Hi everyone,
I did my first injection the other day and just have a few questions if anyone can help?
- how do you draw up all liquid as I couldn't seem to get it all and it seems a waste to leave it?
- is it better to inject quickly? I injected slowly and it hurt a bit.
- what do you do with your full sharps box?
Thanks so much!
Jo
I've never had a problem with getting all the liquid, i just move the bottle around until it is empty. I inject slowly, about 10 seconds per ml, i use a green needle for drawing the b12 in to the syringe and the blue needle for injecting. Where are you injecting and was the b12 room temperature? With regards to the sharps box some chemists will take them or a local needle exchange
Hi EdE12, thank you for replying. I injected in the top of my thigh and could feel where I had injected for hours afterwards. The B12 is room temperature. Thanks for the info on the sharps box. Jo x
Hi Jo,
I suggest you use the lateral, or outer part of your thigh for injection rather than the top. The lateral portion is comprised of the most muscle bulk, and it is recommended that the injection be given into the mid-third of the thigh area; think of dividing your upper leg into thirds between knee and top of thigh.
Here's some help:
bd.com/hypodermic/pdf/Intra...
Best,
Leilani
Hi Leilani, thank you for replying - the injection info is really useful and I can see I was injecting too far up my leg! I will be trying again tomorrow:o) Jo x
You'll do fine!
Jo
After reviewing the nursing site related to injections, provided by fbirder, I have decided to return to use of top, or anterior, thigh for injection. Either that or lateral are fine, but I think anterior is easier when self-injecting. I apologize if my previous comment caused any problems for you. Leilani
Hi Leilanilea, I tried it lower down but bled afterwards so have gone back to the side of my thigh :o)
I prefer the top of my thigh (rectus femoris) as I find it easier to access (especially if doing a z-track).
enrollednursing.com/injecti...
That's where the nurse suggested I try it when I asked her to show me how to self-inject.
Thanks for input, including link, fbirder! I'm going to return to injecting into top, or anterior, thigh. We used it a lot back in dark ages when I was nursing, but allowed myself to be convinced that lateral was better.
Just out of curiosity for what medication do you use Z-track? I remember always using for iron injections to prevent leakage and subsequent staining of tissue.
I use it for my B12 jabs (the only jabs I have). It makes the small amount of bleeding I used to get become a near non-existent amount of bleeding.
Sorry for being a bit thick, but how do you transfer the liquid from the first needle to the second? Do you take the plunger out of the second syringe and simply squirt the liquid into it?
Hi ChooseLife, I only use one orange needle at the moment but have ordered the blue / green needles. I think you pull the end of the needle off and replace it with the other one but I won't know for sure until I try it. Jo x
Hello
Sorry for such a late response.
Ahhhhhhh yes, of course!!! You just draw up the liquid into the syringe with one needle then pull the needle off and replace it with the other needle.
Sorry for my incredibly dense question! Darn brain fog!
Thanks for replying 😃
Xx
Many of us use two needles per injection - one large (green) to suck it up from the ampoule (tilt the ampoule and try to get the bevel of the needle tip at the right angle to suck up all the liquid).
Then I swap to a blue needle, which is slightly shorter and narrower, for the injection.
It may be possible that you're slightly blunting the needle by knocking it against the bottom of the ampoule.
My local council supply sharps bins and take away the empties. Very handy. Ask at your local pharmacy.
Thank you fbirder, I did hit the end of the needle a couple of times at the bottom of the ampule so this maybe why it hurt. I'll try and be more careful next time. I'll also order two sets of needles as I only have one at the moment. Jo x
Congratulations on your first injection, jostafford0!
It will get easier each time you do it. It took me time (but not too long) to work out all the kinks and now it is as simple as pie.
Keep up the good work! 
Thank you :o). I think the trickiest part is trying to tilt the ampule while drawing up the liquid - I'll get the knack of it soon hopefully. Jo xx
I have no doubt that you will! I had hard time at first drawing up the liquid, and the first needles I bought were too short, but now I can get the syringe loaded and give it to my husband who injects and it all takes about 5 minutes! So you will be a pro in no time.
always post if you have a other concerns or problems. xx
Jo, just one more thought- I think I might have mentioned this before but it is a good idea, after drawing the liquid, to thump the syringe a couple of times to make sure any air bubbles rise to the top. Then you can gently plunge the plunger so the air bubbles are expelled.
