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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> For those who use the Imitrex tip
        
(Message started by: jenrob2006 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 11:43am)

Title: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 11:43am

I am desperate. I only have three more injections left. We do not have insurance and the doctor is out of samples. I have been suffering through anything except the ones that I have to throw the O2 across the room for (which I did last night). I am getting hit about 6 times a day and my cycle is supposed to be over!!!!!! >:( >:( >:(
For those who have tried and are using this technique, I have a few questions.
1. How difficult is it to do while getting slammed?

2. Can you put it your arm? (I have always put it in my leg)

3. When you load the pen, do you have to press the trigger to be able to get to the needle?

4. How much more painful is it than the auto injector?

I have read and re-read the tip and in this state of mind, well, my mind is not working. My husband tried to show me on an empty one, but it was already ejected.

Thanks guys for everything.

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 27^th, 2006, 12:39pm

Hi Jen,

I don't use the Trex....so I'm not much help.

I do know you can inject in the arm...I've seen it done.

Ones I know, already have the dose separated. Do that before a hit.

Lots of luck to you.....hope you get some relief soon.

Hang in there....maybe a Trex user will come along and be of more help.

Jean

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by ShaneM on Jul 27^th, 2006, 12:54pm

Jen,
I only inject in the upper arm. I have never had a problem. I can't say much for the tip as I have never tried it. Although I looked at doing it when I ran out of vials once and only had stat dose left. I don't see why it would not work safely. It may help to have hubbie do it for you until you feel comfortable.

Shane

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by mr.c on Jul 27^th, 2006, 1:17pm

I use the tip.

Yes, you can inject in arm. I prefer legs, I can see better.

I am not a doctor... so I am not telling you to do this.

This is what I do. If you have new syringes (like what diabetic use, evenly distribute the statdose into three syringes.

When I don't have them, I re-use the needle/syringe until it is empty. I clean the needle after injecting myself with a third of the dose. I clean it again (with rubbing alcohol) before giving myself the next injection.

Sometimes, I take a magic marker and draw lines on the syringe so I have marks to show me where thirds are. I do this before I get HAs, because I am in no shape to do simple math.

Because there is no plunger/stick thing to push the imitrex into my system after the needle is in my body, I use a q-tip to push the black stopper until it reaches the line I drew.

I think injecting on my own terms is less painful than having the pen clicky thing. It takes nerves the first time after that it's pretty easy.

Incidentally, I have told my doctors what I do. At first they show concern. Then they quickly ask, "Does it work? Do you get enough medicine to shut down your H.A.s?"

Once again, I am not a medical professional. I am only telling you what I do.

Michael
aka mr.c

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by hwm54112 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 1:23pm

Been doing the trex trick since the stuff first hit the market (never had insurance that would pay for it) and its easy. I used the injector once years ago, found it more painful than an injection and have self injected ever since. I pull the cartridge out of the holder with my thumbnail, scrape a narrow strip of the label off with my thumbnail and divide it into thirds or fourths, (yes fourths do work) with a ruler and mark the paper label with a pen and use ½ of a cue tip as a plunger. You can use your arm, you must use a specific area of it though. I don't swab with anything, especially alcohol, (it causes the sting), but suggest you swab with alcohol and wipe it off with water. Then, when injecting in leg, flick the area 8-10 times with your fingers (desensitizes the area), gently hold up a little mound of flesh (don’t squeeze) stick it in gently but quickly ¼-3/8” and push the plunger slowly to the mark. When done, store the cartridge back in the blue case.

You can use the pen to remove the cartridge from the case (it's easier than your thumb) but if you push the button you will eject the imitrex. So DONT PUSH THE BUTTON. Instead, unscrew the end opposite the button. Be careful and gentle. You will see a spring and a glass rim. Pull the glass and the needle will slide right out.

I was fortunate to get a vial of imitrex from a pharmacist and have been injecting the cartridges into it and using insulin syringes ever since. They are a lot thinner than the imitrex needles, theyre gentler on the skin and you can control the dose a lot more accurately. I can use 12 units for most headaches (1/4 dose) and if it doesn't cut it, inject an additional 5 units 15 minutes later to total a full 1/3 dose. You could do the same thing if you can get your hands on an empty vial. I think some others just use a shot glass. The vial is the way to go though.

