I self injected B12 for the first time ever today. I did a intramuscular injection into my thigh but I think I did it a bit too high up on my thigh. Is this likely to be an issue? Should I be worried? I'm overthinking I'm pretty sure, first injection and all that!
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hani0902
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I did my first injection just before Christmas and was terrified! It’s normal to get anxious and frightened. Don’t worry- you’re in control now. I have been injecting into my thighs alternating every other day as I’ve got nerve damage and use a very expensive ampoule snapper £22.99 on Amazon. First time I did SI cut my finger badly on breaking open ampoule but that’s the only problem I have ever had. You’ll be fine X
Well done. The mid outer thigh muscle is best so they say. I did number 261 into one of mine this morning. It was the left one. I keep a log of what date, which leg and the time. Makes sure I rotate if nothing else.You are now self sufficient.
Mine is on my iPad in the Notes app. That means I have it on my iPhone as well. I don’t reinject by date but by symptoms and that varies from time to time. I would rather be symptom free than fallow a strict schedule.
That makes sense. I’m only 7 months in to injection treatment and every 3 days keeps my symptoms at bay. I imagine once I can space out further I will eventually inject based on symptoms but right now this method works.
When I first started the 12 week schedules was fine then after a couple of years I found the peripheral neuropathy problems were recurring after just two weeks. Then in 2017 it went down to ten days and I had a really bad overnight flight from a holiday in Canada. Sinc then the interval has fluctuated from as little as a day to over a month at times. At the moment I can be totally pain free using Gabapentin for the nerve pain and effects for about three days then it breaks through that. So long as we can keep getting our supplies from Germany then all is fine.
I did try to sort injectable B12 from India where many things are without prescription too but although the ampoules we a little cheaper the carriage cost was far too high.
Ive read here that even when normal levels are restored and the body starts using b12 fully, it still needs more than usual as it will attempt to repair any damage. It is worth continuing fairly frequent doses for a while and really slow down the spacing out of doses. I cant quote any science on this - I usually research but after a few years here ive bowed down to the presence of higher knowledge!
I haven't done a count up for ages and realise I've done over two and a half thousand jabs now!I used to be more regimented but these days I use which ever leg is least sensitive! It might mean using the same leg 3 days running sometimes but I don't think it matters - those who do twice daily SI both legs get used every day.
Thanks. I find it so strange that the GP will happily prescribe Gabapentin and codeine to suit my needs but not the B12. I couldn’t believe the feeling when I first tried Gabapentin, then there was the sorting out the dose. I was at the point of sitting twitching and shuffling, rubbing lower limbs, moaning and groaning or sitting in a hot bath. Plus taking as many codeine as I could, with consequent side effects.
That can still happen but only if I miss my dose time, even then it is only half an hour before it kicks in.
There is little to worry about as long as you are hygienic. Occasionally I draw a drop or two of blood, sometimes not. Sometimes its a bit sore at time of injection, sometimes it isnt! Stretching the skin tightly while injecting helps I think, and I have my leg out straight but relaxed, rather than knee bent. I have seen some elevate their leg - sit on chair and leg on bed, no bend in knee.
There is no issue regarding b12 going 'where it shouldnt' - it can be successfully injected via the skin, the blood or via muscles with the equipment you have.
I am not a gp of course, and there is a proper way to inject in each of these manners. I spoke to my gp about it and they helped me learn how to inject correctly in the muscle. I made clear that I was doing so of my own accord, and that I was not acting under his direction - I was going to do it with or without him! I think that allowed him to provide some advice. I also think it is important for me that the gp etc know what im doing, others may feel the need to be more discrete.
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