Hi Everyone
I am in a bit of a muddle some post say 1inch needleto inject some say 1.5 needle, does it matter? I am trying to get the courage to inject but I’m worried I’ve bought the wrong needles. I am hoping to inject into the thigh into muscle, but I’m so nervous of hitting a vein, if I do inject into my thigh what is the chance of hitting a vein???? And if I do is it life threatening a am I overreacting????
To inject IM you need to get through the layer of fat above the muscle. This can vary quite a bit. This tells you how to determine if you need 1”, 1.25” or 1.5”. unionmedico.com/expanded-ne...
There are no large blood vessels in the thigh muscle. Next time you have some ham (real ham, not the reformed watery stuff) look for blood vessels. You’ll not be able to see any. Your thigh is the same.
You may, sometimes, get more than a tiny drop of blood ooze out from the injection site. That’ll be because you’ve passed through a blood vessel in the lower layer of the skin. It’s nothing to worry about. I keep a bit of tissue draped over my knee to mop it up, just in case.
Thank you, I will get on with it now and stop dithering.
I’ve ordered from Versando Germany and I’m just waiting for them to arrive.
Needles and syringes have already arrived.
Think I’m thinking about it too much ridiculous really I need to get a grip
Anyway thanks for your words
You'll find it's loads easier than the thought of it and once you start to feel better you'll wonder what the fuss was about!
Well done on getting this far. Good luck and go for it!
Thank you Denise words much appreciated
I use a 1 inch needle to SI IM into my thigh. The nurse who trained me taught me to insert the needle fully then gently draw back the syringe plunger. You should see a small amount of air in the tip of the syringe, this shows you have not hit a vein. If there is blood there you have hit a vein. She said to withdraw the needle slightly if this is the case and then inject. In the hundreds of times I have self injected this has only happened once. In any case it will not harm you. When you inject IM the B12 is absorbed into your system slowly. By injecting into a vein the excess B12 is more likely to be excreted and not absorbed.
On a couple of occasions there has been more blood spilt on withdrawal of the needle than normal, I probably went though or nicked a blood vessel. I suffered no harm and no bruising. I always have a small plaster at the ready and I don’t inject in a carpeted room just in case!
Good luck and don’t be nervous.
My nurse said that current practise is not to aspirate when doing IM injections unless its into the buttocks where there's a chance of hitting an artery.
amsn.org/practice-resources...
My nurse didn’t advise a lengthy aspiration, just a quick pull back to check that it wasn’t in a vein.
The site you linked recommends that there is no need to aspirate, not that you should definitely not do it.
Yes. It won't do any harm. Nurse said it's just a waste of effort.
Thank you for your encouragement I feel more confident now and less daunted
Hiya, I’ve been doing this a few years now, I started off really apprehensively. I googled lots before starting. Look at wiki how to self inject. Here’s how mine goes:
Get everything ready. I use 1” needle. Make sure no bubbles in syringe by squirting a little bit out.
Sit on chair with feet on floor.
Deep breaths and try relax leg muscles.
Pick up muscle with non dominant hand.
Slowly insert needle at 45 degree angle. If it hurts slow down more.
Push plunger very slowly to minimise sting. I watch the liquid go down rather than where the needle goes in.
Once all in pull needle out gently and steadily.
Rest leg in same position for 1 minute.
Here’s how my friend does it:
Everything ready
Half inch Needle straight in at 90 degrees.
Squirt fast and pull needle out.
I don’t think she has a squeamish bone in her body.
It works fine both ways.
Good luck, I really think once you’ve done it a few times you’ll be fine, and you’ll feel so much more alive for getting the dose you need regularly xx
Very sorry to criticise. IM should be 90°, sub cutaneous is at 45°.
Thanks, I didn’t know that 😊 not criticism, useful helpful info.
Hi thank you for your advice, I now know I’m not going to die!!!
Just one more question
Is it ok to use a 1 and half inch needle to inject with???
I can always buy others
Would you tell me which ones you use???
I know I’m finding excuses but this really is the last question
I honestly don’t know about 1.5” , at the gp they use 1” and I’ve used 1” and 0.5”. You can always just not fully insert it. One of the nurses said don’t use too narrow needles as the fluid might not go through. I use BD microlance 25g x 1”, and BD microlance 26g x 1/2” to inject. I use BD microlance 23g x1” to get it out of the ampoules. I use different needles to get it out and inject coz it might get blunt on the ampoule. The 23g is what they use at the surgery to inject me with. The higher the number, the skinnier the needle. I think the half inch long ends up being subcutaneous (under the skin) and the 1 inch is into the muscle, but depends on how much fat is covering the muscle (plenty on me) 😊
It’s no problem to answer any questions, honestly 😊 it was hard teaching myself to do this, but really truly so worth it xx
Right will buy new 1inch needles, others will come in handy to get the b12 out of ampoules thanks for replying☺️
I only use 1” needles as I don’t have much fat to go through on my thighs. I suppose you don’t have to inject all the way but it usually slides in once through the skin, the area in the middle third, at the side of the thigh is a big muscle so you needn’t worry.
Yes will buy new 1 inch needles no problem will post and let everyone know how I get on, haven’t received the b12 yet though from Germany
I use 21G, 0.80 x 40 mm, green to draw from the ampule. I then dispose of this and don't use it to inject with. The act of drawing can blunten the needle.
I then inject using 23G, 0.60 x 25 mm, blue.
I bought 100 of each and the syringes from praxisdienst.com/ about a week ago.
They are based in Germany (I am in the UK) and it arrived by DHL in three days. The site is in english.
I ordered 100 of each of:
Injekt Disposable Syringes, 2ml, Art. No.: 421109
Disposable Sterican Cannulas, 23G, 0.60 x 25 mm, blue, Art. No.: 311216
Disposable Sterican Cannulas, 21G, 0.80 x 40 mm, green, Art. No.: 311202
The total order was only €13.88 including postage.
Hello, no you are not overreacting. We are all in the same boat here, and I am currently trying to get needles and Hydroxocobalamin 1mg in 1ml I have Pernicious Anemia, so tablets are useless my stomach chucks out oral B12. Good luck. Sue
Hi Sue
Thank you for your comments
I have PA so tablets don’t work but I think with all the support I’ve had I’m going to be just fine
D
Needle sizes for sub cutaneous injecting. 
SI B12 - needle size?
Needle size?
needle sizes
Wrong size needle
