What hurts less?

[sara1215]

Until now I have been using Otrexup ( an auto inject pen of methotrexate). Due to cost, I will now need to switch over to methotrexate where you fill the syringe from a vial. So my question is, which hurts more auto or syringe??

My sister is a nurse and will give me the weekly injection until I can muster up the courage to learn to do it myself is oh about fifty years.

[sylvi]

You will watch her do it and think thats easy i think i can do that and as time goes on you will start doing it with your sisters help darling.xxxx

[sara1215 in reply to sylvi]

Thanks... that is my goal, to be able to do it myself

[helixhelix]

Both the same. I used a syringe for years before the auto inject pens became available and it was fine, no pain or discomfort at all.

[sara1215 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks... that info is comforting

[Stormpetrel]

Good question

Firstly depends on how the substance is mixed and how it’s suspended. Secondly it depends on the needle you are using, finer ones are not always the least painful. It maybe a bit of trial and error. My tip would be to use and ice cube in a glove to numb the area first and then put straight back on to lessen any bruising.

Good luck, you will be a pro in no time. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

😊

[sara1215 in reply to Stormpetrel]

Thanks...will try the ice cube

[nablur]

I was really weirded out about self-injecting, but once I did it, it was fine. And the mtx is painless, totally.

[sara1215 in reply to nablur]

Thanks... how did you know how far to stick the needle in? The auto inject pens don’t even have the needle showing

[nablur in reply to sara1215]

I’m quite certain a nurse will show you. But it only goes so far and that’s where you stop.

[nomoreheels]

Syringe all the way for me Sara. I went from tablets to syringe then pen & whilst the pen (Metoject currently) is ok I still find pressing the button more iffy than a plunger on a syringe. I also didn't bruise much at all prior to changing to the pen but around 1 in 6 I can guarantee I'll have a lovely big one, I put this down to the strength of the mechanism. It could be of course I happen to be hitting a vein but then why didn't I with the syringes? Given the choice I'd go back to syringes as I felt more in control, I could press the plunger slowly, but I always had pre filled ones, not sure how I'd feel about drawing up MTX, maybe only a concern initially until you've done it a few times. I guess I was just used to the simplicity of just taking out of the packet & injecting.

I believe you're in the US? Would you have the option of pre-filled syringes? I'm not sure I've heard if they're available there. Of course if it's cost-related vial & syringe is the cheaper option, I'm not even sure here in the UK we've ever had that option, or maybe we did before I started injecting, before pre-filled were available, if not it's probably due to the possibility of injecting the wrong dose.

Long winded but I hope this helps!

[sara1215 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks... very helpful.... will be discussing all this with my doctor next week. I found the pen no bother since I couldn’t see the needle. My concern basically centers around knowing how deep to stick the needle in and managing the plunger

[nablur in reply to sara1215]

Yes. They have auto injectors here for all this stuff.

[nomoreheels in reply to sara1215]

You will be shown how to do it by the nurse (in Spain & the UK anyhow). They will not let you do it on your own until you've shown them you can do correctly. It's really not difficult, one of those thing you wonder why you were concerned once you've done it a few times. I'm sure your sister will be patient with you!

[sara1215 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks..in the US, the system doesn’t run on nurses. The rheumatologist is the one that sees you and does everything. (Except infusions, a nurse will set it up. Sadly my rheumatologist is an inpatient sort. My sister doesn’t mind doing it on the weekly but I don’t want to be dependent

[Pastels]

I found using a needle and syringe easier than the auto inject. Once you have done it a few times you will be fine. As said before less bruising and not at all painful.

Good luck!

[sara1215 in reply to Pastels]

Reassuring... thanks although I never had brusing

[Hidden]

I think in your case it’s shocking this has been a health decision motivated simply by cost! Truthfully I’d say the pen causes less, if any pain, because it’s so quick your body doesn’t get any time to register it.

My advice to you would be don’t stress over it. Don’t view it as something you’ve *got* to do and a fear you absolutely need to master. Most of us have what we know are unfounded fears from spiders to needles. If your sister is happy doing your injection, then let her. Where I live you can call in at either the hospital or your GP or pharmacy once a week for this.

It is probably a good idea to force yourself to self inject so you know how to if you have to and you never know - you might find yourself relaxed enough to gradually think nothing of self administration of sub cut MTX. 😀 But don’t beat yourself up about it. Like potty training, it’s rare to find a child starting school in nappies . Erm, not too sure that’s the best analogy 😂

[sara1215 in reply to Hidden]

In the US the auto inject pen is close to $800 a month. With Medicare as insurance it is about $600. The vial and syringe is about $25 a month

[Hidden in reply to sara1215]

Of course - I’m completely forgetting how different all this is for people who live in the US. Apologies if anything I said didn’t take this into account.