I don't like needles. You might have heard this from me before. I was very clear with my oncologist when I was diagnosed that it was not an option for me to self inject. Ever. Last week I was told that my RA is not responding to oral treatment so I need to switch to injections. I was a bit stressed.
I had no idea how stressed I was. Tuesday night I took an ativan so that I would be able to sleep and reduce some stress. Yesterday morning we had the teaching lesson with the nurse to learn how to self inject.
I woke up with hives, a knot in my stomach, and extreme stress. Hives? That was a bit extreme. I have only had hives from allergic reactions before. I might have been a bit whiney as well. Only a slim possibility of that. I even took half an ativan to help me cope.
My husband went with me as he was the mere 'learnee' and I was the mere patient in this. We got there on time and had to sit in the waiting room where my husband's hand got a bit squished (only a tiny bit). And we waited. So I stressed some more.
Finally the nurse came to get us. I was very nervous and told the nurse - there is no point in being nervous if you can't tell everyone about it. She said it was good to be nervous as that meant I cared about my health and was taking it seriously which is a good thing. It may have been a good thing but it didn't make it easier.
My husband learned out to put on the gloves, swab off my skin, fill the needle, etc. I got to ask stupid questions and be an idiot because I was nervous. I even cowered when the put the fake fat pad against my arm for my husband to pretend to inject me. I cowered again when he really did inject me.
There was a little pinch and it did burn a little. But I survived. I think.
I left to go to work and my husband went to his other doctor appointment. My stomach started to unclench. My hives itched a little less. But I felt better. It was over. Until next week when we go through it again with out a nurse to help. Crap.
Showing posts with label needles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label needles. Show all posts
Playing Hooky
Yesterday I posted about my crappy week. It got even better. After working until 230, I rushed to a dr apt and then rushed home to a meeting that last until after 6, and then got THE call. 730am on Wednesday 4/24 we will get a lesson on delivering medication subcutaneously. What that means, they will expect me to stab myself with a needle. I will need an ativan for that.
The news this morning is all about the shootouts overnight to track down the Marathon bombing suspects. One is dead, one is on the run, police officers are dead. These guys are armed and dangerous. The subway and bus system is shut down city wide. Some towns people are being told not to leave their homes as cars are not allowed on the street. They are looking for a suspect and more explosive devices... Great.
Last weekend, a friend asked me if I wanted to play hooky for a day. We selected today. I had no idea last weekend how much I would appreciate a day of hooky. I can't wait.
In a few minutes I will go to the gym and work off some stress. Then I will go to a dr apt and then meet my friend. We will zip up to a small city on the ocean and enjoy the day - we are supposed to hit 70 - and have some lunch, maybe a little shopping, who knows. I need to get away and avoid all this.
I hope this is all over by the time we get home so life can resume some normalcy.
The news this morning is all about the shootouts overnight to track down the Marathon bombing suspects. One is dead, one is on the run, police officers are dead. These guys are armed and dangerous. The subway and bus system is shut down city wide. Some towns people are being told not to leave their homes as cars are not allowed on the street. They are looking for a suspect and more explosive devices... Great.
Last weekend, a friend asked me if I wanted to play hooky for a day. We selected today. I had no idea last weekend how much I would appreciate a day of hooky. I can't wait.
In a few minutes I will go to the gym and work off some stress. Then I will go to a dr apt and then meet my friend. We will zip up to a small city on the ocean and enjoy the day - we are supposed to hit 70 - and have some lunch, maybe a little shopping, who knows. I need to get away and avoid all this.
I hope this is all over by the time we get home so life can resume some normalcy.
This has been a bad week
This has not been a good week for me and a lot of other people. First off all, the marathon bombing on Monday turned lives upside down. And it seems to be the only thing on network television these days. All my regular shows I record so I don't have to stay up late, have been superseded by more news coverage showing the same things over and over again.
I have a very busy schedule this week. I had a meeting after work Tuesday that went relatively well. I met with my boss at the job I am leaving to talk about transition and was pleasantly surprised to find out they have two replacements for me - which is good for them and makes it easier for me to train people instead of leaving lots of notes.
Yesterday I went to work where there has been a fair amount of stress going on as well. Also, I was out last week so we can just say I have piles of things to do. Then I had an appointment with the nurse practitioner in rheumatology. I had hoped for a quick appointment and a quick trip to the gym before getting my hair cut.
Instead I had a 45 minute wait to see the nurse practitioner - stuck in a waiting room with a giant flat screen tv focused on the bombings and then the federal court house had a scare and was evacuated so all the newscasters could do was conjecture about what was going on and patients and medical staff, kept asking questions. I could not ignore it.
Finally I met with the nurse practitioner and we talked about my tiny medical history before the bad news started. Methatrexate is not working well for me. I can't take the biologics that are TNFs - tumor necrosing factors. This means I will never be able to Humira, Enbrel, and that whole class of drugs.
