Re: questions on reducing shot pain

August 5, 2005

Hi Inga

We give Liam his shots with a syringe, we found the pen caused him

more pain, and I didnt like not being able to see that I was giving

the right dose. Is using a small syringe an option for you??

The other thing that can cause pain/stinging is if you use an alco

swab on his skin first, the alcohol causes the site to sting.We give

Liam his shot after his bath so his skin is clean, and we swab the

top of the GH vial to ensure it isnt contaminated when we draw up.

The needles used for GH are so small, I dont think using Emla would

benefit that much only because the child would associate the 30min

to hour every day prior to the needle with the injection, it would

really draw out a daily event, but thats just me! Id also check the

Emla isnt going to effect the GH as it is only going just under the

skin.

Hope this helps, Liam is 4 and has been having shots for about 9

months now, he still hates it, but we just get it done as quickly as

possible, as soon as its over he is fine.

Take care

Jody(mum to Liam and Cameron)

> I've been struggling with shots again. I may need to lighten my

touch, but I

> often think the meds don't go in right when I make attempts -

sigh, maybe I

> need nurse training - on an apple or something? Our son is

feeling pretty

> upset about this now. I used to use something like EMLA, but it

didn't seem so

> needed awhile back, so I stopped.

>

> I'm wondering if anybody has any other creams they like. I don't

think Tim

> would do well with shots in his sleep. We might want to go to the

Inject Ease

> or something - right now we have Humatrope with the pen.

>

> I saw this deal on the web for the Emla:

> https://www.planetdrugsdirect.com/store/searchresults.aspx?

searchstring=emla

>

> Has anybody tried this company or have any ideas about how good

they'd be?

>

> Well, there's my sleugh of questions. Any insights would be

appreciated!

>

> Inga

>

August 5, 2005

At 09:35 PM 8/5/2005 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi Inga

>We give Liam his shots with a syringe, we found the pen caused him

>more pain, and I didnt like not being able to see that I was giving

>the right dose. Is using a small syringe an option for you??

I think I'll talk to the new endo about it. Definitely with a hidden

needle though - I get nervous, and when we started with visible needles, I

gave him scars across both legs because of shaky hands!

>The other thing that can cause pain/stinging is if you use an alco

>swab on his skin first, the alcohol causes the site to sting.We give

>Liam his shot after his bath so his skin is clean, and we swab the

>top of the GH vial to ensure it isnt contaminated when we draw up.

Good idea - yeah, we used the alcohol. Perhaps having himm wash the area

with antibacterial soap would help, too.

>The needles used for GH are so small, I dont think using Emla would

>benefit that much only because the child would associate the 30min

>to hour every day prior to the needle with the injection, it would

>really draw out a daily event, but thats just me!

I think this is why we stopped - we always get on a tight schedule with

bedtime routines, especially during the school year.

also check the

>Emla isnt going to effect the GH as it is only going just under the

>skin.

>Hope this helps, Liam is 4 and has been having shots for about 9

>months now, he still hates it, but we just get it done as quickly as

>possible, as soon as its over he is fine.

Tim has had them for years now, but his and my feelings about things can

fluctuate. I think it's time to get careful. Perhaps it is because he's

looking at serious orthodontic work and and some painful urological surgery

- the pain probably just reminds him of his fears...

Inga

>Take care

>Jody(mum to Liam and Cameron)

>

>> I've been struggling with shots again. I may need to lighten my

>touch, but I

>> often think the meds don't go in right when I make attempts -

>sigh, maybe I

>> need nurse training - on an apple or something? Our son is

>feeling pretty

>> upset about this now. I used to use something like EMLA, but it

>didn't seem so

>> needed awhile back, so I stopped.

>>

>> I'm wondering if anybody has any other creams they like. I don't

>think Tim

>> would do well with shots in his sleep. We might want to go to the

>Inject Ease

>> or something - right now we have Humatrope with the pen.

>>

>> I saw this deal on the web for the Emla:

>> https://www.planetdrugsdirect.com/store/searchresults.aspx?

>searchstring=emla

>>

>> Has anybody tried this company or have any ideas about how good

>they'd be?

>>

>> Well, there's my sleugh of questions. Any insights would be

>appreciated!

>>

>> Inga

>>

August 5, 2005

Inga,

Where are you giving the shots? You may be doing them in a place that

is not " meaty " enough. Also, when we used the pen, Max always said it

hurt. When we were able to switch back to the syringe and the

Injectease, it was much better, but now painfree. Then Dr. H. asked

Max where he was giving himself the shots. He's always done it in his

thighs, but more towards the outer part where we thought there was

more fat. She told him to switch to the inner part - the part that

kind of sticks out when he sits down. He is much more comfortable

with that area now.

One other thing. I don't remember how long you have been doing the

shots, but watch out for thickening of the skin if you are doing it in

the same place. This can happen if you don't move the needle around

to various places. That makes the shots more painful, too.

Jodi Z

August 5, 2005

Thanks, Jodi! I have tended to give them on the outside of the thighs, and

then sometimes in the arms, which are even leaner. I'll need to try the

inside of the thighs!

