Injecting Romozozumab

[28Harvey28]

Hello all. I am new to this group but finding it really helpful. I have severe osteoporosis and suffered several spinal fractures and pelvic fracture. After waiting 18 months I finally got to see a Consultant who advised Romosozumab injections. I was told by the hospital that my prescriptions and learning how to give myself this treatment monthly would be provided by a private homecare company. My first course of treatment starts next week I have been contacted by this company and told that my training to inject myself will be online. I have never injected myself before and am finding the thought of this along with starting this treatment quite scary. My question is how easy is it to do these injections without someone showing you how face to face

[Craftycreator]

Hi I recently finished my two years of injecting Teriparatide. Once shown how to do it it is straight forward and needles are very short and very fine which I assume will be very similar with Romosozumab. However I was shown by a nurse in person how to do this who was sent by the private company responsible for organising deliveries of medication and accessories. I really feel that this initial instruction should be in person, as for a lot of people, the thought of giving themselves an injection is very daunting. I think these private companies who are contracted in to the NHS have a duty of care to patients and it should be part of the contract that patients have proper in person instruction and support. I would have been quite vociferous if I had not had the support that I was fortunate to have had. I don’t know what the ROS think of this on line tuition for people, perhaps a call to one of the nurses may be advisable. It is my personal opinion that so many services are loosing sight of the fact that they are dealing with human beings, who have real fears and already dealing with enough stress coping with a devastating diagnosis in the first place. Many people are not totally tec savvy too! I have a friend who isn’t even connected!

I hope you can get the company to send out a nurse to show you how to proceed if it is really worrying you. I would like to reiterate though that once familiar with injecting yourself it is very straight forward.

Very best wishes.

[28Harvey28 in reply to Craftycreator]

Thank you. Yes the injections do appear similar to yours. I have to do 2 straight after each other once a month for 1 year with a plan for this to be followed by a yearly infusion of a different treatment. The instructions seem straightforward but the thought of doing this for the first time whilst following instructions on a computer has heightened my anxiety and is becoming a bit overwhelming. However, I have waited a long time to get the treatment I need so I won't give up at the first hurdle and I will take your advice and speak to the ROS nurse. I agree it does appear many services are losing sight they are supposed to be working with people and this does require them to physically see people from time to time.

[Sunseaandsand]

Hi, with Romosozumab or Teraparatide it is usually normal practice to be shown how to inject either by a hospital nurse or in your own home by the company providing it to the patient.

It is highly understandable that you are feeling anxious about training being given online and it is quite unacceptable that you have been told to do so!

Perhaps you could do one of two things.

Call the company tell them your concerns and ask if they are able to arrange someone to come and guide you through your first injection.

The alternative would be to call the hospital who will have arranged it, tell them of your concerns because they are probably unaware that you are not going to receive a home visit.

The nurses at the hospital also can and do show you how to inject your treatment. Personally I don’t think they would be too pleased to think you would have to follow online instructions!!!

[Nuthatch]

it’s very straightforward. I started teriparatide in lockdown so watched a couple of videos. Had no problems at all other than needing a couple of new pens across the 2 years.