I’ve been sat here for the last hour trying to conquer this fear of injecting.
I got everything ready I was shaking so much just handling the needles.I bought that wee cutter thing for the ampoules as recommended here, it worked well..I struggled to get it from the ampoules into the syringe.I was shaking it was fiddly to do,it seemed such a small amount of b12 in the syringe so I wasn’t sure I’d gotten it all out.I then changed to the yellow needle and attacked the poor orange I did it numerous times and I just can’t get my confidence up to physically do it to my own flesh,I feel terrible now.
Sadly today I’m giving up I need to find someone to do this for me it’s ridiculous isn’t it. I just can’t get over this fear.
I even bought that expensive auto injector and I can’t figure the blooming thing out either my brain turns to mush where needles and blood are concerned.
Your just all so brave it’s so sad we even have to resort to this.
I am exactly the same...no problem with medics taking blood or putting stuff in, but complete wimp when was supposed to DIY( didn’t even try the orange). I get my husband to put b12 injection in my bottom ( so I can’t accidentally see him do it in for eg arm)...it hurts a lot, but at least I get it inside my body where it’s needed! Good luck.
Anticipation is often worse than the event and usually goes on for much longer. How long were you thinking and worrying about it compared to the minute or 2 it would actually take?
As you were shaking by the time you were loading up the syringe you were right to give up for the day. Put it behind you, stick it all in the bin/sharps box and relax. Tomorrow’s another day.
Tomorrow think yourself into the mindset of the nurse as you prepare the injection. Stay in that moment as you do it, don’t think ahead. Just before you prepare use the pre injection wipe so that the skin is dry by the time you’ve finished.
All ready? I’ve never used an auto injector but whilst I dislike giving my injection I know it’s a minute or 2 of unpleasantness and the trade off is good health, energy, fitness, enjoying life. The choice is mine.
So, deep breath in and just do it (slowly for me giving an IM injection)!
Afterwards I often think how very lucky I am to have an illness that I can treat with a simple injection. Many people would give everything to have their illness ‘cured’/minimised so easily.
Yes your right JanD 236 and that’s a good idea.tomorrow I will load it up then get my husband to inject,cowardly option I know but like you say it’s much better than suffering from this illness ve already seen that if I go beyond the third day my symptoms are all creeping back till next injection,I can’t afford anymore brain injuries which is why I’m so desperate to conquer this.thankyou again.xx
Do you put the whole needle in beginner then plunger down then draw needle straight out? Sorry to be so dim but the fear doesent let me think rationally.x
If you using an orange needle 25g I think that is the largest subcutaneous one. Nurses use blue at the surgery. So good for your mindset. Smaller than the nurses use.
I've only done 2 . The preparation ridiculous . The first time as Sc I dud in my stomach .why I chose there is because when it was initially agreed to si sc the nurse said she'd teach me to do it there as a direct route inti blood supply. I squeezed my flesh so
hard the finger marks hurt more.
The second time I used my outer thigh. Much better. I held it less firmly this time .i then put it in quite quickly but lightly if that makes sense. I pushed the b12 in slowly and withdrew the needle slowly.
I didnt like doing it but I found it hurt less than the nurse doing it. Might be just because sc .
I then had a mini trifle like a child as a reward.
Good to have something sweet.
Demonstrations on u tube can help.
The first time I stabbed myself by accident with the green needle used for drawing it up as I forgot to put the cover back on when taking it off the syringe alsi lost some if the b12 inti the air making sure no air bubble.
Once the first one done you will feel much better about it and better!!
My husband hated needles and was quite squeamish.
He has to inject 4 times a day and has done for years. He does have an insulin pen now. At the start he didnt. He let me do it and let the then children di it . !!
I tried for the first time last night, couldn’t manage it in the end. All the way to needle there pointing at my leg but just couldn’t push it in. Had to stop and lay down for a bit. Really struggled with getting set up even though watched lots of videos, even managed to stab myself in the thumb with the needle pretty hard. I plan to just keep on trying. Keep going
So sorry for you LeighW the fear really is crippling I hope you can find a way around it I’m still trying but it’s very brave of you to admit to it takes guts to keep trying so well done.xx
Just let the needle sit on your skin...it will start to go in without pushing. Maybe make sure you moisturise your legs every day so that that the skin is soft & supple
It is so hard the first few times, my hand was shaking badly when I did the first ones which made them hurt more as I was effectively repeatedly pushing the needle further in 🙄 I did get my mum to do the very first one and watch me do the second just so I had some support, it helped. Now I still don't like doing it but it's much easier. I watched lots of you tube videos but still can't look when the nurse gives it.. too scared!!
I find I have to push the plunger very slowly maybe over 10 seconds or more otherwise I feel the pressure of the liquid going in (I use a very fine needle, orange) before you throw the next needle and syringe away, suck up some water and push the plunger down and just see the pressure it comes out with then you'll see why you need to push slowly!
