Advice please

[Monbretia]

I have 8 weekly injections at GP & si in between when needed. I have two queries first are there any hints on si to make it easier? I have si about 20 times & it is no easier. My hands shake & my heart beats so fast. Also I use a blue needle to extract & an orange to inject is this correct problem is I cannot get all of the B12 out of ampoule. Thanks for all the great advice !!

[Nackapan]

I do Subcutaneous Injections inbetween NHS IM. I use a green needle 21G to extract b12 .

A 2ml syringe.

A 30G yellow needle to inject.

27g-30 g suitable for sc.

I would try it.

Over 2 yesrs now still waiting for IM to last longer .

Maybe a day ? sometimes.

I use thighs and stomach mainly. Hold a fold go slowly....done.

2" away from belly button.

Might be easier for you

[wedgewood]

To get all the B12 out of a 1ml ampoule , you need a 2ml syringe. . I find I.M is without any pain at all . Is that what you use ? You can also self inject by the sub-cutaneous method using a 1/2 inch needle, which is finer and shorter than I.M. —— 2inches away from the belly button , or into the front of the thigh . You can buy numbing cream from Amazon . I will send you a link which will explain further . You’ll need to pick out the information that you applies to you .

[Gambit62 Administrator]

a) the phial should contain a little over 1ml

b) the phials are designed so that you can invert them to extract the B12 - it does need to be upside down - being on the side doesn't quite have the same effect and can result in leakage. However, I know co-ordinating extracting from an inverted phial can be a bit difficult.

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

I leave mine upright on the table. Works fine.

Never thought of turning them upside down

as open ended after top snapped off (no bung like in multi vials)

[Lurcher-lady in reply to Nackapan]

I used to think this Nackapan but then discovered putting them on the side works well too with no spillage and the needle isn’t constantly scraping on the bottom 😊

[Nackapan in reply to Lurcher-lady]

Yes. I've just never tipped it upside down .

Do tip it I think ,?

I use s different needle to draw it up so it's fine if I occasionally touch the glass.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

Inverting phials works because of surface tension over a narrow gap

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

Yes I personally just never needed to do it or trust it? Would probably need a third hand!!

[HeartyGilly]

I use a green needle to extract the B12 and either blue or orange to inject.

[deniseinmilden]

As you are using a different needle to draw up (best practice 👍) it doesn't matter if you bump the tip on the bottom of the ampoule so you can put the tip to the bottom and turn it around slowly as you suck up the last bit.Needles are cut off at an oblique angle, rather than straight across, so if you hold them at the correct angle you can get the last bit up.

You've done the equivalent of 3 weeks of jabs for me and I was feeling pretty unsure at that stage! Give yourself a chance! I've done over 2,700 jabs now and I can promise it does get easier with practice! Even now I don't always get it right (probably being too blasé!) but it never causes any problems!

Think of other things that have seemed daunting but you've got over - going to "big" school, starting a new job or relationship, etc - and it puts it into perspective a bit more. You've found your way around new experiences before and even less challenging things have probably taken longer to get familiar with so you'll be fine before long.

And you have your health improvement on your side with this one - as your nerves get better you'll have better hand control, etc - and your emotions will settle down too.

Good for you for looking for more improvements - keep it up until you feel at least pretty well!

If you can, it's a good idea to take a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement - supermarket A-Z ones are as good as, if not better than, the more expensive branded ones.

Try to get as many extra nutrients from your diet, particularly folate, potassium, magnesium, iron and vitamin D, but consider the possibility that you might need to take these as supplements too.

Good luck with your recovery!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Thought you might be interested in these links.

Petitition

There is currently a petition to get injectable B12 available over the counter in UK.

change.org/p/dr-june-raine-...

Tracey Witty of B12 Deficiency Info has been campaigning on this issue for 8 years.

b12deficiency.info/eight-lo...