The only problem I have when getting slammed is my eyesight isnt what it used to be, so it's a little hard to see the marks when using the imitrex needles in the arm.

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by chewy on Jul 27^th, 2006, 1:45pm

Simply remove the glass vial from the container. Insert the needle just under the skin and push in 1/2 the vials content . I use a nice little eye glass srewdriver to push it in. Place the vial back into its holder with the other 1/2 shot.

You can inject any where you please just make sure its just under the skin.

Quote:

4. How much more painful is it than the auto injector?

How painful is your CH?

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by Tom K on Jul 27^th, 2006, 1:49pm

I've never injected into the arm, only the leg and most recently the stomach. If you use the trex tip, remove the vial, etc...and shoot it in your stomach, about 4" from your bellybutton, it shouldn't hurt at all and you should get faster relief. YMMV Hope your cycle ends quickly. Check out the General Post forum and look for the cirulation technique. It has helped me, I've not used trex for the last 5 hits and they are gone in about 10-15 minutes.

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by vig on Jul 27^th, 2006, 6:01pm

it's never been a problem.
I had more problems with the injector...
(I've accidentally shot precious Imitrex across the room by accident several times.)

http://www.kdlltd.com/vig/partialImitrexShot.jpg

I find the standard shot can be broken into three shots by pushing just a little bit in. It's just as effective, triples the number of 'bullets' and is muCH, muCH easier on my heart.

no needle sharing please!

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by mr.c on Jul 27^th, 2006, 6:58pm

Good picture, Vig!

It is worth a thousand words! And some people are just visual. :o

Michael
mr.c

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by hwm54112 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 7:16pm

It is a good picture and very thoughful. The only problem is, if I shot up there, I might hit a vein or go in to a muscle. (I'm very thin). Don't know what the ramifications are but probably aren't good. According to my ex, you have to go into the rear third of the upper shoulder (above the muscle) to avoid any chance of hitting a muscle or vein. You can sort of feel the fleshy area. I don't think hitting a muscle would do anything accept keep the shot from working (takes too long to enter the blood stream)

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by TimJohnson on Jul 28^th, 2006, 1:36am

[quote author=chewy
How painful is your CH?[/quote]

Amen to that.....I've never found the injections to be a big deal. The stick is nothing. I've built up a pain tolerance with the headaches and I'd rather have that then a hedache.

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by E-Double on Jul 28^th, 2006, 4:44am

on 07/27/06 at 19:16:15, hwm54112 wrote:

It is a good picture and very thoughful. The only problem is, if I shot up there, I might hit a vein or go in to a muscle. (I'm very thin)..........

subcutaneous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcutaneous
All you have to do is go directly under the skin.
It does not have to go much further my friend.
So many jab it into the muscle or way under the flesh....just get the tip in......
hmmmmmm.....another perverted thought ;;D [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 28^th, 2006, 11:36am

Thanks guys,

I tried it last night. It worked like a charm. Believe it or not, I dont believe myself to have a very high tolerance for pain espcially when I am the one inflicting it. But I just put an ice cube on the spot for 10 secs and then put the needle in. Other than a small lump, it was all good. I think I used about a third and it worked in less than 5 minutes.

Thanks for helping me build the courage!

Title: Re: For those who use the Imitrex tip
Post by rhino on Jul 30^th, 2006, 6:25pm

At this time Zomig nasal spray and oxygen are doing about as well for me as an Imitrex injection. I also am taking Verapamil and Prednisone.

It never occured to me to try to split the injection, what
I was looking at was an injection cost me $80.00
and the Zomig $28.00.

Even with the reduced cost of using Zomig, buying my oxygen at a weilding supply, I estimate, I am still spending as much as a thousond dollars a week
while in cycle and I have been in this cycle 3 months.

I suggest trying the Zomig,, it's pretty good stuff. ;)