i’ve begun self injection (yay) but I’ve had trouble getting the hang of it. It seems to hurt more than I’d expect and I thought subcutaneous wasn’t supposed to hurt. I also have trouble getting all of the b12 out of the vial (I use single use 1 ml vials). I don’t have a lot of fat on me so I usually try my hip area or butt. I watch and rewatch the tutorial videos. Thanks.
i have the 25 gauge 1.5 inch needles, 3 ml that’s what was in stock. Are these the most comfortable ones I can get?
As you use the subcutaneous method of injecting , you should use a short fine needle —30 G x. 1/2 inch. for injecting . For a 1ml ampoule , use a 2ml syringe , then you will get every last drop of B12 out of the ampoule . The long needles that you have should be used as withdrawing needles to extract the B12 from the ampoule .( it’s too difficult to use the withdrawing needle for injecting . If the needle touches the glass ampoule , it will become blunt and will cause pain . ). When the short fine injecting needle is in place , expel the air in the syringe , until a tiny bead of red B12 appears on the tip of the needle .
You can inject subcutaneously into tummy fat or into the front of your thighs. . That fine short 30G x 1/2 inch needle should not cause pain . You can get a numbing cream from Amazon . Best wishes .
Will all in one insulin needles work and what are all the possible areas your can subcut inject please? I tried it in my tummy and it was so painful and left a huge bruise?
the needles you are using are much too long and not at all suitable for injecting into the tummy. I don't know about the insulin needles, will the syringe hold the liquid? If so they should be okay to use but personally I would use separate needles for drawing up.
Insulin needles are not long? But I do think I need a separate one to draw up.
I meant the 1 1/2” needles that you said you are using for subcutaneous injection are too long.
I would not use all in one insulin needles. That short needle will become blunt when it touches the glass ampoule .Also the 1ml syringe will not completely accommodate the 1 ml of B12 in the 1ml ampoule . Use a 2ml syringe ,and a long ,say 1 1/2 inch needle to withdraw the b12 completely .Then change to a fine short needle —30G x 1/2 inch to inject . Expel the air that will be in the 2ml syringe ,ntill a ting bead of red B12 appears on the needle tip .
I think you will find this painless . You could get some numbing cream from Amazon if you are very sensitive .
Ah I shall have to recycle the insulin needles then. Do you have links to the exact needles I need to buy please? One to draw up and another to inject? x
I would use a long coarse needle to with draw -say 19G x 1 1/2 inches. If the injecting needle is used to withdraw , it will be painful to use if has touched the glass ampoule, because that will make it blunt (OUCH!)
. To inject subcutaneously, a short fine needle 30 G x 1/2 inch . Also a 2ml syringe which ensures that you get every last drop of B12 out of a 1ml ampoule . All obtainable at medisave.co.uk
The front of the thighs are good places to inject subcutaneously.
fab that’s so helpful. Are these the ones? medisave.co.uk/30g-1-2-13mm... Will they fit on the syringes I use for IM? Front of thighs would be a change from sides for IM. Is it as effective?
When u see the tiny bit of red on the needle do u wipe it off first before injecting the needle into the stomach?
I use two needles, one to draw up out of the ampoule and the second to inject. Then I inject into the mid outer area of the thigh muscle when sat.
If you use a pre injection wipe on your target area do that first before you set the syringe up as it allows the alcohol time to evaporate. That can sting if you don’t.
Inject slowly. Have a spot plaster ready for when you pull out as you might lose sight of the injection site.
I always massage the injected area with the palm of my hand to finish.
Use alternate thighs. I keep a record of which leg, time and date.
So far I have done 286 injections and only had to abandon 2 through being too painful.
You are describing intramuscular injections , not subcutaneous, which is what purplegirl2 was enquiring about .
I agree but it may be that describing intramuscular injections will give them an alternative bearing in mind they are having difficulties with sub cu.
Having gone to subcutaneous, we have to have a separate withdrawing needle, as the short needle can’t reach the bottom of the ampoule.
1- Different types of b12 will hurt more if they have preservatives. Are you using cyanocobalamin? That’s usually painless in itself.
2- those are way too long & wide for subcutaneous, you are probably actually getting an inter-muscular injection, which is fine in the proper IM injection spots.
3- if you’re getting bleeding you can try an cold pack on the area for a few minutes to shrink the blood vessels. Helps numb the skin a bit also.
4- I pinch skin up for noth dubq and I’m to help insertion. If I am doing IM I just slowly release the pinch after needle is in the skin and continue to gently push deeper.
I have small fiber neuropathy and some hurt bad as soon as ot touches the skin, I move to another spot-it’s fine.
I use 30 g , 1ml diabetic syringes for subq, which I don’t like the 1 ml because long plunger is difficult.
For IM I have 25 g, 1” 3 ml. I may purchase separate tops and syringes so I can get 30 g needles w/ a 3 ml syringe. I’m considering using a separate drawing needle as well.
Tips-inject after bath or shower whole skin is moist.
If you look at the bevel of the needle , it has a pointy part and slopes a bit. If your holding it like a dart, keep the longest pointy part towards your wrist. You want that to not only hit skin first, but the hardest force of insertion to be focuses on that point, which is towards your hand. So the bevel faces up.
Make sure any alcohol on skin or on the rubber stopper is completely dry.
It’s impossible to get all liquid out of 1 ml vials. Just barely keep tip inside of vial.
Sorry I wrote you a book lol. But Hope some of these tips help.
I do subcutaneous injections.
I use a 30G 1/2 " long needle.
Finest you csn use .
I was very thin when i started this .
You need to draw up thr b12 with z larger needke i use a 21G 1" and a 2 ml syringe .
I use my thighs and stomach and towarfs my hip.
Hios if thin not the brst place.
I would avoid buttocks .
The needke you are using 25G and 11/2 long are not for sc shoukd not be used on your stomach or buttocks
Subcutaneous injections go into the subcutaneously fat.
I have deeper IM ones in my upper arms at the surgery .
Blue 23G 1" long.
Ive had both now for over 2 years .
Hope this helps you .
Also push it in slowly.
If its painful youve probablty hit a nerve.
About twice ive stopped and withdrawn the needle and started afresh
27-31 G 1/2 -3/4 long recommended for sc . If you are thin 1/2 " fine .
I would say yes, but because I'm only 5'5" and 120lbs I use the 1" 25G. I don't do SC, the one time I tried it, it hurt all day due to the amount of fluid under the skin, so the SC'rs probably have better advice about SC.
I do daily injections of cyano.
I also use single dose vials. You have to gradually pull the tip on the needle to the bottom/needle entry point on the inverted vial as you're aspirating the liquid, to be sure you get all of it. Also helps to 1st pull the plunger back to fill the syringe with an amount of air about the same as you're trying to draw up, and inject that into the vial before aspirating, otherwise you're trying to draw from a growing vacuum as you aspirate. In terms of pain, I inject mid-thigh, alternating left & right with each shot. Since you can essentially have your thigh "right in front of you," I think it's MUCH easier than a hip or butt jab. My thighs are very low in fat; injecting into muscle. I found early on (loading dose period) that it's mostly the ALCOHOL I'd wipe with before jabbing that was causing the sting. If I let it fully evaporate before injecting, there's not much more than a slight "poking" sensation. I use 27 gauge x 1 inch syringes.
Self Injection Advice - Autoinjector 
B12 self inject advice needed 
Self injecting methylcobalmin- some advice please.
Self injecting advice
