Any advise for a guy who hates injections...

[simonrudd]

Well on Monday i had a phone call from the Doctors, they had found my Cholesterol was too high (6 i think he said) so they want to put me on tablets for it. It seems also more than likely that i will now be going on injectibles which i'm not keen on - any advice on how to use them painlessly would be appreciated Also will this mean that i will stop taking tablets?? i'm almost out of Stigaliptin and i'm not sure if i should order more or not 🙂

Thanks

 

[Northerner]

Hi Simon, a lot of people worry about injections but I think this is because they associate them with the kind of hypodermic syringes that often get used for things like immunisation and flu jabs. But the needles used for injecting insulin, using insulin pens, are so fine and tiny that the majority of the time you will feel nothing at all. Pricking your fingers for a blood test is much more painful - insulin injections don't even come close! So try not to worry about that. Also, you're just injecting into the fatty layer under the skin where there are hardly any nerve endings.

As for your meds, I would order more so that you don't run out. You will probably no longer need the sitagliptin or gliclizide I would have thought, but may still need the metformin.

Hope the changeover goes well if/when it arrives - remember we are always here for you any time! 🙂

 

[AJLang]

Hi Simon I absolutely hate anyone else coming near me with a needle BUT doing my own injections is easy and painless. The needles are so fine that they go in to the skin with hardly any effort and out of the 40,000 plus injections that I've given myself there has been nothing more than the occasional slight sting which has happened very few times - and when it has happened I just pull the needle straight out and start again - it's great being in charge of your own injections because you have full control

 

[AlisonM]

Did he say it would be insulin Simon or is he thinking Byetta/Victoza? Whichever it is, it rarely hurts if you're careful how you insert the needle. I've only ever hurt when I'm in a hurry and have been a little careless with the angle of insertion. Mostly, I hardly feel it. I had the chance to practice on a rather cute little rubber Panda before trying it on myself with a placebo. I was very nervous beforehand but actually found it pretty easy in the end.

As for your meds, keep up your prescription unchanged till the day they put you on the new stuff.

 

[Copepod]

As others have said - it'll be a tiny short needle, nothing like the ones used for vaccinations. Plus, you can choose your site, from a range of suitable places.

Main problem I find isn't pain, as injections very rarely feel more than a scratch, it all all, but blood occasionally leaking onto clothing if I roll down top (for abdomen) / sleeve (for arm) / nightshirt (for thigh or abdomen) / trouser or short leg (for thigh) too quickly, before pressing for a couple of seconds on puncture hole. Still, nothing that instant application of cold water or later application of stain remover before washing machine can't sort.

 

[FM001]

The fear comes from childhood immunisations I'm sure, well that's what I blame. The needles used for self-injecting now are minute and little pain is felt when entering the skin provided you get the technique right and change the needle each time.

 

[Catwoman76]

Well on Monday i had a phone call from the Doctors, they had found my Cholesterol was too high (6 i think he said) so they want to put me on tablets for it. It seems also more than likely that i will now be going on injectibles which i'm not keen on - any advice on how to use them painlessly would be appreciated Also will this mean that i will stop taking tablets?? i'm almost out of Stigaliptin and i'm not sure if i should order more or not 🙂

Thanks

Hi simon, I can't comment on the Stigaliptin, I would make an appointment with your dr or dsn. As for injections simon, the needles are so fine now days it shouldn't be a problem, it's the anticipation of actually doing them to yourself! I hope it all works out for you. Take care Sheena

 

[Monica]

Or how about the Autocover needles?
http://www.novonordisk.com/diabetes/public/needles/novofine_autocover/actualsize.asp

You won't see the needle at all. It has a tube around the needle which will retract when pushed against the skin. Needle goes in, tube won't. When you lift the pen up, the tube will cover the needle again.

Carol used them, as she couldn't bring herself to inject with "normal" needles.

 

[Steff]

Hi Simon like Alison asked have they said it will be insulin or is it victoza or byetta? I am the worlds worst with needles they was many a time i started threads on here asking for advice, i tryed everything but it was terrible,the nerves kicked in and half the time i dont think i was getting the right dose.
I was given some needles called novo twists and they were actually really good and they took away alot of fear for me, then low and behold because of good numbers and weight loss my GP took me off the injections so in a way i was so relieved.
Its plain and simple really if you dont some how conquer your fear you could be potentially be making things worse thats how i had to view it cause the missed doses i had were causing me problems.. At the end of the day its mind over matter if you can sort things out in your head and associate needles as a good thing then that may help

 

[simonrudd]

hi all, thanks for all the replies - i am nervous but i'm sure i will learn. Its Byetta that i will be put on - i'm really hoping it will bring my blood sugar down as i'm worried its been too high for too long and its getting me down. i've got Charcot in my right ankle which isnt as much fun as it sound 😉 and lots of nerve damage. No with the cholesterol i'm getting concerned. i will report back tomorrow after i see the nurse

 

[Steff]

hi all, thanks for all the replies - i am nervous but i'm sure i will learn. Its Byetta that i will be put on - i'm really hoping it will bring my blood sugar down as i'm worried its been too high for too long and its getting me down. i've got Charcot in my right ankle which isnt as much fun as it sound 😉 and lots of nerve damage. No with the cholesterol i'm getting concerned. i will report back tomorrow after i see the nurse

We have several members on Byetta me included at first then i was put on victoza,so any practical advice you need just ask x Hope it goes well tomorrow at your appointment

 

[simonrudd]

thanks steff i'm a bit worried about the side effects - any advice??

 

[Steff]

thanks steff i'm a bit worried about the side effects - any advice??

Simon,

From what I can remember i bypassed alot of the side effects unlike the others, i had more side effects on victoza, so someone who has suffered them will be able to help, I know you can lower the dose if you get to much trouble

 

[AlisonM]

The only side effect I've noticed is a bit of nausea sometimes, but it's been no real problem for me either.

 

[simonrudd]

right went to nurse - she gave a prescription for Byetta and some needles - i've got to go back on the 22nd and i cant start taking it till then - nothing like dragging it out huh!

i've got to stop taking Stig but carry on with Metformin and Glick

 

[Steff]

right went to nurse - she gave a prescription for Byetta and some needles - i've got to go back on the 22nd and i cant start taking it till then - nothing like dragging it out huh!

i've got to stop taking Stig but carry on with Metformin and Glick

Why have you got to wait till then?, thats like giving my son a bag of sweets and saying here you go but you cant eat them for 2 weeks 😱🙄

 

[simonrudd]

she made an appointment for me to come back so they could test how i inject but the earliest appointment she has was the 22nd :S bit silly if you ask me - i cant see why i cant just start. now its more the anticipation on the injections rather than the fear of them.

 

[Steff]

she made an appointment for me to come back so they could test how i inject but the earliest appointment she has was the 22nd :S bit silly if you ask me - i cant see why i cant just start. now its more the anticipation on the injections rather than the fear of them.

Yeah exactly well hope the 22nd whizzes round Simon x

 

[Northerner]

I wonder also if the sitagliptin has to be fully out of your system before you start on the Byetta? Try to concentrate on other things Simon, no point in worrying between now and then 🙂

 

[simonrudd]

thanks everyone i had part of a tooth removed today got to have the rest removed on thursday - i seem to be in the wars at the moment