How to self inject?

[Ctb567]

I've been trying to look up YouTube tutorials on how to do this but I'm not convinced by many of the videos... I think what I'm finding difficult is where to inject? Can I just inject in the fat in my stomach? That seems like the easiest right now. I think I would like to inject into my arm maybe but it's not clear how to do this myself. How do you guys self inject?

Thanks

[Nackapan]

I inject subcutaneously which can be in your belly fat ,thigh ,or arms .

I use a 30G 1/2" needle. If you look below in previous posts more info will be found. Ask Google for injection sites on your body. Diagrams should come up.

IM is what the nurses do.

You will get more detailed advice from others.

[Showgem in reply to Nackapan]

I thought needles for subcutaneous injections were 1/2" or 5/8", my surgery uses 1" for my intermuscular injections. I'm wondering if 1" needles are a bit long for injecting into the tummy?

[Nackapan in reply to Showgem]

So sorry 1/2" long is what I use. All my other posrscsay 1/2 " or 5/8 if you google or go through posts you can always double check.

[Nackapan in reply to Nackapan]

Also they dont have to all be in your tummy ! Sc I do it my thigh as well as other places

[Nackapan]

Do send in s letter to yourGP asking gir your essential treatment . Giving symptoms. Look at WHO it's on the list of essential treatments

[Ctb567 in reply to Nackapan]

My drs surgery are giving them but only every 3 months, I feel like I need extra.

[Nackapan in reply to Ctb567]

You should ar least get 2 monthly. Bnf guidelines. Or more if an individual needs them. Sk do write in thrh ate not uk to date .

[wedgewood]

I inject I.M. ( Intra-muscularly )Into my thigh . This requires a longer needle than subcutaneous injections . I used this method because that’s how it’s done at the doctors . But subcutaneous is just as effective I believe . I’ll send you my help sheet that will help you generally . I’ll send it by private message l .

[Ctb567 in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks Wedgewood

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

I inject intramuscularly into thigh, which is what most people here seem to do. I think self-injecting into your arm would be difficult- it would mean doing the whole thing one-handed.

I know what you mean about the videos: guy running his hands through his hair before injecting a smiling woman ? I found one where the man seemed to talk sense: tips like using the wrapper that the syringe comes in to wrap around the ampoule before snapping off the top to save cutting yourself. Plus he was wearing sensible pants.

wedgewood 's help sheet and Nackapan 's advice should be all the combination to get you started on subcutaneous injections. I'd trust them - without even needing to see their underwear !

[Violet-53 in reply to Cherylclaire]

About breaking the ampules , make a score on the glass neck , and use a tea towel to wrap your fingers in and snap

I use a small metal file like nail file to score

Then break at the scored area

Works for me

[Nackapan in reply to Violet-53]

The ampoules sometimes have a white line on that you put facing you before snapping

[Violet-53 in reply to Nackapan]

Yes correct

Yet, I found the hydroxocobalamin from GP made in Middlesex don’t hv them and don’t break easily

Why

[Nackapan in reply to Violet-53]

No idea.

My prescription ones dont have a line either. That's why I got a 'snap it' device and many use other devices to make it safer. Or a cotton wool pad.

[Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire]

🤣

[jaybirdxNHM in reply to Nackapan]

I have a snapper which is easy to use very safe if you have arthritic hands .

Goggle it approx £3 .

Good Luck.

[Nackapan in reply to jaybirdxNHM]

Yes I have a snapper thank you .snap it . More expensive but coukdnt work first one ??

[Hidden]

I inject into my thigh muscle, easiest to access while sitting down. Middle third of thigh, Google will show you a diagram. Very easy and pain free. I use a green needle to drawer up from ampule and change to blue to inject. Good luck. Best decision I made a few months ago.

[contentedmum]

I did my very first injection yesterday... I'm very proud as I really have a great fear of needles, as I'm sure do many. The two tentative attempts where I managed to stab myself and then not go through with it hurt more than the 3rd attempt when I actually did it. I was amazed that I didn't feel a thing!

I used a 25G x 5/8 needle to inject and a bigger one to extract from the ampoule so I didn't inject with a blunt needle as it took a while to get it out of the ampoule. I did it into my stomach on this occasion because it seemed the easiest option.

I struggled to break the top of the ampoule but used a bit of tissue to make sure I didn't get glass in my fingers if I managed to break it I read lots of the info from people on here and watched one video which was a doc giving himself a b12 jab.

youtube.com/watch?v=u6h9JI0...(Not working as expected?)

b12d.org/submit/document?id=44

b12vitaminstore.com/intramu...