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Needles again

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Steff

Steff

Little Miss Chatterbox
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
After posting a while ago i was having bother with injecting and the pain, so went from 6mm to 8mm,well things were going fine until it started again and im now getting purple patches on my tummy, so im definetly thinking its me and not the needles, ive read books even watched techniques on the net to see if i can perfect,or maybe im focusing to much on it and thats whats causing me the bother,i cant win atm......Well anyways recently i moved my injection site again to near belly button then further up.So now im gonna try top leg again see what happens.Shall keep fingers crossed
 
I hope that moving sites helps Steff. I moved sites recently because I started bruising on my tummy and it was hurting occasionally, seems much better now I have moved, so hope that the same is true for you 🙂
 
It may be that feeling tense while you're doing it worsens any bruising.

I have a few on my leg at the moment, which I can only think is down to not relaxing before injecting.

Sadly, we didn't evolve to stick sharp objects in ourselves. :(

Rob
 
Steff do you always get pain or just sometimes? the only reason i ask is that when inserting canula and previously injections it would/can be really painful at certain times of the month. When ovulating etc. The dsn said this was entirely possible due to fluctuating hormones.

Sorry guys if TMI 😱
 
tracey w said:
Steff do you always get pain or just sometimes? the only reason i ask is that when inserting canula and previously injections it would/can be really painful at certain times of the month. When ovulating etc. The dsn said this was entirely possible due to fluctuating hormones.

Sorry guys if TMI 😱
Click to expand...

Just sometimes, im just off as of Saturday x
 
Steff said:
Just sometimes, im just off as of Saturday x
Click to expand...

Might be worth monitoring dates when painful and not, see if there is a connection to your cycle? It doesnt stop the pain but if i know its gonna hurt i have places i prefer to use, so if its not going to be painful i can go near belly button etc.
 
Hi Steffie - long time no speak!
Having done a few injections myself, I recommend that you refocus on your technique. It's important not to inject into pinched skin, as that usually hurts. A great tip I heard, many years ago, compared pulling a loose layer of clothing away from your skin and imagining that you are just injecting between the two layers ie. stick the needle into the loose part.
Also, try to avoid pushing the needle in - a quick jab is generally more comfortable.
Very occasionally, I catch a nerve and it stings like hell, sometimes so bad that I have to pull the needle out and try again in a different place.
Try feeling your proposed injection site to check for lumps or any hardness. If in doubt, try a different site. I've found the top of the thighs a comfortable alternative to stomach area.
Good luck 🙂
 
chrismbee said:
Hi Steffie - long time no speak!
Having done a few injections myself, I recommend that you refocus on your technique. It's important not to inject into pinched skin, as that usually hurts. A great tip I heard, many years ago, compared pulling a loose layer of clothing away from your skin and imagining that you are just injecting between the two layers ie. stick the needle into the loose part.
Also, try to avoid pushing the needle in - a quick jab is generally more comfortable.
Very occasionally, I catch a nerve and it stings like hell, sometimes so bad that I have to pull the needle out and try again in a different place.
Try feeling your proposed injection site to check for lumps or any hardness. If in doubt, try a different site. I've found the top of the thighs a comfortable alternative to stomach area.
Good luck 🙂
Click to expand...

Chris hi stranger lovely to hear from you and thanks for your reply, i dont pinch the skin , thats the thing with me i cant just jab it in i have to teeter around for abit, i just cant seem to get over it anytime soon
 
Just a thought Steff - and I mean no offense here - but are your needles big enough.

Mine are 12.5, and I have no marks, bruises etc

My DSN prescribed that size I had no part in the decision - it was only at last years York meet that I discovered there were different sized needles.
 
I have always had the 8mm needles and have not really had a problem, but I find with the batch I am using at the moment, some of them hurt and it's not my technique as I haven't changed the way I inject. Some feel like they are blunt as they go in as it feels like it is tearing through the skin layers, and other needles in the batch are fine.

As for sites, my DSN said to try and inject my Levemir in my bum, I have tried and my morning levels improved (also upped dose), but I find turning round to inject especially on my right side, it feels like a muscle goes into spasm in my side and I can't do it as it cramps, plus with the pains I am getting in my joints I find it hard, so have gone back to injecting in my tummy and occasionally thighs.
 
squidge63 said:
I have always had the 8mm needles and have not really had a problem, but I find with the batch I am using at the moment, some of them hurt and it's not my technique as I haven't changed the way I inject. Some feel like they are blunt as they go in as it feels like it is tearing through the skin layers, and other needles in the batch are fine.

As for sites, my DSN said to try and inject my Levemir in my bum, I have tried and my morning levels improved (also upped dose), but I find turning round to inject especially on my right side, it feels like a muscle goes into spasm in my side and I can't do it as it cramps, plus with the pains I am getting in my joints I find it hard, so have gone back to injecting in my tummy and occasionally thighs.
Click to expand...

I've had that sensation with some needles appearing to be blunt - I suspect it's something to do with the coating they normally have maybe being a bit thin or absent altogether. Like you say, it's often only a few needles in a box.

Also, I was advised by my consultant recently to change my injection sites. He suggested my upper stomach, but du to the solid muscle I have there (haha!) it seems to be quite painful so I changed to using my posterior. Like you, I had problems twisting, trying to inject my right side with the pen in my left hand (left-handed), but then I decided to just use right hand for right side - no twisting! As long as you give it a good stab you don't need to pinch flesh back there, just bang it in and hold for a few seconds, seems to work a treat! 🙂
 
Having read some of your tales of woe and horror, I always check the needle before I use my pen these days. I had one last week that was bent where you insert it into the pen, under it's plastic shield, I've never seen that before. However, if I think there's something odd about the needle, I'll scrap it and use another, I'm not into pain and don't like it when the jab stings.

What's that abot pinching flesh? I never do that, I just stick it in. I've recently tried sticking myself in the upper thigh. It took longer for the dose to reach the action point but it also took longer for me to get to my meal anyway so it worked out quite well.
 
Last edited:
Hazel said:
Just a thought Steff - and I mean no offense here - but are your needles big enough.

Mine are 12.5, and I have no marks, bruises etc

My DSN prescribed that size I had no part in the decision - it was only at last years York meet that I discovered there were different sized needles.
Click to expand...

Guess only way I can find out is seeing nurse again and telling her things are still not right,thanks Hazel no offence caused either x
squidge63 said:
I have always had the 8mm needles and have not really had a problem, but I find with the batch I am using at the moment, some of them hurt and it's not my technique as I haven't changed the way I inject. Some feel like they are blunt as they go in as it feels like it is tearing through the skin layers, and other needles in the batch are fine.

As for sites, my DSN said to try and inject my Levemir in my bum, I have tried and my morning levels improved (also upped dose), but I find turning round to inject especially on my right side, it feels like a muscle goes into spasm in my side and I can't do it as it cramps, plus with the pains I am getting in my joints I find it hard, so have gone back to injecting in my tummy and occasionally thighs.
Click to expand...

Thats the feeling i get almost all the time David the feeling of the needle tearing through skin,ive never wanted to inject in my rear scares me 😱
 
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