter of drug in the syringe, and the vial should be empty, or nearly so. No matter what it is going to make a hissing sound when you take off the vial. I hope all that makes sense and helps. Worse comes to worse, call the nurses. They are great about answering questions, both for how to inject and how to prepare the injection.
Incidentally, I had the same issue as you, in regards to holding the auto injector and how to inject into my arm. I was determined to learn because my husband is in the navy and there are times when he isn't going to be home, so I was determined to do all of the sites myself. Without showing you, it is really hard to describe, but maybe one of the Beta nurses could describe/show you better. Take the autoject in your hand, and to position to do your arm, hold it in the corner between your index and middle finger. You should be able to "cuddle" the top of the injector there, and use your thumb to depress the trigger. It is hard to describe, but it works for me. And yeah, you are gonna have to press into your arm a little bit, so use a good depth for you. I am overweight and have a good amount of fat in my arms. To prepare to inject, I know this sounds silly but this is what I do....I hold my arm out straight, and jiggle it. You know the part of the bottom of your arm that jiggles? That's the subQ tissue you want to inject into. I know it is silly but works for me. Then, I sit on a chair, take the arm I am going to inject, and lay my arm on the back of the chair in such a way that I push that subQ tissue/fat that's on the bottom of my arm "towards" me on the chair. Again, so hard to describe, I wish I could show you! You still might have to inject kind of upwards, but at least the site is pushed towards you and is easier to reach. Works really well for me.
Anyway, I know this was really long and wordy, and I hope it helped in some way. Regardless, I highly recommend the number for the BetaSeron nurses, as they helped me out a lot. They can talk you through whatever problems you are having, or teach you how to hold the autoinjector. Good luck!
I dont do my arms cause they are too little even with the little needles i just know ill hit the bone or something lol scares me! I take avonex tho so i swicth from thigh to thigh
I did it once myself did very good too was very proud of me! BUT
the next time i did it i stuck it in thinking it would just slide in with no pressure added lol and it only went halfway in and i started freakin out with a needle halfway in me I almosy just pulled it out in instinct then my bf yelled NO just push it in and i sat there yelling I aint fkn pushing that in me What do i do what do i do as im staring at it in total fear! lol But I ended up pushing it in and yeah that hurt a bit! So since then its back to my mom doing it! So dont worry about mistake its so gonna happen! And something to laugh about later!
I did it once myself did very good too was very proud of me! BUT
the next time i did it i stuck it in thinking it would just slide in with no pressure added lol and it only went halfway in and i started freakin out with a needle halfway in me I almosy just pulled it out in instinct then my bf yelled NO just push it in and i sat there yelling I aint fkn pushing that in me What do i do what do i do as im staring at it in total fear! lol But I ended up pushing it in and yeah that hurt a bit! So since then its back to my mom doing it! So dont worry about mistake its so gonna happen! And something to laugh about later!
I always get a drop of blood, no matter where I inject. No big deal.
Put a warm washcloth on it with a little pressure for a minute or 2 to stop the blood.
I find I do best if I'm sitting at the kitchen counter for my shots -- I can easily reach my supplies, and I'm steadier when I'm sitting.
For your arms: Rebif nurse says to sit sideways in front of a table or kitchen counter, and lay your upper arm on it to get to the arm site. Or sit in a kitchen chair & put your arm along the chairback.
I do not shoot my arms -- I'm too thin.
For your butt, just use the part you can reach, near your back hip area -- never actually try to shoot into your "seat". (If you are sitting down, you won't shoot there anyway)
Belly is a good area-- easy to reach, usually some fat. I usually shoot below my belly button -- lots of real estate there, towards the sides as well as the center-- never tried a shot higher than that.
Thighs are easy to reach, but might have very little fat, which is a little problematic for me, but I use my thighs anyway -- always high and to the outside.
Do rotate left & right sides, and don't shoot into the exact same spot twice in a row -- Rebif nurse said an inch or 2 away from previous injection spot (or red spot) is fine.
I suggest either getting your neuro's nurse to give you more training, or get the Betaseron folks to send out their nurse to help you. They are used to these problems!
You WILL eventually do just fine -- when I started Rebif, I wasted a shot because I forgot to take off the cap, pushed the plunger, and then realized I still needed to remove the cap -- stuff squirted everywhere! I think most of us have similar stories.
Don't give up -- you really will get this!
Put a warm washcloth on it with a little pressure for a minute or 2 to stop the blood.
I find I do best if I'm sitting at the kitchen counter for my shots -- I can easily reach my supplies, and I'm steadier when I'm sitting.
For your arms: Rebif nurse says to sit sideways in front of a table or kitchen counter, and lay your upper arm on it to get to the arm site. Or sit in a kitchen chair & put your arm along the chairback.
I do not shoot my arms -- I'm too thin.
