Hi Naomi

I can't believe you were not advised that the system was changing to Metoject. I haven't used this system but did find a link about it on the NRAS:

Metoject Hope this is helpful.

If you still worried give the NRAS helpline a call. best of luck.
Hope your ankles are alot better now.

love
Rebecca

I have only ever used the metoject injection. Didn't even realise there was another system.
It is supplied by hcah. I find no real problem with it, except that when I remove the cap off the shrynge a tiny spot of liquid will release onto the tip of the needle which the nurse told me to dab off with cotton wool.
Does this syringe differ from what you are used to other than, the air bubble?
I was just told to hold the syringe upright to remove the cap, pinch the flesh, put in the needle, release the pinch, inject slowly and wait for 5 seconds before pulling out the needle, but I presume that is the same for the one you have used before.
Good luck with it
Zena xx

Hello Naomi

I may be a little late with this post but here goes.

I use the same method that you have been use to, having to screw the needle on the end. I was only thinking when I was preparing my injecting last Tuesday how ridiculous it was us having to do this when RA affects the fingers so much. In the 2+ years that I have been injecting I have bveen lucky and only had one mishap when I didn't screw it on right and the drug ended up going all over me

I don't know if they are now starting to prescribed this to all RA patients because I did read on the Heatlhunlocked forum a while a go that someone else was changed to metoject with no warning whatsoever and she to was worried about injecting.

Now back to what I want to tell you. When I was delivered all of the literature about injecting Enbrel it said that if there was an air bubble in the syringe, I had to tap it until it reached the top and then gently push it out. When the nurse came to talk me through doing it I asked about it. From what I knew if the injection was going into a vein there couldn't be any air in it, but didn't think that it would matter if it was not being injected into a vein. She agreed with me and I don't look to see if there is a bubble or not. I am 99.9% certain that she said that the air bubble would help the drug dispel better in your body. I can't be 100% certain about this, all I know is like I've just said, I don't look for any air bubbles at all.

I have got the direct phone number to my HCAH pharmacy. It is 01283 501390 it is answered by a pharmacist, you could ring and check.

I hope you read this in time to ring before they go home.

Paula x

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I did the injection last night and it was ok (ish). As I took the cap off the needle there was indeed a blob of Methotrexate on the end of the needle. I never used to get this with the old system. The instructions said to knock the syringe gently and let the drop fall into the sharps bin.....but my bin has a 'swing door' so this was tricky. I used a cotton wool ball to soak it up and deposited this in the bin. The rest of the procedure went well until I came to take out the needle. It held onto the flesh and did not want to come out. With the old needles they used to slide out easily. The needle looked wider than the needles I'm used to. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it in the end. Yes, it would have been nice to have had some warning and training. My rheumy nurse said she was inundated with worried patients and couldn't fit me in for a training session unless I moved my injection day from Friday to Wednesday. As the Mtx makes me feel ill this would not have fitted in with work. Anyway, glad it's over and hope next week it feels a little more routine. Thanks for your support everyone xxxxx