hey, Wiz ... you will endure some redness (maybe a bit puffiness) around your injection spot ... but, I've been on it over 2 years now - and your system needs to do 'its' thing ... and eventually - the bump will be gone - and then just a bit of redness ....

be sure to 'rotate' ... I use a calendar and use the following ... and write the 2-letter codes on each day:
S = LA .... (left upper outside arm) - set at 6
M = RL .... (upper right thigh) ... set at 4 and don't go right on top of the muscle.
Tue = RA .... (right upper outside arm) - set at 6
Wed = LS ... (left side stomache - left of belly button area) - set at 8
Thur = LH/RH ... (alternate every other week - left hip then right hip) - set at 6
Fri = LL ... (upper left thigh) - set at 4
Sat = RS ... (right side stomache - right of belly button area) - set at 8

hope this helps. (((HUGS)))

I may be silly - but I keep the calendar in the bathroom to remind me of where and what day I'm on .. then 'X' off each day as you go ...

I've had no troubles - and it keeps you on track ... and I 'shoot' myself (mornings) after I shower ... and then sit and have my cup of coffee and relax to let the meds do their thing - and I sometimes flush, if I try to do too much right after an injection ...

one day at a time, sweetie!!

Remember that the injection sites will get worse and the finally will get better. When I 1st started, the site reactions weren't too bad. About the 3rd week (I think) they became worse and then eventually the reactions subsided.

I also do not do my thighs. I just don't have enough fat on them and had more site reactions when I did my thighs than anywhere else. I have had 3 IPIR and all three were after I did my thighs. So I quit that site. As of the past maybe couple of months, I quit my arms too as the tremors have increased a bit and I couldn't control the needle for manual injections. (Nothing like trying to accurately jab myself with a needle going all over the place) I don't have much fat on my arms either but had been able to get away with a 45 degree angle in the arms. I am now down to tummy and hips.


Happy shooting! And, know that we are all here to help you through this.

Don't do the inside of your thighs, just the outsides, don't do where you actually SIT on your butt, since there is greater chance for infection,try not to do it where your clothes can rub the shot spot, don't scratch the lumps for at least two days, arnica helps with the itch and sting, and according to my doc, anywhere you can pinch an inch is fair game since it's a subcu shot.

That's all I remember except I didn't do my arms either, because the lumps and I were absolute best buddies and they hung around for weeks. I always did the shots where the lumps would be hidden. If you use the autoject, play with the depth, it really can make a difference for each person.

Good Luck and hugs to you!

Wiz,

Not sure how long ago you stopped, but they also changed how long it is ok to be unrefrigerated. The shots can now be unrefrigerated for something like 30 days. They still ship them refrigerated and I still keep them in the fridge at home, but when I travel, I no longer have to worry about whether my room has a fridge.

One other thing...make sure the alcohol from the swap is completely dry before you inject. Injecting when the alcohol is still damp can cause a monumental sting when the needle first goes in.

I use Benadryl on mine, but I use the gel, not the cream. The gel flows easily, so I can put it on right away just by smearing it across the site without actually rubbing it in. I use a cotton ball with direct pressure for about 30 seconds to keep it from bleeding, then wipe a dab of the gel over the area and let it dry. I almost never get any significant pain, and only get a real itchy spot maybe once a week or so.

BTW, that picture of Daisy is absolutely adorable. She is a beautiful cat with those markings and her blue eyes.

Thanks TX,

Yes my baby Daisy is adorable!!!! You should see her run through the house and play with Rocky, her new big brother! They play "cat and mouse" and he gets a bit too rough sometimes (he's nine lbs of pure puddy tat) but she's learning to deal with him! They're just adorable together. They eat supper next to each other now and she's starting to use the "big kitty" litterbox.

By the way, I've done four manual injections so far and no site reactions at all!!!!

Glad to hear the injections are going well, sweetie...
how do you inject manually? Do you pinch up some skin?

Dr W told me I didn't have to do the top of the thighs or the arms. In fact, he said if I just wanted to do the love handles of the hips, the tummy and the outside of the thighs where there's a fat pad, it's fine. He told me some of his patients only do the tummy.

I have real lumpy, discolored upper thighs where the quads are. Never going there again!!

Glad to hear that Daisy's doing well...

Yes Debbie,

I just pinch up some fatty skin, stick the needle in then let go of the skin. Then I inject slowly for about ten seconds, remove the needle and hold a cotton ball over the spot firmly without rubbing for about 30 seconds. It's very easy to do actually. I used to get much worse site reactions using the autoinjector.

I've been doing the injection before my shower and it's working great! I'm going to double up on my fatty areas and skip my arms altogether because I have some old dents there that are finally filling in and I don't want that to happen again.

Also, I take half of a Zyrtec at night for my allergies and that might affect the site reactions this time around.