injections

[Myanna23]

is it possible to si in your arm, or do yyou always have tto bunch the skin?

[Nackapan]

Are you doing IM or SC ?I've not used my upper arm .

Others have.

You only need to hold s 'fold' if doing sc .

The nurse injects my upper arm doing an IM b12 Injection

[Myanna23 in reply to Nackapan]

Hi Nackapan, yes do use IM, but just wondered if it's easy enough to use your arm, just started doing it myself rather than someone else doing it. So am using leg for now, didn't know that you don't have to hold up the skin in IM. Thanks.

[HeartyGilly in reply to Myanna23]

I stretch the skin on my thigh. I would find it hard to SI in my arm.

[Myanna23 in reply to HeartyGilly]

Thanks HeartyGilly I will now stretch skin also.

[Nackapan in reply to Myanna23]

It's recommended you hold a small roll of flesh for sc subcutaneous injections as it goes into the fat layer.So if IM I think its the practicality of doing your own arm .

As heartyGilly says also stretching skin for IM as deeper injection.

One member I know of does perfer to do her upper arms so possible if not trickier on yourself as smaller area of muscle and depends on your flexibility

[Myanna23 in reply to Nackapan]

Yep, I think I would find it awkward and I do have arthritis on hands, might try on a good day, thanks.

[LFKent]

If it's any help, I SI both arms as well as both thighs. I began with arms as I as felt it was easier to replicate B12 administered by NHS, albeit one handed. Good luck with SI.

[Myanna23 in reply to LFKent]

Yes I have always been used to getting in my arm, by nurse or family member. So may well experiment. Thanks its good to know.

[Ghound]

Hi, I always inject intramuscular into my upper arms. (For some reason I find injecting into my thighs painful)

I draw it up, stand sideways in front of the mirror to locate the site more easily, then just whack it in.

No fussing with skin etc.

As a nurse I was taught to stretch the skin to one side ( Z track technique) but I've found it's not necessary.

I inject slowly and wait a couple of seconds before withdrawing the needle and there is no leak back.

I know where I'm injecting ( deltoid muscle) but if I'm ever having one of those ' dithery ' days of indecision, I just look for my old BCG injection scar and I know I'm in the correct location !😁

Good luck and best wishes x

[Myanna23 in reply to Ghound]

Brilliant tip..BCG scar! Thank you much appreciated.

[Myanna23 in reply to Ghound]

hi Ghound, quick question for you as you are nurse trained, just have completed 7 injections in 14 days, using thigh and all was grand, but last night seen blood in syringe, so at this point should I have withdrew and start again? Is it unwise or even fatal to carry on? I did read recently you should pull back on plunger before injecting, I think I attempted this so is that why there was blood. Still alive this morning and no lumps or bruising. Hope you are well.

[Ghound in reply to Myanna23]

Hi Dillydix , I'm well thanks 😊 Glad to hear you're still alive !!! 👍😃

Don't worry about the blood, it was probably just from superficial tiny capillaries.

Even if you did ever hit a larger vessel you'd still be OK.

No need to pull back the plunger and the added advantage is you never see any blood ! 😄

Keep going, you're doing a great job 👏

Best wishes xx

[Myanna23 in reply to Ghound]

Thank you Ghound, I won't be pulling back again. It just occurred to me it may be unsafe to inject blood back in that's just come out. But thanks again for your vote of confidence.

[Callie58]

Yes I self inject IM into both upper arms. Only problem is when I have a shaky hand day, but it's quick and pain free mostly. Just make sure you have a fine enough needle.

[Myanna23 in reply to Callie58]

Am very impressed you can do both arms. Am still building my confidence, just finished a loading dose this past two weeks, so had plenty of practice. And yes I use a 1" needle which seems fine. Thank you.

[Baggy8]

I alternate upper arms. No probs….

[Callie58]

All the best.cx