Hey there!

I do not use SubQ so I am going to be of absolutely no help to you unfortunately.
Again, as someone who receives IVIG, and not SubQ, dull needles sound painful, and maybe defective? Is there anyway to call the manufacturer? Perhaps this is a bad batch that needs to be reported and they can send some replacement needles?

There are several folks here who receive SubQ so I hope they chime in to give you their thoughts, but the only thing I can think of is to call any 800 # you can find and let them know that half the needles are sharp and usable and the other half are not.

Best, LuLu

I have had trouble at times but I thought that I was just hitting a tough spot I use the numbing cream and wait long enough that I don't feel anything just pushing and the needle not starting in like normal

I haven't ever felt like I was given dull needles, however after infusing for a while my sites became very tough and scarred so it was difficult to access.

I have had the same experience as Gliderlove. I have found if I move a bit it helps. Also I have noticed that sometimes if I do not put the needle straight in in it harder to push in even it is only a slight angle.

After 50 weeks of subq infusions (with a few mandatory insurance "holidays" thrown in) I feel like I'm just now getting my jab technique down.

For the longest time I would just grab the 2 wings between thumb and finger and jab. The problem with that is it's really easy for the needle to move side to side. Finally I started putting my finger between the two wings, directly over the needle, and folding the wings around that finger. This gave me a much more stable needle that didn't want to flop around so much.

I've also learned that I have to jab decisively for a good stick. I'm not saying you have to do a wind-up or anything. ;) You don't want to jam it in too hard, but if you hesitate, it's definitely more likely to bounce off or just stick the tip, leaving you no choice but to push it in the rest of the way like a thumbtack on a corkboard.

I'm not saying any of this is what's happening to you, you may very well have a defective needle, although I've not seen that myself. I was more offering up advice for any newbies that might be reading this.

I'm only about 3years in.

I have always used SubQ method.

I have the same problem with some needles. I always assumed that I was on some scar tissue or tough spot. I tend to inject around the same areas. I tried alternating with thighs but oh... The pain. Don't like thighs. Will say never thighs until I have to use thighs. ;)

But, I also found the scar area hurts less if I push right in without hesitation vs new tissue.

Ah, let's just face it. It stinks and is tedious and annoying but oh so much better than being so sick all the time.

Hope you don't have defective needles. Also the needles for this are not thin as the product is thick. Best luck.

Cindy

Thanks everyone for the responses. I thought I was not jabbing them in straight or with not enough force. I talked about it with my docs and they run into this with other needles (vaccines, blood draw, etc). Now I inspect them really well before I prime and anything that looks slightly different I just use a different set. Good thing they send a ton of them :)