shot manually

[Mybe]

I finally got the guts to try the shot manually. I can only do my legs or belly because they are the only areas I can reach to pinch the skin. But I noticed it doesn't hurt as much as doing it with the autoject. I'm just scared that it is too deep or not deep enough when I let the pinch go. But there hasn't been any problems. Just less pain. And that is always a plus.

[Mand125]

Hi Mybe

First let me add my congratulations to you for being brave enough to do the shot manually, I am too much of a wimp for that.

Re the alcohol wipes, here in the UK (or at least in my Health Service area) we are advised not to use them an they were found to increase the incidence of site reactions.

My MS nurse said to use cotton wool and water but I use fragrance free baby wipes as the area dries much more quickly then.

Mand

[poker247]

Mybe,

I give myself the injection in the morning after a shower and haven't used an alcohol wipe in over a year. I have noticed the stinging afterward is less without the wipe. However to each their own I am suggesting what has worked for me

[Mybe]

Hi all, thanks for your comments!

I appreciate all the advice. twopack, your clue of when it is not deep enough really helped- "creating an instant bump and some leaking".

And the, macaroni68's "great job" and " kudos", sllowe's "good job" and twopack's "bravo" and "congratulations" all made me feel good. :) encouraging!

And poker247, I totally! hear ya with the "quicker and easier". That is what encouraged me to try.
I have taken some things off the list of things to do because it's just too time consuming for me. First it was the ice pack. I HATED that! It just made it hurt. So that went.. Then I got rid of the heat pack because I noticed it wasn't making much of a difference and I hated waiting for it to warm up. I will not stop doing the alcohol wipe. That is important... (but if I would I could) ;)

Macaroni68, yeah it was hard the first time psychologically. I was just in a hurry and once I did it I realized it wasn't bad at all. Didn't even feel it.

Sllowe, lol I have not tried the hips manually yet. It's hard for me to hold the autoject still let alone the syringe, twisting around to do my back side. Plus having to pinch with my other hand. I'd probably fall right over. But your method sounds good to keep it from going in too deep. I don't have much meat back there so I'd probably do the same thing.

[sllowe]

Good Job, Mybe!

I find it hurts less too. Keep it straight, and a good hunk of skin.

Only time it hurts for me is if it's really soft skin (like hips). The softer it is, it seems to me that when I plunge it in (after letting down the skin) the softness of the skin allows the needle to go a little deeper. That hurts a bit. So, sometimes I keep the hunk up a little (not a lot) bit while plunging.

ttys,
shell

[poker247]

I do all my injections myself and find it quicker and easier. If you are worried about going too deep or can't pinch enough go in at a 45 degree angle

[twopack]

Congratulations!  BRAVO to you for overcoming the fear and for finding the thing that makes some of the injections less painful for you.  

I'm going to assume this isn't an intramuscular injection.  I doubt you are going too deep if there is less pain.  Injecting a drug meant for subcutaneous injection into the muscle would likely be more painful rather than less.  

The skin above the subcutaneous tissue would have trouble holding the amount of solution in an injection without creating an instant bump and some leaking when you withdraw the needle (although getting a drop of backflow is not unusual when using proper technique).

If this is meant to be a subcutaneous injection, pinch the skin beforehand and try to insert the needle at a depth slightly less than half as far as the amount you can pinch.  (What you can pinch up is the skin and subcutaneous layers.  Deeper than half that far would take you below the subq pocket.)  If necessary, insert the needle at an angle to insure it doesn't go too deep as you push the plunger.

I also tried manual injections, hoping for a better outcome on my thighs.  I had hoped that the slower, gentler rate of the solution entering the tissue would improve the reactions.  It didn't help much for me.  Briefly heating the skin before injecting is what works for me.  

It's always good to know we can do a manual injection if it becomes necessary for whatever reason along the way.  Everyone should try it at least once, IMO.  Congratulation again!

Mary

[macaroni68]

Great job!! Doing it manually is much more difficult just for psychological reasons, at least it was for me. So kudos are definitely in order.

I don't think you have to worry much about the depth of your shots. I have found that depending on the medication that you have been prescribed that the length of the needle changes.

For instance, my avonex needles where much longer than my rebif ones but then avonex is supposed to be injected into the muscle where rebif is subcutaneous

Michelle