Can I use a shorter needle to SI subcutaneously?

[Myoldcat]

Hi all, I'm currently using this for subcut injections - 25G 5/8" (16mm) Needle (Short Orange) - Unisharp

All is going well and I'm pretty slick with the prep now, but after 6 months I'm finding a psychological block creeping up when it comes to the piercing part...

So just wondering if there's anything shorter I can safely use?

Many thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and experience.

[Wwwdot]

Hi MOC

I use a fine 30g, 1/2" (13mm) needle for sub-cutaneous injection.

I totally get the psychological block - it comes and goes I find.

I call the psychological block the "rusty nail" phase - even the fine needle looks and mentally feels like a huge, thick, rusty nail!

What I do is have a "treat" ready for post-injection - to read a chapter of a book, play a phone game, or something and I focus on that treat.

After a while, the phase passes ... and we are back to the "grab and go" easy phase ... but only for a while, I find.

I could send you a few finer needles to try if you wish.

🤗🤗🤗

[Myoldcat in reply to Wwwdot]

Thank you Wheat, I like your idea of a treat afterwards! It's interesting that this block comes and goes, I thought it would only get easier 🤷🏼‍♀️ Thanks for your kind offer, but as I'm running low I'll order the smaller size before I run out of my current ones, then I can experiment.

[ClaireWF1346]

I use the 30G 1/2" (13mm) Needle (Yellow) needles too. I pause for a moment sometimes before piercing too and find the "1, 2, 3, inject" count works for me. Some days I don't even think about it but others I just think for a second, "I cant' do it"! But of course, I can.

Definitely find it easer with this needle than the longer orange. I do adjust the angle to 90 degrees though so it's going deep enough and I have more than sufficient belly fat for that angle. Good luck 😘

[Nackapan]

I have used s 30G 1/2 " needle for sc for ovef 4 years now .27-30G 1/2 -3/4" long suitable .

I totally get the pause / block .

I get it sometimes .

My husband however has type 1 diabetes and has to do 4 injections daily .

And has done for 30 years .

Also a thought of how ill I once was.

I breath out when Inserting the needle.

I Count to 10 before taking it out

Do whatever helps

[Treesong2023]

I use a 30G 1/2 inch for Sub myself Myold, as per advice i found in here. So, its a bit smaller.

However, if you are having the "pre-plunge pause" - DITTO! ..i get it sometimes..

So, just before i do the SI I give myself a talking to... " Okay missus...you want to get better..? you want to feel better..? Okay be brave.." then I set to it.. I find the verbalising distracts me, and i tell myself " well done you, take a bow.." Packing the SI process all with positive vibes works for me.

[Myoldcat in reply to Treesong2023]

Ah, thanks for the encouragement. I sing myself a little B12 song about how it's making me feel much better... just surprised myself by having a mental block at this stage! But clearly I'm not alone in that. So will try that slightly smaller needle as recommended by you, Wwwdot, ClaireWF and Nackapan. Yes, compared to N's husband with diabetes I have very little to complain about.

[Mixteca in reply to Myoldcat]

Alternatively, you could think of those of us who SI IM with bigger needles and feel relief that you're not doing that. The sub cut needles seem tiny to me by comparison 🤗

[Myoldcat in reply to Mixteca]

Yes I do feel for you and other IM injectors, not sure I would cope so well.

[Mixteca in reply to Myoldcat]

I'd intended to sub cut but after starting with IM I actually found the technique harder.

[Wheat]

hello Myoldcat, I subcutaneously inject and currently I use a yellow 30G 1/2"" needle. I have used a 6mm needle too no problem but its more expensive. I use (methylcobalamin) recommended syringe with 8mm needle, also successfully.

I much prefer a smaller needle being thin. I try to partially insert needle 2/3rds in atm. I have to use up my stock of 1/2" then 6mm again or even try out 4mm needles.

[Bertiepuss]

I also use the 30g 1/2" yellow needle. If I get a twang of panic then I get out one of my old blue needles I first started using for IM injections, stare at it for a few seconds, and then this quickly reminds me how thin and short the 30g is in comparison and I then relax a bit. I hated those longer needles into the muscle so the smaller ones make me feel much more at ease.

[Myoldcat in reply to Bertiepuss]

Thanks Bertiepuss - it's all relative isn't it! I'm not sure I could have coped with IM, so grateful to be able to inject SI.

[Myoldcat]

Thanks all for taking the trouble to reply with your experiences. I've just ordered the 30g 1/2" yellow needles to try.

[Lin602]

I use 30 gauge, 5/16" (8mm) Easy Touch. Same length as yours but a thinner needle. They are sold as an insulin syringe on Amazon in the US. I don't have much body fat and find that using the abdominal area is the least painful, usually no pain at all. The injection is a small price to pay for the ability to function as a normal human being.

[Myoldcat in reply to Lin602]

Yes you're right about it being a small price to pay Lin602. Just finding it weird that I'm getting more - rather than less - twitchy about injecting.