Self injecting...?

Sorry to go treading over old ground, but I'm too old and tried and confused to search!

I'm supposed to be getting a B12 jab 4 times a year, what with the lockdown I've not been able to go to the clinic to get mine and I'm starting to feel the effects of having low B12. I know people do inject themselves, so I thought I'd give that a try (I have the B12 in the house) but where do you get syringes from? And how do you inject...?

T.I.A.

[Narwhal10]

Hi,

I have cut and paste from fbirder’s excellent post :-

Needles and Syringes

I buy my needles and syringes from Medisave.

Syringes

Use a 2 mL syringe, even for a 1 mL injection. When you suck it out of the vial you'll need to let lots of air in - like a child slurping the bottom of a drink through a straw.

You'll need a syringe with a luer tip (so it fits the needles). I use these - medisave.co.uk/bd-emerald-h...

Needles

There are two measurements for needle sizes - the diameter of the hole (or bore) and the length of the needle. The diameter is called the gauge and is marked by different colours. The larger the guage number, the narrower the diameter.

You'll want two sizes of needles, a large-bore (Green) needle for sucking the B12 out of the ampoule and a narrower needle for injection (don't be tempted to use just one, the first will be horribly blunt and hurt like hell). Length doesn't matter.

These are the Green needles I use medisave.co.uk/b-d-microlan...

The needles used for injection will depend on which route you want to use (intramuscular or subcutaneous) and, for IM, how much fat you have over the muscle. How to decide, by measuring your skin fold, is described here - unionmedico.com/expanded-ne... If you use too short a needle then you'll be injecting subcutaneously or intradermally (neither of which would be too much to worry about).

For IM use most use a blue needle.

Either 1" medisave.co.uk/b-d-microlan...

Or 1.25" medisave.co.uk/b-d-microlan...

Personally, I use a Violet needle as it's a slightly smaller diameter (which should hurt less). They're not as easily available, but Medisave seem to have good stocks). medisave.co.uk/b-d-microlan...

People who do SC injections use Orange needles. I believe 5/8" is the correct length. medisave.co.uk/b-d-microlan...

Additional Equipment.

The BD needles can be jammed quite tightly into their sleeves. I use a pair or forceps to loosen them before use.

Snapping the vials can be slightly dangerous. This vial snapper isn't cheap, but it works wonders - smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ...

Most say it's not necessary, but I like to swab the injection site using these - smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ...

I also like to apply a small plaster to stop any possible blood leakage - smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ...

You will need a sharps bin to correctly dispose of your needles and syringes. Try calling your local council, they may supply one. If not you can buy them from Amazon - smile.amazon.co.uk/s?k=shar...

Disposal of the bin can be simple (I just call my council and they replace it) or very complex.

[barbegrub in reply to Narwhal10]

What is a BD needle please?

[Hidden]

I can get the B12 no problem, it's part of my prescription, I think I can get syringes as well, but I'd have to ask, my main issue is injecting as the vials can't be turned upside down to draw the fluid and I've a lifelong fear of air bubbles after a stern warning when I was a kid (I'm not sure why I was given a stern warning about not getting bubbles in the syringe, but hey ho!)

I think my jabs are usually intra muscular and I'm a bit worried about hitting a nerve or something that'll cause a serious problem!

thanks for the answers!

[Tonyworks in reply to Hidden]

Hi I was told not to worry about a little bit of air. You need quite a bit (over 1cc) and it needs to go straight into a blood vessel for any danger. A few small air bubbles have no effect!

However its still good practice to remove most of them.

There may be someone who really knows out there

[Hidden in reply to Tonyworks]

Yeah, now I'm thinking on it it does need to be a fairly big bubble, like someone not 'clearing' the air from the needle after drawing the liquid...

hopefully into a muscle doesn't cause a problem.

Although with my OCD I'll end up slathering alcohol all over my leg to make sure I don't put the needle into a non-sterilized bit of skin, then freak out thinking I wiped one leg and injected into the other...

😱

[Tonyworks in reply to Hidden]

I do not use any alcohol wipes any more. I just sit down, relax, find a nice soft spot on the top of my leg, stick the needle in and fairly slowly push the liquid in. Over all it only takes a few minutes. I do use one needle to suck up the liquid, change needle, then remove most of the air before injecting. I am fairly thin so I use a 27G x 20mm

When the nurse use to do it she never used a alcohol wipe.

I think the less preparation the better.

[Narwhal10 in reply to Hidden]

first inject into the same side as your dominant hand so if you are right handed right leg. X

[fbirder]

The vein will be one of the ones in the skin. There aren't many veins of any size in the muscle. Just look for them next time you have a slice of real ham.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

so, you're saying my thighs look like hams?

😂

[Hidden]

I know when the nurse has injected me in the arm I've bled like the bejaysus.

Good tip with the needle swap!! 👍🏻