hi, has anyone done their own injections? ive had 3 fec and have had my 1st of 3 tax 2nd jan but ended up in hospital for 5 days with 0 white cells, my onc told me today i will have injections for 5 days from the 5th day following 2nd tax and herceptin on 23rd jan to boost white cell count and that i can do it myself or my partner can do it for me, he assured us it is easy to do and that chemo nurses will go through it with us on wed, at first my partner thought he was joking but then said he would be prepared to do it, i’m not sure if i could do it or not it seems quite scary but then again lots of people do their own injections for diabetes don’t they, i don’t fancy a trip to hospital everyday, anyone got any advice for me?
LOVE MIZZY***
Hi MIZZY,
I used to have these injections too the day after every epi, but the chemo nurses arranged for the district nurse to come to my home to do it each time,It was never mensioned to me that i should do it myself though i know some ladies have if they feel they can. If youd rather not have to give yourself the injections im sure they could arrange for the district nurse to come out and do it for you. I used to have mine in my stomach.
Hope this helps
All the Best
Lindiloox
HI there
Do you know any nurses who are friends ? I take my injection home with me and get my neighbour to do it 24-48 hrs later . . I know a couple of nurses who are parents of children at school too just in case my neighbour cant do it. I guess you could always make an appt with you nurse at your doctors surgery if they are closer ?
One thing though I just cant do it myself , I’m way too squeamish and am not taking any chances with my hubby although he said he’d give it ‘a go’ !
I also know a diabetic friend who said she would do it too as she’s used to doing injections. Its not as if its in the vein
so basically it can go anywhere.
good luck
cally x
hey there,
i use to give myself those injections (and no I’m not a nurse, ha ha!). They don’t hurt much and it’s as quick as lightning but if you don’t feel comfortable doing it get the chemo nurses to arrange for the district nurse to do it for you.
All the best,
Teacup x
O as an afterthought injections don’t seem to scare me but learning to drive does. I’d much prefer to it to be the other way round though!
Hi Mizzy,
I too used to have these injections the day after my epirubicin. I took the first one along to my GP surgery and the nurse instructed me how to inject myself. She got me to practise on a little plastic ‘tummy’ so I could get the needle angle etc right. After that I felt quite confident going this myself, but I’m glad I had the lesson first! So get your chemo nurse to show you and your partner as they’ve suggested. I was just glad it didn’t mean another trip to the hospital. In an odd way I felt quite ‘empowered’ if that makes sense!!
I’ve now finished the chemotherapy, nearly through the rads and have just started herceptin.
Good luck with your treatment,
Margaret.
I didn’t have to do those injections myself, but I did have a pulmonary embolism and had to inject myself every day for three months with heparin into the stomach. Its something I just got used to, I think, and better doing it myself than having to wait around for the district nurse to come every day.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Gwyn
Hi Mizzy,
I had to have these as a preventative measure as my scar hadnt quite healed when I started chemo. My onc arranged for district nurses to come to my house to do them - they did the first one then supervised me for the 2nd and 3rd and after that I was confident to do them myself. I injected into my tummy (plenty of flab!) and it was quite easy to do but I’m glad I had the disctrict nurses as I wasn’t rushed into doing it myself - perhaps this could be an option for you? They did make me ache in my lower back and thighs but a couple of paracetamols sorted that out!
Good luck with it,
Julie x
Hi Mizzy,
The district nurse comes to do my injections on days 3 and 4 after FEC. If they said I had to do it myself I probably would. As some of the others have said it would be a good idea to get the district nurse to come for the first lot and you could take over yourself when you are confident.
Good luck.
Lorna
Hi Mizzy
I had these for ten days after each chemo (eight sessions). The district nurses taught me over the first course, then I was on my own, got hubby to learn aswell, just in case I threw a wobbly anytime, but they were a doddle really, and I felt better being in control, doing it when I wanted, not waiting for nurses to turn up or sitting in a surgery catching goodness knows what. In all I managed 70 odd injections and am really quite proud of myself. Unless you’re really squeamish I’d give it a go.
Cheers
Anne
Hi Mizzy
I had to have the GCSF injections after 2 of my chemo cycles and the district nurses came to do them. I know my husband couldn’t have done them, neither could I. As it was the week after chemo, it didn’t stop me from doing anything waiting for them as I wasn’t dressed any way. I could only manage to get out of bed!
Angela
Hi Mizzy,
I had them, and as Angela says the district nurse came and did mine, she never suggested that I do them myself it
only took a minute, but well worth it as my blood count has always held up. Let us know how you get on, Best of Luck with it.
Love
Jillx
Hi All
thanks for all your advice, my partner and i have been talking about this and after reading your comments we have decided to ask for the district nurse to come in, as i feel after what onc said about it being easy to do i felt a bit obliged to try to do it ourselves, but the more i think about it the more nervous i feel and i don’t want to be in the situation where neither of us can face doing it and then having to ring the hospital , Angela im the same as you i am on sick leave so waiting in for the nurse to come is no hardship, thanks for all your advice it has really has helped us. my onc assured us that it is up to us what ever we decide so will tell chemo nurses tomorrow, thanks again all
MIZZY********