removing needle caps

[spacerace]

Bizarrely, the hardest part of doing my shot is removing the needle cap off the needle I use to inject.

I saw someone complain about this on youtube too, so I know it is not just me.

They don't just screw off - you have to pull it off, and it is really hard to remove, especially when you have to do it carefully because the syringe is full of T. Last time I did my shot I actually stuck my thumb with the needle when I was trying to get its cap off and had to start the injection all over again.

Is there some magic trick to easily removing the caps that come on the needles Stroheckers sends?

[Nygeel]

This is what I find works well (but I don't use stroheckers)...
draw your T up, switch the needles whatever you need to do. When it's time to inject, hold the syringe firmly with your dominant hand. Put your thumb close to the needle end. Grab the base of the needle cap (closest to the syringe) and pull while using the thumb on the hand grasping the syringe to push the cap off. Or you can try to be a bad ass and bite on the cap.

[spacerace]

Ah, I see - combine the push and pull power while anchoring with the stronger hand.

Thanks.

[thatboyfresh]

Ah, I see - combine the push and pull power while anchoring with the stronger hand.

Thanks.

The nurse that dose my shots not to try and pull it off due to overcompensation and thus stabbing your self on the momentum. He instead suggested that I put it between both palms with the needle pointing out words and use a "popping" motion with my thumbs at the base of the cap ( nearest towards the syringe) . Kind of like flipping the top off a Yop yogurt drink or the cap on a shampoo bottle. It works really really well for me.

[Jack_M]

Good idea! 

Personally I've never had a problem getting the caps off but then I may have different needles where it's easier.  Who knows?!

Another thing to do with regards to avoiding needle sticks is to slide the needle into the cap when it's lying down and then just pull it down at the last part (holding at the base of the cap, not the top).  Lots of folks get stuck with the needle when they put the cap on because the needle is so sharp it can go through the cap.

[Flan]

Standard luer lock needles shouldn't require any magic strats to remove the cap (thumb at the hub/base of the cap). Using a safety needle might make it easier since with the flip over style safety the cap is usually oversized making it impossible to screw up de/recapping.

[Magnus]

If they are standard luer lock (their caps do not twist off but pull off), I remove mine in the identical fashion one would remove the cap off of a cheap bic pen. Thumb and index fingers on the end of the cap, and basically the same on the body of the barrel and then a firm yank. Never had a problem yet. I also re-cap mine once they're drawn up, so repeat the same process.

Worth mentioning also though is you should always make sure everything looks alright with the needle before you actually use it. Especially with LL's, you need to give the needle a firm twist clockwise to ensure it is properly fixed on there or you could get your T spilling out of it as they are not exactly on there real good from the factory (its happened to me just about every time I forget to do this). I've even found a gnarly defective needle on one of my barrels... just, yeah. Check and double check.

[spacerace]

thanks for the replies everyone - thinking about popping it off from the bottom instead seems like it will make it easier. I tend to over-complicate things.

The firm yank is fine for the cap on the larger needle I use to draw up the T, but also the syringe is empty at that point. The smaller needle I use to inject is the one that gives me difficulty; the 25 5/8 gauge. I was just trying to pull it off , and the smaller size of the needle means less leverage, so popping it off from the bottom may very well solve the issue.

Mangus, I know what you mean - I never feel like it is on there great, but at some point I just accept it.