Help! How do people get Sheaths off 1/2” needles??

[Wwwdot]

Hi All

This sounds a silly question but it’s foxing me!

Just changed from 1” needle to 1/2” needle and I am having trouble removing the sheath to the needle as it’s so short!!

Is it just me who has this problem? Any suggestions or tips?

Thank you in advance 🤗🤗🤗🤗

PS If anyone wants 1” orange 25g needles (new in box) I am happy to post.

[jade_s]

I first push the whole thing down hard onto the syringe. Then i twist the sheeth while continuing to put light downward pressure.

Kind of like unscrewing a screw! It loossens the sheeth without pulling it off.

Works 99% of the time - sometimes the whole comes off so I just repeat the procedure. Good luck 😄

[Nackapan]

It's just getting the knack. Anything like rubber will grip it better when twisting/ pulling ig off it off .

A latex disposable glove?

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

good idea also. Thank you.

[WIZARD6787]

When I had manual dexterity issues prior to injecting only 1 mg of B12 EOD I used a hemostat to remove the needle sheath.

[Wwwdot]

Thanks Wiz … share what a haemostat is??

[wedgewood]

Forceps .

[Orchard33]

It's not just you. It is a total fiddle. I try to not fight with it.

[Wwwdot in reply to Orchard33]

I am going to try jade’s suggestion today! Then other suggestions until I find something that works I will let you know! 🤗🤗🤗

[tomdickharry]

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why change to such short needles?

[Wwwdot in reply to tomdickharry]

Hi tomdickharry

I don’t mind it’s a good question. I was originally shown how to self inject by a consultant and they specified 1”, 25g needles for subcutaneous injection in my tum.

All was ok until recently when I began to experience more pain and more frequent bleeds on injecting. I placed a post on this forum (I don’t know how to find my posts so I can’t guide you to it) but I received lots of helpful advice. The use of a finer, shorter needle was one suggestion.

I have lost a lot of fat since injecting so a shorter needle made sense. The outcome is fantastic! Injections are much less painful and (touch wood) no bleeding 🩸.

🤗🤗🤗

[tomdickharry in reply to Wwwdot]

Do you pull up the flesh first? I don't know too much about SC, I only ever do IM into my leg. It's not pain, just a horrible weird feeling as it goes in.

[Wwwdot in reply to tomdickharry]

yes I pinch a bit about a couple of inches then inject into the top of it while trying to remember to relax the pinch slightly while injecting. 9/10 it’s an ok experience although if anyone was watching they would think I had never done it before as I am usually all fingers and thumbs! I don’t usually feel the B12 go in until today and yesterday when I injected into my thigh for the first time. Todays was unpleasant and I almost stopped but I persisted to get it over with. Off to paint some walls now - my reward! 😂😂😂

[tomdickharry in reply to Wwwdot]

I'll stay with IM in my leg, I think. Reason for interest is that since a fall damaged my shoulder I've been considering alternatives to injecting leg. I'm left-handed but have very limited space to use as dynamic hip-screw leaves a steel rod and plate halfway down the thigh. My right arm already near useless and tried a cross-over but not very successfully.

[Wwwdot in reply to tomdickharry]

our very own bionic man! That sounds tough and certainly challenging. You sound far more experienced than me as I am just about getting the hang of self injecting, mentally and physically, and I am going up the learning curve. It’s not easy is it ? but you sound incredibly skilled and in control. 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[tomdickharry in reply to Wwwdot]

I wish! Three years ago I'd never given an injection, then along comes COVID and gives doctors an excuse to stop treatment. I tried all the alternatives and none worked. October 2020 and I got hold of some ampoules, needles and syringes. Scary! I really had to psyche myself up and even then self-doubt held me back.What if I did it wrong, hit a vein or something? Hands shaking and I just shut my eyes and pushed it in. First time it leaked a drop, next time I hit metal but it still got in. Even now I hesitate a moment or two before doing it. Now it's just something that has to be done. The alternative would be to pay the exorbitant fees from private clinics. I'll avoid that as long as possible. So yes, you're doing very well, keep up the good work.

[Wwwdot in reply to tomdickharry]

Oh my goodness me! You brought tears to my eyes. What a Herculean challenge and you got through it. There is so much bravery, resilience, courage and inner strength in this forum it is so humbling. Mega respect ✊

🤗🤗🤗

[tomdickharry in reply to Wwwdot]

Thankyou. Everyone on here has stories (mostly I keep mine hidden except where it helps someone), that show the adversity suffered due to the blinkered attitude of doctors. Yours is similar, keep it up.

[Wwwdot in reply to tomdickharry]

Thank you! I think the collective noun for members on this forum is a resilience of members!

[jaybirdxNHM]

I have Inflammatory arthritis in my hands, so the only way for me is to use small scissors, slightly open just to ease off sheath. It works, the sheath can travel a bit !!!

[WiscGuy]

I too initially had trouble removing the needle caps from syringes. I also had trouble withdrawing solution into syringe because needles were loose, not screwed tightly onto syringe. I finally figured out that to get the caps off, I had been twisting them in such a way as to loosen the needles. So, when trying to remove caps, I started twisting the cap in the direction which would tighten the cap if it were threaded (they are not), while pulling on the cap as hard as needed to remove the cap.

My syringes are BD Plastipak 3ml syringes, 25g x 5/8" (0.5mm x 16mm).

[Wwwdot in reply to WiscGuy]

Thanks WiscGuy

I am terrible with needles and I am so worried about accidentally stabbing myself. I really have a bug psychological battle to do the injection and struggling with the needle sheath makes it so much worse. If these suggestions done work I will see if me hubby can make me a needle sheath remover contraption! 🤗🤗🤗

[WiscGuy in reply to Wwwdot]

Perhaps a Vice Grip would work as a cap remover. The jaws relative position is adjustable with a threaded control, so they could be set to clamp down with exactly the right pressure.