Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Could you give yourself injections?

103 replies

FinnyStory · 04/08/2020 20:46

DH has to have daily blood thinning injections in his stomach for the next few weeks. He's an ex soldier and afraid of nothing, I'm the squeamish one in this house.

After he was discharged from hospital, they sent the district nurse to do the first one and to teach him how to do it himself. He real really can't, so I'm doing it. I've surprised myself and am rather proud that I can just get on with it Grin

I get it, I'm not sure I could do it to myself, could you?

Also,I'm allowed to tease a little bit, aren't I?

OP posts:
JulesJules · 05/08/2020 12:25

The post caesarian injecting must be a fairly new thing? I didn't have to do that after mine.

I used to be a nurse, but I think this was a disadvantage when I had to do my own injections during chemo as the new pre filled semi automatic syringes required a different technique to the way I'd given thousands of injections as a nurse. Sounds ridiculous, but I had to concentrate so hard through my chemo brain fog that it was less stressful in the end to teach DH how to do it.

DianasLasso · 05/08/2020 12:46

Flowers for anyone having to inject their own blood thinners. I had them (in hospital) when in for abdominal surgery. Of all the many, many injections, countless re-sitings of IVs, etc. they really hurt like a bastard. (With anti-emetics in close second - but the post anti-biotic vomiting was bad enough I was volutarily asking for those).

IVF injections are a walk in the park by comparison.

ToLongNow · 05/08/2020 12:48

I done partners injections, not because he couldn't but because it was easier

I'm not sure if i could do my own,

JacobReesMogadishu · 05/08/2020 12:54

I could do the blood thinning ones and have had to do it. They're the easiest to do as no needle to see as such...at least on the ones I had.

I'm also a midwife so years of practice at jabbing other people.

However they sting like hell afterwards, the actual medication not the injection. I was amazed how much they hurt!

knittingaddict · 05/08/2020 12:58

Yes, I could.

I had to do daily injections into my husband's stomach after his op. I think it was for a month or so. I quite enjoyed it, in a non sadistic way.

I could give myself an injection too, although I think it would be weird at first. I've had so many injections and needles stuck in me that I'm immune to them now.

eurochick · 05/08/2020 13:07

I did for ivf and post-CS. I found that when I needed to do it I just got on with it.

PoodleMoth · 05/08/2020 19:30

@StopGo I am so sorry for your loss Flowers

Lindtnotlint · 05/08/2020 19:49

For some of us it is quite literally inject or die. Funny how in that scenario you find you can. (People who sit around saying “ooooh I don’t know how you do it, I couldn’t possibly” are generally extremely annoying, living in the luxurious world where that choice is an option!!)

starfishmummy · 05/08/2020 19:58

Dine it with clexane. The stinging was just as bad on the last day as on the first and had long since run out if an unbruised area. Hated doing it but no choice.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 05/08/2020 20:06

Yes, I’ve done blood thinners. Nothing compares to injecting a 4yo who doesnt wish to be injected though!

Lindtnotlint, I’ve had people say “ooh I couldn’t do that” about giving my child his insulin. I say “I think you’d find you could, given the alternative”.

DianasLasso · 05/08/2020 20:09

@JellyBabiesSaveLives

Yes, I’ve done blood thinners. Nothing compares to injecting a 4yo who doesnt wish to be injected though!

Lindtnotlint, I’ve had people say “ooh I couldn’t do that” about giving my child his insulin. I say “I think you’d find you could, given the alternative”.

Oh god, you are an absolute hero. I once had to give DS a course of erythromicin suspension at that age (worst tasting stuff I have ever encountered - I had to pin him down - on the advice of the A&E docs - under my legs while I tipped it into him). Injecting your four year old must be a whole new level of awful (but as you say has to be done because the alternative is... unthinkable). Flowers
AnnaSW1 · 05/08/2020 20:11

Yep!

Blondebear123 · 05/08/2020 20:18

Injected clexane into stomach from the start of 2 pregnancies until 6 weeks after birth so about 10.5months twice! Mind over matter!

When I was on my 2 pregnancy my 2 year old would 'pretend inject ' her stomach too. As it became such a normal thing in our house!

PaperMonster · 05/08/2020 20:21

I did my insulin ones myself when pregnant no problem. But the hcg ones and the nasty ones I had due to immobility followed by a c-section, I just couldn’t.

OhioOhioOhio · 05/08/2020 20:35

I'd say no but I bet I could if I had a good enough reason!

TimeIhadaNameChange · 05/08/2020 21:16

2 weeks of Clexane here. Was fine.

Worse was the week of daily injections for my rabbit. I really didn't like doing it but it was worth it as they saved her life.

whatnow41 · 05/08/2020 21:25

My DH was supposed to do all my injections for our IVF. He just couldn't do it, so I did. It was nothing really and I'd prefer to do it myself now if it's not a pro doing it. I also had to do the blood thinners after DS was born as I'd had a C Section.

CakeInMyFace · 05/08/2020 21:27

Yep, 4 times I've had to do blood thinner injections. After 2 sections then post surgery for nasty broken ankle that required 2 lots of surgery. It sucks but I trusted myself more than my DH Hmm

Silvercatowner · 05/08/2020 21:37

OH is type 1 diabetic - he injects up to 8 times a day. There is a bit of a hidden eye roll at those who say they couldn't inject themselves.

SockQueen · 05/08/2020 21:43

Happy to do it to myself, had 10 days of dalteparin after having DS2. I'm an anaesthetist though, so needles are my bread and butter!

DH is a different matter, he's very squeamish. When he was having chemo he was meant to have injections to stimulate white blood cell production. I offered to do it to save a trip to the hospital but he HATED me being in that role. I did two before he decided to go back to the clinic instead!

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 05/08/2020 21:48

I think I could do it to myself easier than I could do it to someone else tbh. DH has to inject himself every day and I can’t even watch Blush

Gingaaarghpussy · 05/08/2020 21:49

I honestly believe that even those that are terrified of needles would either inject themselves or get someone else to, especially when its a choice between life and death.
Its not really something that can be a definitive yes or no if you've never had that choice.

Cakeorchocolate · 06/08/2020 01:50

I had to throughout my pregnancy and a few months after. Needs must.

Pegase · 06/08/2020 03:11

I wimped out and had DH do my post C section ones. I don't mind needles if I look away which is a bit tricky when injecting yourself!

Purpleartichoke · 06/08/2020 03:19

Every 2 weeks I have to give myself a shot with a needle that looks large enough to be featured in a horror film. Scary the first few times, but I got over it pretty quickly.