Can a needle be used twice in quick succession?!

[Sunnysidoop]

I presume not but info from Googling suggests that people do. My rational brain thinks the risk is no different the 2nd time round as it's going through the same skin it's already been through? I have a lot of 0.5ml insulin needles and want to switch from 0.5ml daily to 1ml EOD, and am wondering if I can use up the 0.5ml syringes by injecting 0.5ml twice with the same needle. Twice the pain but I don't mind that temporarily.

[Narwhal10]

No Suunysidoop,

Please change the needle. This is due to the risk of infection. Even if it is subcut, you do not want another thing to deal with. It can only be a minor bit of pus but how painful can a splinter be ?

X

[Wwwdot]

Hi Sunnysideoop

The cost of needles and syringes is negligible compared to the risk of infection and recovery setback. YOU are worth far more than the cost of a needle and syringe!!!

Here’s a thought for you … If you are going to inject twice then why not experiment with the frequency of injections and see if that’s beneficial to you? So instead of 2 x 0.5ml at the same time, switch to having them 6 -8 hours apart?

Whatever you decide - do not reuse the needle please!! We want you to stay sunny!

🤗🤗🤗

[Sunnysidoop in reply to Wwwdot]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm moving to 1ml ampules so I'd need to store a filled syringe for the second 0.5ml, which is also probably not worth the risk

[Wwwdot in reply to Sunnysidoop]

Hi Sunnysidoop

Guys please SHOUT LOUD at me if you don’t agree with what I am bout to share.

When I want to only inject half an ampule, after the injection I remove the used needle and replace immediately with a new syringe. I then pop the needle and syringe into a sealed poly bag for later. So syringe is used fur two injections but two new needles.

🤗🤗🤗

[Narwhal10 in reply to Wwwdot]

Wwwdot,

In hospital settings, we have to have some pre-filled syringes for emergency work. Do we not have time, to be flicking glass bottles, snapping them, drawing up, changing needles, we need to work extremely effectively and fast.

Anaesthetics is a discipline in itself and Obstetric Anaesthetists often have an Operating Department Practitioner to help them because it a vast amount of work. We all work as part of a team and know are roles.

😘

[Wwwdot in reply to Narwhal10]

Thank you my friend

I take that as a sensible yes!

At least I feel reassured too that I am not taking unnecessary risks.

🤗🤗🤗

[wedgewood]

I agree with everyone who says use a fresh needle . They are cheap , and there’s nothing worth more than your health . DO USE A FRESH NEEDLE .

[Sunnysidoop]

Thanks everyone 🙏

[Nackapan]

Buy some bigger syringes. It's not worth the faff or infection risk.

[Wwwdot in reply to Nackapan]

Wise words Nackapan!

🤗🤗🤗

[Orchard33]

Needles are cheap as chips (rather like B12 ampoules). Buy the right ones and dispose of the others. Why take any risk?

[Sunnysidoop in reply to Orchard33]

Thanks. That's why I'm asking, because I wanted to learn about the risk. I'm not going to do it but I still can't see how the risk is higher.

I'm glad your needles are cheap to you, mine are not to me. Maybe I'm buying expensive ones, but throwing away £20+ of something is not what I normally do.

[Orchard33 in reply to Sunnysidoop]

Take a look at Medisave. I use them and they are often mentioned on this forum.

[Blearyeyed]

No.Even if you do it in the same arm at the same time it's not meant to be done because it can increase the chance that you infect yourself with something on the surface of the skin even if you've cleaned it.

If you go to have injections or blood taken by a Nurse you'll notice that if they have to try to insert the needle more than a couple of times in the same place they then need to change it. They never insert it in different places or arms.

If you have hypersensitivity, you are also more likely to get an inflammatory response at the needle site and there is more chance of an edema.

[FlipperTD in reply to Blearyeyed]

Scientist, not medic.

