I am starting bicillin in the next week or two and my wife is going to learn how to give me the shots.
She sometimes has to travel for work so I am wondering how to handle the shots when she is away?
Do people use a nursing service, go to a doctor or do the shots themselves when someone is not around to do them?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Also, I work in NYC so if anyone is from the area that has already solved this issue please let me know!
Thanks, David
-------------------- Same nightmare, different day! Posts: 401 | From East Coast | Registered: Nov 2005
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
It depends how sick you are, and what your symptomology is.
When I first started: there was no way. Confusion, excruciating burning pain, etc.
But now I give them to myself. The best thing to do is when your wife is being trained, you also get trained. A good nurse will be able to help you.
A couple of hints:
Leave the bicillin at room temp for a few hours before you inject. Less painful.
And as Cavey and I like to sing in Chorus:
*ALWAYS* *ALWAYS* *ALWAYS* PULL BACK ON THE PLUNGER AND CHECK FOR BLOOD BEFORE YOU INJECT.
Bicllin injected into a vein can be LETHAL.
It's a learnable process, but you must apply your attention.
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I had a nurse from my doctor's office originally show me how to give the shot to myself. But, I also had a friend who was a nurse and she gave them to me for a while. The nurse that showed me how to give it to myself had me "sit" on the toilet to do it. This way, it "pushes" your cheeks up, and so you don't have to do that part yourself. You just have to clean the site and inject.
Now, this is the second time I have been put on Bicillin, and this time, I give myself the shots. I usually warm the syringe by rubbing it back and forth between my hands for a few minutes. This is sufficient and I don't have to remember to take it out of the fridge hours before.
Many people stress pulling back on the plunger to look for blood before injecting. I just want to say that my Nurse friend showed me and you don't have to "pull" back really, just give a little pressure in the opposite direction to see if you get blood at the top of the needle, if not - go ahead.
I "pulled back" once before my friend showed me what to do and I DID get blood, I injected anyway - which I am sure will make some who read this cringe. I had no adverse reaction and I am fine. In my opinion, the chances of getting blood if you really pull back is high considering the size of the needle and how far the needle goes into the skin (passing through small vessels perhaps). After all, the site bleeds when the needle is removed.....
Anyway - giving the shots yourself is very doable, just a bit hard to get used to.
Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
I should say that I've "sucked way back" on the plunger - and it hurt! But there weren't no blood...
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I've always done my Bicillin shots myself-- in fact I don't think I would let anyone else get near me with a needle like that.
Generally, it's super easy. I do it lying down or sitting on a chair, half turned around. My LLMD told me that's not necessary to aspirate (pull back in the beginning and look for blood), and I never have. Never had a problem.
Just be sure to pack alcohol swabs and injection site bandaids.
The first time doing it alone is definitely the scariest. But once you're over that, it's smooth sailing. Posts: 390 | From Oakland, CA | Registered: May 2007
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