Any hints on how to do these shots and what will make them less painful. I am starting them next week. thanks Diana
Posted by the3030club (Member # 21898) on :
i've never taken them, but i have an info sheet from my llmd which includes some general instructions. PM me with your email address and i'll send you a scan of the sheet.
Posted by n2themystic (Member # 27315) on :
Ask you doctor to give you a prescription for lidocaine. You can rub that in the injection area 15-20 min prior to the injection.
If that is not an option you can apply ice to the area to numb it prior to the injection.
Inject the medicine slowly. Too fast equals more pain. Try to take 2-3 min for the injection.
After the injection try to walk for a bit and/or apply some warm heat to the area.
The first 5-7 were not the most fun but after that I really don't mind them too much.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Did the shots do anything for you at all? I hear more negative than postive results on them and I was considering them since I was denied IV therapy by insurance.
Does insurance cover these shots?
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
My insurance covered them, and the shots did more for me than a Rocephin IV did.
The shots are cumbersome and unpleasant. You have to get the top of the muscle. Its the section near the top of the butt. there are a lot of diagrams online. Look up IM injection diagram on google. You have to twist yourself around, give yourself the shot with one hand, and at first pinch the section of flesh you wanna puncture with the other. Maybe your Dr. or nurse can give u a demo. For me, the shots were the most effective thing against Lyme, combo'd w/ Plaquenil and zithro. Very powerful, and I herxed a LOT. I did them for 4 months, and I would be willing to do it again.....VERY EFFECTIVE for me.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
This shots are VERY effective. I don't know where you have heard any negative about the effectiveness of IM shots. Many take them along with orals.
I was never able to give them to myself. If you can't, you can find a local doctor or nurse who can do them for you.
That's what I did. I went to my internist three times a week and had them done at his office.
Insurance usually covers them but it depends on your insurance, as well.
Posted by lpass (Member # 26781) on :
I literally just started my shots yesterday. I went to my LLMD to get it. They said they advise against ever giving yourself the shot, but you can have a spouse or someone do it. Althought it sounds like some people do the injection themselves.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
If you have someone to give them to you it's a much easier process. They can be taught how to do them very easily.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Do you take them three times a week? My llmd said it would be just once a week that is why many choose to have her give the shot. If not I can have my GP give them to me once a week, but he is the same man who cannot get blood from me for a test?
Think I may choose to take a trip to the city once a week as long as I dont get charged for an office visit too. THanks for the info. I read so many blogs on here that said the shots did not help them at all. I guess everyone responds different?
Ipass you are on diflucan too? Is this just a basic med they give to everyone? I was put on this week for a severe yeast infection. EIther the diflucan or the omnicef or one of the nutrients has me living in the bathroom this week. Wish I could figure which one it is.very uncomfortable.
Posted by Zenith_Z (Member # 20368) on :
Yes, have someone give them to you. Because it has to be in a specific spot and the first shot could cause a kind of shock I went and begged my regular doctor to help me. He was told he could not give me the shot due to insurance reasons (since prescribed by my out of state doctor and the office mgr said if I later had a problem they could be liable) but he said that it stays in the system long enough that the there would be no shock reaction to further shots and that his nurse could show my sig other how to do it and then make me sit there for 15/20 min before I left in case I had a reaction. So she gave me a shot of saline showing him how to give a shot and the "triangle" where it should go so it does not damage the nerves there, and then he injected the bicillin. And then we did it at home from then on.
did for about a month I think.
Good Luck. They really were not that painful even though the needle is large.....have whoever is giving it hold the syringe for a minute so it is not so cold from the frig.....
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Bicillian shots are prescribed differently by different doctors and depending on the patients needs as all medications are. Some doctors do them twice a week, some three times and your LLMD is recommending once.
He may want to see your reaction to it before determining if it needs to be increased.
Posted by lpass (Member # 26781) on :
annier1071 - yes, I get two shots (one in each cheek) once a week so I just go to the llmd's office for it. I work in midtown and it's just a subway ride away. Although it's a pain (in more ways than one!) to leave work early once a week, I feel safer doing it that way. My husband came with me for the first shot and told me no way he will do it - it freaked him out too much :-) I suggest going to your LLMD if it's close enough. And I am taking diflucan more as a prophylactic, as I haven't had a yeast problem *yet*. I'm on omnicef and I think that causes stomach issues for me. Although it seems my body is finally getting used to it (after 7 months).