Injection nerves

[Tanyanarialucia1965]

10 years I’ve been giving myself my b12 injections, I’ve got coeliac disease so do not absorb b12 , I know how lucky I am that my understanding doctor prescribes them for me but it wasn’t without a fight, I inject every month or every other month into my thigh, question is I still fear doing it and I don’t know why as I’m not scared of the fleeting pain, I have to have a glass of wine for Dutch courage, due to give myself an injection later….., can anyone relate?

[Nackapan]

You coujd always alternate with subcutaneous b12 injections.,?

Just keep in mind how they work for you.

I'm usually okay.

Yesterday however I wax kept waiting a long time.

I hot quire nervous

When I realised the nurse I've gained trust with was off sick abd an unknown doctor was going to do it.

I go for IM ones.

Perhaps if you can't cope get them done for you?

The doctor I'd never met He was actually very good and even used a finer needle.

Orange

I've been really hurt several times in the past

I realky wouldn't have the glass of wine until after you've injected.

My husband does sc injections 4 x a day to stay alive .

He was needle phobic before . Generally squeamish.

He's been doing it for 28 years now .

Hope you find a way

[Lemon1230]

I was a medic in the army and showed soldiers how to insert cannula for drips. I would let them practice on me, even holding one guys hand to guide him, well until he fainted at the sight of blood. But yeah I inject myself once a month and hate doing it, it's not the pain as you say its more the thought of injecting something in to me under the skin.

[Everdean]

I'm interested to know a little more of your experience with B12 and coeliac disease please. I am also coeliac. I have had several blood tests , private and NHS but always come back in mid range or even over.I have had constant tingling in legs arms and hands and feet for years along with chronic fatigue.

Can you relate to that?

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to Everdean]

With coeliac disease and other stomach problems , you can have lots of b12 in the blood but it needs a healthy , working gut to convert it … people with coeliac disease, crohns, colitis ect need b12 injections … google. “ gluten ataxia “… I was in your situation before injecting, you can now get injections at beauty salons ect. Don’t be fobbed off,

[Everdean in reply to Tanyanarialucia1965]

Thank you so much for your reply.Can I buy them in the UK???

[jaybirdxNHM in reply to Everdean]

If you do it yourself, it costs less than £1 per shot, at a salon up to £50. There is all the info you need on this forum or at the Pernisious Anaemia Soc website. Good luck.

[Everdean in reply to jaybirdxNHM]

Thank you so much

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to Everdean]

I’m lucky to get them prescribed but it wasn’t without a fight, the pernicious anaemic society can give you information on how to buy them for self injection , also join the coeliac society who are a mine of information, yes it’s expensive at beauty salons but if that were my only option I would have to .

[WhyAmISoTired]

I always hesitate right before "stabbing" myself with the needle! It's not painful, it just feels wrong. Now that I've had plenty of practice, some mild distraction helps so that I don't think about it too hard (maybe some music or chatting with someone who is sympathetic? Even just knowing I'm in a rush helps me get it over with)

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Yes that helps me, my partner gives me words of encouragement and I try to use distraction techniques too, like before I’m off out so I do it and go without thinking about it too much. Similar to you.

[Everdean]

Thank you so much for the information. I have been on a strict gluten free diet for many years. So ataxia probably isn't my issue although ,strangely enough. I have been suffering from dizziness for a few months now. Dr says it's post covid. So don't know what to think????Thanks again.

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to Everdean]

B12 injections resolved the dizziness and neurological problems for me , they are a common symptom of needing b12 , also I’ve had covid twice and both times the injection helped, if you google info you will see that people have used this in their recovery… don’t stop researching as that was my path to regaining control over my health .

[Everdean in reply to Tanyanarialucia1965]

Wow !! That is so interesting. Thanks so much I will research more on this. I'm very grateful.

[jade_s]

Hi Tanyanarialucia1965 , I normally do SC and have been doing daily injections for nearly 6 years. For me it's become quite routine so i no longer hate it.But I just recently started on a trial of IM and WOW is it nerve wracking. My hand shakes like crazy. Just like you, I know it's fleeting pain, but my hands and nerves don't listen to my brain, and freak out anyway.

