Just done my first sc b12 injection. I had alot of trouble snapping the ampule.??Had bought an opener but it came with no instructions and seemed too big?so I gave yk trying to worm that out. I lost some of the b12 . Put it in my stomach okay just stung a bit when I pushed in the fluid.i used a 30G 1/2" needle so I think deep enough
So onwards and upwards I hope. Nothing like an IM one .
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Nackapan
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There is usually a little dot on the ampule to show you which way to push. I use a cotton pad to open it, makes it easier to snap it open. Hope this helps.
I think we have all lost some of the serum at least once when self injecting....I was so paranoid about injecting air in that I lost it every time I injected the first few, now I don’t worry about it.🤪
I bought a cheap opener but I’m not much safer using that.
Press on the skin either side where you insert your needle for inserting somewhere like your thigh, or pinch your skin up on your stomach. It’s an acupuncture thing for reducing pain on needle insertion.
The vials I get from my local pharmacy using my prescription, which are the same that my GP practice uses, snap easily at the narrowest part whichever way they face.
The vials I get from Germany have a small dot on the narrowest bit and it’s crucial that this dot faces you, and then you snap away from you.
I smashed mine to smithereens a few times at first : tense muscles and desperation !
Also made injecting hard: once I hit the muscle, it was like trying to inject an avocado stone after practising on an orange. Made a bit of a pincushion out of myself. Relaxing muscles when stressed out not an easy task.
But that was way back then.
I followed advice from a youtube video, where the sensible-pants man wrapped the wrapper from the syringe around the neck of the ampoule, with the white dot facing him. snapped the top part backwards and down (away from the dot) gently with thumb pad.
When doing intra-muscular injection, warming up ampoule lightly in hands (if storing in fridge)- helps make it less viscous, more fluid, so less painful. Some tuck it in their bra !
Also stings initially if a drop of B12 left on end of needle (flick syringe to remove it), and if you push plunger too quickly- smoothly and slowly better.
Never done sub-cutaneous, so unsure if this helps ? Hope so.
I'm a nurse, now sadly non practising due to illhealth but wanted to add a couple of tips. The ampule will snap open easier if there is no liquid at the top, to get the liquid out of the top hold the ampule at eye level and twist round fairly quickly if you can similar to action whisking an egg but you are holding it up, once or twice should bring the solution inside back down. Snapping the ampule is easier if you gently rub your finger over the dot about 3-4 times then snap quickly if possible, using something to protect your fingers like a piece of kitchen roll etc can help avoid a cut.
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