Finest needle for B12 and fragrant swabs

[Wwwdot]

Simple Qs:

1. What is the finest needle I can use for subcutaneous B12 injections?

2. Does anyone know of a swab that doesn’t have that hospital smell because as soon as I open it I feel sick.

TIA all 🤗🤗🤗

[Nackapan]

Swab is not essential.27- 30G suitable for sc

30G the finest

Take your time pushing the plunger as we take longer to insert b12 fluid the finer the needle

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

thanks Nackapan

Currently using 25g so I will try a finer needle. I am experiencing “rhino hide” issues - not too sure if it’s psychological but finding it increasingly difficult to puncture the skin.

[Nackapan in reply to Wwwdot]

Try stomach fat at least 2" from belly button or further round to hip for sc as well

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

yes that’s my main area of attack but I think there may be scar tissue and stretch marks causing a few issues possibly. You’d think there’d be plenty easy sites but I would say roughly two out of three injections hit “rhino hide” issues. Thought it was a duff needle in the past but often change of needle makes little difference. Doesn’t help that I hate needles!

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Really appreciated. 😁

[Miss-guineapig]

In Britain we stopped swabbing years ago (I say that as a nurse that did my fair share of immunising). A clean area is all you need. Re needle sizes, I use a blue needle or orange works well too. Please note in Scotland an orange needle has a smaller gauge than a blue needle. I read research on baby immunisation (too long ago to remember where) and for the majority the blue is less painful. Sometimes a smaller G forces its content out faster so more painful. Anyway, its choice and I prefer blue… hope this helps x

[Nackapan in reply to Miss-guineapig]

Is a blue needle 23G the nurses use for IM b12?

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Nackapan]

yes 23G x 1inch x

[Nackapan in reply to Miss-guineapig]

Yes that's what the nurse uses for I M.Wwwdot doing sc. B12 💉

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Nackapan]

tried to send a photo but it didn’t seem to send

[FlipperTD in reply to Miss-guineapig]

Scientist, not medic.

When I started training, phlebotomy was a significant part of my job. Granted, phlebotomy is different to injecting, but as for flow rates, I was taught 'use the biggest needle you can get away with!' Needles were colour-coded, and I think they still are, by and large. Green [21g] was the standard blood-taking needle, but white [19g] worked much better for large samples; blue [23g] was usable for smallish samples and orange [25g] was utterly useless. The sample quality through 25g was such that it was better not to try and use one. The needle gauge number is 'Standard Wire Gauge', SWG. The flow rate halves each time you go 'up a number' which is why the 19gauge needle was good for large samples. Bigger hole, but the procedure took half the time. They're all fiercely sharp, and in capable hands it's not easy to distinguish between sizes if you don't see what's used.

Swabs are best avoided. There have been cases where alcohol swabs have been used prior to drawing samples for blood alcohol, in police stations. Creating an obvious loophole! That's not the case any more as far as I'm aware. There are occasions when a swab can still be useful. A quick wipe of the skin and a surreptitious glance at the swab showing it's grey/brown/black where it's contacted the skin indicates a soap dodger. [I apologise for that one, but I've seen it.]

[Wwwdot in reply to FlipperTD]

morning Flipper

That’s really useful. I think I may need to stick with the orange 25g needle as I may pass out if I have to have the needle stuck in me for longer. As it is I involuntarily hold my breath!

A swab was used when I was taught to self inject and I have just followed suit. Interestingly my GP practice still swabs - last blood test was April.

I was wondering if perhaps an anaesthetic cream applied to the injection site? I have a lot of scar tissue - caesarean- stretch marks and a large appendicitis scar.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. 🤗

[FlipperTD in reply to Wwwdot]

I think the cream is as much a psychological thing as an actual benefit, but that's my opinion, and it's a case of 'often in error, but never in doubt!' My GP surgery still uses swabs too, but there's little if any benefit. I've never seen a vet use a swab on an animal when taking blood!

[Wwwdot in reply to FlipperTD]

True on both accounts. I think my self injection issues are in my head as I delay getting up and I think that’s because I know what I must do … Thank you

[Nackapan in reply to Wwwdot]

Orange 25G for IM? Plenty on here use that size or 23G

I thought you doing sc?

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

I am doing sub-cutaneous in my tum. Apologies, but the point you are making is lost on me at the moment - a dizzy day! Thank you

[Nackapan in reply to Wwwdot]

Needle size for subcutaneous b12 injections 27-30G 1/2" to 5/8" long

[Wwwdot]

ah I see where you are coming from. The specialist I saw showed me how to self inject sc into the tum. They specified the orange 25g 1” needle.

I was fine for the first few months but I have come down a good dress size as lost a lot of fat around my tum from a tight 16 to a loose 14 and lost about 10kg.

I often bleed now with SC so perhaps less fat suggests a shorter needle?

Sorry to burden you with this!

[Nackapan in reply to Wwwdot]

Sounds like an IM size needle . Used in your thigh or upper arm.

1" too long for a subcutaneous injection.

Very odd they showed you this in your stomach??

Either use the needle you have in your thighs and arm only .

Or use a finer shorter one in your

Yes you need a longer needle if you have more fat.

Google it ,perhaps as diagrams shown.

Hope you sort it out

[Wwwdot]

thank you I will order some finer shorter ones and see how we go from there. Really really grateful for your help 🤗🤗

[Wwwdot in reply to Wwwdot]

I have checked the spec I was sent and yes defo 1” 25g but I have ordered some grey 27g 1/2” and we will see how we go. 🤞🤞🤞 thank you again.