Injection questions

What drug?

@gravity3 tymlos

@diane2154: I believe you are injecting Evenity. If so, yes the injection site is sore & pink for a couple days. You might even feel a bump where the solution accumulated.
Prior to injection I put ice pack onto skin I have chosen for injection. I ice the area after injection if discomfort. I am well hydrated and take 2Tylenol about an hour prior to injection into pinched fatty tissue (I use stomach 2+ inches away from belly button. I also eat about 8 green olives for salt and drink 1cup coffee for caffeine about 1/2 hr prior. This process gets easier as treatment progresses. I learned that injecting the needle at a slight angle vs. straight into the fatty pinched up skin worked better for me.
I hope this post isn’t too late to be of help to you. You can do this at home and not have to drive home from Dr office. I just rest & fall asleep. Next morning I may be a little sore in injection site, but able to go about my day with no problems. As with anything new, trying different sites as your treatment progresses will build your confidence. You are a trouper!
dbamos1945

@dbamos1945 thank you for your support. I am injecting Tymlos but I would imagine your tips would be beneficial for both.

I started generic teriparatide 3 weeks ago and the injection site doesn't get sore. I was terrified to take my first injection because of the side effects, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. The first 3 times I was light-headed when getting up to stand, and that was about it. I just googled about the stretch marks and apparently it can affect how the medication is absorbed due to scar tissue (who knew?!). It says to avoid it "if possible." I don't think that's possible for a lot of women. It also said that the medication will still "likely" work, but you may experience more irritation or bruising.
I read somewhere else that icing for 30 seconds before can prevent bruising. Good luck with your treatment!

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am hoping if I get any side effects they will be mild. Taking my first injection shortly. I will let you know how I make out.

Well it’s the morning after my first injection. It wasn’t bad, no dizziness or vertigo as of yet. Fingers crossed I will tolerate this medication.

You can also inject into your upper thighs, which is what I do. I've been taking either generic teriparatide or Forteo for the past 19 months, depending on what my drug formulary covered. The only effect I ever felt was slight light-headedness the first few days, not even enough to qualify as dizziness. Nothing at all thereafter. When I first read the list of potential side effects I was nervous. I do a lot of biking on my way to cat-sitting jobs and I had visions of all of sudden having horrible leg cramps or a dizzy spell and falling off my bike. It seems laughable now.

@diane2154 Injecting Tymlos is relatively simple. It needs to go into the fatty tissue, not the muscle. Instructions say to go straight in with the needle, not at an angle. When I have tried the angle, it is uncomfortable for me. I have to pinch the skin and then inject into the pinched area. I get a better result sitting down rather than lying flat. I can more easily inject and remember meds go just under the skin, hence the "pinch". Never directly into the muscle.

@willowmena thank you for that reminder regarding pinching the skin. I didn’t pinch on my second injection and I noticed a difference. I will definitely pinch tonight.