Best,
nancy
Thanks NDodge, yes - you had mentioned to tap the syringe which I did :o) Jo x
Excellent!
I agree about the two needles. But also worth mentioning that my GP has prescribed Neo-Cytamen for me to self-inject, which doesn't sting, but I top this up with Rotex Medica B12 bought from Goldpharma, which does sting. I use the same needles and method for each. Sadly, I can't find Neo-Cytamen to buy anywhere. I would also say it is more effective than Rotex Medica. Both claim to be 1000mcg hydroxocobalamin.
Hi Oozlumbird, did you order this from the UK? I can't find anywhere in the UK to order B12 from so ordered it from Germany. Jo x
Hi Jo. Yes, the Rotex Medica B12 was ordered from Goldpharma in Germany but the Neo-Cytamen (the superior brand I'd say) is NHS prescription only as far as I can see. Kate x
I use just a single needle (the type used by diabetics for insulin jabs). If you are using b12 from glass ampoules with a narrow neck that you snap off then you can get nearly all of the liquid into your syringe this way: tip the ampoule upside down, insert the needle into the liquid, then draw the plunger down to remove the liquid. It sounds unlikely, but the surface tension of the liquid prevents it from leaking out of the ampoule.
Hi Xanthe, yes I have the single orange insulin needle and the ampules as you mention. I wondered about tipping the ampule upside down so will give it a try. Jo x
Tilt the amp and suck it up. Are your needles big enough? Insulin syringes are usually too small. I use a 3ml syringe and swap the needle for a smaller one like the insulin syringes have and do a subcut injection.
I take my sharps box to my local hospital but I know some countries have issues with that.
Hi JenMartins, I do have the orange insulin needles at the moment but I'm thinking of ordering the blue & green ones next time. Do you live in the UK? Jo x
Hi not now I have moved to Australia but have ordered syringes from Vitaminb12online.com to both countries without issue. They have 3 ml syringes and I replace the needle part with a shorter needle I can't do subcut with the log syringes, never actually tried but the thought of it stresses me. I used to use insulin syringes but would have to use two cause my amps are 2ml and with daily injecting two needles was just too much to find new spots to rotate my injection site. I don't think they had the 3ml syringes with the smaller needles listed, I asked them if there was a better option and they suggested these and sold them to me, it was a while ago I will have to dig out the invoice to get the price, I bought a box of 100.
Hi hun, hoping you've gotten used to injecting... I'm still a bit kack handed as I don't have long fingers, so I have to move my hand to reach the plungey bit to push it down! But nothing that would put me off doing it! I'm on twitter and a Dr who does treat fm said she uses a grey needle? 27 but i have the green and blue 100 of each, so I wont mess about until I have to get more .. She also said that she only uses one needle when I said I use green and blue... But I'm guessing, she doesn't blunt it, but I'd rather not stress for the small amount they cost worrying it's going to hurt because I scraped it lol... Big hugs mate...
Hi Scorpiojo, sorry I haven't been in touch lately.
I had a laparoscopy 3 weeks ago to laser my endometriosis and subsequently had a severe flare up of ulcerative colitis which I had to stay in hospital for over a week on an intravenous hydrocortisone steroid drip. Apparently the shock of the operation triggered my immune system into overdrive. I was released last Friday and sent home on Prednisolone steroids 40mg per day but I've been having horrible side effects of shaking and lethargy. I called the doctor yesterday to make sure these side effects are normal and apparently they are not so I'm seeing my GP today for a check up. I think it is adrenal fatigue but I know my GP will never admit that's what it is. I also have low cortisol which showed up on a blood test in May.
I was getting on ok injecting myself with the B12 but now I get anxiety every time I get the needle near my skin! I've bought B12 lozenges instead and I am hoping they will work just as well.
I'd be so grateful for any advice on the above.
Jo xx
Hoping you feel better soon and get answers today... Put up a new post re your thoughts and outcome from today... I used Solgar but ran out and use the ampoules and si... Big hugs x
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