Starting my meds
 

On Monday I get my first shipment of my meds then I get with my nurse and start teh shots. Are there any tips anyone has to help me to get over my first shot jitters???:(


Thanks

Which meds did you chose? C R A or B?

I did B and C.

Tip #1 is rotate spots. make sure you dont constantly pick on one area, just because its either easy to reach, or a cushy pick. You will end up with tissue damage.

Tip #2 is hydrate! stay hydrated. It helps keep the tissue softer, and easier to poke thru.

Tip #3 is advil/tylenol/aleeve (your pick) dont be afraid to take them. Those interferons can make you feel fluish. Most find an Aleeve works wonders.

If you take an interferon, you may consider starting the meds at night. that way you lay down, and go to sleep thru most of the worst of the side effects till you get used to it.

Hang in there.

Hiya, Turt,

First shot jitters are a lot like dreading most other things, once it's over, you'll wonder why you got yourself all riled up.

Don't sweat it, it's just one more thing to add to your routine. Quite frankly, my dear, it's much easier than changing a poopy baby! :vomit:

If you want to practice, just get out a needle and take a few pokes. Honest, you'll get used to it, trust me! :OuttaHere:

I had shot jitters too. The thought is worse than the reality. I had no side effects so I am hoping the same goes for you.

Do you have a shot injector?

You'll do great. I was so nervous before I did my first shot. It took me forever and after I was done I felt silly. Why did I get so worked up?? It really wasn't bad at all. And that's from the girl who kicked a nurse when she was 4 just because she didn't want a shot!

Like Cindy said, pretty soon it will just be another task in your day.

I forgot to say Betaseron. I was planing on taking them at night just so my hubby would be home to help. I have a ton of advil and tylenol
I can change a diaper in the dark so the shots should be just as easy then.

Yes I have an auto injector:D

my suggestion is to learn how to do the shots manually too.

When I was doing C, I found it a heck of a lot easier and less painful to do the shots manually when I could.

I loved the auto injector. It meant the shot went into my skin in just the right way. It got easy to push the button. The sting lasted less than 10 seconds.

I used a cold pack to numb the area and then after all was over, a hot pack to just soothe my nerves. Eventually the warm pack was not necessary. It is just as everyone is saying, it was "much ado about nothing."

But you have to get through the first shot! Would love to hear how it goes.

You just have to do what NIKE says 'just do it'. It won't be long before you can do your shot in the dark also. As a nurse we would have our diabetics practice on an orange. But they had access to a syringe and you don't until you have the real thing. Good luck

i'm on copaxone so the shot may be different. i think you have to inject into a muscle.

once the first time is over it'll get better. i'm a nurse and i was really anxious over my first shot.

and watch your dosage of tylenol. follow package directions. you can actually OD on tylenol. your liver won't like it.

Copaxone goes into the sub layer of fat.
Betaseron goes into fat
Rebif goes into fat

Avonex goes into muscle.

Its good to know how to do a manual injection, but in the early days its also just good to be able to close your eyes and fire. As you get more comfortable with the injections, your courage will rise.

Im proud of you! :hug:

How did it go, TURTS???

I get to learn how too... The one I am doing is under the skin so it should be just a prick?.. I'm used to it anyways from taking allergy shots for a year straight when I was 13 or so. I am looking forward to the pain, sting and redness.... can't wait. It's just stick it and push..no drawing the right amount.... Still it's going to be hard to do this to myself. pfffttt.

Good luck, Turtle.... and huggs to you.

There is an auto injector that comes with all of the meds except Avonex. in the begining, you can slide the needle into the injector, and choose how deep to set it, then place on your skin, and push the trigger. Wait for the indicator to tell you the syringe is empty, and ta da!

I advocate also learning to do a manual injection. Its scary at first, but at least you know if your auto injector breaks, or mis fires, you wont miss your shot, while you wait for a new one to arrive.

On my thighs, I use the SIDE of them. On the top of front is a huge band of muscle. I find I smack muscle every time. I grab off to the side, and find tons more fat.

Remember the little paper guide they give you is just that. A guide. its not written in stone.

On the arm, I use that bat wing area. much more fat there, than the top muscle area.

by the way Eric, Copaxone in the early days has a bee bite too it. This does get MUCH better. HAng in there.

DONT massage Copaxone for at least 24 hours. DO massage Betaseron and Rebif. Copaxone is a sharp crystal style med, and rubbing it breaks open the crystals. This causes tissue damage. With interferons like betaseron, and rebif you want to rub the meds in, so it is absorbed better. You may find pink splotches after. These WILL go away. It may take some time, but it will go away.

With all shots, keep good skin care. Keep lotioned, or oiled, and clean. LOOK before you poke! dont poke moles, warts, or stretch marks. Try to avoid the tatoo. If you must use a tatoo area, try to pick the lighter color areas, or shoot between the ink if you can.

Im so proud of both of you! :hug:

Thank you, DeeJeeBo lmao.

You're a really nice person helping us out here and I appreciate the heads up. Thursday(again) I go in and get the instruction and training to do this. two family members and a friend are coming too so they can learn. I get to meet a URO too!. so fun.

Good luck, Turtle..... Give it hell lol

Rebif allowed me to use my stomach.

My friend, a Type 1 diabetic had recommended it. Said it was the best place. Since I did not have a six-pack, I gave it a try because I was tired of using my thighs.

It was the easiest once I got over the thought of using my "soft underbelly."

I don't know if anyone here did the same, used the stomach.

:hug:The tummy is AWESOME! nice fat pad on most of us, and its one of the least painful areas. I was amazed by that.

I went thru a period where I was getting pretty lumpy from all the copaxone injections. I stuck my bum bum for a whole six weeks. nothing else but bum. There is a ton of areas on the bum to use, not just the outter corner. It allowed those lumps that I had going to heal up, and I started poking them again.

Rotate! Rotate! Rotate! Not just from arm to leg to tummy, and so on, also rotate within the area you pick on. Early weeks in the month, I shoot higher in that area. as the month progresses, I shoot lower. I make 4 rows for my shot areas. or 4 corners of that area. This way I am not poking the same sore spot over and over.

Dont shoot above your belly button. #1 it HURTS! #2 it wont absorb as well. Trust me, I have learned the lesson the hard way.

Its really scary to start, but once you do, you are going to amaze yourself, and shake your head, at how well you did.

Lets get poking! :hug:

I use C, and stopped doing my arms and thighs after seeing craters in my thighs that aren't going away...I've had them for months.
I shoot the hip area and the tummy...