Advice for making monthly injections more tolerable

I just told the nurse that gave me my octreotide shot this week that sometimes the area feels bruised for a few days if I lean against something or lie down on it. She told me it helps to use a muscle massager on the area when I get home because it's a very thick liquid and may need some help dispersing. I didn't try it this time because I wasn't going home afterwards. Next time.

I agree with the others that they always tell me to put all my weight on the non-injection side. They have also suggested heat afterwards. To me, that didn't help. I rotate sides each month because it tends to leave little pockets of fluid that show up on my CT scans so I don't want to overload one side.

More helpful ideas, @californiazebra. I appreciate you sharing these.

Initial instructions from the nurses at the Mayo Arizona infusion center have served me well for a couple of years now. Stand up but lean on a counter or back of chair, take your weight off the leg on the side of the injection, remind the nurse to do a slow push (full time recommended) and after the injection apply some heat to the site, walk a lot that day if possible, and drink lots of water. I usually get my injection closer to home these days but sharing these suggestions with whomever is giving the injection seems to really help--both me and the nurse giving the shot. Several have admitted, they don't enjoy giving these shots so they seem really open to the conversation.

Hi @kjstein

My nurses don't like giving the shots either. I have limited those allowed to give them to me to two people because once a new person gave me the shot and she didn't go deep enough. I was suspicious when it didn't bleed or hurt at all. I ended up with a ping pong ball full of fluid on my back side that took a full month to flatten out. The medicine was wasted and not absorbed. I had a very bad coughing, mucus, SOB month about two months later. Don't let any newbies give the shot. Too expensive and too important.

You make an important point, @kjstein. We have a lot that we can teach those who help us. We, in fact, can help them!

I always tell the nurses to give my Lanreotide injection over 45 seconds or more, the slower the better. The written instructions say 20 seconds. When I explain that it hardly hurts when given slowly all of the nurses have done just as I ask. After 19 injections I do have 2 lumps that I can feel and that show up on PET scan. The new syringe and needle design for the Lanreotide have made the injection much less painful.

I have a similar reaction to the Lanreotide shots. I agree that it depends on who gives you the shot. I am always uncomfortable with the shots. I have lidocaine cream that I put on before the shot. The nurse has difficulty because there are many hard areas from previous shots. In addition, I know that if I bleed from the needle, there is going to be more pain. I like the idea of ice before and heat after. I realize that I am very lucky to have this treatment. I wish the nurses would be gentler. Good luck with future shots.