Injection Technique

[Guest guest]

This is a small complaint in view of the more serious effects of asthma

and allergies but I was wondering .....

I'm a " happy home injector " of Xolair and injected last night.

Somehow, I hit a nerve or something and it was a real ouchy injection.

It was in my left arm (i'm right handed) and I pull up the fat by

resting my arm against the table and forcing and holding the fat up

with the table. There was a very warm spot afterward (that evening)

and today the area is somewhat tender although starting to disappear 22

hours later. No other allergic effects from it at all and I don't

think the warmth was exactly an allergic reaction, either. I've gotten

along well w/Xolair (possible exception arthritis but I'm not sure).

I tried sort've " sliding " the needle into the fat - maybe that was the

mistake. Is it better to " harpoon " ? i.e., just jab it straight in

quickly before depressing the plunger. I know that I have to go slow

with the plunger so no problem there. Is it better at an angle or

straight on? Is it best to release the grip on the fat once the needle

is in? Are there certain areas of the upper arm that are more tender?

I found in the past that there was more likely to be a teensy red spot

or bruise on my stomach or thighs than arms.

Thanks.

Your local friendly home injector

P.S. Doug, Xolair shots are totally unrelated to allergy de-

sensitization shots but you probably already know that. It sounds like

your doc might not know it, though. I had terrible reactions to

allergy shots so the Genentech rep freaked at the idea that I would

inject Xolair at home. No prob w/Xolair - just a problem w/the rep.

They are totally different substances and work in totally different

ways. Only the words are similar; not the biology.