Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
1) For those of you who've done it, how would you rate its effectiveness?
2) Best place to order from (with Rx of course)?
3) Can you inject yourself or do you have to have a nurse do it? I'm a bit freaked out about giving myself shots- nervous about hitting a vein or nerve. Also, what's the best location to do so? Butt/upper thigh region like Bicillin?
4) Insurance horror stories about coverage or usually OK?
Thanks all! dawn
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
I have to give a quick reply, but can talk later. I did 1 1/2 years of these shots and then quit to give my butt a break.
Coverage for the shots was not a problem. My husband gave me the shots, and they hurt like hell, so after someone on lymenet told me to, I asked for lidocaine prescription to mix the antibiotics with.
Then we mixed the antibiotic with saline partially, and lidocain partially. That took the pain out very nicely.
But each shot did give me lumps under the skin where the shot was given, and it would take weeks for each lump to go away.
My daughter was doing the shots with me, and after 6 months of shots with no problem, she had a severe allergic reaction out of nowhere, and we had to hit her with the epi pen and take her to the emergency room.
She is fine now and back on onmicef. Keep you epi pen close when dosing.
The shots are hugely effective at supressing symptoms. I have never seen a cure, so I don't say cure.
You will probably find them very helpful. Take warm baths to reduce the lumps under the skin and massage the area.
Hope that helps, Mary in Switzerland
Posts: 1032 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
There is study on IM/IV ceftriaxone bioavailabilty. IM is 4 times less bioavailable then IV - means 4 gms IM = 1gm IV.
And I heard IM ceft is literally pain in the butt. Looks like a waste of ceft to me to do it IM - considering how expensive it is
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
If you DO IT RIGHT,it does NOT hurt much, and it works. Never did IM ceftriaxone; I did IM Bicillin LA..
The key is in being able to do the injections properly. I did my own injections, and had minimal soreness, and rarely had those painful bumps.
I had been trained on how to do injections years ago while working as a medical assistant, and that experience really helped me.
My LLMD's office also provided training to my husband on how to do the injections, but he was never any good at it. He gave me my first few, and they hurt like h*#@.
Many people who don't have a good understanding of human anatomy are afraid of injecting too deeply into the muscle.
These injections are meant to be DEEP muscle injections; there is good reason that needle on the syringe is so long! And use the butt, not the thigh; that is a bigger muscle and you'll get better results.
I am walking proof that you CAN give yourself injections in your own backside successfully.
Never had any problems with insurance with IM Bicillin.
Posts: 962 | From Charleston | Registered: Jan 2002
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lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
I also did IM Bicillin years ago, and it did not hurt like ceftriaxone. And I did not have painful, lasting bumps under the shot.
I have also done, most recently, IM Cleocin, which is very powerful, and again, not as painful as cetriaxone.
Maybe it is different for everybody, but since I have had three different antibiotics IM route, and one I.V., I have a basis for comparison.
I did inject myself in my leg once. Hurts more in smaller muscles, so going for the butt is best.
Mary
Posts: 1032 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Btm, thanks for the bump!
Lymewreck said: and then quit to give my butt a break.
Your phrasing "cracked" me up!
Thanks for posting everyone. I've done the Bicillin injections (via nurse of course ;-) that didn't help that much, and have had a PICC with Rocephin that did a great, great deal of good for my neuro sx.
I am going to ask my LLMD about the IM rochephin next appt.
Thanks for the tips!
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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