Last year I did 6 months or so of IM methyl injections. My LLMD has now prescibed me sub-cutaneous injections instead of IM. A nurse showed me how to do the IM ones but no one has showed me how to do the sub-cutatenous injections. I looked up on the internet how to do it and it seems pretty easy...but any pieces of advice from those who have some experience?
Thanks!
-David
-------------------- Same nightmare, different day! Posts: 401 | From East Coast | Registered: Nov 2005
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clairenotes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10392
posted
I have only done this a few times so I am not much of an expert. But here is my experience...
Per my own LLMD, I pinch a small amount of my skin with my thumb and forefinger and insert the needle into the pinched skin just so that it penetrates into the skin but not into other tissues.
So far it has worked out okay, but I have pricked myself a couple of times with the needle.
I think there is another way of doing it where one does not have to pinch the skin. The needle is simply inserted into the skin.
I have been afraid to do this because I can't determine how far to insert the needle. Somehow the pinching method allows me to see how far in I am. But this other method would prevent getting pricked with the needle with my other hand.
Hopefully someone with more expertise will come along and shed some light on this. Marnie, maybe?
Claire
[ 16. July 2007, 06:21 AM: Message edited by: clairenotes ]
Posts: 1111 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Pinching helps you to not bruise as much. SUB-Q you tend to bruise more.
You some ice on the inj. site before injecting and then right after to help avoid the bruising.
Some injectables state where they are to be injected...i.e. blood thinners are supposed to be injected in the "love handle" area of the side. Some meds can't be injected into the leg, so that would be something I would definately find out.
Much Luck!
Posts: 94 | From Greenville, Tx | Registered: Apr 2007
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
I too ice to numb first, pinch some skin on my tummy or thigh area and inject. Not bad at all. My Dr. told me to rub it for about a min. after to get things moving around and lessen any bruising.
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
My doc said that it wouldn't matter if I went too shallow or too deep. I"m taking methylcobalamine this way. The directions were the same as already described here- find some fat, pinch the skin between fingers, and insert needle partway. My 28 gauge needles hardly hurt this way.
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