Hi Gary

Thanks for your informative answer, my daughter is also a student nurse. First time I let her inject me it stung and I bled! I do it myself now and grit my teeth. I know what you mean thought its hard to be enthusiastic about it. I once tried my thigh - oh my goodness I have never been there again since - do not know where else to do it. So have stuck to my tummy.

Thanks for responding

Sue

It's time to cheat. get the autoinjector. bang... push the button and your dunn.
play with it empty first for a while if your a little gun shy. but for the backs of the arm shots it works great. some briusing at the shot spot but no pinching to do.
Went though-- avonex- rebif- copax too they all suck, but we got to keep going. keep the faith.
steve.

I have been using Beta for over five years now. I totally agree with the suggestions to rotate the sites - I always used to 'hit' my thigh, but I ended up getting some pretty obvious 'hail damage' there.

I found that if I inject an area too frequently, the shot is more painful - I think the skin must thicken. The upper, outside of the front of the thigh (god, did that make sense????) was the least painful area for me - the lower I went toward my knee the more it hurt.

I use the upper part of my butt a lot (plenty of surface area there - and subcutaneous fat ) it is possible to do this to yourself, instead of pinching I sit on a hard chair and press down on the skin above it so that it is firm.

Do invest in an autoinjector - they are much better and I am WAY too much of a chicken to do it any other way.

Cheers
Lyn

LOL - thanks for the advice - I have an autoinjector but cant get hang of it so just go for the kill and inject with the syringe. Will try some of the other places you suggested. I agree the skin must get tough cos sometimes I bleed if go in where been before.

Thanks

Susan,

I am currently taking Copaxone, but previously took Rebif. I'll be honest, I did not like the autoinjector w/ Rebif at all (although w/ C that is the ONLY way I'll "shoot"). I found the rebif needle was very small and didn't hurt going in at all, but the meds burned, so the autoinjector hurt me b/c it pushed the meds way too fast. I always put the needle in and then very slooooowly pushed the meds.

But, you cannot keep shooting in only your stomach! What other sites have you tried? I know you said you tried your thigh, but is that it? you'll have to try them all to know. For me, thighs were my favorite w/ rebif, but I hate them w/ Copaxone, so it's something you have to play with. My favorite spot now is my hips. My advice is not only try all the sites, but try pushing the meds really slow. Once in a while, I still hit a spot that bleeds, but that is uncommon, so give your thigh another try too!

Good luck!

Susan,

I have been on Rebif for 4 years. I too suggest that you find a way to alternate your sites more. I use stomach, tops of legs, and hips. I do use the autoject, because I could not do the rear if I didn't. If you are finding it hard to get the hang of the autoject, and want to try it, see if your Neuro's nurse can help. If she is unable to do so then call the Rebif nurse and she might find someone in your area who will help you.

I had one spot that got a little like what you are talking about. It concerned me at first, but I stayed away from injecting too near and it went away.

Good luck,
Virginia