injections

katieaitch
katieaitch Member Posts: 5
edited 7. Nov 2012, 14:35 in Living with Arthritis archive

Is anyone else as scared of methatrexate injections as me?
I feel as though no one understands. Everyone tries to be understanding but they just dont get it. I just want someone to talk to. To talk to about the injections.
I get myself all worked up about them. Sometimes I sit there for up to an hour, crying...

I just need someone to talk to. Someone who understands.

Comments

  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Katie and welcome to the forum.

    I'm so sorry you are struggling with this and feel you have no-one to talk to about it. I'm lucky in that I don't have a problem with needles and self-injecting (although I have only ever injected with a "pen" so not sure how I would be with a "proper" syringe) but I feel sure that I have read from other peeps here that they have similar struggles to you and I hope that they will see your post and reply. Presumably if you are on injected mtx you have already tried the tablets? Would you feel any better about it if the hospital or practice nurse was able to do your injection for you? Have you tried to talk to the rheumatology nurse about it? Just asking because I am sure you can't be the only one.

    Thinking of you.

    Tilly xxx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Katieaitch and welcome to the forum. It must be very difficult having to have weekly injections when they scare you so much. One thing about this forum is that you will always find people in the same boat as yourself and, even when we're not in exactly the same boat, we can all relate to the pain and frustration and the way arthritis dominates so much of our lives.

    I take my meth in pill form and, like Tilly, I don't have a problem with needles anyway but I'm sure there are plenty on here who feel as you do and I'm sure they'll be along soon.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • page35
    page35 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Katie

    i totally understand how you feel i took the meth tablets for a couple of years but got nasty side effects so they swapped me to the injections.
    Do you do your own injections? My partner does mine, i think he hates doing them nearly as much as i hate having them.
    i panic a bit every time i have it done but i now try to lie down when getting it done and my little girl who is five holds my hand, which actually does help as i have to try to not panic and be brave so i dont upset her.
    i have always had a fear of needles and injections and have fainted a few times at the doctors and at the hospital having injections and blood tests done.
    how are you with your blood tests? is it just the meth injections or is it a fear of needles you have?
    i dont come on this site much anymore but i will look in over the next couple of days if you want to have a chat.
    take care x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello katieaitch, it's nice to meet you and I hope we can help. What exactly is worrying you so much? I know they are not pleasant (I do my own, my dose is 15) but they're over and done within less than five seconds. A nurse at the hospital who used to cheerfully inject us would spend up to two hours walking round her kitchen table on a Saturday night working herself up into a right tizz before doing hers.

    I've read on here that rubbing an ice cube over the injection site before you do the jab can help to numb the skin and with my humira injection I always reward myself after with a little treat. I do my meth into my stomach because there are fewer nerve endings there, but if I do need to use my upper thigh I sit on the bed with my legs out straight because that relaxes the muscles.

    Are you feeling any benefit from the meth? Are you on any other meds? What form of auto-immune arthritis do you have? Mine is PsA and I've been injected and injecting for about four years now. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ichabod6
    ichabod6 Member Posts: 843
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Page,

    Five year old nurses have special skills.
    I reckon your daughter must have graduated around the
    same time as my grand daughter.
  • dillydream
    dillydream Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Katieaitch,
    I`m sorry you are having such a problem with injections.
    I`m on Enbrel and i have to inject twice every week at the moment because i am sensitive to so many Meds. Hopefully, when i see my Rheumatologist at the end of the month she will reduce me to one whole dose per week.
    I thought i would be able to do my own injections without giving it a second thought as i was trained in Phlebotomy when i was able to work, but i came to realise that this wasn`t going to be the case. My hands were very shaky for the first few injections and i will be glad when it`s only one per week.
    On the up side though , it`s making a huge difference to my life and after the last four quite hard years, bring it on. :lol:
    I think in your case, you should ring the people that provide you with the Medication and/or your Rheumatologist today and explain the problems you are having. You need (in my opinion) someone medical who can help you overcome this situation because you shouldn`t be left to get on with it alone.
    Best Wishes
    Dilly
  • page35
    page35 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    ichabod6 wrote:
    Hello Page,

    Five year old nurses have special skills.
    I reckon your daughter must have graduated around the
    same time as my grand daughter.


    Hi ichabod6

    i didnt let her watch at first but she was getting upset that she couldnt sit with me and kept saying she will hold my hand to make me feel better, so one day i let her and she sat nicely held my hand and i did actually feel better :D so now every week i ask her to hold my hand :lol: she watches the needle go in and tells me when its nearly finished. much braver than her mum.