B12 needles

[kittyflowers]

I am a b12 deficient person self injecting intra muscular, for many years. My daughter also with b12 trouble and a nurse, says my needles ( blue for normal and green for sub cut, which I don't do) suitable for sub cut are hopeless and injecting intra musculary the body cannot receive the b12 and I need to get larger ones. Do you agree?

[wedgewood]

I’m afraid that describing needles in colours doesn’t help me to understand what needles you are using . If you are of a normal weight and using I.M method into your thigh ( into the Vastus Lateralis muscle, google it to see an illustration ) You need a 25G x 1Inch needle

You can also inject sub-cutaneously into the fat layer in the front of your thigh using a 30 G x 1/2 inch needle . This method in not used by the NHS , but many members of this forum use it with success. Also , on the packets of B12 ampoules that we receive from Germany , the manufacturers state that Intra-muscular and sub-cutaneous methods can be used .

Best wishes .

[Thrones12]

hi kitty ,I get my needles from medisave which is what I’m guessing you do as your talking in colours.

I used to use Green to draw the liquid from ampoules then switch to orange for the actual injection, intramuscular,it’s usually the yellow needles recomended for subcut..

I use filter needles these days to draw up the liquid ( personal preference) then I change to orange to inject.

Hope this helps.. best wishes x

[topazrat]

I use the smallest (yellow) needle to inject into my tummy. Nurse at the surgery uses a longer (blue) needle to inject into the muscle in my arm. If you are on the larger side, you will need a longer needle to reach the muscle, but if you're a skinny bird like me, a smaller, shorter needle will do the job just as well.

[Hectorsmum2]

I am retired nurse and unless things have changed both the green and blue needles are for intramuscular. The green are larger and the smaller blue ones tend to be used for thin/ small people. Orange needles are for sub cut.