And even more ironic, i had the exact same when I started SC, yet I still can't seem to override it when doing IM.... yet, I hope.

Maybe because you're injecting so infrequently, and despite doing it for so many years, your brain hasn't gotten used to you doing it. Also, i have read others saying they dislike them... but couldn't find back any just now using the search function.

Just do whatever you need to do to get through it. Or maybe try SC like Nackapan suggested.

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to jade_s]

Thankyou, I seem to manage it and have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am to have access …but yes my hand still shakes!

[jade_s in reply to Tanyanarialucia1965]

I get that! All in all I think what you describe is perfectly normal, so at least don't beat yourself up about that.Maybe you need to put yourself on some loading doses to practice and train your brain

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to jade_s]

Appreciate that… very helpful. Thank you

[Nackapan in reply to jade_s]

I have sc and IM b12 I junctions

Will be interrsted to hear if you find any difference

I've been having both fir over a yesr.

Still hoping the IM ones will last a bit longer

Only difference I've found is IM gives a quicker surge at times??

Also the downside of a headache tge day after .

Not always.

The ladt one wax dibe with an 'orange needle by a doctor.

25g I think less painful but more resistance putting it in.

[jade_s in reply to Nackapan]

I'm also hoping IM will last longer! Nearly 6 years now and I still need 2x daily, sometimes more. My sister started on injections last year, went directly on IM because her pharmacist taught her. She's on daily. Last week they accidentally gave her SC needles and she started feeling bad after a few days. Back on IM and feeling better. So we were thinking maybe I could reduce if I went on IM. I swapped one of my SCs for IM and ... well it's like i've got reversal symptoms! So either IM is working much better, or much worse! It's just been a few days, i'll let you know how it goes!

I do get a surge with both, so hard to say there.

I use orange 1". I tried blue 1" at first and they just scared me, not that orange is that much smaller lol. Maybe less pain with blue? Not sure.

We both use hydroxo.

Take care Nackapan

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to jade_s]

Yes I’ve always used the 23g blue needles, no drawing up or anything like that, just straight in as my doctor taught me, I take daily b12 supplements and an injection every month of hydroxocobalamin keeps me relatively well. 😊

[jade_s in reply to Tanyanarialucia1965]

Very happy you have an understanding doc and a regime that works for you! No harm in trying more frequently as both more "practice injecting" lol and maybe "relatively well" can be improved

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to jade_s]

Thankyou, it’s all so helpful!😊

[Nackapan in reply to jade_s]

Yes I use hydroxcobalamin as my daughter snd mother doA theme there!

Initially all of my b12 injections were IM

After a shaky start I was on every other day for months.

Thrn as plateaued it seemed went to weekly

Then 2 weekly

Tried 3 weekly and high oral b12

Briefly but didn't work.

Now weekly for 1.5 years

Keep hoping to feel different better after IM ones

Will monitor.

You take care too

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to Nackapan]

Thankyou 😊

[mcg-woo]

Hello! I used to be on a self injection schedule of once every other week but continued to be symptomatic so a couple of years ago I switched to weekly doses. I have found that injecting more frequently has helped me become less hesitant. It’s like anything else, the more exposure, the less one is bothered by it.

I imagine people who inject daily or several times a week are even less hesitant. If I had only been injecting once a month or every other, I would’ve been even more hesitant. Once in a while, I may have some slight pain with an injection and that’s part of the hesitancy as well—the mind doesn’t forget. I self inject IM and some are a little queasy about that but once you get past the longer needle, it’s really no big deal.

I was also very sick and I have to remind myself that injections are the only way for me to remain asymptomatic. I don’t think anyone looks forward to self injecting but we all just want to feel as normal as possible. Best of luck to you!

[Tanyanarialucia1965 in reply to mcg-woo]

Thankyou and yes I inject into my thigh, I do remind myself also that these injections saved my life…

[mcg-woo]

Understand completely. I’ve been self injecting a little over 5 years and still have to get up the nerve to plunge the needle into my thigh each week but it has gotten easier with increased frequency. I don’t think anyone does that without a little hesitancy. Glad you are able to access the treatment you need.