Needle size?: I have been self... - Pernicious Anaemi...

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Needle size?

jaybirdxNHM profile image
32 Replies

I have been self injecting for some months now ,IM into thigh. It is getting a bit painfull,now. I wish to alternate with sub cutaneous into stomach. I cannot find information on size of needles for the injection. The smaller the better! Please help.

Thankyou.

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jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM
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32 Replies
Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

My husband does sc insulinin jections with a needle size 31G

Not sure if okay for b12 .

It is tiny. Check with a pharmacist.

I will find out soon what the surgery use as trialling some sc soon to have inbetween IM.

Hope it works out

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply toNackapan

Thank you so much. The surgery nurse who taught me how to do IM jabs, when asked said "we don't do those". Hmmmm.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply tojaybirdxNHM

I will find put tomorrow. The nurse I see dies the diabetic clinic so she should be used to sc teaching. She is new to the concept of b12 sc though

Sita505USA profile image
Sita505USA in reply toNackapan

I use 25 g, 1 inch, but don’t insert the needle fully. I use a larger needle to draw B12 from the vial. Good luck! Sita

Showgem profile image
Showgem in reply toSita505USA

I don't think you should inject 1" needles into the tummy, you could do harm

Sita505USA profile image
Sita505USA in reply toShowgem

Thank you for caring! I have been wanting to get shorter and thinner needles. I hold up a fold of skin and inject only part way into the fold. Thanks again, Sita

Showgem profile image
Showgem in reply toSita505USA

Glad you’re aware, keep well x

flosslechops profile image
flosslechops

I do sub cut with 27g 5/8's,works well for me

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply toflosslechops

Thank you very much

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toflosslechops

That's useful to know

flosslechops profile image
flosslechops in reply toNackapan

I tried the 27g half inch ones but thought they were a bit too small

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toflosslechops

Okay. I'm having a b12 injection tomorrow IM but am going to get next one sc . My Gp wants me to trial them at the surgery first . My plan is to sc between I'm ag home

Do you do all your sc . ?

How often works for you?

flosslechops profile image
flosslechops in reply toNackapan

I pull the skin on my belly up with one hand and inject with other(somewhere near bellybutton)sometimes stings a little but soon goes-good idea to do at surgery first-I do mon and thurs at minute-hope it goes well for you-it's just less of a faff as well, having to make appointments and then get to the surgery,easier all round-good luck

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toflosslechops

Thank you

JMN2017 profile image
JMN2017

Hi jaybirdxNHM

I use 25G, Orange, 5/8ths lengths for subcutaneous. I thought Orange 5/8ths was the usual size for persons with diabetes used but there's no harm in trying different sizes, apart from having to buy relatively large quantities.

If you pm your address, I could send you a couple Orange ones to try

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply toJMN2017

Thankyou so much for your kind offer. Don't worry about sending them, I won't have problems using them. (hopefully). I may even try the combined syringe and needle, Very hi-tec!!

What a wonderful forum this is.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toJMN2017

31G needles have been used for some time for sc insulin injections

JMN2017 profile image
JMN2017

Hi jaybirdxNHM

I have to say, it's common practice to draw up the injection with another (often larger) needle, then change needle to actually inject with.

The reason for this is that it's very easy to blunt the needle when drawing up, either by touching the bottom of the ampoule or touching the sides.

You'll see (hopefully) from this image, how the tip is very delicats and very easily bent (blunted)

i.postimg.cc/kX3dJnFJ/Needl...

I think I would be more inclined to order some slightly larger, definitely longer, needles to draw up with but, obviously the decision is yours.

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood in reply toJMN2017

I agree . The needle tip is so easily made blunt when drawing up the liquid . I use nice long needle to withdraw the liquid from the ampoule , then change to the finer needle for injecting.

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply toJMN2017

Thanks , l have always used a different needle to draw up , my hands are not totally reliable! All a learning curve.

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply toJMN2017

Yes,l do , at least they are cheap.

Thanks

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM in reply tojaybirdxNHM

This one was for Wedgewood Sorry folks.

jaybirdxNHM profile image
jaybirdxNHM

My muscles are disappearing faster all the time, the fat layer also. Age again.!