For your butt, just use the part you can reach, near your back hip area -- never actually try to shoot into your "seat". (If you are sitting down, you won't shoot there anyway)
Belly is a good area-- easy to reach, usually some fat. I usually shoot below my belly button -- lots of real estate there, towards the sides as well as the center-- never tried a shot higher than that.
Thighs are easy to reach, but might have very little fat, which is a little problematic for me, but I use my thighs anyway -- always high and to the outside.
Do rotate left & right sides, and don't shoot into the exact same spot twice in a row -- Rebif nurse said an inch or 2 away from previous injection spot (or red spot) is fine.
I suggest either getting your neuro's nurse to give you more training, or get the Betaseron folks to send out their nurse to help you. They are used to these problems!
You WILL eventually do just fine -- when I started Rebif, I wasted a shot because I forgot to take off the cap, pushed the plunger, and then realized I still needed to remove the cap -- stuff squirted everywhere! I think most of us have similar stories.
Don't give up -- you really will get this!
Yes i think Betaseron does that too, I will call my Beta nurse in the morning to find out, this is only the second one i have wasted,
can anyone also tell me what i am doing wrong, as the last three shots i have given my self have all bled, even though they sent me another top for the auto injector, they sent me size 10 and i used that instead of the 12, as she thought i may be a little on the thin side for the size 12, but it still bled a little, i use the ice pack before i inject as she told me that shrinks the little blood vessels near the skin making the shot easier
Could also be i guess because i am on Aspirin 230 mg daily too making my blood thinner, not sure bout that though
Thanks
Tyler
can anyone also tell me what i am doing wrong, as the last three shots i have given my self have all bled, even though they sent me another top for the auto injector, they sent me size 10 and i used that instead of the 12, as she thought i may be a little on the thin side for the size 12, but it still bled a little, i use the ice pack before i inject as she told me that shrinks the little blood vessels near the skin making the shot easier
Could also be i guess because i am on Aspirin 230 mg daily too making my blood thinner, not sure bout that though
Thanks
Tyler
I'm on Copaxone and I've wasted about 5 shots. I just call Shared Solutions though and they'll replace them. They don't expect us to be experts at this stuff, especially in the beginning. I wonder if Betaseron's manufacturer will do that too.
Hi Quix, Starryeyes and jensequitur
Thanks Quix, i am feeling so damned foolish, lol, the day before yesterday, i actually squirted all the Betaseron all over the place, i don't know what happened, when i took the vial off the needle part, it like exploded, so had to start over on that one too lol
I was not certain if i had to stick to the rotation schedule or not, my fear of needles is not helping me either, as i know when i press the release that damned needle is going to stick me lol
I think i will go back and do my stomach as that one does not hurt me at all, and believe me as skinny as i am i have more than an inch to pinch there,
I tried the mirror and i kept going in the opposite direction with the injector lol,
well will go off and try the stomach again at least i dont think i can mess this one up
and thanks for the suggestions
Tyler
Thanks Quix, i am feeling so damned foolish, lol, the day before yesterday, i actually squirted all the Betaseron all over the place, i don't know what happened, when i took the vial off the needle part, it like exploded, so had to start over on that one too lol
I was not certain if i had to stick to the rotation schedule or not, my fear of needles is not helping me either, as i know when i press the release that damned needle is going to stick me lol
I think i will go back and do my stomach as that one does not hurt me at all, and believe me as skinny as i am i have more than an inch to pinch there,
I tried the mirror and i kept going in the opposite direction with the injector lol,
well will go off and try the stomach again at least i dont think i can mess this one up
and thanks for the suggestions
Tyler
Hey Tyler
I was told by my MS nurse to put the shot arm up, with your hand on your head and look in the mirror when doing it. You will have to press but I always got it lined up with my finger on the button before doing it. It has been ok for me.
Hope this helps!
Take Care
Kristi
I was told by my MS nurse to put the shot arm up, with your hand on your head and look in the mirror when doing it. You will have to press but I always got it lined up with my finger on the button before doing it. It has been ok for me.
Hope this helps!
Take Care
Kristi
I eventually gave up on trying to inject myself in the arm - I always either bruised myself or ended up with a big site reaction. I started using my upper stomach instead. Don't forget that any spot with subcutaneous fat (use the pinch-an-inch rule) can be used as an injection site. I can definitely pinch more than an inch on my stomach... sigh...
Tyler, are you on Copaxone or Betaseron?
Tyler, are you on Copaxone or Betaseron?
I would go back to a spot that worked before and use a different section of it. You do not have to follow the rotation schedule slavishly. If you wasted a shot completely, get out a new one and give it in a spot you know you can handle.
You're doing fine. Shoot, none of us was born with the MS Manual included!
hugs,
Quix
You're doing fine. Shoot, none of us was born with the MS Manual included!
hugs,
Quix
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