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Husband needs this and we both totally cringe at giving ourselves or each other shots.
If anyone needs these shots, how are you handling it? Going to a clinic or biting the bullet and jabbing yourself? We have some B-12 and it's a really BIG needle!
Husband needs this and we both totally cringe at giving ourselves or each other shots.
If anyone needs these shots, how are you handling it? Going to a clinic or biting the bullet and jabbing yourself? We have some B-12 and it's a really BIG needle!
I get mine done at a Hematology clinic when I get an iron infusion every 3 months. It’s large because it’s intramuscular. Personally, not something I’d want to do myself. And I spent many years as an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic.
I had a very low B12 level a while ago and had to get injections for a couple of months. I went to the doctor's office each time and the nurse gave it to me. I didn't notice the size of the needle but I don't remember the shots being painful and it was over in seconds.
If I had a relative or neighbor I was close to that had knowledge of giving injections I would have done that but there wasn't anyone I could ask. My level did go up and the doctor said to continue with B12 vitamins. My blood work is showing that it is gradually going down again so I don't think vitamins are enough. My mother had to go every month for years because she had developed pernicious anemia. She went to the doctor's office also.
I know what you mean though. I wasn't able to give myself injections either.
When my B-12 level was too low, I got them at my hematologist's office for the first few weeks. Then he switched me to the sub-lingual tablets. That worked well as it's properly assimilated when consumed that way. Regular pills that are swallowed can't be processed correctly by those of us with low or no intrinsic factor, hence the low levels in the first place.
My dad had pernicious anemia, his sister died from untreated pernicious anemia (her choice not to treat - don't ask me why as I never understood her thought process), and I seem to have followed in their footsteps. Dad always got his shots in the doctor's office.
I don't think I'd want to tackle doing the shots. I'm familiar with giving injections to animals but haven't done it to myself. I'll leave it to the pros.
Husband needs this and we both totally cringe at giving ourselves or each other shots.
If anyone needs these shots, how are you handling it? Going to a clinic or biting the bullet and jabbing yourself? We have some B-12 and it's a really BIG needle!
I believe that both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SubQ) injections are considered acceptable for B-12, so I'm not sure that you need to use a very long needle if that bothers you. Check with your doctor on your choices. That said, I've self-injected various drugs over the years, both IM and SubQ, with needles ranging in size from 6mm to 1.5" (38mm), and from 31 gauge to 22. I didn't particularly like jabbing myself in a thigh with the 22 gauge, 1.5 inch needle, but I got used to it. Fortunately, my most common injection has been Lovenox, which is injected SubQ in the belly, although I'm currently able to just take Xarelto for my Protein S Deficiency. For my B12 deficiency, I currently give myself weekly 1,000mcg injections in my thigh.
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