So, I push the needle all the way in completely - but then I saw something on an old thread here saying don't do that  - it seems like even nurses have conflicting opinions

I use 22g needles that are 1.5 inches long and inject into my stomach. I didn't even think about this being an issue at first, but now I am doubting it for some reason.

Do you push it in completely until the needle disappears, or just enough to get in there a bit?

Quote from: spacerace on September 02, 2013, 04:46:17 PM
So, I push the needle all the way in completely - but then I saw something on an old thread here saying don't do that  - it seems like even nurses have conflicting opinions

I use 22g needles that are 1.5 inches long and inject into my stomach. I didn't even think about this being an issue at first, but now I am doubting it for some reason.

Do you push it in completely until the needle disappears, or just enough to get in there a bit?

Are you doing subQ? If so, the needle isn't supposed to be that big at all. I use a 5/8 needle 25g. That's what I was told to use.

Yeah...subq

Stroheckers gave me 18g and 22g - I use the 22 to inject. It is fine and it does not even hurt, but I push it all the way up to the base on the syringe.

If you use smaller needles maybe I should not be going that far in after all.

Quote from: spacerace on September 02, 2013, 04:51:27 PM
Yeah...subq

Stroheckers gave me 18g and 22g - I use the 22 to inject. It is fine and it does not even hurt, but I push it all the way up to the base on the syringe.

If you use smaller needles maybe I should not be going that far in after all.

No no. They messed up and gave you needles for IM not SubQ. With SubQ you only inject underneath the skin into the fat in the stomach. Not into the muscle. You're going WAY too far. Get smaller needles if you can.

The prescription on the bottle says SubQ so maybe they just weren't paying attention?

I have a good sized tummy roll of fat and pinch it up first like the nurse showed me so I think I avoid muscle.

I will call my dr tomorrow I suppose though and see what is up...I had no idea the needle gauge was wrong. I have 6 days until the next shot.

thanks for your reply

yikes, yeah those are the same needles I use for IM...

I'd return to the pharmacy or office you got them from and ask them about it.  It could be that since so many people inject T IM that they just instinctively grabbed the long needles.

Strohecker's will just tell you to keep what you have, and they will send out new needles, once you explain what happened.

Quote from: Arch on September 03, 2013, 01:39:22 AM
Strohecker's will just tell you to keep what you have, and they will send out new needles, once you explain what happened.

Yeah, this is what happened - they said they would send out new needles as soon as I explained it

so - mail came today - I now feel like a major idiot:



the picture doesn't even do justice to how much smaller the needle is - it only actually goes half way down the tube

hah! I made a thread before about the fact they wanted me to come in to teach me to do the shot - I was waffling about what to do, so I called them and they said to go ahead if I was comfortable, and as they had sorta already shown me what to do, I went for it....

Yeah...I made the wrong choice on that clearly. Should have followed the advice given to me on that thread. At least the new needle will be super easy to deal with. So, I guess the message to take away from this is, if you ask for advice, you should follow it - I would have been okay though if Stroheckers had sent the right needles, still ...

thanks everyone for the help