Thank you for sharing.

Mannequin18 profile image
Mannequin18

Hi there. I use the green insulin needle into the thigh. I use one to draw the fluid out. Then another to inject.

Hope that is helpful.

waveylines profile image
waveylines

Ive been doing subcut b12 for the last 18months with my doctors approval.

I circle round the areas: one in each thigh and then each side of my tummy below the tummy button area. This means each area has an in jection once every four days (daily jabs). The tummy jab is done by pinching out a lump of skin fat to inject into. The injection is done at 45 degrees so the needle is slanted. I use a draw up needle (green), as advised by the nurse to avoid any tiny particles of glass from the vial but also its a much longer needle so can get to bottom of vial more easily. Then switch needles to an insulin one (orange)-5/8" -the finer the needle the better but my practise offers me 25G -you can get finer though. Injecting very slowly will avoid stinging effect. The nurse told me I dont need antiseptic wipes so havent used them for the last year.

Subcut I find takes longer to get into system so I do my injection before bed.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

Different areas a good idea. My husband runs out with Injecting Insulin 4 times a day.

I dont know if it happens with b12 sc but on a few occasions the insulin stayed in the area of injection only to be released all at once into the blood stream when warm in the shower. Causing collapse and hypo. I just wondered with sc and b12 if this happens at times. I know the areas of injection can get knotted /fibrous for want of a medical term explanation . Or it may be due to doing it for over 25 years??

I suppose IM evades this.

Good idea to inject sc at night as slower release.

They dont use antiseptic wipes at my surgery either

Glad this continues to work for you.

I'm hoping to alternate at first at the surgery than do the sc ar home to reduce trips and arm soreness. Still a very long way to go but thought worth a try.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply toNackapan

No havent noticed that effect with b12 Nackapan. Your poor hubby! Scary....

What I notice is that by the evening before the jab my tremors are very slightly worse but always much better in the morning, sometimes almost gone!

Have no idea why I need them so frequently. The other day I forgot to do the night jab & was tucked up in bed, couldnt face getting up to do it so thought oh well this will be interesting to see if I still need daily. Seemed ok first thing but by lunchtime I was trembling away! Yep still need the daily!! Lol.....

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

Good to test at times though.

I walked into a room and the light was on . I literally fell to the floor like under attack. Head so painful and giddy.

Yup still light sensitive. N0 preconception.

I was starting to wonder if I should keep avoiding or protecting myself with a visa or hat. Seems like I do!!

I often wonder why I need so much.i tried a 3 week gap from IM .

Didnt go well.

Tried more frequent but more headaches. Still a long way to go to function. Imtrtested in trying sc though to clog uk the fridge even more !

Bizarre this condition with a the variants.

I think I've post concussion in the mix too . As due to severely low b12 kept falling over.

Onwards and upwards

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply toNackapan

Dont know if youve seen this article about lightvsensitivity & dizzyness.......you probably have but its below just incase:-

vestibular.org/news/06-13-2...

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

Thank you. All sounds too familiar.The last neurologist said vestibular disturbance from b12 deficiency and virtigo. No quick fix and discharged me on propranolol (i have taken

The first NHS neurologist said post concussion syndrome.He was the one though that thought too much b12 was toxic and scared me as on every other day at time. Lights fto. The hospital gave me the worst migrain to date.

Both at the root is b12 deficiency

as I wouldn't have kept falling over . Also the fatigue i was trying to push through I'd been swimming to brighten my mood lol. Then had bad fall as all too much on an undiagnosed b12 of 106.

Hindsight hey.

Thankyou. I've not read that particular one

pejka62 profile image
pejka62

I use 1 inch number 25 needles---no problem

I am using 1” x 25g needles BD Microlance 3 which I bought from Medisave. I use any for drawing up the change to this one to inject. They work fine. Mu daughter was given this type of needle when she first started self injecting many years ago and said they were painless. I agree. I alternate between thighs every time and I am at about a 1 week repeat. I keep a record of date, time and leg on my phone and refer to that for the next time.

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