awww Poppy I remember your feelings. For a few months I was auto injecting Humira. For the most part it was fine- but I had one episode where I must of injected into a nerve ending and it was painful, Each time after that I found myself breaking out in a cold sweat when I had the pen positioned yet I just could not press the button! I would sit there agonized until I got so bored with myself I would ask myself- "what are you going to do? Sit here all day?" Then I would count 1-2-3 and push the friggin button. I remember someone suggesting having a hard candy in your mouth during the injection to get your mind off things and it helped somewhat.
I found the Humira didn't give me the result I was looking for and I quit taking it. Don't miss it a bit I have to admit. Self injections were never for me.
However- if you are getting relief then I wish you all the best in trying to find a way to deal with it.

Well you could switch back to tablets but most people say the injections are better... What about blood tests? Over the years I have had these every month my veins and mentality really are resistant. Last test left me black and blue for over a week and there is still a mark on my inner arm vein!

I have asked the nurses about this and they said when taking blood it is important to be well hydrated and "warmed up" so I walk to the bloods place and drink heaps of water well ahead of time. Not that it helped the other week although I have to say I didnt feel it so much. Maybe these two things will help with self injection. Not sure I could do it....so brave brave you!!

I am always difficult to get blood out of. I have small veins that like to roll..or so I have been told. Drinking a lot of water before seems to help a little, but if I can talk them into putting on a hot towel or one of those scrunch it up and heat bags on the site, It improves things wonderfully.

I would espect to candy to help, since sugar is a pain-killer. I really don't know if I could do it or not. hopefully, I won't have to learn.

I am so sorry that this is so difficult for you and worries you so before hand. I hate waiting for something I fear to happen.

Best wishes!

I am the exact same way. It doesn't hurt at all, but I hate that day, and do what you do. I stall my injection all day long. I hate hate hate, mtx.

Lately my shots are bruising me, and the bruises are not going away. There is something about mtx, I feel like it's zapping my life away. It does work, but giving myself that shot, and knowing what kind of med it is, I'm depressed all that day, and day after. Mtx sucks! =(

Lin

I do the injections too.. Be sure that the site you are using is dry after you use the alcohol swab.. that should stop the burning .. I too get some brusing..not always but sometimes.. sometimes it bleeds after I do the injection... Rememebr you are putting a hole in your skin. I pinch the area with a thumb and finger and inject between them.. I hate them too but it is something I have to do.. wishing you luck with them.

I cannot relate to this anymore. I pray one day this will be a bad memory for you. When I first started injections, I felt the same way.

I think the key is to RELAX. if you are tense and the muscles are tense, it is a fight to get the needle through the skin. I used to feel it with mthx, but Kineret was a daily needle, much thicker needle and thicker solution. It was daily dread.

Then one day, I realized that pin prick was making my RA go away. I relaxed and it never hurt again. I just started injecting mthx again after being away from it for 2 years. I swear, I didn't know if it worked. I watched it go in, plunged the needle and never felt a thing.

So the good news is, it will get better. Just relax, and remember, this is not torture. It is the beginning of a treatment that will make you feel better. RELAX! And hugs too!