Aa
shot fear, still nervous before giving my shots
i always do my shot in the area under the navel (always avoided the thigh and other fat area for fear of hitting a muscle or sore legs). already passed the halfway mark with Pegasys/Riba! take that and add it to the # of Neup shots i've also given to myself i've probably given myself around 60 syringe shots so far during tx under the bellybutton.
ironically though, i still feel nervous with each upcoming shot i give myself.. i hesitate with picking the area to give the shot, sometimes, i have trouble picking areas where there are enough fat, have trouble sticking the needle in (esp the Neup bc i have to draw the drug out of a vial) and end up hitting a capillary or two and getting sore after the shot. my skin seems slightly rougher and more difficult to poke through since tx maybe bc it's been poked so many times. it feels like i have to be mentally prepared for the "self-shot-giving" procedure. i've had some good shots where it didn't hurt or bleed. but other times, it's the total opposite. soreness usually doesn't last past 3 hrs, tiny bleeding from hit capillaries don't last past 15 min.
also, i figured that if i give my shot alone without anyone watching, i take my time, do a better job and end up with less pain and sometimes no bleeding at all. but i tend to "mess-up" more often when someone is watching me taking my shot.. i guess it's bc i get more nervous.
am i the only one feeling this way?
maybe i'm thinking too much, i tend to do that a lot.
thanks
ironically though, i still feel nervous with each upcoming shot i give myself.. i hesitate with picking the area to give the shot, sometimes, i have trouble picking areas where there are enough fat, have trouble sticking the needle in (esp the Neup bc i have to draw the drug out of a vial) and end up hitting a capillary or two and getting sore after the shot. my skin seems slightly rougher and more difficult to poke through since tx maybe bc it's been poked so many times. it feels like i have to be mentally prepared for the "self-shot-giving" procedure. i've had some good shots where it didn't hurt or bleed. but other times, it's the total opposite. soreness usually doesn't last past 3 hrs, tiny bleeding from hit capillaries don't last past 15 min.
also, i figured that if i give my shot alone without anyone watching, i take my time, do a better job and end up with less pain and sometimes no bleeding at all. but i tend to "mess-up" more often when someone is watching me taking my shot.. i guess it's bc i get more nervous.
am i the only one feeling this way?
maybe i'm thinking too much, i tend to do that a lot.
thanks
No matter how much fat you have, there is always subcutaneous fat (the moderately thin layer under the skin) and if you keep the skin pinched the whole time, so that it stands away from your body by about an inch, then you should be good. As for reactions....I'm not sure as I don't get them.
Maybe I'm a bit too concerned about whether I'm injecting into fat or not. I'm 5'6" and I weight 118. I've been very active all my life with bicycling, cross country skiing, swimming, canoing, etc. I just don't have that many areas that pinch well but I'm finding them.
I have read that for anyone that has reactions at the injection site, it is suggested to try taking benadryl 1/2 hour prior to the shot to help avoid a reaction.
I have read that for anyone that has reactions at the injection site, it is suggested to try taking benadryl 1/2 hour prior to the shot to help avoid a reaction.
Glad I could give you two a chuckle =)
On a serious note, as far as finding enough space on your stomach to inject, what's the problem? The needle is only a few micron's thick - there are almost an infinite number of places to stick it. I have hardly any fat on my stomach (yay me, eyeroll) but I make sure I pinch AND KEEP HOLDING IT PINCHED while I inject, so that the needle doesn't penetrate into the muscle. I ALWAYS wipe with alcohol pads before AND after and I wash my hands before every time.
So far absolutely NO irritation or soreness from any of the six shots I've done.
On a serious note, as far as finding enough space on your stomach to inject, what's the problem? The needle is only a few micron's thick - there are almost an infinite number of places to stick it. I have hardly any fat on my stomach (yay me, eyeroll) but I make sure I pinch AND KEEP HOLDING IT PINCHED while I inject, so that the needle doesn't penetrate into the muscle. I ALWAYS wipe with alcohol pads before AND after and I wash my hands before every time.
So far absolutely NO irritation or soreness from any of the six shots I've done.
Grow some balls? LMAO!
Lalapple, I have shot anxiety too and I don't consider myself a wimp by any means. My hands shake and I can't wait to get the darn thing over with each week. I have problems finding enough fat too. My stomach area has room for about 4 shots and that's it. My thighs have room for about 3 shots each. This week I found some fat in a tiny "love handle" on my side just above the hip. While pulling the needle cap off this past Friday, it was so hard to pull off that when I finally let loose, there was sort of a rebound action and I stuck the darn needle in my finger!! I'm not a klutz either. I took shot No. 19 and it was no easier than shot No. 1. Oh...and I have it much easier than you because I only have one shot to do per week.
Lalapple, I have shot anxiety too and I don't consider myself a wimp by any means. My hands shake and I can't wait to get the darn thing over with each week. I have problems finding enough fat too. My stomach area has room for about 4 shots and that's it. My thighs have room for about 3 shots each. This week I found some fat in a tiny "love handle" on my side just above the hip. While pulling the needle cap off this past Friday, it was so hard to pull off that when I finally let loose, there was sort of a rebound action and I stuck the darn needle in my finger!! I'm not a klutz either. I took shot No. 19 and it was no easier than shot No. 1. Oh...and I have it much easier than you because I only have one shot to do per week.
"Grow some balls" LOL! My shot day balls came in the form of 5mg of Clonazepam a 1/2 hour prior to my shot for the first twelve weeks!! ( I would literally be shaking (g)) I hated giving myself the shot on week one just as much as I hated to give myself the shot on week 72!! I think that was the main reason I slowly ended up doing the shots at 5 am on Thursday, the sooner I got it over with, the better!!
Hmmm, a stabbed bystander, and people having problems using these tiny needles.....hahah, really I have to scoff a bit. I hate to be so cynical or judgemental, but come on folks, it isn't rocket science and these needles are tiny. My eight year old daughter could do it. Sorry if I'm not sympathetic, but there are worse things to be concerned with, like end stage liver disease that some people must face, or a failed run through tx.
Grow some balls and common sense.
Grow some balls and common sense.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
