Injecting

[Catharine]

Hi everyone!
I've noticed lately that sometimes when I inject I am feeling a resistance when pushing the insulin in. And then sometimes when I take the needle out the insulin keeps coming out into the air rather than into me. Any advice on why this is? Do I need to inject elsewhere? I always inject Humalog in my tummy and Lantus in my thigh. I'm a bit freaked out about injecting anyway and the thought of having to do it elsewhere is a little scary!
Please help!!
Thanks y'all 🙂

 

[imtrying]

Hi everyone!
I've noticed lately that sometimes when I inject I am feeling a resistance when pushing the insulin in. And then sometimes when I take the needle out the insulin keeps coming out into the air rather than into me. Any advice on why this is? Do I need to inject elsewhere? I always inject Humalog in my tummy and Lantus in my thigh. I'm a bit freaked out about injecting anyway and the thought of having to do it elsewhere is a little scary!
Please help!!
Thanks y'all 🙂

Hi Catharine.

It sounds as if you need to change your site. The insulin you're injecting isn't all being absorbed and your levels will be affected.

Is it just one of your sites it's happening?

It sounds as though the scar tissue has built up and is not allowing for insulin absorption, which is why it's coming in lumps or out of the needle when you take it out. What size needles are you using? First guess would be scar tissue, but it could be that the needles aren't long enough.

 

[Freddie99]

When you've finished the bolus, you need to keep the needle in you for a little while. I used to go for about six seconds. Then it shouldn't come back out.

 

[Catharine]

It's mostly on my tummy, and I do try to move around my tummy so it's not always the same spot. Happens less on my my thighs but still sometimes.
I'm using penfine 0.25 x 8mm.
I've heard people say about using arms, but that seems really awkward!!

Hi Catharine.

It sounds as if you need to change your site. The insulin you're injecting isn't all being absorbed and your levels will be affected.

Is it just one of your sites it's happening?

It sounds as though the scar tissue has built up and is not allowing for insulin absorption, which is why it's coming in lumps or out of the needle when you take it out. What size needles are you using? First guess would be scar tissue, but it could be that the needles aren't long enough.

 

[Catharine]

When you've finished the bolus, you need to keep the needle in you for a little while. I used to go for about six seconds. Then it shouldn't come back out.

Thank you, will definitely give that a go!
🙂

 

[Freddie99]

I'm a nurse, I spend a lot of time harpooning people with subcut anticoagulants. Plenty of practise. I do more injections at work than I give my damn self! That might also have something to do with pumping.

 

[Northerner]

I'm a nurse, I spend a lot of time harpooning people with subcut anticoagulants. Plenty of practise. I do more injections at work than I give my damn self! That might also have something to do with pumping.

I find this interesting Tom. I know you've just started your training - how soon into it do they have you giving your first injection to a human?

 

[Phil65]

I'm a nurse, I spend a lot of time harpooning people with subcut anticoagulants. Plenty of practise. I do more injections at work than I give my damn self! That might also have something to do with pumping.

.....I hope you change their cannulas more often than once every five days 😉 ......sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Northerner]

.....I hope you change their cannulas more often than once every five days 😉 ......sorry, couldn't resist

I can remember when I was in hospital and had cannulas inserted for oodles of different things. I was in for 8 days and learned that three days was the maximum so I would nag the nurses to change them as the time came up! 🙂

 

[MeanMom]

It's mostly on my tummy, and I do try to move around my tummy so it's not always the same spot. Happens less on my my thighs but still sometimes.
I'm using penfine 0.25 x 8mm.
I've heard people say about using arms, but that seems really awkward!!

😱 didn't know they made them that long!

My daughter uses 4mm needles and (if you will forgive me) from your photo you look about her build. See if you can get your hands on some - they gave us some to try out (started on 5mm) and then changed script.

Give your arms a try if you can - it is the place K finds easiest - she has never even tried her tum, and 'bum' is impossible!

She does find hers better now she counts to 10 (ish) whilst the needle is in.

Hope it gets more comfortable soon x

 

[shiv]

😱 didn't know they made them that long!

I think they do 12mm ones too! I always used 8mm when I was on injections.

 

[Copepod]

I find this interesting Tom. I know you've just started your training - how soon into it do they have you giving your first injection to a human?

The key point, Northerner, isn't just how far into training before a student nurse gives an injection to another human, but how long do they continue to give injections under the direction of a registered nurse. In many hospitals, the protocol is for even registered nurses not to give injections alone, but with a colleague who checks the dose before it is administered. Sometimes this is for all sub cutaneous injections (eg any coagulants) and all intramuscular injections (eg antibiotics [can also be given intra venously], immunisations etc) and sometimes juts for high risk medications eg insulin (because dose must given in a correct device, and dose stated in units to avoid confusion with ml). And most nurses are keen to always state their stage / experience eg student / registered.

 

[shiv]

And most nurses are keen to always state their stage / experience eg student / registered.

I know a lady who has just officially passed all her qualifications and she is so pleased to be able to say 'staff nurse' rather than 'student nurse'. I believe Tom is in his 2nd term of 1st year training, so not quite qualified yet! 😉

On the ward I used to work on, all injections were checked by 2 nurses before being administered. Very sensible given how easy it is to make mistakes.