Auto Injector

[Ritchie1268]

Just thought I would post this.

I know some people use these for B12 Self Injecting as I myself asked the question when I first joined having a phobia of needles.

I have recently bought one from Union Medico in Denmark that wedgewood recommended to someone, along with a post I read of someone else getting one.

I would always sweat when I came to stick a needle in me but just had to get on with it, as the alternative isn't much fun let's face it!

First time of using was just like the first time doing it without it. Sweating & shaking, a couple of Jack Daniels to calm me down. Then taking the loaded needle out & doing it the old fashioned way, as I was petrified of pressing the button! 🙄

I plucked up the courage last week & haven't looked back since. It goes in that fast, I actually had to check to see if the needle had gone in!

Anyone, like me who hates needles, I can highly recommend one of these. They're not cheap at €77 plus €25 postage via DHL to UK, but for me it's been a god send as I no longer get anxious pre injections.

[wedgewood]

That is great Richie, that you have told all the needle-phobics how to overcome their fear . Marvellous ! That will reassure so many people .Yes , £100.00 is a lot , but I’m sure you feel it’s worth every penny . Best wishes 💉👍

[Ritchie1268 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you wedgewood.

Yes it is costly but, I found I was missing injections when I needed them due to getting myself worked up about doing it. Even though I had been doing it every other day since Xmas, I still hated doing it but had to. I would put it off till the next day or the day after, even though it never hurt! Yes I know I'm strange 😁

But now, after the stress of the first time, it's helped me so much & it really was worth every penny 👍

[HazyFaye]

Hi Richie, I am looking to purchase the auto injector myself. Do you mind me asking what syringe and needle size you chose please? I'm not really sure what I need as haven't self injected before but want to be able to do IM injections. Many thanks Faye

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

Hi Faye.

Im glad you asked as I forgot to mention something when ordering the auto Injector!

Now this is where you have to be really careful when ordering it.

When I injected manually if I can call it that, I ordered 100 1mil syringes, the bluey green needle (21g) to draw up & the orange needle (25G) to inject. I use the orange one as I barely have any fat on my thigh & this needle is thinner & smaller as I don't do pain 😁. The nurse at dr's always uses the bluey green needle to inject.

When you order from Union Medico, you get a choice of 10 free syringes, 2 types of needles & wipes. But, because I was used to using a 1 mil syringe, that's what I ordered. They sent me the injector to suit the 1mil syringes but, they were bigger in diameter than the ones I currently had, the problem being, I could no longer use my 1 mil syringes as they were much thinner & wouldn't fit the auto injector! They sent me what's called Luer Lock syringes that fit the auto injector perfectly. The problem is, the syringes I used to use cost around £7.99 per 100 from Medisave in UK. Sourcing Luer Lock syringes to fit the auto injector costs around £40!!

I would email Union Medico to ask their advice on which size Injector to buy, they are very helpful. Luckily I managed to find someone selling the Luer Lock 1 mil syringes on eBay, £20 for 100 in sealed box so I got away with it.

If you need anymore info let me know.

From ordering It was delivered within 3 days.

Good luck 👍

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

Thanks Richie for your very thorough reply

I'll e-mail the company and see what they advise, if not I may just order the Luer Lock ones for now. Sounds like you got lucky with your ebay purchase, well done you.

Thanks for the advice and your "good luck" message, I could do with it at the mo!

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

You're very welcome Faye.

If it wasn't for the really amazing people on here, helping each other out, i would be a total wreck by now!

Hope you get on ok & please don't hesitate to let me know if you need to ask anything else.

I'll take a photo & put it up on here of the injector. There's a more expensive one that's stainless steel but this works just fine.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

Just added a photo to original post as wasn't sure how to do it in reply

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

That's great, thanks again. I was wondering what the difference between the 'Super grip' and the more expensive one was. If its just because its stainless steel, I think I'll stick to the one you're using as that seems to have been tried and tested. I'll probably go for purple though

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

I think the only difference is that it's stainless steel, I'm sure they'll tell you if you email them. But at a cost of around €120 more than the super grip one, I can't see why it's worth spending the extra.

This works absolutely fine & the safety switch on the side is good, which saves sticking a needle in you when you're not ready!

The purple one, I was told not to be so daft & just get the black one 😄

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

Also, the LED light lets you apply the correct amount of pressure before injecting. Too much or not enough pressure & it lets you know.

The thing about injecting into a vein etc, is just an inspection window, when you draw up once into the muscle, you can see if there is any blood.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

This is a copy of the email when I first contacted Union Medico:

"Thanks for writing.

Many of our customers use the device to inject B12.

The device work so that the syringe is fixed. If you need a 1ml syringe, the device can only hold the BD 1ml shown at our web shop. The needle can be changed to different lengths. The BD syringes we use is standard syringes.

Our device is perfect for your B12 injections.

I hope this helps you. If you have other questions, please contact me again.

Regards"

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

Thanks for all the info, I'm just going to bite the bullet and order it now! I can't see the point in paying extra either for the other one either. Here begins my journey of self injecting..............................................

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

Well done & welcome to the first step in claiming your life back! 👍

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

Thanks, I’ve been off work for nearly a year now (not all due to B12 deficiency). Although the symptoms of my B12 deficiency are what brought me to the doctors but they then discovered I had an infection in my heart valve (endocarditis). I was hospitalised and treated for this but months later I still wasn’t really getting any better and after various tests GP discovered I was deficient in vitamin B12 and vitamin D. I had the loading dose (6 injections) in December and then they stopped them as said my levels were too high. After lots of research and information gained from here and much persuasion, I was able to get the GP to agree to further B12 injections which commenced in March. I’m aware the injections should be every other day as per the guidelines but my surgery “don’t have anyone that can give the injection on a Wednesday”. I therefore only have them twice weekly so have decided to give myself the ‘missing’ injection in the hope that it will speed up my recovery. Never thought I would be looking forward to giving myself an injection!!!

