Best Ampoule Snapper

[Libuse]

Good morning. Wonder if anyone van advise me on above please? I am relatively new to SI. Started 8 weeks ago and have been using NHS loading ampoules that were mistakenly prescribed to me twice! The vials are very easy to snap. This morning for the first time I used one from Germany and found it very difficult to break. Managed it in the end without spillage but cut my finger. I have seen devises on Amazon but don’t know which to go for or whether this is just inexperience and nervousness on my part. Any advice welcome please. I was beginning to think self injecting was a walk in the park!

[wedgewood]

If you are going to be self-injecting for some time , I would choose the metal ampoule snapper that costs about £22.00 it is really sturdy and strong , and will give years of service . Well worth the extra cost over plastic . Look for Blue Personal SnapiT Ampoule Opener on Amazon . Costs £22.99 The same in plastic costs £13.99. Best wishes

[Libuse in reply to wedgewood]

Many Thanks. I will follow your advice and order one, now! You are an angel!

[wedgewood]

I have that metal ampoule snapper ( bought after an awful cut that was really deep and took ages to heal. ). A great advantage of it , is that it cuts so cleanly . Makes no tiny shards at all . Those tiny shards bothered me , because I imagined that some could fall back into the ampoule , and get sucked up into the syringe …… I’m really happy using it .

[Libuse in reply to wedgewood]

Yes my thoughts exactly! I have just ordered one exactly like you said. I love a bargain but in cases like this ……

[Nackapan in reply to Libuse]

I use a snapit device tooOnly problem I had once was the rubber ring wasn't flat.

There are instructions fir cleaning but I'd only wiped it with s swab each time

I trued another and had no idea how yo usd it lol .

I think designed fof large ampoules

Luckily cheap

Well worth the investment 😉

[Hidden]

I find the Germany ones so very easy to snap. There is a little spot on them which indicates the break point. Using a paper handkerchief I grasp the barrel with left fingers then the top with right thumb on the top and first finger behind. It snaps so easily then. I did get a nasty cut once, the second time I did it with the UK prescribed ampoules. That was when the paper hanky got involved. No cuts since and up to 250 now.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Hidden]

I use the syringe wrapper.

[Hidden in reply to Cherylclaire]

Never thought of that, clever. Plus, no additional waste.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Hidden]

Can't take the credit for that idea. See below.

[annmarierodnes in reply to Hidden]

And I use the syringe wrapper!

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to annmarierodnes]

I had to teach myself to inject. GP said ask the nurses to teach you -but they really weren't keen.

I didn't have a computer at the time, so had to watch videos while taking notes in the library, on a time-limit, then rush home and try to remember what to do/ what not to do. Anxiety and memory problems did not help.

I chose a video (man with the most sensible pants) and did exactly what he did.

One of the other reasons for choosing him was that dual use of syringe wrapper.

Wearing sensible pants just seemed as good a triage process as any other.

Otherwise what ? Ip-dip ?

5 years on - should say a big thanks to Sensible Pants !

[Hidden in reply to Cherylclaire]

"Rush home and try to remember what to do/what not to do. Anxiety and memory problems did not help"

At least you remembered his sensible pants !

😂

Strange we remember probably the least important things !

😜

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Hidden]

You are right - Seemed so vital that I got the right person, that yes, the pants were key !(I'd also lost ability to "read" faces, even familiar ones, and make rational decisions about even the simplest things).

Sometimes good to look back - makes you reaffirm how far you've come.

Can laugh now !

😀

[Luac]

I was in the same boat and got one on ebay for £3.50. Mine broke first time too and it was a bit scary but the device made it a lot easier!

I can now do it successfully without it. There are some good videos on ebay that show how to use the white dot on the ampule.

It can be helpful to warm the ampule in your hand before injecting, makes it less sore.

You'll be an expert before you know it!

[Bellabab]

I made my own. A length of aluminium tube with a bore that fits close around the ampoule and use the outside of a 2 ml syringe to snap off the top. Works very well.

[SigNi]

Had this problem as well until I learned there's a dot on the upper part of the ampule. Face the dot toward you and snap the top back. Easy Peasy. With time I learned where to grip the top to make a clean break. Hope this helps.

[Libuse in reply to SigNi]

Thank you. I have seen the white spot but already purchased a fancy snapper. Double indemnity! 😀

[Hamayeshguy in reply to SigNi]

All glasses tubes can get snapped if get scratched and then wetted by a little water or alcohol. But one third of tube is required to get scratched if clean snap is required. Then just a little pressure on right spot easily snap that glass tube specially Pyrex tubes which these ampoules are made of.

[Hamayeshguy]

I use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol then wrap it around the ampoule and put pressure on it's top a little bit and turn around it little by little and again exert some pressure untill I find it's point if break. There is a white dot on the neck of ampoule and under that dot there is a scratch which easily can get snapped by a little pressure on that point if get wetted by alcohol or water. But wrap it in a cotton swab.

[Libuse in reply to Hamayeshguy]

Thank you. I do appreciate all the advice I am getting. It’s not just practical. It makes one feel not alone in this struggle!

[Hamayeshguy in reply to Libuse]

I cut my finger so badly at first time and then started to wear winter gloves but after I noticed that white dot by my nail tip touch found scratch on the opposite side of it. So by wetting that scratch it's possible by little pressure to snap ampoule but for indemnity I wrap it in cotton swab which keep everything in place. Just a little pressure can snap it easily. Turn it around to find that spot by imposing a little pressure.

[Hidden]

I tried an ampoule snapper and did not get on with it. I use an empty syringe tube to snap the top off, then just tip the glass part out into the sharps box. Hope this helps.