Okay - Nurse gave me the choice, the pen vs. the needle and medicine. I guessed and said the pen. Is this an easier thing to use? Is there a downside?
I have done both and much preferred the pen. The injection itself goes much quicker and you do not have to summon up as much courage to do the injection like with the regular syringe. The only downside to the pen is that the needle is spring loaded and the initial stick hurts a little bit more than with the regular syringe. I loved the pen when I was on humira!! Thank you Gramma! I just guessed at it, so hearing a positive is a great thing.I've been using the Humira pen for the last 2 months. My last RX was for the prefilled syringes and guess what - they hurt less than the pen. I just requested the syringes for my next RX. I don't mind injecting with a needle and for some reason there was much less pain. LindyI really like the pen over the syringes. I also use an ice cube on the area that I am going to inject . Hold it there for just a couple of minutes and there is no sting. I vote for the syringes. Haven't tried the pen. Good luck with whatever you try.I vote for the pen too. When I was on humira, I injected in my tummy. There was extra chub there to pinch and inject. It didn't hurt at all in my tummy with the pen.
Good luck
I really appreciate the opinions. Like everything I knew it would be a personal like or dislike, but wanted to know the "why" individuals chose one way or the other.
Once again, it's nice to have a place to go to for information.
Hi Debra- I much preferred the pen to the injections when I was Humira. I am now on enbrel and back onto the injections which I hate. Good luckHello Deb, The main reason I like the pen is that I don't have to see the needle go into my body. I would cringe every time I had to use the needle. With the pen the needle is hidden in a tube and you never see it and might only feel it do its job . Good luck to you. He He! I differ with everyone--always! I like the syringe because of the sting of the Humira. I can slow down the shot if it is stinging or go quickly if it is not stinging. I guess I am not that queasy with the needles. Let us all know how you make out. Syringe over pen....syringe doesn't hurt as much as pen and I guess it was the control issue because the med. didn't hurt as much pen. Like Catnip I think it's a case of being able to control the syringe and needle.Great- I'm scared to death of needles and finally had come to terms with the pen figuring how bad can it hurt and now everyone says it does.
I have a hard time inflicting pain on myself.
wanttobe - give it a try, I'm going to. As with everything, what works for one, doesn't for another. I was just looking for the pros and cons. I'll give it a whirl, and if it's horrible, I'll try the syringe I guess. I really don't care to jab my stomach, but if the medicine works I'm in. I did chuckle though, on their website it says not to stick yourself in a stretch mark. Good friggin luck there, I had twins. My stomach reads like the atlas.I have found that having someone give me my shot in the arm (whether it was the humira or it is currently my mtx) was the best place to do it. I used to inject my legs and then one day my daughter injected my arm and I was like ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh that is so much better than the leg!!!! I have never injected my tummy as the thought of it makes my tummy roll lol.