Feeling disappointed about my injection

[SallyRees]

After the success of my first IM injection and being so proud of myself I’ve since come back down to earth with a big thud. 😏

On my second attempt I broke the ampoule, spilt some of the precious serum and made myself bleed. I guess practice makes perfect. Maybe I was overly confident and should of been more careful.

Has this happened to anyone else?

[Nackapan]

Yes. Dont worry about it.

I do sc which should be even easier

Ieas much better at the start then as you say probably got too confident and started making mistakes.

I have a gadget ti snap the ampoule top off .

Snapit...much easier.

I have given myself bruises

Shot the b1e across the room as getting bubbles out the syringe soet of stuck then whizzed .

Taking the cover off the needke thd whole needke came off....

And so on.

This morning all went

smoothly .

Not a mark. Didnt hurt at all.

Then dropped the sharps box and stuff fell out . I'm sure itx not supposed to fall out...

Main thing is we get it in us.!!

[SallyRees in reply to Nackapan]

I used my snapit for the first time last night and breaking the ampoule was a breeze. It was when I tried to eject the lid into the sharps bin I dropped it 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also had trouble removing the cover from the needles to attach to the syringe. But I plan to loosen them next time (lesson learnt).

I have a bruise today also. I’m just worried I’ve injected incorrectly. I have a mole on my thigh and I made a mental note last time to do it in the same area 😅

Trial and error I guess ☺️

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to SallyRees]

if you are injecting frequently you should really be rotating and varying the injection site - otherwise the skin doesn't have time to recover and can become thickened.

[SallyRees in reply to Gambit62]

Oh really? I inject once a month at the moment because that’s what I was getting from my GP up until December. I thought I’d see how I go before doing it more frequently. But that’s a top tip, thank you.

[Hidden]

Yes me too, cut my hand. So I now use an empty syringe to snap the top of the ampoule. I tried an ampoule snapper and still spilt it everywhere. An ampty syringe is amazing. Try it.

[JohnnyConger]

Yes my 1st one ended up in the bin, I am an expert now

[Ghound]

Please don't worry, as a former nurse I've given thousands of injections but occasionally after self injecting I think ; " well, I made a right pigs ear of that !! " Relax and I'm sure your next one will be better !

Good luck x

[SallyRees in reply to Ghound]

Arhh! Thanks, Ghound 🙏🏼 Reassuring to know it happens to the best of us x

[mcg-woo]

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Getting up the nerve to move forward with that first IM injection is the most difficult of all and you have overcome that. Hardest part is over. Don’t get me wrong, I still have to get up my nerve every time I self-inject after four years, but I know that if I don’t do it that I will get sick again. We’ve all had our ups and downs. Hang in there. Practice makes perfect. You are doing something even a lot of healthcare professionals might not have the nerve to do to themselves. It is empowering to be able to take matters into your own hands and know that you are not completely dependent on another to maintain your health and well-being. Keep your head up!

[SallyRees in reply to mcg-woo]

So kind of you, mcg-woo. You’re right, the feeling of taking matters into you’re own hands is very empowering. Onto the next one 💉😊💪🏼

[SallyRees]

I guess it’s all a learning process, beginner1. It’s not going to stop me, I know the benefits far out weigh the minor bumps (and bruises)😊

[Kazania]

So sorry you had a problem so soon after beginning, I had at least a year before I caused a bleed, and frightened myself to death. It’s taken quite a while and several successes and I still feel a bit rattled. I watched the videos again just to reassure myself. Several successful injections later I’m still a bit wobbly even though I know I’m doing fine. You’ll do it! Just keep going. All the very best. 🌿🌸😃

[SallyRees in reply to Kazania]

Thanks, Kazania 😊Funnily enough I’ve been re-watching videos today. Fingers crossed next time will be better🤞

[Cavaliere]

I am new to SI , I have had ok times and not so , but on the whole it’s been better than not having it at all !!I have found injecting into my tummy the best and least painful option . When I am low on B12 , injecting into my legs is very painful . It’s s trial and error I think.

I have found that by reading other people’s comments on this site , I have felt less afraid and more confident to give it a go !! So Thankyou .

[SallyRees in reply to Cavaliere]

Very true, Cavaliere much better than not receiving any at all.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Hey, SallyRees - it takes a lot of guts to do this.

For me, it was difficult at first because of anxiety, poor concentration and cognitive problems. The GP was supportive but nurses did not want to show me how to self inject (after reluctantly having given me 2 injections a week for 6 months) - you can't blame them for this: they are taught that 1 every 3 months is ample for everyone.

So I had to teach myself from the Youtube videos - only a few of which are reliable. Having no computer meant having to watch the videos in the library, deselect the health and safety nightmares and born show-offs, and trying to remember information and tips for long enough to get home and do it. At the time, all of this was difficult. I decided to trust the man with the most sensible pants.

One of his best tips was to have the dot on the ampoule facing you, and use the wrapper from the syringe to wrap around the neck for protection, then snap the top off away from you- expect it to snap at the "waist". I quite liked the dual usage !

I also got a lot of help and encouragement from this forum. Self injecting meant I did not have to give up my career, so thanks to everyone who helped me, when it felt a bit like giving up the fight.

I was rubbish at this at first- the more deficient you are, the less easy to relax, for one thing.

You can kid yourself that you have untensed your muscles, only to find that you feel as if you are hitting rock 3/4 of the way in, or "hit a twitch" (not sure how else to describe it): sudden twitch forces needle back out ! Once I pulled out the needle and had a gusher: blood arcing high over the bed- but luckily lasting only a very short time. Must've touched a small blood vessel.

Always managed to keep B12 in though -and that was always my main aim.

Although I can sometimes put off injecting even now, years later (never done so much housework)- I very rarely have any blood or pain any more. Can't say I love it though, even if it is a lifeline.

Wish that GPs and consultants understood this, instead of talking about "overdosing", "addiction" or "euphoria of self injection" -all complete fallacies, all disheartening and insulting.

Who'd choose to do it ?

[SallyRees in reply to Cherylclaire]

Hi, Cherylclair it absolutely staggers me that we are forced to self medicate. I, like yourself don’t know where I’d be without this community.

I’m hoping that I’ll soon be more efficient and have my own regime that keeps me as healthy as possible.

We wouldn’t do it unless we needed it, as you say it’s just a shame the GP’s and consultants can’t be more educated. Here’s hoping one day they do.

[Cali25]

Hi SallyRees, hang in there it will get easier. I inject once a week which is quite routine now, but I remember the first time even after practicing on an orange it took me over an hour to pluck up the courage to do it! You just have too think about how much better you will feel. 2 years on I feel like my old self😀 no thanks to the Gps!

[SallyRees in reply to Cali25]

Thank for your words of encouragement, Cali25 😊 Luckily I’m not needle phobic I just need to improve my technique I think.

I think I became a little over confident. Maybe it’ll be a blessing in the long run 🤞😅