injection training

[spacerace]

For my first shot, they want me to bring in my prescription after I get it in the mail to learn how to do my shot. I've never given myself a shot before, but I have watched numerous videos and feel like maybe I could do it without being shown how.

Would it be a really bad idea to just go for it by myself, or should I suck it up and wait until the middle of the week when I can go in to do it under their supervision to make sure I don't mess it up.

It is SubQ not IM, so it does not seem that bad to me. I sorta just want to do it.

[Simon]

I would just humor them and do as they asked. Don't want to piss off the doctor's office by not complying with their orders, ya know? They might see it as a lack of responsibility on your part.

[ford]

My doc gave me a demo on how to do it (without actually giving me the shot - more just an explanation with props, lol). She then said I could come back and do it under supervision if I wanted, but encouraged me to give it a try on my own.

I went as far as making an appointment on the day I needed the shot. I tried doing it on my own in the morning (the appt. was in the afternoon). It went really well. Shot accomplished, no big deal, so I canceled the appointment. Personally I think I may have felt more nervous and rushed with a nurse hovering over me. I think downplaying the shot and making it my own casual affair worked wonders for my confidence.

Good luck with whatever you choose (and congrats on being nearly on T! So close!)

[spacerace]

I would just humor them and do as they asked. Don't want to piss off the doctor's office by not complying with their orders, ya know? They might see it as a lack of responsibility on your part.

I will wait. You're right; I should just be patient.  Hopefully they can get me in quickly once I call after the box shows up since it is just for the shot with a nurse.

Good luck with whatever you choose (and congrats on being nearly on T! So close!)

Thanks.

[Darrin Scott]

A friend of mine showed me how to injet. It's a simple process.

[LordKAT]

No one showed me or offered to. I tried one after watching a video on youtube. I didn't care for it and got my sister and a friend to help. I would keep  trying off and on and now do them myself all the time.  I would have been extremely nervous to try in a clinic setting as other people, especially strangers make me very uncomfortable.


If you think you can and have some idea of what and how to do it, I'd say try. If you have no idea or am not sure, go to the appointment or get help from someone you trust.


BTW, my sister is a long time RN. That is the reason I got help from her.

[Simon]

You guys are giving bad advice. He said they want him to come in the first time. Sounds like a doctor's orders and not a doctor's suggestion.

Space, I still say wait unless you call them and they say it's ok. No reason to burn your bridge with your current doc.

[Kreuzfidel]

You guys are giving bad advice. He said they want him to come in the first time. Sounds like a doctor's orders and not a doctor's suggestion.

Space, I still say wait unless you call them and they say it's ok. No reason to burn your bridge with your current doc.

^ This.

I can't really understand the logic of not wanting to come in and allow them to show you.  They are offering to help you - so that you don't injure yourself or waste your shot. 

[LordKAT]

Big difference between order and offer. One brings  a sense of necessity, the other is a choice based on what you want.


The OP says that is what the doctor wants, therefore he should do so.  As the person paying for services, you have the ultimate last choice. You may choose to not follow your doctors advice but do so at your own risk.

[Arch]

I do IM, but the first time I stabbed myself, the nurse supervised. It actually helped me. I rammed the needle in with no trouble. I was nervous, but I was more worried about looking like a wimp if I chickened out.

On the other hand, the first time I did it without supervision, I took quite some time to screw up my courage, and I found myself wishing the nurse were there!

I would just wait and do it their way. Stuff like this often doesn't require a formal appointment--you call them up, and they tell you to show up that afternoon or the next day. YMMV, but you shouldn't need to wait long.

[spacerace]

thanks for the replies.

At the time, I asked my doctor if I had to come in for it. He said that I didn't have to, but that they would rather that I did, and that it was up to me. Sorta an order, but enough room to skip it if I wanted.

I was worried more about messing up the shot than defying the doctor, but I do agree it would look better to go in and do as told. I think I could do the shot on my own, but I have anxiety about it, so I think I will wait.

I would just wait and do it their way. Stuff like this often doesn't require a formal appointment--you call them up, and they tell you to show up that afternoon or the next day. YMMV, but you shouldn't need to wait long.

That's probably true - I didn't think about that.

[insideontheoutside]

I also can't understand the logic of not wanting to have a doctor, or at the very least, a nurse show you the proper way to do an injection on yourself.

[Arch]

I also can't understand the logic of not wanting to have a doctor, or at the very least, a nurse show you the proper way to do an injection on yourself.

I think it's more a case of I WANT IT NOW!

[aleon515]

I think you should go in. It gives the impression of a patient who is compliant, which they seem to like. But I get the thing of wanting to do it NOW.
But in the whole scheme of things...

--Jay