Just to let you good people know I did my first SI yesterday into my thigh muscle. I had a hot shower first to relax and kept warm. My husband watched the videos with me and encouraged me. I was shaking once I had opened the ampoule. It was a bit like my driving test of years ago though, once I started and took my courage in both hands and started inserting the needle the shaking stopped. I looked away for a bit while the needle was going in, but when I realised it wasn't hurting I started looking. I can honestly say none of it hurt one bit. There was a momentary sting when I think I started going too fast but then, nothing and all fine. I have my nurse injection Wednesday and I bet that will be stinging, or hurting like crazy. Sometimes not too bad with the 'nice' nurse and funnily I ask them not to do it slowly as it hurts more at the surgery, but going slowly doing it myself at home did not hurt. I hope I am as successful on my following injections. Now to wonder how often I should be injecting and even if it will help anyway with the symptoms of sickness, bad tummy and insomnia and dizziness. Still not sure it's not something else, but I can only try and eliminate.
First SI, hurrah!: Just to let you good... - Pernicious Anaemi...
First SI, hurrah!
Well done you! I find an ice block applied first and ask the nurse to do it slowly especially withdrawing the needle. Really hope the extra onespecial help you.
Do you take an ice block with you then to the surgery? Sounds a good idea, and would it be the withdrawing that makes it hurt more?
Really well done! The thought of SI is much worse than actually doing it and now I have to be "brave" for vaccinations where someone else does it!
Everyone is different but for me it's best to be relaxed and even the thought of an ice block makes me feel tense!!! 😲 😁 I'd rather do my jab than freeze my leg!!
Whereas the warm shower sounds lovely - and makes sure your skin is clean! And the fluid will go in better (and therefore more easily and therefore not hurt) if the area is warm because of better blood flow.
The point of using ice packs on injuries is to close the capillaries and reduce blood flow (to limit inflammation) which is the opposite of what you want to do if you are having an injection that you want to disburse.
Once it's done I don't care how quickly the needle comes out but that's probably because I'm always careful not to damage the needle tip - another good reason to do my own jabs!
Yes, and I put two dressing gowns on to keep warm (!), only taking one off just before the injection because I feel the cold terribly - always have - and I thought when you are afraid you tend to get cold, the blood drains out of my hands, so I thought best to keep warm. I read on a Facebook forum that someone showers before the injection so thought I would try that.
Yes I take one of rise ice blocks you use for lunch boxes. It hurts less most of the time that way for me. I was starting to get bruised
Well done you!!
So frightening when you first do it. I even called my mum to say if you don't hear from me soon come round as I will have passed out (I hate needles) and i'm 51!! 🙄
I always now really warm the ampoule by rubbing it in my hands to make sure it's warm, I don't feel the B12 going into my muscle when doing this. I wipe the area with antiseptic wipe first so it dries as it can sting if you inject when wet.
Also, I stretch the skin but keep my muscle relaxed & this helps loads.
Well done 👍
Thank you. I'm 70 and thought, well, I started using contact lenses a year ago and that took ages to get confident putting something in my eye - not natural is it ha ha? If I can do that I can do SI, just another step into something else. I didn't warm the ampoule at all, I will do that too next time. I didn't use a wipe on my skin as it was clean. Some people seem to, some don't and the nurse doesn't at the surgery. Ah, I had read people saying it stung if you inject after a wipe, and as you say, that must be because it was wet. I did stretch the skin and I also took a photo the next day of the injection site and edited it with an arrow so I knew where I had done it! Bit over the top maybe, but I like to be organised.
Good for you! What a great outlook on life!
For hygiene reasons it's better to inject into dry skin - moisture mobilises any dirt in the area so it could get on the needle. Dry "dirt" doesn't transfer so readily - just think about mud on a path getting on your shoes - if it's dry you stay clean!
Hopefully if you get enough B12 and supporting supplements you won't feel anywhere near so cold. I can cope much better with low and high temperature now than I ever could.
Go for it!! 😎
thank you. I have thyroid levels not right as well but can't get treated as yet, so who knows what is causing my symptoms.
You're welcome.
