Empowered by first SI

[VMITCHELL78]

I just wanted to say thank you to all you lovely, helpful and supportive people and this forum.

I have just giving myself my first b12 injection. I was a little anxious, but after reading everyone's tips, (especially wedgewood!) experiences and watching many utube clips I went for it. It hurt less than when the nurse does them, supposedly as I can take my time.

I'm so grateful I found this forum, after the nhs stopped my injections, I'm not able to have private injections as much as i need as too expensive and I can't afford them.

Thank you everyone again, I feel empowered and looking forward to feeling my normal self soon!!

I wish you all well x

[Ritchie1268]

Brilliant & very well done!!

I know how very daunting it is when you first sit there with a loaded needle, it took me 2 hours of sweating & shaking! I even rang my mum & said if you haven't heard from me in 30 minutes come round as I've passed out & I'm 50 years old!

You feel amazing once you've done it & actually wonder what all the fuss was about & it does get much, much easier I promise! I'm speaking from someone who had a phobia of needles but now just do it.

Wedgewood is a star & has helped me so very much.

Very well done & congratulations on taking the first step on the road to actually claiming your life back!

Well done 👍

[VMITCHELL78 in reply to Ritchie1268]

Arh thanks Ritchie1268

Definately feel chuffed, taking health into our own hands does make you feel amazing, like i could take on anything right now!! And still can't believe how painless it was, I thought it would be worse than nurse doing it, as your inflicting it on yourself, but as you can be calm and take your time and be in the comfort of your own home it's actually better!

Wow, you were a brave soul doing it with a phobia of needles, thats amazing, well done to you too!

Thanks again,

Vicky

[wedgewood]

I can’t tell you how pleased I am to read your post . Excellent news . It will get easier and easier for you as time goes by . How great it is to have control over your own health . The first injection is indeed quite scary . You have broken the ice now . I try to put myself in a relaxed state . Play a piece of favourite music. It does help .

Anyhow , well done . 3 cheers for you . 👍🍀💉

[VMITCHELL78 in reply to wedgewood]

You are literally a star wedgewood, without you I really don't think I would have figured out where to even start!

I honestly can't thank you enough!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Ritchie1268 in reply to VMITCHELL78]

Exactly, you're not on your own! Wedgewood helped me so very much & I would still be suffering now if I hadn't found this site with Wedgewood & others advice.

I remember saying to myself well, you've done it & not passed out! If someone had videoed me, I swear I'd be on YouTube right now, firstly for being a grown man being petrified & then getting "Jiggy wid it" as I was singing & acting like I'd won the lottery because I'd overcome something that I was terrified of doing.

As wedgewood said, play music as it helps you to relax. I always play music. I live for music as it takes me places i love so it does distract me & really helps.

It really does become easier the more you do it.

Thank you & well done again.

You can feel so very proud of yourself & rightly so! 👍

[ThePATexan]

Great job on getting that 1st solo shot under your belt! Those IMs are not fun no matter how you slice it. I’ll pass along what my sister told me and maybe it will make you feel a little superhero-ish like it did for me. She is an RN in a renal/transplant unit, gives lots of difficult injections and is Type I Diabetic so she has been giving herself shots most of her life. I messaged her as soon as I did my first one solo. She said “Dang, girl, way to go! That is one shot I would NOT want to give myself!” Now I feel just a tiny bit tougher than her.... lol

[VMITCHELL78 in reply to ThePATexan]

Ha! Love it! Thanks ThePATexan!

I already felt superohero-ish, but now even more so!

Hopefully after a few weeks I'll feel my normal self and be able to take on the world again!!!

[ThePATexan in reply to VMITCHELL78]

I have no doubt!

[Dragonwalker]

Congratulations! I’m just waiting till my promised blood test next week so I can self inject for the first time without skewing the results. Have four injections I’ve been given. Feeling total rubbish right now as am seven weeks into the last injection the GP gave me. Needing sticks to walk straight.

This group has given me hope - mainly that I can get my brain back. People are beginnng to think I’m stupid (I’m a retired academic and Mensa member!)

I’m very nervous and don’t have needle phobia so it must have been terrifying for you.

[e66-- in reply to Dragonwalker]

Please don't be nervous, it really doesn't hurt at all on the outer thigh and bleeds just the tinniest bit and often not at all and don't forget to use 2 needles, one to draw up the liquid and one to inject. I found the needle was more blunt and painful after digging around to get all the liquid in, so change it after and it doesn't hurt a bit. And soon your mind will be clear as a bright summer's day and my vision has also got brighter, at first I thought my telly had just got brighter! Best of luck and if a scaredy cat like me can do it, you will have no problem at all!

[VMITCHELL78 in reply to Dragonwalker]

Hi Dragonwalker,

Oh bless you, I think it's normal to be a bit nervous for the first time. I was nervous, but excited at finally taking charge. I took it nice and slow but didn't dither too much! Watch utube clips, there are some good ones out there, best one I found was youtu.be/ie-LETlqpSs(Not working as expected?)

Good luck and when your back up to normal levels you can ditch the walking sticks!

[Dragonwalker in reply to VMITCHELL78]

Thank you so much for that. It’s easier to follow than some of the others I’ve looked at. I’ve given myself subcutaneous injections in the tummy post surgery - and to my partner - and that was ok. But that was a diddy little needle and a quick jab!

[Ryaan]

Great !......I remember the anxiety and hesitation with my first SI over 2 years ago.

Now you can go on YouTube and watch “I got the power” by Snap.

Motivation.....Lol.

Well done, Good luck and nice to hear.

[VMITCHELL78 in reply to Ryaan]

Thanks Ryaan. Did my 2nd yesterday and yes, very apt song..may listen to that next time!!!!

[Donnadancer]

Hi, just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone on here x. I am still too angry about the way people with PA are being treated by so called health professionals. First do no harm ! Don't they realise the mental health of people at this time, should not have made worse ,it affected mine . I feel empowered by you good people and have done my first injection myself! I am bitter and twisted regarding how people have been treated and will never ask the doctor again for my b12 . They can stick it ! Yet again so many thanks , I would have gone under without you al xxx