Self-Injecting - rookie question

[Wwwdot]

Hi Guys

Managing my needle phobia and self injecting. 🥹

Odd emotions as I look forward to SI time to get it over with feel better whilst dreading it at the same time! 🤪

Done 4 x SI into tummy and needle inserted more easily and less painfully than expected. 😁

Tonight the needle would not go in and instead the skin was depressed into a crater. Tried three different locations. 🤷‍♀️

I discarded the needle and attached a new one - it inserted easily as before. My question is … was it a duff needle? 🤨

Second question any tips on how to snap the top of the glass B12 phial without cutting yourself or getting glass everywhere? Opening the phial is now my biggest challenge! 😂

Thank you all in advance. 🥰

[Nackapan]

Sounds like s duff needle.I bought a snapit gadget.

It snaps off the top of the ampoule.

Very easily.

I my opinion worth every penny.

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you Nackaoan - helpful as always. I will see if I can get one.

[B12life]

I too struggled with breaking open the glass vials but found a cheap and safe way to open them. I have the Hevert brand vials.

I clean the bottle and my injection site with an alcohol wipe. BD brand wipes are my fav as they are very moist, thick and big enough to protect my fingers when opening the bottle.

Then i wrap the wrapper and the wipe around the top of the bottle to protect my fingers from the glass as I open the vial.

Do the following with the alcohol wipe wrapped around the top of the vial to protect your fingers from the glass:

Right hand

1. put thumb in a vertical (top to bottom orientation) over the top of the bottle where the dot is, if this bottle has a dot. you want your thumb to line up with the top of the bottle from the base of the top to the top of the top (see photo).

2. put pointer finger on the back to give you leverage. make sure the alcohol wipe is under both those fingers.

Left hand

3. firmly hold the base of the bottle with your left hand.

4. push forward on the top of the bottle with the right hand thumb.

(invert the digits(fingers) in the instructions if you are left handed)

how to open the vial w/o cutting yourself

[Wwwdot in reply to B12life]

oh B12life thank you for the tips and for the pic. I will try again in two days time!

[B12life in reply to Wwwdot]

Let me know how that works out.

[HeartyGilly]

I have a gadget for breaking off the tops. Simple and safe. I SI into my thigh and have no problems.

[pitney]

have the dot on the wrapped neck of the ampule facing toward you and snap the neck backwards😀

[newlandvale]

YouTube video makes it so easy

How To Open A Glass Ampoule The Right Way

by Paolo Broccardo

Works every time - no broken glass

Sorrry, don't know how to post link so hope you are able to find with above information

[wedgewood]

It sounds like a duff needle . You don’t use the same needle for withdrawing as injecting do you ? If so , the needle can easily become blunt during the withdrawal process You really need 2needles . The one for withdrawing can be long . You can buy blunt ones . . . Also do you use the finest possible needle for sub-cut ? It is 30G x 1/2 inch . Very fine .

I use an ampoule - snapper . A metal one in blue . £22.00 From smile.amazon.co.uk. Use “smile” and chose Pernicious Anaemia Society as your charity ) There are cheaper ones in plastic . It works perfectly and cuts off the head of the ampoules very cleanly — no shards to worry about . It holds the broken head till you eject it into your sharps bin . Had it for years and it still functions so well . Best wishes .

[Enfys22]

I bought an ampoule snapper off ebay, less than £5, much safer. Put the top in with dot on ampoule facing you, close bottom in, snap, open top and discard then draw up.

[SouthSounder]

I've never tried injecting into my stomach, always use alternate thighs. Easier to have them "right in front of you" then your stomach would be. One tip: if you wipe with alcohol, be sure to let it DRY COMPLETELY before injecting. I discovered early on that it was the alcohol going into the jab which causes the sting, once it's gone you just feel a mild "poke."

[cloudspotting]

Sounds like a dodgy needle. I SI into thigh and stretch the skin slightly to create a tension and remind myself it's important to relax!! Works most times. I position the dot on the (Versandapo - hydroxo) ampoule away from me, place both forefingers touching together (above and below) over the dot with thumbs touching on opposite side of ampoule and make a sharp confident snap towards me. Has worked every time for me. I learned this technique as a party trick breaking bananas in half to amuse the kids 😀

Using a snapper & 2 needles to draw and inject is recommended when beginning, though I can now extract without blunting the needle after a lot of practice by not touching the tip against the glass, making sure the flat angle of the tip is pointing down when extracting. Hope this helps.

[Cobalt1312]

Wwwdot, congratulations to you on your journey, literally taking your health into your own hands!! 🎊 I agree with others, sounds like a bad needle. I switched from cheap needles I can get filled at the pharmacy to more expensive ones through a medical supply company called "Med on the Go." It stinks to pay more, but the difference in comfort was well worth it. I use Magellan safety needles, they go in much easier.

I do IM injections, but one thing that helps me is to squeeze my muscle so there is a deeper place for it to go into. I'm not sure if that would help with subcutaneous too, but if you're a smaller person it might.

Sounds like you're very well on your way! Good job, I'm excited for you!!