Pain infusing

[floopyjim]

Hi,  Hope everyone is OK and had a great christmas!

I wasn't going to post this, but in the interest of keeping this board active I thought I would. 

I am now 16 weeks into my SCIG infusions and I must say, it's changed my life - I haven't had a chest, ear or sinus infection for 10 weeks!

I do have a problem with inserting the needles though.  Approx 50% of the time I can't feel a thing, the rest of the time, it really hurts.  This has affected me to the point where it takes many deep breaths and gritting of teeth to insert the needles.  I understand that I could request emla cream to numb the area but that is generally not recommended as it can mask things like hitting a vein or getting issues with side effects.

I did improve things a little bit by getting better needles as the butterfly needles I was sent were rubbish - I had two incidents where the needles had no points!  I have now been given needles that match the ones I used in the hospital.

Does anyone have any tips to reducing the needle pain or do I have to resort to a good glass of Whiskey before starting?!

Cheers,

James.

[glowing]

Hi James.
Happy new year.
I understand how you feel when sometimes having to grit your teeth. I find it is best to make sure the soft fatty area you pinch gently is comfortably warm before inserting the needle. I make sure I'm breathing out when I insert each needle so my muscles are relaxed. I hope things improve for you soon, either way you can still enjoy a glass of whiskey.

Thank you for posting. Hopefully other members will share their experiences too and perhaps some useful tips.

Glo

[john]

Hi James,
My best tip is to look carefully at the needles when you fold back the little "wings", and tweak the sharp part til it's perpendicular to the wings. This means that you will push the needle straight into your tum, or wherever, thus minimising the drag on the needle. The needles are very often not perpendicular when I look at them, and this tweak makes all the difference! The other thing I have learned is to gently touch around on the skin with the needle point until you find a spot that is more numb, or at least you feel less of a "prick" and push it in there. Push firmly and steadily and you're in!
Glo is right on with the tip of warming the area before you start, although strangely enoung holding an ice cube on the spot also helps me!
Thanks for posting James...it worries me that we have so many members who seem scared to discuss stuff with each other!! Happy Infusing and glad you're feeling so much better!!

[floopyjim]

Thanks Glo and John - again, it's very much appreciated.

PS, you wouldn't believe how long I was trying to push that needle with no point in for, thankfully, all it did was leave a red mark!  it made me feel rather sheepish afterwards.

I guess none of the other needles can hurt as much as that one did so maybe perspective is all I need!

I have a cherry stone cushion I use for my back that I can warm the area with so I wil try that.

Nevertheless, regardless of discomfort, SCIG has changed my life, so much so that I don't know what I would do without it.

James.

[mali42]

Hi James

I'm pleased Scig is working well for you, I had a similar problem with ivig and sticking the needle in the back of my hand was very painful and to gritted my teeth a few times but found moisturizing as much as possible helps.

Malcolm

[s162216]

Hi James (floopyjim)

Make sure that you're not going too close to the muscle - around the belly button especially is a ring of muscle, so don't go too close - you'll probably know as it'll likely be a bit more resistant to push in (and a bit painful!). Warming the area is also a good idea, perhaps you could try doing your infusion shortly after having a warm shower as then your skin will be soft and relaxed (it's what I do nearly always before I change my subcutaneous insulin pump cannula), and the effect actually lasts for a surprising time afterwards, a good half hour. Just make sure to not have a too hot shower as that could encourage blood vessels to come closer to the surface.

Sam.

[jackiedal]

I take 1 25mg Benadryl, 650mg Tylenol and topically put Lidocaine/Prilocaine cream on the area before preparing the syringe and priming the tubing. I have no pain at all. I watch the needles go in and am amazed.

[floopyjim]

Thanks all, some good advice here. I tried a shower and took painkillers before the infusion - two out of the 4 needles were OK, the other two hurt like mad - one caused some sort of primal noise that I can't describe and made me hesitant to put the needle in for some time afterwards! I have a clinic appointment on Thursday so will ask for some cream - I was wondering if putting emla cream on for less than an hour (say 10 - 15 minutes?) would make it more bearable? It already takes three hours to infuse.

