Humira & self-injecting nerves

[elvie]

I'm a Humira newbie - had my first four loading doses on January 25 with next two coming up this Friday 8th February (argh!). Before opting to try Humira, I had been convinced that Remicade was the better option for me because when I get nervous my hands shake like crazy, and I was worried that therefore I wouldn't be able to do the Humira injections. I ended up deciding that Humira suited my lifestyle more in that I'd be able to inject and then continue with my day, so opted to try it.

A nurse gave me the first shot, then supervised me doing the next three, which I did manage to do. Problem was that, as I had thought, my hands were shaking. I have to say that while I found the shots very painful they weren't absolutely unbearable which was what I expected.

What I want to know is do others have this problem and how do you cope with it? I'm assuming from others' comments that most of us don't start out feeling terribly comfortable about the idea of self-injecting and that I'm just one of many who is scared of the process. I had a phone call from the Australian MyHumira website folk asking if I felt "extremely comfortable" or "fairly comfortable" about self-injecting. I felt like saying 'neither, I'm just OK about it at this stage' but since that wasn't an option, went for 'fairly comfortable'. Surely it's a bit ambitious to expect people to be either extremely or fairly comfortable about injecting themselves at the outset?

Since I have my final two loading doses soon I'm going to have to get over this hand shaking business but I don't yet know how. The nurse at my doctor's practice gave me a practice needle to try and I've been using it to work on my technique, but even though I know it's a practice one, when I hear it 'click' into place my brain panics and hands start shaking. I am trying to tell myself that since I managed to give myself 3 shots in one go, surely I can do 2 and then 1 thereafter. If only my brain listened to me instead of going off on its own tangents!

 

[guest78]

Hia!
I am on Humira shots too one a week. you are very brave to inject yourself from the start! for the first 6 months my mum or boyfriend had to do it for me as i was too nervous of getting it wrong, and couldn't bring myself to inject!
i now do it myself, and have done for about 18months. the more you do it the less nervous you should become i still shake a bit with the anticipation of it but nothing that gets in the way of it being done properly.
if you find it quite painful, one tip i have been given by a nurse is to a) leave the shot out of the fridge for 10-15minutes before hand and also b) ice the area first. i do both of these things without fail. the icing numbs the area enough to take away some of the main.
try having the tv or something on in the background to distract you a bit and remaining as calm as possible, with deep breathing etc taking away the 'this is a huge deal' helped me, all of this should help the hand shaking.
hope this kind of helps! i know how nerve wracking it is, its never nice to have to inject yourself!
xxx

 

[elvie]

Thanks for your comments! When I think about my hands were shaking much less by the time I got to the final shot, so hopefully as I get more used to it things will calm down. I like the idea of having distracting noise in the background - I deliberately bought CDs recently which all had 'calm' 'relaxing' or 'tranquillity' in the title so might try putting one of those on.

The nurse did tell me to leave the needle out for 20-30 min to let it warm up - her suggestion was to have a shower before the shot but after taking it out of the fridge. I will remember the icing thing too - I have the cold patch from Abbott which I think is meant to do that trick.
Thanks again for your reply!

 

[guest78]

No problem at all! I remember before my first one I googled it and read so many horror stories I got myself into such a state!
Hope it all goes okay xxx

 

[EthanPSU]

You get very use to it. I was scared at the start, but 6 months in, I barely even think twice about it.

 

[elvie]

Yes I can imagine that you get used to it over time. I'll just try to be kind to myself and realise that the next few shots are probably going to make me nervous until I reach the point that it's normal and don't stress about it.

 

[Smika]

You'll be a pro before you know it I just used to think, if all these young children with diabetes can inject themselves daily with insulin, I (an adult) can handle a once a week injection! lol

 

[elvie]

Thank you! I just gave myself the next two loading doses, and to my suprise, had almost no nerves about it. Just a little bit of shaking on the first one and none with the second. Feeling quite relaxed about it now.

 

[guest78]

Yay! I'm so glad!! Well done. That's the worst of it I've with x

 

[elvie]

Thanks! I'm now feeling very pleased with myself and about to enjoy a bit of chocolate and a good book that I was keeping for today. Might as well spoil myself when I have the time before heading back to work soon!

I'm so grateful for this forum and having the support even of complete strangers is a great feeling.

 

[Thermo]

I would recommend anxiety medication, while I get nervous like you its sounds like you are like me and it is not normal. Do you have anyone else to do your injections for you? I would recommend watching this video below, if you properly pull the skin up and inject into the skin and not the muscle you will feel no pain. After two years of being on Humira I find the easiest way is to get it setup on your skin and just press the button, don't let your mind sit and think about it, injecting properly with no pain will help it be easier and easier. Good luck
!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgcYmoyVIYg

 

[elvie]

Thanks. I actually didn't get nervous when I injected myself today, so I doubt I need anxiety medication. I was just worried at the time of the initial 4 loading doses - surely most people are anxious initially, and that's not so strange (to judge from comments on this forum, anyway).

 

[mbishop]

It only gets easier. If you are conquering your nerves already, within another month it will just be a to-do item on your general list of chores. Congrats on facing it down head-on!

 

[elvie]

Thank you! Yes, I am already feeling as though it is just another thing to do every second Friday - perhaps not something I'd look forward to exactly, but not something to get worried about.:ybiggrin:

 

[tots]

Did anyone have a nurse from Humira come to your house and train you?


Lauren

 

[elvie]

I went to my gastro's practise to have a nurse show me for the first one and supervise the next three of the four initial loading doses. I was called by the MyHumira website people though and given the option of having a nurse come and do the next lot but said no because I felt OK about doing it myself.