Inga

At 12:12 AM 8/6/2005 +0000, you wrote:

>Inga,

>

>Where are you giving the shots? You may be doing them in a place that

>is not " meaty " enough. Also, when we used the pen, Max always said it

>hurt. When we were able to switch back to the syringe and the

>Injectease, it was much better, but now painfree. Then Dr. H. asked

>Max where he was giving himself the shots. He's always done it in his

>thighs, but more towards the outer part where we thought there was

>more fat. She told him to switch to the inner part - the part that

>kind of sticks out when he sits down. He is much more comfortable

>with that area now.

>

>One other thing. I don't remember how long you have been doing the

>shots, but watch out for thickening of the skin if you are doing it in

>the same place. This can happen if you don't move the needle around

>to various places. That makes the shots more painful, too.

>

>Jodi Z

>

August 5, 2005

Inga,

How old is Tim? Aubrey's 3 and we use the Humatrope pen and it works pretty well

if I do it while she's asleep. I'm not sure if all the needles on the pen are

the same size, but the bigger ones hurt worse. We use a 30 gauge needle on her

pen. Did you get a video with your pen? If so I would watch it again and see if

it helps. Before I could muster up the courage to give Aubrey her first shot, I

had to watch the video like 10 times. I started out trying to hold her down

while she was awake and give her shot to her, but it was a nightmare. One night

I decided to do it while she was asleep so I wouldn't have to sit on her 20 lb

body and try to fight her hands, and oddly enough she slept through it. I just

kept giving it to her in her sleep and most generally she never wakes up. I have

the video still if you need it I can probably mail it or something. It may be of

little help. Good Luck.

Tonya mom to Aubrey

Inga wrote:

I've been struggling with shots again. I may need to lighten my touch, but I

often think the meds don't go in right when I make attempts - sigh, maybe I

need nurse training - on an apple or something? Our son is feeling pretty

upset about this now. I used to use something like EMLA, but it didn't seem so

needed awhile back, so I stopped.

I'm wondering if anybody has any other creams they like. I don't think Tim

would do well with shots in his sleep. We might want to go to the Inject Ease

or something - right now we have Humatrope with the pen.

I saw this deal on the web for the Emla:

https://www.planetdrugsdirect.com/store/searchresults.aspx?searchstring=emla

Has anybody tried this company or have any ideas about how good they'd be?

Well, there's my sleugh of questions. Any insights would be appreciated!

Inga

August 5, 2005

Tonya,

Tim is 10 yrs old - he has been on GH since he turned 7. One problem is

that he's up to 6 clicks again. It gets really bad when he gets closer to

10 clicks. We have started over before with a new size vial, and that

helped a lot because the number of clicks thus the number of seconds I need

to hold it in decreased. Part of the problem may be that I hold it in so

the needle shield stays compressed and just don't seem to have the touch

lately for it not to hurt. I'm afraid I'd wake him up in a rude way

because of that. I think I have the video in a box in the garage. I'm

seriously considering the Inject-Ease now, though, as long as I don't have

to see the needle. Well, maybe if I practiced seeing the needle in a

fruit, I could get over my skittishness. Do you use the needle sheild?

Inga

At 08:04 PM 8/5/2005 -0700, you wrote:

>Inga,

>How old is Tim? Aubrey's 3 and we use the Humatrope pen and it works pretty

>well if I do it while she's asleep. I'm not sure if all the needles on the

>pen are the same size, but the bigger ones hurt worse. We use a 30 gauge

>needle on her pen. Did you get a video with your pen? If so I would watch it

>again and see if it helps. Before I could muster up the courage to give

>Aubrey her first shot, I had to watch the video like 10 times. I started out

>trying to hold her down while she was awake and give her shot to her, but it

>was a nightmare. One night I decided to do it while she was asleep so I

>wouldn't have to sit on her 20 lb body and try to fight her hands, and oddly

>enough she slept through it. I just kept giving it to her in her sleep and

>most generally she never wakes up. I have the video still if you need it I

>can probably mail it or something. It may be of little help. Good Luck.

>Tonya mom to Aubrey

>

>Inga wrote:

>I've been struggling with shots again. I may need to lighten my touch, but I

>often think the meds don't go in right when I make attempts - sigh, maybe I

>need nurse training - on an apple or something? Our son is feeling pretty

>upset about this now. I used to use something like EMLA, but it didn't

seem so

>needed awhile back, so I stopped.

>

>I'm wondering if anybody has any other creams they like. I don't think Tim

>would do well with shots in his sleep. We might want to go to the Inject Ease

>or something - right now we have Humatrope with the pen.

>

>I saw this deal on the web for the Emla:

>https://www.planetdrugsdirect.com/store/searchresults.aspx?searchstring=emla

>

>Has anybody tried this company or have any ideas about how good they'd be?

>

>Well, there's my sleugh of questions. Any insights would be appreciated!

>

>Inga

>

August 6, 2005

No, I personally don't use the needle shield. I've tried it a few times, but it

seemed to make it harder for me. It's just easier for me personally to see what

I'm doing. We are on 6 clicks also. Yeah if he did wake up that would be a

pretty rude awakening. I'm sorry I don't have any advice on the needle shield,

I've never been to successful with it. I've heard quite a few people say the

Injectease is better,but don't really know since I've never tried it.Good Luck.

I guess I'm lucky that I have no needle fears. Aubrey was in NICU 3 months and

has been in hospital few other times and ER a lot. So if I had one before after

all that, I'm over it.

Tonya