Where best to self inject

Hi all I’ve been watching you tube and watching* doctors injecting apples etc and I saw one woman giving her mum her b12 injection into her upper arm.is this an easier safer area to give it in and would this reduce the risk of bleeding from hitting a vein elsewhere.the mum just took it in her stride as did her daughter,I wish I was brave I’m so ashamed about my battle with this it really is a battle that I’ve still not made any progress on.xx

[Nackapan]

I opted for subcutaneous to do at home.

I did it in my stomach. Can be done other places.

I was nervous but it really only had the slightest sting.

Nothing like IM I have at the surgery to stay in the system .

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Hi Nackapan hope you are well.thank you for the info I didn’t know you could inject into tummy I’ll have a look on YouTube again today.ty.stay safe xx

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Tummy 2" fat is for sc. Outer thighs . Abive hip

Where type one diabetics inject up to 4 times a day.

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Tummy only fof subcutaneous and if yoh not tol thin ie havf some flesh to hold together

[wedgewood]

I inject I.M. into my thighs .( I alternate) It gives a large useable area , and is much easier than using the arm when self -injecting . Use the area in the outer middle third of the thigh where the muscle is nearest to the surface ( vastus lateralis) ) I use a 1” needle to inject .

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you wedgewood I just found a really good U.K. video on YouTube and I’m going to get all the needles and stuff out and play around with them for a couple of days to try and get rid of this fear or even looking at them,it’s ridiculous I’ve had such a bad week with my feet on fire at night waking me from what little sleep I do get and my big toes feel really weird at tops.like rubbing at a raw sore it’s horrible sensation.i know it’s b12 deficiency my mma has confirmed and recent endo has confirmed and the lovely Paul Robinson paulrobinsonthyroid.com did his best to try and persuade me to start them too so I need to get serious about this now as m struggling to get help during the lockdown.stay safe xx

[JaneScho in reply to Hidden]

Thinking about it really is much harder than doing it.... I stressed for days then was surprised how OK it was. Then felt inordinately pleased with myself. 2 1/2 years on now.... changed my life. Though too late for the now permanent nerve damage in my legs..... don’t delay any more than you have to... x

[Hidden]

Thank you beginner1 x

[041051]

When I was first diagnosed it was expected that patients inject themselves. I was told to do it just above the knee which I did until it was decided that we should no longer self inject

[pitney]

I use outer middle third of thigh

[Gaudygoat]

I inject intra-muscular into my thigh but only because I didn’t realise you could do sub-cutaneous injection when I started. A retired nurse that taught me got me to jab into oranges but I found the hardest psychological issue was that initial stabbing motion. I have since learnt that that is not necessary. I just pull the skin taut, gently rest the needle against it and apply a small amount of pressure. You can barely feel the entry but you can stop and move to a new spot if your getting close to a nerve. I also inject slowly so it’s nothing like as sore as at the surgery. Then a quick withdrawal. I think the quick entry is for injecting others so you are in before they have time to panic and move. I know others here also energy and inject slowly.

Good luck. It really does get easier!

[Showgem in reply to Gaudygoat]

I inject in the middle outer third of my thigh. I've found that I do have to stab to get through the skin otherwise the needle doesn't go in, but I do inject slowly and then it's not painful.

It does get much easier to do after a few times.

[Coxeymcqueen]

I inject in to the thigh like other people have suggested. One of the problems people have when injecting is staying relaxed. If you tense the muscle it can make it harder and therefore more painful - it’s probably a natural response to not want to push hard on the needle if you feel resistance as well.

I had a nurse always do B12 injections in the bottom (near the top) because she can get you to relax the injection site by putting all of your weight through your other leg.

When I inject in my thigh I cross my legs and inject in to the leg that’s on the top. This seems to keep the muscle relaxed and makes it a bit easier.

I’ve gone through phases where I’ve just got on with it, and others where I’m very tentative about doing it and it takes me a minute to get myself together, but it never hurts as much as I think it might and if it bleeds, it’s only a small amount and stops quickly.

Good luck

[Hidden]

Thanks so much everyone,today will be my play day with the needles etc just to try and get over my fear,I suppose it’s a bit like spider phobia they tell you to handle them to reduce your fear,not a chance in hell of me doing that one lol.

[Judithdalston]

Others are wimps too re b12. I get my husband to do it into my backside...it’s very painful perhaps because he is too tentative. I can do my own insulin injections in stomach, but he also does that in my backside to move it about a bit. Unfortunately insulin pen is so much easier than conventional syringe...shame they don’t do b12 in pen!

[Hidden in reply to Judithdalston]

Ouch Judithdalston your braver than me I’d def not go back for seconds lol.

I bought an injector from abroad was expensive but again it terrorises me it’s so deep rooted.it does come in a nice box that’s about it 😂😂

[Judithdalston in reply to Hidden]

I looked at those self injectors too, but when I realised I still had to press the plunger I knew I couldn’t ...the insulin pen is just a push of a button and it snaps out to ‘inject’ insulin. With cost cutting my surgery changed the brand of needle attached each time to the pen, and being cheaper it often used to bend going on when I did it, so left it to husband most times now. The seconds of pain are worth it for the 24/7 ache, vertigo I get with low b12! Good luck Thrones.

