This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi guys!

So... I was diagnosed a couple of months ago, and am up to my 3rd dose of avonex.
First time i was completely fine. Second time, got a bit anxious...it took me about 5 minutes or so to work up the nerve to push the button but got there ok. Today - 45 minutes of extreme freaking out before i finally pushed the button, only to hit a vein and then have a minor blood bath

the blood was not nice but i dealt with it pretty quickly. i'm just worried that i'm finding it harder and harder to inject each time i'm aware this is completely psychological and something i kinda need to get my head around, but have any of you guys had trouble with the mental aspect of self injection? any tips or am i just a nutter?!!

REALLY appreciate any feedback, i'm feeling kinda yuck about the whole thing...

Welcome to ThisIsMS. I was on Avonex for 10 years. I never used the autoinjector, but did the injections manually. In order to help avoid hitting a vein, I would inject in the top third of my thigh over towards the outside edge. This is sort of where your ring finger might be if you put your hand in your pant's front pocket. On the rare occasions that I did get a leak, I could just put a gauze pad over it (or just my finger) with a little pressure for 30 seconds or so to stop the blood flow.

NHE

Hi there,

I've been on Rebif for 2 yrs, and the very first time I injected it, I had a pretty serious panic attack. I was trying to use the auto-injector, but it made this loud, awful popping sound when you push the button. I just couldnt do it. Spent about an hour trying to psych myself into it, but all that happened was the anxiety just got worse. So I ditched the auto-injector and just shot it myself. Havent had a panic attack since.

Another trick I use whenever Im dreading the shot is to think about how awful it is have a relapse. The little bit of pain from the shot is nothing compared to the agony of being hospitalized with an exacerbation. I think about how much it sucks to not be able to see or to lose feeling or mobility in my arms or legs, etc. Ill do anything to avoid another relapse and as soon as i remember that, it becomes pretty easy to just "man up" and take the shot

Hope this helps
-b

I know the feeling! I have the exact same difficulty with my avonex injections.

Tapering up to the full dose with the syringes was bad. I actually only had the balls to do two myself. The other two I had my sister (who is a nurse) give them to me in the behind (it hurt much less and I didn't suffer from any muscle stiffness or pain afterwards).

Then once I started the auto injector I did the first one (with the nurse here) no problem. It seemed SO much better than the syringe. The second time I did it but it took a lok more working up to it. And the third time I scared myself, pulled it out as it was going in and sprayed it all over the kitchen!:-S

I am very blessed to have a husband who is so supportive. He would sit with me through each injection and after seeing how much I struggled he offered to so it for me. And that has been working for us. It's so much easier when you can cover your eyes and try to relax.

If you don't have someone who could help you, something that I do every week before he injects me is close my eyes, do some deep breathing and try to relax. Do this and try to hold off doing the injection until you are feeling calm and at ease (if possible!). I hold my dog while hubby does my injection because she calms me and I can just focus on her softness and calm breathing. I would not recommend this if you are self injecting! but the point is, figure out what calms and relaxes you and find a way to work that into your injection time. I also start counting the moment he pushes the button. I find that helps me focus on the fact that it will be over soon rather than on the fact that he just stuck a needle into my leg!!!

Good luck.