@rayrayjean 

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rayrayjean

Injections - New Treatment Question

I started Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone) injections last Friday. I had a nurse with me for the first one and I did my first one on my own today. The one with the nurse was a breeze (my stomach) and I barley felt it. I thought "oh this is going to be easy, no problem" and I had a tiny reaction for an hour after, but the actual shot itself wasn't bad at all. The one today was really painful (on my thigh). I had a sore thigh most of the day and I won't be surprised if I wake up with a bruise. I am trying to decide before my next injection if I should start self injecting instead of using the auto-injector. Do people find they prefer to self inject? I used to give myself allergy shots in my arms in college, but for some reason this makes me a tiny bit more nervous. The nurse said only remove the air bubbles if I am self injecting and to go at a 45 degree angle. I am not sure how deep to put the needle into my skin. Are there any "how to" videos online like there are for the auto-injectors? @emma_madamn_degrimes, I was looking at your last response to me and you mentioned that you preferred to self inject. Did you only do your thighs and stomach since they are the only ones you can reach self injecting? Or did you have someone help you with the other locations? How do you know how far to stick the needle in before injecting the medicine? Any additional help with this is appreciated. Thanks!
@Stumbler

@rayrayjean , have a look at this webpage, I think it will answer all your questions and has a video tutorial :- https://www.copaxone.com/injection-assistance/injecting-copaxone-pre-filled-syringe

@DominicS

@rayrayjean When I used Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone) some 10y ago I had carried to that from Beta Interferon (neutralising antibodies generated by BI are considered to dull its immunomodulatory effects after a while, making it rather pointless to take) I had been self injecting for a while. Much simpler than the autoinjectors. Like @stumbler says, there are masses of videos now. There is a degree of trial and error. I assume you are injecting once a day subcutaneously. I'm sure you will have been told to rotate your sites. Because it was more frequently than the BI I started to have to be more rigid in my trip around my favourite injection sites in order to reduce the injection site reactions. See how you get on. I did belly fat roll which is larger than I'd like but did give plenty of fat to pop the needle into. If you don't get on with all the injection kerfuffle then at least these days there are other meds, oral and infused to take.