So I ordered blue and green needles without really understanding what I was ordering. I was doing some more reading last night and read that 25 gauge is best for self injecting. I have got 1 1/4 inch 23 gauge. Should I order some 25 gauge instead? Bearing in mind this is the first time I will be self injecting and have a bit of a needle phobia. The less it hurts the better!
What do you think?
Up to you Padders12 I think some people use 23 gauge and some use 25 gauge. The nurses at my practice use 23 gauge for B12 injections.
Good luck! 
I guess if your nurses use 23 it is unlikely to be more painful than the ones I had at my GP surgery. Thanks for your reply. My bravado seems to be waning especially as the b12 was delivered this morning and I told myself I would do it the day I got them! Eek!
I really don't know what I would have done without the support and knowledge shared by everyone on this forum x
It's funny you should say that. In the box of needles/ syringes I received from Medicare was a packet of haribos. I thought maybe they sent them as my treat! I may have to opt for the wine instead unless I down it before hand for Dutch courage
I use green to draw up and blue to inject in whichever of the 3 IM sites I'm using that time (thigh, deltoid or glutes).
Pull the skin taut and go very slowly (slow speed is the key I think). Occasionally it will hurt so if it does I use a fresh needle and start again a bit up, down, left or right.
I don't like doing it but it's very much better than being ill and at the end of the day it's nowhere near as bad as many things we have to experience (childbirth, root canal fillings etc etc).
So I'd say.......just do it, you'll be fine!
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