There are still options available for me that are not the big names but they all involve needles. I have a real problem with needles. My husband said he would help. We will go meet with a nurse and get instructions at some point. (And then he told me last night he didn't really like needles either - I don't think he has a choice in this because I am not sure I can give myself injections.) But that will be next week and I am not worrying about it today.
The one advantage to injecting methotrexate instead of taking it orally is that it is easier on your digestive system. This is good because last night after taking my pills, including my weekly dose of methotrexate, my stomach turned into a giant knot and caused a lot of pain. So I ended my crappy day in the bathroom in a lot of pain.
I just have to get through today and then tomorrow I am going to play hooky with a friend. I need a day off.
I have a very busy schedule this week. I had a meeting after work Tuesday that went relatively well. I met with my boss at the job I am leaving to talk about transition and was pleasantly surprised to find out they have two replacements for me - which is good for them and makes it easier for me to train people instead of leaving lots of notes.
Yesterday I went to work where there has been a fair amount of stress going on as well. Also, I was out last week so we can just say I have piles of things to do. Then I had an appointment with the nurse practitioner in rheumatology. I had hoped for a quick appointment and a quick trip to the gym before getting my hair cut.
Instead I had a 45 minute wait to see the nurse practitioner - stuck in a waiting room with a giant flat screen tv focused on the bombings and then the federal court house had a scare and was evacuated so all the newscasters could do was conjecture about what was going on and patients and medical staff, kept asking questions. I could not ignore it.
Finally I met with the nurse practitioner and we talked about my tiny medical history before the bad news started. Methatrexate is not working well for me. I can't take the biologics that are TNFs - tumor necrosing factors. This means I will never be able to Humira, Enbrel, and that whole class of drugs.
There are still options available for me that are not the big names but they all involve needles. I have a real problem with needles. My husband said he would help. We will go meet with a nurse and get instructions at some point. (And then he told me last night he didn't really like needles either - I don't think he has a choice in this because I am not sure I can give myself injections.) But that will be next week and I am not worrying about it today.
The one advantage to injecting methotrexate instead of taking it orally is that it is easier on your digestive system. This is good because last night after taking my pills, including my weekly dose of methotrexate, my stomach turned into a giant knot and caused a lot of pain. So I ended my crappy day in the bathroom in a lot of pain.
I just have to get through today and then tomorrow I am going to play hooky with a friend. I need a day off.
A needle free future
I am elated, no, overjoyed, on cloud nine, jumping up and down with joy (as much as I can jump up and down these days) at this news. Companies are now trying to figure out ways to deliver drugs WITHOUT needles.
I hate needles. I see no need for news programs and commercials to show people getting shots. If I have to have a needle near my body, I tell the doctors and nurses that I hate needles and can't look at them. When I had injections under my kneecap (I get chills up and down my spine just writing that), they were very good at distracting me.
I have a coworker who is so petrified of needles he gets freaked out by doctor appointments. I am not that bad but still me and needles do not get a long. Every time I need blood work (every two months now) I tell them I hate needles, have tiny veins, and they have to use my right arm which has the tiniest veins so they use little kid needles on me. Which still pinch!
When I started chemotherapy I told my oncologist that there would never be a day where I would inject myself with anything. Then with rheumatoid, my doctor muttered something about injectable options and I let her know my opinion of needles. I am still on oral medications but my RA is not under control so that may need to change. (My husband has since agreed he would give me the injections if it came down to it.)
When our cat had diabetes, I refused to learn how to give the injections. Then one day my husband was sick and slept through the injection time so I had to give the cat the injections. He never even felt them but it was traumatic for me.
Now these brilliant, brilliant people are coming up with ways to deliver drugs orally instead of through injection. It involves capsules, micropatches and all sorts of technical things that sound expensive but they do not include needles so I am happy. Its just two or three years away from clinical trials.... So I will try to be the patient patient for now.
I hate needles. I see no need for news programs and commercials to show people getting shots. If I have to have a needle near my body, I tell the doctors and nurses that I hate needles and can't look at them. When I had injections under my kneecap (I get chills up and down my spine just writing that), they were very good at distracting me.
I have a coworker who is so petrified of needles he gets freaked out by doctor appointments. I am not that bad but still me and needles do not get a long. Every time I need blood work (every two months now) I tell them I hate needles, have tiny veins, and they have to use my right arm which has the tiniest veins so they use little kid needles on me. Which still pinch!
When I started chemotherapy I told my oncologist that there would never be a day where I would inject myself with anything. Then with rheumatoid, my doctor muttered something about injectable options and I let her know my opinion of needles. I am still on oral medications but my RA is not under control so that may need to change. (My husband has since agreed he would give me the injections if it came down to it.)
When our cat had diabetes, I refused to learn how to give the injections. Then one day my husband was sick and slept through the injection time so I had to give the cat the injections. He never even felt them but it was traumatic for me.
Now these brilliant, brilliant people are coming up with ways to deliver drugs orally instead of through injection. It involves capsules, micropatches and all sorts of technical things that sound expensive but they do not include needles so I am happy. Its just two or three years away from clinical trials.... So I will try to be the patient patient for now.
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