My first role outside the lab was as a phlebotomist. In those days we went from the lab to the wards to collect samples for analysis [otherwise we'd have little to do for the first hour] and I was taught to NEVER consider using the same needle twice. Miss the vein, new needle. I've seen others do this and winced, but no, treat them as single use, even if you're paying for them yourself. Really not worth the risk.

[Blearyeyed in reply to FlipperTD]

My daughter ended up with a large edema and violent reaction because the nurse ( whom we don't usually see) couldn't get any blood from one arm and then tried on the other one with the same needle. We both have hypersensitivity reactions anyway because of our EDS and Fibro but that was ridiculous it took antibiotics and two weeks to bring down the swelling... Not that we needed a lesson , but the Nurse certainly learnt from it.

[FlipperTD in reply to Blearyeyed]

Oh dear. Shocking. I wonder how many of these we miss?

[FlipperTD in reply to FlipperTD]

Oh, I forgot to mention, in answer to the question 'How long should I press on after a venepuncture?' And my answer was always 'as long as possible. DO NOT LOOK TO SEE IF IT'S BLEEDING! KEEP PRESSING.'

[AKatieD]

Some diabetics are given pen injectors with a vial of insulin enough for several doses. They aren't (or weren't when partner got his years ago) told to change the superfine needle each time, so he never did. But they do go blunt and very occasionally break. He never had an infection problem.

But we are all different and can't say what would happen to you. Best practice would be to change each time but probs you would be ok for a couple of uses. Up to you whether you want to take the risk.

[Sunnysidoop in reply to AKatieD]

Interesting, thank you for your thoughtful reply

[Blearyeyed in reply to AKatieD]

My husband has pen injections for his Diabetes and he gets lots of boxes if replacement needles because they are meant to change them for each use. Although some people use them a few times in one day by choice they aren't really meant to.The length of the needles and how far they enter the body is much shorter too which also makes a difference it's not the same sort of IM.

[totallyFrustrated]

not wanting to hyjack this post, but I too have had thoughts about possibly using something more than once. I look at the waste at the end of EOD when I finished the S/I.

1x plastic syringe,

1x paper + plastic wrapping from plastic syringe

2x plastic pipe needle protector

2x paper + plastic wrapping from needles

and what id, like so many of you I will have to keep injecting often?

And all of this made from plastic that has a half life of a hundred years. What planet am I leaving the grandchildren and all just for feeling a little better????

[debra_bill in reply to totallyFrustrated]

I agree that there is a lot of waste, but it can all be recycled. I separate the paper & plastic wrapping, and clean out the syringe to recycle. The local Aldi has a soft plastics bin, paper & hard plastics are placed in the council collection bins. Sharps are dealt with appropriately.

[totallyFrustrated in reply to debra_bill]

and then sadly, the government sends the plastic to be compressed, shipped to a third world country where they try and burn it or just dump it in their river.....

[Blearyeyed in reply to totallyFrustrated]

I think our grandchildren would be understanding of important plastic products used medically to keep us alive and healthy, as most of us don't take injections or medications just to feel a little better.It's all of the other plastic packaging on foods and all of the endless plastic covered gadgets and toys, the non essential stuff, that needs tackling first. And our grandchildren are just as responsible for creating the mess they need to clear up in the future with their endless consumerism and " need" for the next big thing or new craze. Essential Medical Supplies are a tiny drop in the plastic ocean by comparison.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

two things at play

a) potential for picking up contamination on the skin

b) needle blunted by the first use so would be harder to use a second time

[WIZARD6787]

I only use a needle once. The risk of using one twice is unknown as it is never done. Once the needle is in the skin it is contaminated. If you were to use it twice then when it passes through the skin it is more contaminated the second time. I am using the term contaminated to mean not sterile not as a level of danger.

It is not the same as sharing a needle or injections in a public environment where medics work where the danger of spreading a virus is more likely.

I do sometimes fill a syringe and put it in a plastic baggie to take outside the home.

I do not swap my skin any more and just wash my hands in an alcohol hydrogen peroxide solution. I will rethink that now.