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

That's bad that you have to result to doing it yourself due to no nurse to do it, but many of us have to do it.

I had the 6 loading injections but didn't notice any difference until 2-3 days after my first 3 monthly one, then only for 2 days. Same with 2nd also.

My Dr agreed to more often but only dependent on by B12 levels.

So after having my 3rd 3 monthly injection, I had a blood test 10 minutes directly after!!

I tried explaining it would be high & it's pointless checking levels once diagnosed, but didn't get anywhere. So I told him I'd do it myself & my nurse showed me how & where etc. That along with the help from the great people on here, the rest is history.

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

Hi Richie

Sounds like your doctors have been as useful as mine!

Just wanted to say I had my first injection yesterday using the auto injector but have to confess, I got my sister to inject into my arm, rather than actually doing it myself. It didn't hurt though so think I will be able to work up the courage to eventually inject myself in my thigh. This will be a game changer!

Thanks again for all your help.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

You're very welcome & well done!

I was the same, I just couldn't bring myself to do it the first time as it did seem a little fierce when I did a dry run.

It was just like the very first time I had to inject myself, sweating shaking etc.

Once you get through that first one, you'll be fine.

Good luck 👍

[HazyFaye in reply to Ritchie1268]

Thanks very much

[Ritchie1268 in reply to HazyFaye]

👍

[Davey39 in reply to Ritchie1268]

Hi there.iv got the same problem the syringes from Union medico have run out and my normal 1s don't fit.where on ebay did u get your new syringes from plse?

[Ritchie1268 in reply to Davey39]

Hi.

It was a private seller at the time with a one off unopened box of 100.

I've looked recently as I need to get some more soon & there is a shop on there now. If you search for "Luer lock" syringes, you should find them

[Weegirlfromtayport in reply to Ritchie1268]

I am checking Union Medico now - and thought it was so confusing. I wouldn't know what to order. I can get the B12 easily here in Australia - but not sure what else I would need and where to get them. Hopefully Union Medico can advise but I dont want to make a mistake. Here is what I buy here.

My B12 which I can get here in Australia cheap or on Script.

[Ritchie1268]

Thanks beginner1.

I used to have one specific place where it didn't sting, everywhere else started to sting when I tried to put the needle in. As I said, I am strange as it never used to hurt when putting needle in when I first started to SI. I learned to stretch the skin as that helped. I thing my phobia of needles didn't really help & it may have been more phsycological.

But I honestly had to check that the needle had gone in when I first used the injector as I never felt a thing. It goes in that quick!

On the leaflet that comes with it, it shows a diagram of sitting in a chair upright, but I find it better reclined in a reclining chair as my thigh muscle is then totally relaxed. I may even try doing it in my arm as that's where the nurse injects me. I couldn't before as it was so awkward, but I think I could using this Injector. I can also alternate thighs now, before, being right handed, I just stuck the needle in my right leg as the left was really awkward.

[Ritchie1268]

It is strange. I thought it was just me 😁

I have to ask my nurse when she injects in my arm if she's actually done it!

[garretttimson]

Thanks for posting. I just ordered one for shipment to the U.S. I will let you know how it works for me. I ordered the BD 3ml 25 ga x 1 inch.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to garretttimson]

That's good.

I'm sure it will make all the difference for you 👍

[SunnyWorld]

I've tried a few times to order this but can never get past the order page. It comes up in red OBS. Switch off adblock can cause trouble? I uninstalled my adblocker but it wont work with or without adblock? Very strange and irritating

[Ritchie1268 in reply to SunnyWorld]

Hi.

I too had this same problem, I was using my phone to try order it. Even when turning off adblocker I still had same issue.

I used a laptop to place the order & all was fine.

If you don't have a laptop maybe a tablet would work if you're using your phone?

[SunnyWorld in reply to Ritchie1268]

Oh right. Thankyou for that. I will try now 😁

[SunnyWorld in reply to Ritchie1268]

I'm a slim person so would you suggest 1"length orange needle. Thanks in advance

[Ritchie1268 in reply to SunnyWorld]

The 1" orange one works for me but I know the nurse at my surgery always uses the 1.5" on everyone as a standard

[SunnyWorld]

Thankyou for posting all the autoinjector info..looking forward to my delivery 😁😁

[Ritchie1268 in reply to SunnyWorld]

Pleased you've managed to overcome the adblocker issue.

Hope the injector helps you 👍

[garretttimson]

Hello. You were absolutely correct, the phobia of injecting a 1" or longer needle is, for the most part, eliminated when using the Union Medico 90 injector. I had to fumble around a bit on my first try, but I finally got it down. I had my wife observe that the needle had actually been inserted. I did two injections with a .5ml volume each time, left and right thigh, to get some practice. Yes, it works and I am very happy. I paid $115 usd delivered

to my home in Colorado; it's a good investment. Thanks for putting the info out on the internet.

[Ritchie1268 in reply to garretttimson]

You're so very welcome & I am so pleased it has helped you!

Well done & thank you!

It's a horrible thought having to stick a needle in you, but once I got over the initial fear thinking it was too fierce, I haven't looked back. Well worth every penny!

And you're right, I didn't think it had gone in when it had!

Thanks again & so pleased it has helped you!