Last week while ordering repeat prescription I asked the receptionist if there was any one to speak to about my self injecting. A doctor said she would ring me.I explained how frightened I was about self Injecting as I seemed to be bleeding more than I like.
Phone call ended with doctor agreeing to let a nurse show me for my safety, not because the surgery agreed or condoned S.I. , and I was to take along my own equipment.
So I am going this week to be taught a safe way to SI.
Yay about teaching. It takes some getting used to, organising equipment, best places to inject with minimised pain.
I know an osteopath who went for his 3rd COVID jab and he marked an X on his arm. Their knowledge of anatomy is marvellous.
Best of luck.
Fantastic! Well done!! 😊
See if they will show you subcutaneous and intramuscular. Then you can choose .
How often do they prescribe b12 for you ?
Surly they should inject for you as well.
Not now. They stopped my 8 weekly injection. I will ask fot both of these methods thanks.
I’m taking the opportunity to recommend sub-cutaneous injecting . I’m completely won over now , after using Intramuscular injecting for 9 years . I need to inject once a week . In the U.K. only I.M. is used for B12 injections . I have no idea why . On the packets of b12 ampoules that we get from German online pharmacies , both methods are recommended. I still draw out the B12 from the ampoule with a long 1 1/2 inch needle , into a 2 ml syringe . . I then change to a short 30 G x 6 mm needle which i buy from Amazon ( i can’t find these at medisave) Then get rid of any air in the syringe .
I inject into the front of my thighs . Or one can use the tummy fat as well. You honestly cannot feel the 6 mm needle . The sub-cutaneous method has the advantage of releasing the B12 slowly into your system . The fatty layer is not so well supplied with blood vessels as the muscle , so the release is slower . The short injection needle is less intimidating than a. one inch needle . Also 30 G is amazingly fine You have a large area of thigh to choose from . Much greater than when you use I.M. method . You need to make sure that you spread the area that you inject into . Also a 1 ml ampoule is better than 2 ml when using sub- cut . ( the German Hevert brand is 2ml x 1 mg ampoule)
I somehow doubt that the nurse will demonstrate the sub-cutaneous method . Only I.M is used in U.K. But sub -cut is obviously used as well in Germany . I.M . is probably best for the loading doses as it gets into the system quickly .
I have used sub -cut for several months now , and find it absolutely effective . I could not master the art of using a short , fixed sub cutaneous needle with syringe to extract the b12 from the very narrow -necked ampoule . There may well be a way of doing this .
You are indeed fortunate to have such a good doctor ! Best wishes .
My 1st 2 loading doses were done at the surgery and I was taught how to SI IM so I could continue at home - at my insistence and with the approval of my GP. I instinctively knew I'd only get the standard 6 doses and wasn't taking any chances.
I asked about SC, as I'd wanted to do that rather than IM, and they refused to teach me because they're "not licensed" to do so. They wouldn't have given me the B12 or the needles otherwise.
Great reply and information wedgewood, not only for 3rdNettydoon, but all of us who SI. And I learnt an additional bit of info that sub-cut allows a steady absorption to better effect. Am early in my SI journey - just five weeks now but getting more practised and use my chunky thighs as a platform!
Hi wedgewood I always change my needle after drawing up (I tend to hit needle on the glass ampoule, which likely blunts it) but, to draw up with short needle, just turn the ampoule upside down, or to an angle. The contents will NOT spill out - unless you shake it out !!! Good luck 
I trie it once and the B12 spilled out . I obviously did something wrong . You have encouraged me to try again . Thank you ! 👍
I have to say, in the years I've been nursing, I've never managed to spill contents from an ampoule by turning upside down LOL Maybe you happened to shake it a bit, accidentally? Perhaps just try tipping the ampoule, enough to get the dregs out LOL 
If you put in only the needle, and are careful not to touch the thicker part of the needle, it should not spill out I tip mine at a 45 degree angle downwards, and then put only the tip of the needle in the neck. A bit like this: youtube.com/watch?v=UFHJh9z...
Thank you so much jade_s . I’m going to try that next time that I inject 👍.Thank you for the tip and the video.
That's a nice, simple video. I draw up and inject with the same needle and am worried now as in the video he says a reason to discard the drawing up needle is in case it drew up glass from the ampule. I use an insulin needle so I'm hoping it's too fine to draw up any glass
For what it's worth, I have been drawing up and injecting with the same needle (27G) for nearly 7 years now, twice a day
Thank you 🙏
Smashing info wedgewood. I did tell the doctor that the I M route was daunting. Hope she has passed this on to the nurse.As the telephone conversation ended she said it had been an interesting call. Fingers crossed.
Great info wedgewood, as I have always done IM, and haven't had any problems, but I do like to use my arms now, that I have mastered it, and I really have no fat on my thighs so have hit nerves and vessels recently so has put me off. I Like your advice on sc I will order the 6mm needles, but I do a have a supply of Hevert 2ml, can I still sc with these using your method? Hope you are well.
It is OK to inject 2ml sun-cutaneously , so yes, use it But it’s easier with 1ml. On Amazon those 30G x 6mm needles are by Antonmove and are termed “ Steel pipe needles . Really good . You can only inject slowly due to the very fine needle .
There is also the possibility of using a syringe with a fixed short fine needle , ( usually used for insulin) if you can master the art of getting the B12 out by inverting the ampoule and not spilling any b12 .
Thank you so much for your help wedgewood, I will try your first suggestion as I think that would be easier for me. Much appreciated.
Sending you hugs from NZ x
Well done. And well done for the GP too.
Good effort on your part.
Being taught to inject properly and safely is advisable. I believe it will be I.M. as nhs use this route. Many prefer subcutaneous. For me its safer, Best wishes.
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