Idacio injections

[Shamrockgirl]

Good Morning All,

Stopped Benepali quite a few months back, as struggling badly to do the injection as hands & grip worse. I find it strange that you’re put on that injection, that’s difficult to do & likely to have grip issues!

A few months went by & on discussion with my Biologics nurse, I didn’t feel any worse & would come back to her if that changed. I felt a little while that my hands felt worse, so it was decided to start me on Idacio, which would be easier to do, more like Methotrexate injections. This is unfortunately with yet a different provider (the hassles & incompetence with Healthcare at Home/new stupid name, Sciensus) Calea. I received the injections few weeks back, but they had no nurses available in my area for some time, asked if I would go with nurse showing me how to use it over Teams online!

The other difference with Idacio, is it’s done every fortnight, rather than weekly, this will be harder for me to remember. I had the “training” almost 2 weeks ago, did one injection, not being funny, this nurse made such a saga out of whole thing, as though I was new to doing any injections. This has made me a bit paranoid about it, anxious to do next one, on my own tomorrow.

Strangely enough, had my Rheumatologist phone appointment just after I did first one & he had my bloods/inflammation levels & said they were all good, almost makes me wonder if I need the Biologics? Anyway, that’s my latest on R.A., may help someone else & others may have had similar experiences & I’d be happy to hear about that.

[oldtimer2]

If you have done injections before you will be fine - some people really make a meal out of the teaching!

I'm very experienced at injections (done mass immunisation clinics during measles outbreak for example, although it's always a bit different doing ourself) but the attitude of some instructing nurses has been so over the top that I've wondered why! Is it because they subconciously resent the loss of professionalism if we, the patients, can do it ourselves?

This doesn't apply to all the instructors I've had but I always have to go through the rigmarol of being 'approved' to do my own injections.

[Shamrockgirl in reply to oldtimer2]

Thanks so much for that, not just me being irritated about it. Was just ready to do it 10 minutes ago, when the surgery rang to change the time of next blood tests. But have done injection & it was fine👍🤔

[Leics]

I’ve had the same thing recently was told I needed to learn how to do mtx injections but I managed perfectly well a number of years ago and there’s a million videos on YouTube so agreed with my consultant that I didn’t need training. I hoped it would speed things up but they’ve been waiting for a baseline blood test which I had this week ( no one told me lol) I’ve now found out the person who does prescriptions is on annual leave until Monday so I’m still waiting and it was approved a month ago. The wait for a nurse to train me would have been a further two months. I know I’m moaning but I’m struggling and they know it I’ve spent most of this week getting the run around but fingers crossed it will be soon. Well done doing your injection yourself by the way it’s not always easy with problem hands.