Some say you don't have to wipe the area, my nurse who gives me 3 monthly also says it isn't necessary unless the skin is dirty, but I always have done so just use it as part of my routine now.
That's a good idea of an arrow. I always shave the area now as I hit a blood vessel once & it bled a lot & bruised, but only had that happen once.
It isn't natural but I was so proud after I'd done that first one & I bet you were too.
Good luck & well done again.
Yes, you're right, I was proud and my husband said he was too and that I had 'bottle'. My daughter said she could never do it, but I think anyone could if they thought it would help them feel better, especially with all the online support now we can get from people. Thanks.
You're so right & I also said that I could never do it either but, the alternative doesn't give us much option to be honest.
Yes a warm ampoule really helps
Well done, mountainice - I was truly awful at it when I first started, and for quite a long time after. Could never remember where was good/bad spot, and quite often hit a nerve/ muscle that twitched involuntarily, once pushing the needle back out! Also often bled quite dramatically sometimes a spurt in but not thankfully for any length of time. Sometimes just could not get the needle to go in, like hitting rock- too tense.
This was because I did it far too quickly, wanting to get it over with. Now that I put the needle in slowly, no trouble at all. The less ill you are, the less anxious, the easier it gets I suppose.
Sometimes the stinging can be due to getting air out of syringe, there is a droplet of B12 on the needle tip- that can be remedied by tapping droplet off by flicking syringe, then waiting a moment before injecting.
Seems even in this we are all different. I have a bath after injecting because hot water makes my skin surface more sensitive.
As for whether or not all this will help you personally and how many injections you need, only time will tell. Meanwhile, it will do you no harm. It is a lot to go through and it does get easier. Luckily, there is help, support and kindness here. And a supportive husband at home !
Hope my first one wasn't a fluke that it didn't hurt! Thanks for the tip about the droplet of B12 on the needle tip. I lost more than a drop when I pushed it up to get rid of air, it fell on the table (the B12, not the syringe), hope I didn't lose much. One video I saw the person didn't do that at all. One thing I have just thought of to ask people, is whether I should be pushing the needle in the whole way. I bought 23g 1.25" and inserted it the whole way in - is this right? It was easy to get in, I had no problem.
Mountainice, the depth really depends on how you are injecting, ie sub-q, IM, plus the site and percentage of body fat. I agree with Cherylclaire, slower is better for me. I gently set the tip against my skin with barely more pressure than it takes to keep it there against relaxed skin and it goes in straight away without pain. If I force it, it hurts. Then the same with the push. You have to remember it’s not natural what we’re doing, so you have to give your body a tiny bit more time to accept what we are pushing into it. But everyone is their own gauge of what works. I was told abdomen sub-q’s were best. For me, they feel like an extended wasp sting that leaves a horrendous bruise. IMs don’t hurt at all. Go figure! I know you’ll sort it out and before you know it you’ll be doing it without a second thought. You’ve got this!!
Well, it's IM into thigh, not that much fat as I am tall and slimmish still. It didn't hurt first time as I said, so I just hope it wasn't a fluke! What you said reminds me of what one person said to me about electrolysis - that the body first of all would react 'what's happening' but then once realising it is not an 'attack' it somehow relaxes and is ok, don't know if that makes sense. That's strange - of everything I have read I thought that sub-q would be easier and that is why people do it! Oh well....
Thanks for the encouragement, much appreciated from you and everyone else.
My parcel has arrived from Germany so attempting my first injection when i get home from work. Nice to hear from others that have done it and the little tips to make it easier.
Hope it goes well. Try and relax and take your time.
For sure! It’s the worst when I wait too long and I’m already shaky and tense.
Did you manage it, I do hope so and it was ok.
I did was a little shaky after doing it but really need to do it to try and stop my symptoms sliding so much !
Well done. You should be proud. Im sure it will get easier for us.
Thank you i've struglled for 21 years so determined i'm not going to struggle for the next 21!
Well done mountain ice!
SI IM first time - thank you for your help
First self injection.
Where do you SI?
First SI, the pain, ouch!
First Time Self Injecting 
