Does anyone have any experience using an EpiPen and how did it go?

Just slam it home if and when. Think Pulp Fiction. They are a life saver.

Don’t throw them out when they expire! Experiment on a plum or an orange. Just for fun I discharged one against a coffee mug. The syringe pushed the mug at least a foot and sprayed the juice all over the table.
Thankfully I never used one on a person in need.

I am certified to train in first aid…are you using them on yourself then, or are they for someone else (family member)?

They’re for me.

They are designed to be used through clothing. If you need to use it, take the cap off and press it into the side of your thigh with a fair amount of force. After you remove it, rub the area where you injected the epi-pen for a few moments, which will help the medicine spread out. Do not touch the tip of the epi-pen after you remove it, but dispose of it properly.

@yankeetooter Thanks. I was curious about how much force it will take to penetrate properly and is it better to err on the too much force side?

I guess…you do want to put some force into it, but you don’t have to give yourself a bruise, lol!

Are epipens very expensive there? I remember talking to a mother here who said she likes to have more than one around for her child, but they were over $100 each and obviously have a ‘use-by’ date. I would have thought they should be covered under our Medicare system but at that time (this was a few years ago), they weren’t.

@yankeetooter They give you a trainer pen to use. It does take a fair amount of force, but not quite bruiseworthy. Thanks.
@Bellatrix Under my insurance it was $35 for two. I can find the uninsured cost if you want.

Oh don’t go to any trouble, was just a thought. $35 isn’t too bad to save your life hey? Being nosy now (so unlike me!), did you just develop some sort of allergic reaction?

I got bit by some sort of insect Sunday night. Never had a reaction to a bite, but this one was nasty. I almost got to anaphylaxis on Monday.

Glad you found out and know to carry a pen hey? I met this guy a couple of years ago who got bitten by an ant and was in a real mess. Had no idea he was sensitive to their bite. He has been told if he gets bitten again… it will be curtains if he doesn’t have a pen with him. Glad you are okay now and thank goodness for EpiPens!

@Bellatrix Yeah, not a bad investment. :) Thank you.

I’m a nurse. You press it into the TOP of your thigh, NOT the side. If you’re skinny, you might it bone from the side.You want to go into the thickest part of the Rectus Femorus, at about mid-thigh. If you’re really skinny, go in at a 45-degree angle. It doesn’t hurt. Just hold the pen in your fist as you would if you were to stab downward with a knife with the needle end protruding from the side your little finger is on and your thumb where the button is. Put it in your fist and firmly press it against your thigh then push the button with your thumb. If you’re really afraid that it will hurt—and this is really unnecessary in this case—grab the muscle firmly with one hand and squeeze hard while injecting with the other. This squeezes all the blood away from the area’s nerves and makes it painless. Then massage the muscle to disperse the Epinephren.

@Espiritus_Corvus That’s excellent advice. I’m skinny, I can feel the bone from the side. Pain isn’t a problem, I considered a shattered collarbone a 6 on the 1 to 10 scale. And I really doubt pain will be on my mind if I have another ocurrence. These don’t have a button, you just jam them on the leg. Thanks so much.

YW. Good Luck. If youre really, realy thin, grab the muscle anyway.

Not that thin, but thanks.

My oldest daughter has to carry one when she gets her allergy shots (she is allergic to freaking everything, and gets two major allergy shots a week), but has never had to use it. Knock on wood. They did let her practice with an empty one when it was first prescribed. It all seemed pretty straightforward, but I sure hope neither of you ever has a need for it.

Really glad you didn’t die, @Adirondackwannabe! :)

My eldest son has had an epipen since he was 3. We’ve taken every expired pen and used it on an orange just so we know exactly what happens and how to operate one. As a result of that my son has grown up being very paranoid about eating nuts. It is pretty violent.

That reminds me: we’ve got to renew his.

My kit included a training pen with no needle. It isn’t subtle. I’m not looking forward to using it. But that was a close call and the next one’s going to be worse, so I’m glad I have it.

I’ve gone into anaphalaxis twice. The first time the ER could not jump to me, I could not talk, drool. they thought I had a mental disorder til someone read the note that said pencillin. They are $250 without insurance. I’m scared of them, even though I do insulin.