Someone please tell me how to give myself a shot. I would appreciate it.
When it was time for the next shot, I realized I was still afraid, but I had a 2 year old, no baby sitter, no one to help and the dr. (who was more than willing to give me the shoits indefinittely) was 35 miles away.
I said, "self, " I said, "Self, looks like its up to you... no matter how scared, or how much you think its going to sting, it sure cant hurt more than this hip or those knees do right now."
I got a cup of coffee, turned on my favorite music, sat in my comfy chair and decided to do it. I took the syringe out and let it warm to room temp, while I listened to music. I rested an ice pack, wrapped in a soft towel on my tummy, so the entire area was ice cold. I rolled the syringe between my palms til I couldnt feel it, it was the same temp as my body. I wiped a HUGE area of my tummy with the alcohol wipe. (My tummy is huge and there are far less nerve endings there, and the skin is soft and easy to hold) I let the alcohol dry, the held the needle like a pencil, and pinched up a nice bulge of tummy skin. I slid the needle in at a 45 degree angle, and didn't feel it go in at all.
Then I exhaled, and shifted my grasp on the needle up to the plunger. I slowly pushed the plunger in saying all the while, "my toes won't hurt, my ankles won't hurt, my knees won't hurt, my hips won't hurt, my spine won't hurt, my fingers won't hurt, my hands won't hurt, my thumbs won't hurt, my elbows won't hurt, my shoulders won't hurt, my jaw won't hurt." By the time I finished that affirmation the syringe was empty. I withdrew the needle, it almost fell out, gently rubbed a bit with the ice pack. Gave myself a big cheer, and disposed of the needle.
I HATE needles. I am terrified. I shake and tremble, but my body accepted the need to do this. Now, 20 shots later, its absolutely NOTHING. I've had so much worse blood tests, or shots from professionals that hurt much worse. I am so happy that the meds are working and that I can take this specific action for myself to relieve so much agony.
You WILL be able to do it. Now my little one sits and watches me, and comments on my skill, (or lack thereof) when I made a bruise she had a smart remark. It's just a normal part of life.
What kind of shot are you looking at? Enbrel? I had a visiting nurse assigned to me (ins paid) to come for 3 weeks and watch/supervise as i gave my shot.
All i do for enbrel (please do not think this is medical advice, I am not a DR!) is take it out of the fridge for about 15 minutes, I wipe the area of my lower belly (like between crotch and belly button) with an alcohol swab and let it dry. I flick the syringe and get all the tiny bubbles out of the needle while not wasting the medicine. Then i make sure the needle is angled so the bevel is up (sometimes a drop of med is sitting on top of it.) I hold the needle like a pencil or cigarette and push it in at an angle. I am doing this with the right hand while holding my (fat)skin witht he other. I push the syringe in slowly and breathe steadily. When the syringe is empty (i dont push the little end of air in) i pull out slowly and straight so not to bend anything. I wipe the area again with the alcohol and wait a few minutes before i get up. Sometimes i hit a nerve and it hurts a bit... Also once the needle is in, try to pull out on the plunger a bit to make sure you havent hit a vein. This seems hard to me to do, but i guess just a tiny pull works. I switch sides each week as to not use the same site back to back.
I hope this gives some insight as to what i do. YOu will have to get help the first time maybe. THe RD or DR should be able to help you, even if you bring the syringe to their office for the first time.
GOod Luck!
First, clean the area you're going to injectg with the alcohol and wait a few seconds to make sure it's dry before injecting. If you don't contaminate the area by touching it, it'll stay clean while you're talking yourself into it.
Anyway, I don't know much about Humira, but I believe it's administered subcutaneously, which is the least painful of shot methods. Do the Humira people provide you with some sort of device like an Autoject to help--especially with those areas like the butt, where it's hard to get to one-handed? Well if so, that's great. But I suggest you not use that right away. Try doing it manually--and I suggest the stomach as your site, since this is the area with the least nerve endings. Gently pinch up the skin an inch or two away from your belly button, put the needle in (the hardest part of the process--everything else is easy.) As soon as you have the needle in, release the skin your're pinching. Then slowly push the medicine in. Pull the syringe out slowly and steadily. Dont touch the area you just injected with the alcohol afterwards. Just press it with a dry cotton ball or sterile pad gently if it bleeds. If it doesn't bleed, just leave it alone.
Do the Humira people not send a nurse or healthcare professional to your house to help you with the first time? If not, shame on them. Maybe you can have your rheumy's nurse sit with you and talk you through it. Be sure to read everything that comes with the medicine--especially the "how to administer." And while you're waiting for the medicine, look it up on the internet. I just looked at their site at www.humira.com. They;ve got loads of info. Start clicking.
I swear to you this will get so easy for you within just a few shots. The first one is the scary one. If I were there, I'd come over and hang out with you while you did it. Sometimes, I think it's easier to let a stranger see us when we're being chicken.
Just breath deeply until you can do it. Remember how much better it'll make you feel once you get this going.
Let us now how you're doing on this.
To answer your most recent question, no, the needle probably doesn't have to go in at an exact angle. The reason they tell you this (and they suggest an angle on their site - check "already taking humira" AND "injection assistance" links) is because there's less chance of it being painful. You'll have several choices of where to inject. Heck--I inject all over the place - arms, thighs, butt. But trust when I say the stomach is the least painful. Sometimes I have to check visually to see if the needle is in. It really doesn't hurt half the time. The other times, it's a tiny little prick for just an instant. Sometimes, the medicine does hurt a bit going in. But just push slowly and steadily, and it'll be over before you know it. Don't worry about the little bubble of air that ight be in the syringe. Push the plunger all the way in to be sure you get all the medicine. Oh. Be gentle when you "grab" the skin. Just pinch it gently, and let go as soon as the needle is in.
I don't mind shots at the Dr., but I hate giving them to myself. That having been said, it's not that bad. The folks here gave good descriptions, so I'll just say "yeah, what they said" Thank you over and over and I will let you know how it goes Tuesday. I looked on Humira to see if they had instrunctions about giving injections but could not find it. So I will go back and find what I did not the first time. Again you all are great and so supportive that is so cool.
Did you get my private message regarding testing before you start injections? It's important, so if you didn't get it for some reason, let me know, and I'll just post again here.
Glad you found the info. Just keep clicking, and read all the "fine print." You'll be more informed on what you're getting ready to start.
Franny
One of your questions asked if it bubbles up under the skin after an injection... it does not. If you inject at an angle, it is still going under your layers of skin, not in between the layers. (TB tests go in the layers and can bubble). The meds go in and move through the tissue. Sometime if i get up and bend over like to grab a pair of sock, ill get a little sharp sting, i think thats cause i just moved the meds around in my skin...
Also.. when i grab my belly (the info packet says to grab an inch) i just grab a large section to stabilize it while injecting. the inof packet shows a small section and my nurse said "just grab your fat and hold it" we laughed at that one.
Kathy in wlsv: You sound JUST LIKE ME!!!!!!! only i had a nurse the first 3 times!!!! I do the whole breathing thing too... i find that i exhale really slowly while i inject... then i can breathe normal when its done. hee hee
Im in the detroit area so if anyone needs help and is local.. give a shout!