Just a suggestion, and you would of course need to discuss this one: when my endocrinologist put me on lanreotide (Somatuline), he said the major difference between that and the octreotide was ease of administration -- the needle is smaller. Maybe you could try a drug switch?

When I was going through fertility treatments, I had to give myself daily injections of progesterone oil every day for six weeks. The needle was a large 18 gauge needle and it hurt like crazy. The doctor recommended that we use a heating pad after the injection and then massage the area to break down the scar tissue. I wouldn't recommend doing any of this without checking with your doctor first, but it's worth asking if it will help. Also, I would make sure they are not only removing the medicine from the fridge, but they are taking the syringe out of of the box. Many time companies create the packaging to act as insulators to keep the medicine cold even when it is out of the fridge. Not sure if this is happening, but it doesn't hurt to ask about it. I hope it works for you!

John has made a point of somatuline..they have done the needle differently now it retracts back for a better adminstration and it actually works alot better the dose is also being more effective..Ive never had any trouble with any redness or lumps..it did get stuck once but that was down to new person and the gel being thick not left out of fridge

I have had pain in areas as well. Every three weeks is the Sandostatin injection and it is as if my skin does not get the time to recover.

30 mins after the fridge the solution and powder can be mixed. Each cheek once a month.

My VON Nurse takes her time and we always have a pleasant chat. We talk city politics. I am horrified to hear that you've had "spillage?" issues with your injection.

Since Sandostatin is notorious for "cementing" in the needle itself during administer (happened twice to me, the nurse had to change the needle and pray my dosage did not go bad), but seepage may indicate that this 'cementing' issue to the solution is occuring?

A good needle injection, you shouldnt be able to feel pockets when its injected. I know what you feel, that stinging sensation and build up if it is not being collected well.

I had all together 3 injections of Somatuline, 3 years ago, each was given by a different nurse. After each injection i had a hard lump who is still there, 3 years later.
Received no explanation from the doctors.
My own interpretation is probably an allergy to one or another of the components.
I stopped Somatuline.

I had three injections of Somatuline too (Berthe and I started the drug at the same time). Though my digestive system reacted badly to the drug, worse and worse as the three months went on, my buttocks are still pristine :-)

John

May I ask, What is Somatuline? I have heard of it in the past, but forget again.

sbuxaddict, I was on the Sando LAR for 4 years and still have hard areas in each buttock where I got the shots. This year my Endo switched me over to the Somatuline Depot 90mg which I administer in my thighs at home.....I call it the harpooning day. I have noticed that only one of the previous injection sites still has a hard knot to it....... I've also found that applying heat afterwards and then kneading the spot several hours later helps to avoid that problem............I fear that in time that the scarring issue will present it self at some point.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I'm sorry I forgot I posted here, my memory is horrible (I'm sure you know what I mean!).

I think I figured out my problem. I think the doctor was injecting in the wrong spot. I always stood up to receive my injections, and I think he was injecting too high on the buttocks, and maybe wasn't rotating the injection spots often enough. Unfortunately it's hard for me to tell exactly what's going on back there, and add to that my horrible memory. Anyway, in the last few months I've been laying down for injections, and he's been injecting lower on the buttocks. I brought in my literature with injection sites so he could refresh his memory.

Since he's injecting properly I feel the difference, and I'm not getting huge lumps. Unfortunately I think I feel worse! My mood has been a lot less peaceful, more mood swings, anger and anxiety. I have more fatigue, muscle and joint pains, memory issues (can't concentrate as well, forgetful). Maybe this will level off in a couple months, maybe the med is trying to shrink tissues too aggressively? I have no clue.

I'm currently considering a drug switch, an endocrinologist switch. I'm kind of stuck about what to do, I'd love to stop the medication completely if I could wean myself off. But I'm afraid to rock the boat so to speak when things were going pretty well.