Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Ugh! Injecting Myself ...

Geez ....

Recently my new doc decided that I would start taking my weekly methotrexate subcutaneously, instead of orally ... which of course means self-administering a needle.

Are you OK with that? he asks. Of course I am. Needles dont make me queasy. I volunteered to be the demo person last year when my class was learning 'sharps'. I learned how to draw blood while my boss (previous job) gave me instructions as I drew the blood from him. No, no. This won't be a problem at all.

So there I am last week, learning how to give myself a needle with his nurse. She tells me that I'll likely need to psyche myself to do it. Count it out for yourself she says ... One, two, three, and let three be your mark. No matter what happens, stick the needle in your leg on three. Easy peasy! Sitting in the office, all full of nurse prompting, I count to three and stick my leg. Done and done.

So tonight, the time has come to give myself the injection, all by myself. Not even the least bit nervous. Draw up 1 ml. Clean the site. Laughing to myself I count out loud ... one, two, three .... *nothing*.

Wait a second? --- I was supposed to stick that needle in my leg. OK, never mind, first time nerves. Here we go. One ... two ... three ----------- gosh! the needle touches the skin and stops right there.

(OK, OK Strutinsky ... pull it together.)

*Deep breath*

One ... two ... three -- OH! the needle's in! ................ and it's out again. Argh!

(Too excited? why the heck would I yank it out?)

OK. That's it. *determined brow crinkles up* Too angry to miss this time.

Onetwothree! And, Success!!!!!!!! (Shaking hands finish the job.)

Good grief! I have new found respect for sc MTX users, Enbrel folks, diabetics and anyone else who has to inject themselves. It doesnt hurt, and I'm not just saying that. I honestly couldnt tell you what it was that made it difficult. I didnt think that sticking a needle in my own leg bothered me, until I had to do it.

Funny, given my future profession, but then the whole issue of doctor-patients (or thankfully, still just medical student - patients) has the makings of a martini post, if Steve feels up to lending me the stage one Friday evening.

Jeanna

Make hay while the sun shines

Hey Doc
Think he has conceded the stage after the past month... Go for it...
Mike

A NEW LEARNING EXPERANCE.GOOD LUCK I HAVEN'T HAD TO DO THAT YET.
Bradford

Good job Jeanna.........You should of seen me the first time I had to stick Eric.......[shock]YIKES!!!!!

Hard enough to stick someone else, dont think I could do myself.

Good work girlfriend.....

Hugs
Lori.

PS...I will get you the words to that song. I have not forgotten.

I had to stick myself in the tummy once a day for 14 days after my surgery last year.
I was clearly not able to do it to myself .Because my whole spine is fuzed ,I can not bend my neck down enough to see my tummy clearly,so Carol (for those who don't know,is my sweet loving wife)had to do it for me.That was her chance at " sticken it to me" I just know that (down deep), she has always wanted to do that.
I'm guessing both you and Ian are well under way in med school already.
We would like to invite you two over for dinner soon.Let me know when you can free a Saturday evening.
Take care
Ray

Job well done Strutinsky!
I too used to be a NON needle hater!
Then after I was dx with AS I had to get so many blood tests and cortisone shots and toradol shots in my ribs, hips, lower back.....that when I went in for back surgery...yikes......my arm was trembling when the nurse approached me to get my IV going! Somehow the Buggmeister pulled through.....with Gianna holding my hand of course !

Hugs from Bugs......


Toodles!
Angie

Ouch Jeanna, I'm afraid of a needle hurt or not hurt, so I find you so cool .

Take care,
Sinta

Sugar Magnolia can relate, she's on allergy shots, and her human is NOT very good at poking her with needles, the same thing, hand shaking, needle hovering, needle going in - - and coming out - - oops, forgot you have to plunge the plunger. I did it in the vet's office, took five jabs to get two shots in her, which is when I realized my future career opportunities did not lie in the direction of anything medical So I figured out a solution - - or my sister did, she volunteered her husband, he's a biologist and one of his jobs in school was to give innoculations to rabbits for scientific studies. So now we go over there, Sugar gets her shots, I get to be in the other room, and we all get dinner since we're there anyway. Do you have a convenient brother-in-law who is a biologist?

Cheryl

Dogs don't care if the house is messy

Wow! Thats more then I want to do...they wanted me to do the self injections when I started Methotrexate and I said no way was I gonna poke myself with a needle, so I am still taking the pills, but I think I may have to give in soon.
Dan.


Who knows what the drugs will do to us?

Don't know if I could do it myself. I used to be a big fraidy cat of needles. I'm a lot better now, still not great, but after getting jabbed so many times for this test and that test, plus it seems that the Rheumy just loves to order blood tests for me, I can tolerate it.
Good job on getting it done yourself

Ian

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Benjamin Franklin