Too chicken to self inject

[Mag999]

So having efficiently managed to obtain all the necessary, turns out I shake like a jelly at the prospect of sticking a needle in myself. Just can’t do it. Any advice?!

[Hidden]

Get yourself an orange Mag and practice injecting water into it.it just gets you the feel for handling the syringe and loading up the needles,you’ll do it fine you’ll get fed up injecting the orange one day and just decide to go for it then you’ll be back here saying well I don’t know what all the fuss was about it’s so easy lol.

Patience and practice and you’ll do it good luck xx

[Mag999 in reply to Hidden]

Ok, thanks, will get on with the practising!

[DaveT81]

I was too. I started a couple of years ago injecting and only managed half a dozen over 6 weeks before I stopped.

But the guys on here pointed me in the direction of the auto-injector from the Danish company that makes it much easier. It's not massively expensive but also isn't cheap but it's made it so much easier for me.

[Mag999 in reply to DaveT81]

That sounds great, off to google!

[DaveT81 in reply to Mag999]

Called union medico.

[fbirder]

Do you have a partner/friend that you trust? When my arthritis got so bad that i couldn't press the syringe I got a friend to do it for me.

Strangely enough he cannot inject himself either, so I've had to give him his migraine jab before.

[Mag999 in reply to fbirder]

My husband has offered, bit too enthusiastically for my liking.

[Nackapan]

I didn't want to do it but the fear of getting more ill was a worse fear.

My arms were getting very sore where the nurses insist on doing it.

I now do most at home but chose to do subcutaneous ones. Just as effective as have IM too every 6 weeks. Wanted to see if ant difference. In my head I thought IM ones would last longer. For me they dont it seems.

When I get nervous as I di at times especially if a shaky day I think of my husband whi does 4 every day as insulin dependant to stay alive.

I had to learn how to do an emergency one of glucogen . I practiced with the one out of date on an orange. The only time I needed to use it at home he had blocked the fridge door . So much for that .i i have had to do his insulin injection on occasions but actually find it easier to do my own.

Dont know if any of that helps. Hope you do one soon to 'get it out of the way' the thought is often worse than the reality. Do try to relax it makes an enormous difference.

Btw my husband was very squeamish before having to face injecting . He has a pen now but that wasnt always the case.

[Mag999 in reply to Nackapan]

I am getting worse so that might well force my hand no pun intended.

[contentedmum]

I started about a month ago and there is just something that feels really unnatural about it at first. I decided to get my husband to record it and I’m terrified of needles 🙈

He just kept talking to me and telling me how much I needed this and that once I’d done one it would all seem so much easier.

I tentatively stabbed myself twice... each time I just couldn’t do it. Then I just did it! And wow it didn’t hurt a bit. The two times I stabbed myself hurt more 😳 I do it into my stomach around an inch or two away from my belly button and use a 5/8” needle to it’s SC not IM and apart from the initial prick feeling into the outer skin you don’t really feel pain or anything as it goes in. The first time I actually pinched my tummy fat as I felt it would hurt less, turns out it makes no difference as it doesn’t hurt. Once all the way in depress the plunger slowly as too fast can make it feel stingy as the B12 goes in.

My friend who isn’t scared of needles insists on me giving her the injection but she has it IM so needs a 1” needle. I’m becoming a pro 🤣 If you have a thin needle you won’t feel it much. It sounds as though lots practice in oranges? Hadn’t heard of that before but sounds like a good idea. Good luck 😉

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I never wanted to self inject and had no-one who was willing to do it for me but I realised that if I didn't I was headed for dementia and spinal damage as I had no treatment from NHS in UK.

I managed eventually and I also practiced on an orange....

[Coxeymcqueen]

Good luck - the trade off for me is that you end up in control of when you get your jabs and you’re not reliant on anyone else.

Can’t lie - I don’t like doing it; but the whole process from opening the ampoule to withdrawing the needle is done in less than 2 mins and you can get on with your day.

[HeartyGilly]

Everyone feels apprehensive the first time, but it gets easier. And I find it hurts less when I do it that when the nurse does it. I give my husband his B12 jab too ( he is too frit!) and agrees it is painless. Watch the YouTube film a few times and write down each stage of the process. I look at my notes each time. Inject slowly. You will be so proud afterwards and it is worth it as you will feel better.

[Mag999]

Thanks all, very encouraging.

[Hidden]

I would think almost all of us have had this happen to us when we first started. I was lucky as the practice nurse guided me through it. Even so that first one on my own was something else and I had to abandon it at first then try again. Now it takes just five minutes from beginning to get the kit ready to tidying away. Just keep trying and telling yourself the results are too good to miss.

Best wishes.

[Balin480]

I tried and failed miserably! I spent days practicing on fruit and watching videos of how and where to inject, I got the needle about half way in and then went all tense! It hurt and I went all hot, so had to abort and wasted a shot. Luckily my sister is a nurse, so she is going to help me through it. She said it is very hard to inject yourself and even she couldn't do it. When she had to have blood thinning injections, she got her partner to do it for her! We are going to get my wife involved with the next injection, that way I have a back up if I can't do it. Maybe this might be an option for you, have you anyone that could help you?

[Overeasy]

The first time I did it, it was almost impossible and then I picked a freckle out on my thigh and used that as the target and just concentrated on hitting the dart into the bullseye and strangely enough, that really seemed to work. Stopped thinking about it jabbing my leg and was just thinking about hitting the center of the dot and the thing was in my leg before I knew it. I was then surprised how easy it was.

[JanD236]

I really dislike si, which I do twice a week. However, the actual injection takes a minute or two so for less than 5 minutes of unpleasantness a week I live a full life which is a small price to pay.

I tell myself that there must be very many people out there who would give anything and everything to be able to manage their illness with just an injection.

[Parody103mg]

Agree with above replies but you could also try drawing up the injection then putting it on one side in a hygienically and a safe spot while you go and have a cuppa. You can then return to inject after that so you don't have to do the process in one go. It's psychological really . . . To be honest, the fear of it far outways the reality - it's done in a jiffy. I self inject subcutaneously into my fatty stomach area - I have no problem after 3 weeks of self injecting with the fine needles - don't even feel the tiny needle going in but the cobalamin injecting does sting a little - I do it slowly. 2 minutes later I have no after effects at all but know my much required B12 will be hitting the spot and aiding recovery. I promise you it isn't a big deal!!