I got my first injections today- 1.2 MU of Bicillin L-A...and will do it 2x per week..
The nurse injected into the love handle area...is that correct? I thought they were supposed to be more in the BUTT!
I'm thin and don't really have much of any love handles- so I was very worried that she was going to inject me there & hit my BONE!...she insisted it was right...
Also, she used a 1 inch needle instead of the 1 1/2 inch needle that came with them... is that ok? Or does it really need to go deeper ?
I'm a bit skpetic of what nurses or doctors tell me they 'know'...when it comes to Lyme...especially out here....just checking in with you all...
Did you find it hard to walk afterwards...
I only noticed a little fatigue- nothing major...and a sore muscle area where injected...but we'll see how I feel tomorrow...I read it peaks within 24 hours...?
I keep massaging and rubbing the area to try and move that stuff...the nurse said to do that..?? It seems the muscle hurts if I'm sitting for a bit and not moving around?
I hope some of you Bicillin users check in here...
Many Mahalos for your input!
Love & Smiles~
Fawne
Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
Aloha!
I just had this conversation with my nurse a few days ago.
If you're thin, you use a shorter needle to prevent hitting the bone. And we're talking thin thin. You must be thin thin.
I also finally understand where the injection should be; it's not really on the butt, but the "rear" part of the hip. Another way people describe it is if you divide your butt cheek into 4, you inject in the upper outer quadrant. I'm not talking about injecting into the side of your hip, but keep going around toward the back. So saying it's on your butt is true, but it's not in the middle of your buttcheek.
The following seems to be a fairly good description; as well, there is a picture, and a description of HOW to give an injection:
The injection has to go into the muscle, not fat, it's true.
I do massage the site, and go for a little walk around the house to disperse the medication.
I get sleepy as well, so I usually have a little sleep afterward.
Best wishes on your speedy recovery,
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
We must be on the same schedule because I also just started bicillin shots on Friday and will be doing them 2x per week!
The stuff I got from the pharmacy came with 1.5 inch needles but I guess as long as the 1 inch needles get into the muscle that's ok.
In terms of where the nurse did it, it was like canbrave described...sort of like the upper outer quadrant of my butt.
In terms of discomfort...afterwords it did hurt to walk and my leg and butt hurt a bit. It's now the next morning and my butt is a bit sore where the injection was done but all the other pain seems to have settled down.
Let us know how you're doing and we can compare notes!
-David
Posted by KauaiGoddess (Member # 11782) on :
Aloha Thanks!
Canbravelyme-
that link was great! yup that shadded area is where she injected me- so I guess all is good...
thank you so much for that....really settled my mind...I've lost lots of weight so I'm pretty thin- but gaining it back, slowly- smile!
so not sure, maybe i'll try the 1 1/2inch...if the nurse thinks so...she switched caused I freaked out how 'long' the needle was...ha ha ..and said I was thin...
David-
yes, we are on the same schedule it seems...thanks for your input-appreciate it..
Keep us updated-
yes, this morning mine is a bit sore too...but otherwise I'm ok....
so when are getting your next one? Monday or tuesday? and then Friday again? Not sure how the spacing goes...
Also, do you have to get the injections at the same time of the day? does it matter like orals? It seems not, if you go 2 or 3 days without one...just wondering...
Thanks again you two!
Love & Hugs!
Fawne
Posted by KauaiGoddess (Member # 11782) on :
Aloha Fin~
thank you for your story...
and the links to the articles! I have to read them still...my brain's feeling kinda swollen and can't handle reading lots now...thank you though...
my butt/hip isn't sore anymore which is nice...it's day 3 and my fatigue lifted compared to yesterday when the shot hit me....I also feel 'off' in a sense with some emotional herxing & 'brain' swelling...
How are you doing David?
thanks again to you all... Love~ Fawne
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
Fawne-
I pretty much plan to do the shots Sat morning and Tuesday night.
I was sore for a day or so after the first shot (which was done on Friday) but overall it wasnt too bad of an experience.
I have not noticed any change in my symptoms although it's hard to tell since some days are better than others and some are worse than others. I'll give it some time and see what happens.
So tonight I will get my next shot...yippee! lol
-David
Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
I've been on Bicillin a LONG time and can make a couple of comments, for whatever they are worth.
I sometimes notice feeling a bit "off" after a shot and think it's probably a side effect. I usually take them in the early evening so I will be asleep when that happens yet early enough to notice anything that seems allergic before going to sleep.
The old 1.2 MU Bicillin had a 1.25 inch needle. These are not manufactured to the best of my knowledge but I think that is the minimum length. Since you can't get them, that takes us up to 1.5 inches. That's for a lean person. I had a lot of trouble with 1.5 twenty gauge needles clogging and was getting lumps. I decided to try 2.0 inch needles but could only get them in twenty-one gauge (thinner than twenty). Surprisingly, these clog very rarely. They are also less like to draw blood (in my case). I'm not a big guy at 5'8" 150 lbs. and that length has worked fine.
You can discuss the exact best spot to inject, but if you are on these a while you are going to need most of the upper, outer quadrant in order to be able to rotate your sites. I've gone all the way to the margings with few problems. If there is any extra room in the syringe, you can add 1 ml. of 1% Lidocaine. If not, you would have to transfer the Bicillin to a larger syringe taking extreme precautions to maintain sterility.
Bicillin doesn't do it for everyone but IMHO it has one of the best track records for stable remission. It seems to work better for people who are chronic and looking for better quality of life, not cure.
Dave
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
Hi all-
So at my recent dr appt they increased the number of shots from 2 to 4 which means I get 2 shots on Saturday and 2 shots on Sunday.
Sometimes they do hurt a little but usually other than the initial poke through the skin they aren't bad at all (so far!)
KauaiGoddess have you been doing on them?
-David
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
I did bicillin shots three times a week for a year. LOVED IT! I have to say it was the best treatment for me to date. Went off the injections about 5 months ago and am only taking vitamin supplements at this point. Still have minor symptoms but nothing compared to how sick I was in the past.
I figured out early on the true secret to the bicillin shots was to warm the shot up to my body temp before injecting it into my body. Makes a huge difference in the pain felt. I warmed the shot by holding it in the inside of my elbow and bending my arm gently or even bending my knees and placing it there for a little while. My husband gave me the shots and injected the medicine slowly. Sometimes I would feel a little sleepy afterwards. We did this for a year and rarely did the shot ever hurt and rarely did I ever get any of the lumps most of you are talking about. Good luck. I totally recommend the bicillin. It really seemed to stablize me, not cure me although it made a huge difference.
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