Sub-Cut anaesthetic spray/gel?

[supersub70]

Hi,
Does anyone know if there's such a thing an anaesthetic/numbing spray/gel to apply on your skin before inserting the needles? I seem to re-call this was offered when I first started doing home sub-cut about 3yrs ago. Back then I chose not to bother as the Immunology Nurse said I probably won't need it and indeed I could hardly feel the needles going in at the time. However it's becoming more painful nowadays, not unbearable pain, but enough to make me apprehensive about inserting the needles which is probably not helping a smooth insertion either. I tried having a warm shower beforehand to open up the pores but although this helped it had a side effect of bring blood vesicles closer to the surface which meant occasional bleed so I stopped doing that. There not much fat on me so I've asked for smaller 6mm needles used for children rather than the 9mm I'm using now.

It's either that or have a few glasses of Red beforehand to numb the pain lol!

[prickles]

Hi

Caitlin used to use a spray but we can't remember the name, or Emla cream, there is also Amitop cream. The cream has to be left on for 45 minutes before you insert the needle the spray you insert immediately after it has dried about 20 seconds!

Caitlin is back to IV Ig's so we don't have the issues any more but the longer she had the sub cut the more uncomfortable she found inserting the needles.

Sue

[supersub70]

Hi Sue thanks for that. Just interested did she go back to IV because of the pain? I've noticed it's getting harder each time after about 3yrs sub-cut. I never used to think about it but now I get pre-subcut tension because of the discomfort.

[john]

I have found the needle insertion to be pretty painless, but the discomfort after infusion is helped for me with an electric heat pad, or even a hot water bottle and gentle massage.
I have a feeling that some insertion pain might be helped by putting an ice cube on the site for a few seconds beforehand.... will give that a try next infusion!

[prickles]

Caitlin went back to IV partly because of the discomfort but also because she didn't think the Ig's were helping her (she has Hyper IgE Syndrome) but she had a really nasty abscess 3 months into a trial of being off the Ig's. As a condition of the consultants giving her an extended course of IV antibiotics then oral ones she had to go back to the Ig's which she reluctantly did but would only agree to them being IV. Since she has been back on them she has only been in hospital once which was last week for another abscess, so for her the IV route is better, her consultants think the big hit of the Ig's works better than keeping a steady level.

Sue

[s162216]

supersub70 I would push them to give you the shorter 6mm needles because as somebody who likewise is pretty low on subcutaneous fat, I can't use a subcutaneous cannula longer than 6mm for my subcutaneous insulin pump which I have in/on me all the time literally. When I started with it nearly 7 years ago I initially used 8mm needles, but after finding that I would constantly hit muscle, switched to the smaller 6mm versions and saw a near immediate improvement.

I've never used emla cream etc to numb the area prior to insertion as it was felt to not be necessary, and I do agree with that to be honest as their reason was that it can prevent you from becoming aware of problems like hitting blood vessels which is more likely especially if your of lower body fat. I tend to have a shower to loosen up the fat a bit (plus it weakens the adhesive on the old cannula a bit!), and sometimes I do have problems with blood vessels being too close to the surface, but just waiting for 10-15 minutes usually reduces the problem.

Sam