[Hidden]

I just think your all so brave and hopefully in a wee while I might be able to come back here and reassure someone like this,I can refer them back to my cowardly posts hopefully lol.thanks all x

[Foggyme Administrator]

ChronicHealthWarrior. Just for clarification...

We do not advise that those who self inject do so into the buttocks.

This is because of the close proximity of the sciatic nerve and the sometimes difficult angle of approach when self injecting - it's to easy for the inexperienced to accidentally inject too close (or even into) the sciatic nerve.

For safety we therefore advise that this injection site is not used(most here inject IM into the thigh or the abdomen for SC injections.

I'm pleased that this works for you - you’re lucky that you were taught by a GP and can manage the twisting involved to inject in the right place.

But please...anybody else...do not try this at home!

👍

[ChronicHealthWarrior in reply to Foggyme]

Ok, I didn’t know that it wasn’t a recommended place to inject. I’ve deleted my posts about it.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to ChronicHealthWarrior]

It’s widely used as an injection site by medical professionals, for other drugs, but it's not recommended for those doing SI (because of safety issues as outlined above). Excepting for those who have been taught by a medical professional - usually for drugs other than B12.

Please don’t worry - having been taught by your GP you obviously didn't know that (and what a good GP 'allowing' you to SI and providing appropriate training - wish it was the same for all here).

👍

[ChronicHealthWarrior in reply to Foggyme]

😊😊

[LizWilsonpa]

Hi Thrones.

You mentioned "I just found a really good U.K. video on YouTube" - could you give the link? I'm just starting on this journey - bit shocked at how soon I'm feeling pins and needles as it's only a week since my injection was due (I have them monthly). Feeling very nervous about this but I think it's the only way to manage as I'm taking sublingual tablets and spray but they only appear to offer minimal help.

Good luck with your next steps.

Liz

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to LizWilsonpa]

LizWilsonpa

Sublingual sprays and tablets don't work for everyone (not many, by what we read here).

As your neurological symptoms are returning, suggest you contact your GP and ask to have your B12 via injection (it's classified by the WHO as an essential medication - not many GP's are aware of that).

Some GP's are teaching their patients to self inject so that treatment can continue during the current crisis - worth asking if they’ll consider this (it's what the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians are advising GP's to do - where appropriate).

Lots of other posts here about this that contain links to relevant information - may be worth having a search (apologies, don't have time to include more information right now).

Good luck 👍

[LizWilsonpa in reply to Foggyme]

Many thanks - I was thinking I'd have another try with GP but did give lots of info from PA Society when contacted them (a few times) initially. I've been reading through but I'm not confident the lead GP even accepts that B12 deficiency is real! Thanks for prompt though as it encourages me to go back.

Did also think I might make a complaint so it's registered officially sort of thing.

[Hidden in reply to LizWilsonpa]

Hi liz I think I’ve managed to send it in a personal message to you,hope so lol.

Good luck xx

[LizWilsonpa in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks. Xx

[KristinCC]

I was taught by my doctor's office to inject in upper butt/high hip area. I asked about injections in my thigh, but they said I would need a longer needle for that. Before I started self injecting, my doctor's office always injected in my arm. I didn't realize one could inject into the stomach.

[jarlethblue]

hi there....I use an one inch needle and inject into my tummy, alternating sides for each injection and i do daily ones. It helps that i have a bit of a tummy!! I just pinch a piece of my tummy and put the needle in, i find if i am squeamish and do it gently that it hurts more than if i do it quite firmly. It takes only seconds and rarely hurts. The trick is that when injecting the contents to stretch the area around the needle with your fingers if that makes sense and it hurts less. x. J

[Hidden in reply to jarlethblue]

Hi there stupid question I know sorry but does the whole needle go in,I have the one inch needle it just seems so long, that sounds daft doesent it but I have to ask.this is why I’m better to wait on nurse to do the first one or two I think.many thanks x

[Bambigal83]

Ive been giving myself IM injections for about 4yrs now. I always do upper thigh and since starting i wouldnt ever go back to anything else. I have occasional times where i hit the artery but not often and it doesnt hurt any more than usual. My absorption has increased incredibly and my brain fog was eased. Havent had any iron problems since. U need to feel comfortable with any decision u make. All the best!

[Cricket717]

I've been injecting IM for about 30 years with a 3/4 inch 25 gauge needle into alternating thighs. I use a 3mm syringe because it is easier for me to hold onto.

[B12Healthy]

Hi, well, each person has their favorite place to self-inject or be injected by a helper. Anyone injecting at home should be properly trained first and discuss best places for their body type and then try the thigh, arm and buttocks to find what you prefer.

Some good articles can be found here: b12vitaminstore.com/default...

and here: b12vitaminstore.com/default...

Happy poking.