hi All. I’ve been SI for about 8 years with no problem. I have recently tried to buy syringes off Amazon. I’m in Portugal . I’ve not had a problem before but it strikes me now that there’s a fair few selling syringes for various uses and not confirming they are sterile.
I bought some that claimed to be sterile on Amazon but the packaging I’ve received them I’m has the following pic as a warning which looks like not to be used with needles ? See pic
where is everyone buying their syringes and needles from ? I’m in eu but I guess could buy from U.K. if I paid the duty
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lifegems
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When using a “Luer Lock” type of syringe , you “screw” the needle onto the syringe , not just push it on . This makes the needle much more safely embedded on the syringe To get the needle off , you unscrew it . It will all become apparent when you see it and use it . I always buy Luer Lock Syringes now .
No, all needles fit , and are really firm when you screw them on . ! I was always worried about injection needles coming adrift , and stuck inside my flesh , until I discovered the Luer Lock syringes. That’s not a stupid question . Logical actually . But all needles screw on easily and are very firmly in place .
Thank you! I've never been able to take the cover off the needle once it's on the syringe, though nurses seem to do it easily (with me, the whole needle just comes back off the syringe when I try, and I'm scared I'll accidentally prick myself), so I've ended up taking the needle cover off and then attaching it to the syringe, which I've never felt comfortable with in terms of it being completely sterile still - I wonder if these might help with that.
I don’t have that difficulty . Take a good look at the needle when in place on the syringe . You will see exactly where the needle fits in the syringe .Then hold down the edge of the needle with your thumb nail , below where it fits on the cover , and just pull off the cover with your free hand . Don’t know if that’s how nurses do it -I’m no nurse!
I know they won't sell the injectable B12 in the UK. But can you not buy syringes? Diabetics need them. I lucked out (Canada, BC) and got my last batch for free. The pharmacist had a lot that were for COVID vaccinations that they were not using so he gave them to me.
Can you not sign up to Amazon in any other EU country and buy them from there?
I have a separate login for Amazon.de which I have occasionally used where a price difference exists for something that is bigger than any delivery costs. (Not worth using since brexit!) That would usually avoid any customs/VAT/duty issues.
I did buy from Amazon.de my point was that Amazon across the board have suppliers of syringes of which some are not sterile or for use for injections . I bought what claimed to be sterile but the image on the box freaked me as per the pic I posted. The company have now said they are sterile but have not confirmed they can be used for injection 😟
Do these syringes come in individual sealed packs? Do they carry a 'CE' mark? Are there any other codes on the packaging? It's not easy to work out exactly what the icon with the cross through it indicates.
Having seen your enlarged icon, I also wonder if it could mean 'Don't re-sheath the needle'? It was a very common way of getting needlestick injuries, even with 'trained individuals'.
That's why we have sharps bins nowadays, but for a long time, we didn't. But we still get needlesticks regardless. It looks so obvious and you 'know' you're careful, but it happens. We sometimes get very critical over 'Elf and Safety' but we need to look after ourselves. If you're only 'sticking' yourself with a needle you've used on yourself, it's not as bad as when it's from someone who has an unknown history. We have all sorts of safety devices for needles nowadays, thank goodness.
Thanks . Yes individually packed and confirmed sterile . Think I’ve just been a bit freaked at the warning on the packaging and after seeing so many syringes on Amazon that are not for injectables
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B12 vials in Latin stores in the U.S.A.
Auto injectors...... ☺ 
I think it's working ...
End of the NHS road - I need to inject myself
