Self administration

[Kentish]

We need to urgently take two vaccines each for holiday and our GP said they can't do it until after we return from abroad

We have managed to obtain the vaccines and I wondered how difficult it would be to self administer.

It's not intravenous, just intramuscular. Can't be too difficult can it?

Wife says I'm not going anywhere near her with a needle

[cotty]

I didnt think you needed a GP to give you the jabs, its usually the nurse at my doctors office that do injections. Does your doctors have a nurse could she not do the injection.

[Kentish]

cotty said:

I didnt think you needed a GP to give you the jabs, its usually the nurse at my doctors office that do injections. Does your doctors have a nurse could she not do the injection.

Just using the general term of GP but I mean the practice nurse. Nope they're fully booked up.

I know bruising can be bad if administered badly but I guess if I'm careful I can do it.

I'll get the wife when she's asleep

[Liszt]

Know any diabetics who could do it for you?

[Lois]

You should be able to get your nurse to do it. If not do you know any medical friends who could do it. Obviously they would have to do it as a friend not as a medical practicioner.

[cotty]

Kentish said:

I know bruising can be bad if administered badly but I guess if I'm careful I can do it.

Doctors are the worst at giving injections as they dont have the same amount of practice as nurses. A doctor took a blood sample once and bruised my whole arm, previously over the years I had given about 7 pints of blood with no bruising.

[TeamD]

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GIVE YOURSELF AN INTRAMUSCALAR INJECTION IN YOUR BACKSIDE, THERE ARE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT NERVES THAT IF YOU HIT THEM CAN CAUSE YOU A REAL PROBLEM, or that's what my sister, who err..is a sister, if you catch my drift, told us when my friends and I took some instruction upon the subject before an extended holiday in Africa.

Can you not go to the nearest BA Travel Clinic? They've always seemed to be pretty accomodating in my experience.

[cotty]

Would you have any luck at the hospital

[Lois]

TeamD said:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GIVE YOURSELF AN INTRAMUSCALAR INJECTION IN YOUR BACKSIDE, THERE ARE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT NERVES THAT IF YOU HIT THEM CAN CAUSE YOU A REAL PROBLEM, or that's what my sister, who err..is a sister, if you catch my drift, told us when my friends and I took some instruction upon the subject before an extended holiday in Africa. Can you not go to the nearest BA Travel Clinic? They've always seemed to be pretty accomodating in my experience.

Very true. Has to go in the upper outer quadrant to avoid nerves and certain areas of your pelvis. Best bet if you have to self administer (which I don't reccomend) is in your thigh.

[speedychrissie]

another group of people who are good with needles:

people who are prone to severe hypersensitivity reactions eg bad nut allergies. if they have bad allergies they may carry an adrenaline "pen" which is a needle that they can self administer if they think they are about to have a bad reaction to something.

know anyone like that?

chris

[anonymous-user]

or a local smackhead

[simpo two]

Insulin-dependent diabetic children inject themselves without much fuss; I knew two.

[siwil1]

A local private clinic would do it for you, My wife goes to one for a flu jab every year. Shouldn't be to £££!

[308GTB]

DIY, nothing more fulfilling

[jeremyc]

I'm sure these guys could help you out at one of their walk-in centres.

Medicentre said:

Travelling abroad We fit round your travel schedule with our quick and comprehensive and effective vaccination service. No appointment, no long queues. Visit any of our London centres.

[JonRB]

simpo two said:

Insulin-dependent diabetic children inject themselves without much fuss; I knew two.

As do haemophiliacs, and they inject intravenously.

[dinger]

Go to the local vets i.ve heard they are more accomadating...

[Pigeon]

cotty said:

Doctors are the worst at giving injections as they dont have the same amount of practice as nurses. A doctor took a blood sample once and bruised my whole arm, previously over the years I had given about 7 pints of blood with no bruising.

A doctor took a blood sample once and pushed the needle right through the vein and into a nerve or something on the other side. That hurt like . He was doing it in a hospital corridor and I passed out on the floor of the corridor in front of everyone. I bet he got a nurse to take the next blood sample he needed off someone

[mrsmadmark]

simpo two said:

Insulin-dependent diabetic children inject themselves without much fuss; I knew two.

insulin injections are given sub-cutanously, which means just under the skin,therefore the needle is very fine and only about 5-8mm long, I have never had one, but I give them to other people all the time and believe they are fairly painless.

An intra-muscular injection needs to go a little further, through the skin, fat and into the muscle, so the needle has to be longer, maybe 4-5cm, I have had one of these and if its done right its painless but if not then

I would not reccomend giving it yourself for reasons already mentioned.

good luck, but it sounds like your best bet is one of the travel clinics. Or for a substantial fee I would oblige

[Lois]

And don't forget with an intra-musclular injection, you have to draw back the needle once in to check you aren't in a blood vessle. Plus learning to drawing up technique etc. All in all try and get someone who knows what they're doing to do it!