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.