James.

[0stevem]

Hello I infuse weekly and I have found that if I don't let the sterile skin wipes I use before inserting the needles dry that can make it sting but even giving time for it to dry at least one of the four needles will make me cringe a bit
Steve

[jackiedal]

The emla cream is lidocaine/prilocaine cream, just like I use. Definitely try it. 15-20 minutes before is perfect. Hope this helps.

[marksmom]

Hi James,
Would definitely recommend the Emla cream! Did wonders for my son when he was younger and very anxious about needles. Also had to use it once on myself and can freely testify that it definitely numbs the area!! But I would tell your immunologist about the pain you are experiencing; Mark has been on subQ for 7 years and never experienced a pain like that. There might be a better place to put the needles if you're lean in the stomach area.

Best wishes,
Rachel
Mom to Mark, 13, CVID

[floopyjim]

I found a solution for the time being - The immunologist said that it's probably because my stomach area is sensitive as that is the only place I have been infusing. She suggested I tried my upper thighs, I tried it today and it didn't hurt, although I had that weird pressure and tingling sensation, just like the first time I infused in my stomach. The specialist nurses didn't suggest I rotate infusion sites as they said it should be OK but, as per normal, I like to be different!

Also, my blood test results came back and my levels are up to 15 (they were 6)!

The immunologist also said that as I was doing so well, it is very unlikely they would take me off SCIG so I am now a very happy chappy!

James

[john]

Way to go Jim, a level of 15 is terrific, mine is around 11.5.
You should be keeping very healthy from now on!!!

[floopyjim]

Thanks John, hope you are feeling better too...

Unfortunately, I don't feel too healthy today. I have a temperature of 37.8 (after co-codamol), headache, nausea, aching muscles and my thighs are very hot. I guess I infused too quickly in a site that I had never used before. I've taken some benadryl as well so hopefully I will feel better soon.

I know, whinge, whinge...

[john]

Hi Jim, whingeing is OK with us....whinge, rant, moan...hearing it coming from others somehow justifies it when we need to do it ourselves!!!
Sorry you don't feel good today, stay warm and indulge yourself and hopefully it'll clear up, if not have a whinge here tomorrow!
I'm feeling so much better myself....I'm infusing as I write this and looking forward to five restful days in France next week! Going away is a mixed blessing though, so many meds and stuff to pack!!
I still need to try out my thighs as a site...somehow I have it in my mind that it will be painful there, but I won't know till I try!
So, now let's see what's on TV......

[marksmom]

Another infusion spot that Mark's immunologist recommends us in the very lower back/upper buttock area where you tend to have a bit more fatty tissue. Mark tried the thighs and he didn't care for that site at all....right now he prefers his stomach.

I hope you're feeling better, Jim - and that you have a great vacation, John. France! Hard for this American girl to imagine a 5 day journey to France. I'm sure it's beautiful.

Best wishes,
Rachel mom to Mark 13 CVID

[john]

Hi Rachel, one of my clinic friends uses sites on her back....I like to see whats going on, so I'll stick (stick, get it?) to my tum!
We are lucky to have most of the continent within easy reach...we'll be in Nice on the mediterranean in an hour and a half from London! Hopefully we'll find some sunshine for Sue's birthday and to clear up my cough!!!

[mcarstens]

Hi everyone,

On weekly SCIG here. I have found that some of the needles seem just duller than others for sure!
Some anticipatory pain is natural of course. To cut down on this phenomena I try to get the needle
exactly perpendicular with the site, so it goes straight in, then insert as quickly as possible.

This works better for me,
MCarstens

[john]

Hi Mickie,
Sorry, I just saw this post!!
I totally agree with you...get the needle perpendicular and push without hesitation!!
Have you noticed that when it really seems to hurt, a few days later a bruise-like red patch arrives to tell you that you weren't imagining it!!!
How's the winter snow going in Buffalo??....we got our first snow of the season in London this morning...only a half-inch but it'll be sure to cause chaos!!
John