I almost passed out the first time I did it, but I've been doing it every other day now for 16 months after buying the auto Injector.
While getting things ready, I always place the ampule under my armpit as it's the warmest place on your body.
If you can manage to draw the B12 into the syringe, pull back on the injector so it opens up, there are clips that the syringe clips into, just be careful the tip of the needle doesn't touch the injector when putting into the clips.
One side is a safety switch so you can't inject until you release the safety switch. The LED light on the end will be continuous when the correct pressure is against the skin. Stretch the area of the skin with the finger & thumb of your free hand. Then release the safety switch when ready & press the button to inject. Depress the plunger slowly.
I really hope you manage to do it, before you know it, it will become second nature.
I've often thought about doing a YouTube video with the auto injector as there wasn't really any out there when I last checked.
Plenty of good advice above. Try not to be so hard on yourself, you're not a coward. It isn't natural to stick a needle into your body. I sat and counted down for ages. I was sweating and heart rate increased. I gave myself a talking to, big macho bloke, jumped out of aeroplanes and you can't stick a needle in your leg! You can get past this, focus on the fact that it will make you feel better. It is sad that we have to do this. You will look back and laugh at the way you felt. As mentioned I warm the ampoule. It may be easier to prepare then go and calm down. I would get all worked up when trying to get tiny bubbles out and then really struggle to do the injection.
Perciveer it will be worth it in the end.
Gosh you guys are just great so full of compassion which I’m so grateful for it’s makes people like me feel so much better not to be dismissed as just attention seekers because we are incapable of getting around this fear.
I also have three medichecks blood tests kits in the drawer,finger prick ones ,that I can’t for the life of me do either.Ritchie please do that video.xx
Hi Thrones, I si'd for the second time this week (thanks to the support from this group), shaking with nerves the whole time. I have to mentally prepare and be alone when I si; hopefully it will get easier for us both - it seems to help when I stretch the skin out, hold the needle on my skin and then use a tiny bit of pressure; the needle sort of does the rest for me.
Take it slowly, you will get there.
I need top ups at least every 2 weeks and was paying £29 a shot at Harvey Nicks Reviv clinic in Liverpool out of desperation with my symptoms. The lockdown has forced me to face my fears and self inject.....It will save me a fortune.
I couldn’t stand the idea either, but in the end it was fine. The thing that helped most was not exactly looking and pushing the needle in, but looking where it was meant to go and stabbing it in quickly, so it just goes in like a knife through butter........no feeling at all. I noticed the nurses who did it this way caused no pain either. I inject the warmed fluid in slowly, but the needle gets jabbed in quickly. Are you shaking the fluid out of the top of ampoules before breaking the top off.......I did this wrong at first and left some fluid in the top, easily sucked up after breaking. Good luck.
Right I’d had enough this morning and after reading all the support I’ve had on here yet again I thought m going to have another go,hubby was here so I thought I’ll show him first how to load it all up then he can try it on the orange but after I’d loaded it I thought you know what it’s now or never,the needle went into my left arm like butter and I slowly injected the b12 in then needle straight out and disposed off in sharps bin I then stuck a wee plaster over it but I’m absolutely fine,my heart rate shot up to 110 on my Fitbit lol but it’s back down now after I got it over with.
A million zillion thanks to every last one of you I couldn’t have did it without you and now look forward to a happy accident free life bless you all xx
I was exactly the same. Honestly shaking so much, the needle was popping in and out of my stomach.
But it did not hurt. I promise you! I had worried for 3 years. For nothing. You really really can do it. Don’t give up. You will feel so empowered. Good luck!
I inject into my thigh, outer middle third. I was never very good at it.
When you are most deficient, it is harder, I think, because you are more anxious, can't relax muscles, can't remember the best place from last time, make a decision re committing to a position (or even a leg!), bit twitchy and just a bit rubbish !
Now I have my routine, don't think about it much, can stay calm and relaxed and don't keep putting it off.
Shame we don't make videos of how bad we were at the beginning..... might make consultants stop going on about the euphoric sensation experienced !
Hi CherylClaire yes your right there as if any of us needle/blood phobics would even think of doing this unless we had no other options.I’d much rather pop a pill it’s a no brainer.
Don't be too hard on self. I learned that if I use a larger gage needle to load syringe and change to smaller size needle it makes it easier to self inject.
I also repeat process in brain until I am comfortable.
My husband is a combat Marine who faints at the sight of needles.
It takes courage to admit when you are scared, so well done, and we are all the same here (well, I am going to do it for the first time in a couple of weeks) been practising on an orange. Poor orange has holes all over it! At least we are in charge of our own bodies. Well done.
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On the road to recovery, finally!
