Advice Please!?

[benjiluce]

I have recently purchased my own b12 to inject. Im trying to decide whether into the muscle or fat would be best? Also are there dangers doing it yourself?

[Hidden]

Hi,

I only know how to do IM (in the muscle) and for that it is advisable you are shown by a medically trained person how to do it. I found the nurses at my surgery very helpful, GP needed a lot of convincing. Others here may be able to help on the sub cut front, I've never tried it as it seems to have to be done more frequently (why I still do not understand, injections in the muscle are apparently taken up quicker than from fatty tissue, sub cut in fat is slower release, why this means more frequent injections is just not something I understand, not logical to me), I'd not want to do more frequently than absolutely necessary.

Kind regards,

Marre.

[benjiluce in reply to Hidden]

Great Thank u so much!!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

There are a couple of posts on here with links to clips showing how to do sub-cut

in thigh -

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...?

in tummy

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po....

[benjiluce in reply to Gambit62]

Thank u for the links

[linda75]

Hi

I hope you get on OK. Will be interested to know how it goes. I've just purchased some B12 from Germany and plan to inject myself tomorrow into fat as muscle sounds too complicated.

Good luck

[engels in reply to linda75]

Intramuscular injections are not complicated at all but you do need someone knowledgeable to show you the safe injection sites.

[linda75 in reply to engels]

Hi Englels

That's my problem. I don't have anyone to show me how. Hopefully injecting into fat will be OK.

[pvanderaa]

I do IM into my buttocks. I went on the internet regarding injection sites and found a you- tube video.

Basically make an imaginary cross on either buttocks or thigh and choose a spot in the upper outside quadrant.

I wash my hands and prepare my injection. The vials I use have a rubber stopper. I clean the rubber with alcohol swab and inject the needle through the rubber to withdraw the right amount of B12 and remove the needle from the vial. Then flick the syringe with finger to clear all air bubbles.

I use a penny and press and hold on the spot for 10 seconds. This leaves an impression ring which is a great bulls-eye to aim for.

Then use alcohol swab and clean the ring area well. This helps prevent infections.

I wear my glasses and stand in front of a full length mirror to see the spot. I position the needle in the ring. Press slightly. If I feel pain, I move over 2 mm still inside the ring and press again.

I tell my body to relax my muscles. And shake the syringe slightly which helps insert the needle.

Once past the skin, I feel no pain.

I press the syringe to inject the B12.

After removing the needle, I check for bleeding, if any I wipe it with an alcohol swab.

I put a plaster on the ring.

Don't touch inside the ring with your fingers to minimize the chance of infection.

[engels in reply to pvanderaa]

Having read that I think linda75 can be excused for thinking that intramuscular injections are complicated. I just stick the needle into my outer thigh with no need for mirrors, pennies or bullseyes. Alcohol wipes are not necessary at all and pointless after the injection.

[pvanderaa]

It's not complicated, but one should try to maintain sterility of the injection site. It's just common sense.

[pvanderaa]

Also don't reuse syringe or needles and put the needle into a proper sharps container and not in the regular trash.