Help with self-injecting

[rubyone]

Hi everyone.

As scared as I am to think of self-injecting, I finally placed an order for B12 ampoules today. (Thanks, Wedgewood for the info!)

I have injections every eight weeks but like clockwork at four weeks in, I always have trouble while out on walks, feel like I am going to fall over and my body doesn’t do what my brain is thinking. I’m also learning a language online and again, at four weeks in, my brain just doesn’t want to remember what I’m doing. I really, really hope injecting helps! As a side note, I did start taking liquid iron and D3 about a month ago along with my daily 1000mg cyanocobalamin tablet after having a low ferritin blood result.

Anyway, if anyone could please suggest needles, sizes and where to order from, I would really appreciate it very much.

Thanks in advance and I wish you all a great weekend.

Eva 🤗

[wedgewood]

That’s great that you have taken the plunge and decided to self-inject . The benefits are enormous . Here’s some help for self -injecting .

Where to obtain needles , syringes , swabs and sharp bins

All the above can be obtained from medisave.co.uk

What ever injection method you use you will need a long coarse needle to withdraw the B12 from the ampoule . I suggest a 21G x 1 1/2 inch needle . You can also use a blunt needle 1 1/2 inches long .

For an Intra-muscular injection which is the kind that you get at the surgery , I suggest a 26 G x 1 inch . ( the higher the G rating , the finer the needle .) 25 G x 1 inch would also be good .

2 ml syringes, alcohol swabs ( not 100% necessary ) and a yellow sharps bin for needle disposal. Most chemists will accept a smallish sharps bin , say 1 litre . Some local councils accept them also .

The best place for I.M. self injection is the outside middle third of the thigh , where the Vastus Lateralis muscle comes closest to the surface . ( look this up on Google )

First wash your hands thoroughly .

I lay everything I need on a piece of paper towel. Needles, syringe , swab, and a B12 ampoule .

Flick the top of the ampoule to send any B12 into the ampoule . Notice the dot on the neck of the ampoule. This is the weakest point of the ampoule . It can be easily broken at this point. Wrap an alcohol swab around the ampoule and break the ampoule open at the weakest spot , where the dot is on the neck . Be careful - you can get a nasty cut . You could use an ampoule cutter ( Amazon) which gives a good clean cut and is excellent.

Then use a long needle , say. 21G x 1 1/2 inch . to withdraw the B12 . Fix the withdrawing needle onto the syringe. Pull out the plunger, and then inject air slowly into the ampoule .Then with the needle on the bottom of the ampoule , pull out the plunger . You will now be able to get every last drop of b12 out of the ampoule.

You need a 2ml syringe even with a 1ml ampoule , in order to get every last drop of B12 out of the ampoule .

If you now wish to self-inject by the Intramuscular method, use a 26G x 1 inch needle . Obtainable from medisave.co.uk

Get rid of any air in the syringe by pressing the plunger on the syringe, until a small bead of red B12 appears on the tip of the needle . Inject slowly into the middle outer third of the thigh, where the Vastus Lateralis muscle comes close to the surface .

If using the subcutaneous method , proceed as above, but using a shorter, finer needle for the injection . 30G x 1/2 inch Into the tummy fat or into the front of the thigh . You can use an even shorter needle ( 30G x 6mm) if you can find one . It all depends on how much fat you have on your thigh or your tummy . You don’t want to use a needle that is so long that it passes right through your fat layer . If you are very thin , you would need to use the 1/2 inch ( 12 mm) needle at an angle of 45 degrees, not 90, so as not too inject past the fat layer .

I use the I.M. method . I have tried sub -cut , but I’m so used to I.M. after 10 years of self-injecting , so I’ve kept with it . But I can assure you that both methods work . I.M. probably quicker. Sub- cut stays a bit longer in the fat layer , and releases b12 more slowly .

After injecting , I give the injection spot a little massage . Do not worry if you get a spurt of blood . This can happen - nothing to worry about .

I do emphasise that you should receive your very first B12 injection in a medical environment. There is a very rare reaction possible with a new injection , called anaphylaxis ( like some people react to a bee -sting) . It is very rare , but you should know about it . Adrenaline injection etc is required a.s.a.p.

You need to inject B12 often enough to keep symptoms at bay . You get to know how often this is by trial and error . There is no other way to find out . We are all different . Regularity required varies between daily and once every three months . Yes , honestly .

You can look all this up on Google , with pictures .

[rubyone in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you again for all the information, Wedgewood! I have been having injections here in South Wales since 2018 so should be fine doing them at home once I get over my own fear. It’s scary but I’ve felt a little bit of relief since having made the decision to purchase this afternoon and looking forward to helping myself. It’s quite liberating actually! Now, I just have to go through with it. Will let you know how I get on.

Thanks again 🤗♥️

[wedgewood in reply to rubyone]

Yes , it is scary. I well remember the first time that I self injected . I had to have a large G & T ! I thought that I would faint . But I didn’t . You will soon get used to it . I wish you all the very best . It really is liberating ..

All the best for the new life you will get as a result . 👍👍👍

[Damacian in reply to wedgewood]

Just to be clear are you saying that if someone self injects for the very first time then they should do this in a medical environment? Or are you talking about b12 injections in general ?

[Budsa in reply to Damacian]

I think Wedgewood was just speaking in general. As Rubyone is already receiving b12 injections through her surgery, she does not need to take this into account. The advice to have your first b12 injection in a clinical setting only applies to someone who has not a b12 injection previously.

[wedgewood in reply to Damacian]

I believe the very first injection of any new substance , not only B12 . It is very rare to have a dangerous reaction to a new substance ( anaphylaxis) But one should never take a risk with a new injected substance . In a medical setting it can be easily dealt with .

[Hockey_player in reply to wedgewood]

The B12 I get is really different from that. I get a vial that has 10 doses in it. There is rubber on the top. My husband sticks the needle through the rubber and draw out 1ml. He taps it to get rid of air bubbles. Then the same needle is used for the injection. He always wipes the rubber top with rubbing alcohol before starting to avoid contamination.

[wedgewood in reply to Hockey_player]

You are obviously in USA or Canada . We only get our B12 in single use ampoules , because of the slight risk of contamination in multi- use vials . But I have seen that single use ampoules are available on the Canadian online pharmacies . Best wishes .

[Marymary7 in reply to wedgewood]

wedgewood You are truly an angel 🥰

[HeartyGilly]

it is always scary at first. But watch the videos on YouTube to give you confidence. Best wishes.

[Cornwaller]

Great advice.

I practiced with an orange! I learnt all the fiddle bits with ampoules and needles without the worry of injecting myself. Then I did it on myself.

It was a much more gentle introduction for me and the orange never complained.

[Oneash]

Firstly, breathe and relax the leg you are going to inject. Pull the skin tight, between the thumb and index finger of your left hand, and place the tip of the needle on your skin between them. Let go with your left hand, and you find the skin springs back onto the needle. Then you can push it in a bit further. I find it just helps get over that yikes moment.

You'll soon be an old hand at it.

[rubyone in reply to Oneash]

Thanks for that, Oneash. That gives me a little more confidence. 🙂