A Fat Pompis

[Dr. Shane]

Study - Longer needles needed for fatter buttocks

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Fatter rear ends are causing many drug injections to miss their mark, requiring longer needles to reach buttock muscle, researchers said on Monday.

Standard-sized needles failed to reach the buttock muscle in 23 out of 25 women whose rears were examined after what was supposed to be an intramuscular injection of a drug.

Two-thirds of the 50 patients in the study did not receive the full dosage of the drug, which instead lodged in the fat tissue of their buttocks, researchers from The Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Dublin said in a presentation to the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

[Clio]

And your point in posting this Shane?

[Derrell M]

Longer needles.... I hate needles, especially long ones!!!

My behind is definitely not plump, so next time the Dr. comes at me with this huge syringe and even bigger needle, I will agressively suggest that a 1/16 inch needle would work, and cite the above article as an authoritative source. This will doubtless be while I am scuttling out the door, and tearing down the hall, gown flapping, bare behind shining, being chased by burly orderlies brandishing straight-jackets with holes in the rear just big enough for a very large needle.

[Halfstep Denise]

The idea behind (excuse the pun) the story is simple! Lose weight or encounter a longer needle if you want the full dose of the medication you need.

Last night, our local anchorwoman reporting the story looked as though she was fighting the urge to laugh. And of course, they had to show pictures of the backsides of several individuals - men and women as they were walking down a sidewalk.

That story helped to give me more of an incentive to keep my weight down! I am NOT a big fan of any needles except for Cross Stitching!

Denise Farquhar

[Clio]

I understand the idea that prompted the story. But speaking from one who has been there... with out some comment on the story, or something... it comes close to being painful.

For many years weight was an issue with me, genetic and nothing I could do about it. Jesus stepped in, and has controlled some things for me that even meds couldn't do, and my weight is normal.

But on first reading... it was painful... and I just think there are potentially a large number of people out there who would find it a bit insensitive. And a smaller number who would find it quite painful.

Oh the visuals of Friend's post...

[Nan]

I think in general the width/bore of the needle is of more concern than the length. I believe the very fine needles used in acupuncture are virtually painless (I do not know, I have never had such treatment). Some large bore needles required to inject certain oily based depo medications are definitely not in that category.

Just a sideline of course, trying to comfort those concerned by the story <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Derrell M]

Large bore?!!! Oily stuff?!!! (Getting dizzy... falling down in dead faint)

[Morning Glory]

The length of the needle that is usually used in administering an Intra Muscular (IM) injection is a 1 1/2 inch needle and the smallest gauge (size of the actual needle) that is appropriate for the medication being administered. If you will estimate how much adipose tissue one has at the site of the planned injection, that will give the administrator an idea of what needle to use. Generally speaking, 1 1/2 inches is adequate to reach the MUSCLE underlying the adipose tissue (fat layer). For a very thin person, or an older child, a 1 inch needle will be adequate. Regular sized folks need the 1 1/2 in. order for the needle to reach the muscle. Folks with more adipose tissue would need a 2 inch needle......and unless they are now making them in that length, that is a problem.

While the very thin needles that are used for insulin injectons "hurt" the least, there is a real danger in using them for IM's as there is a chance that a thin needle could break off in someone's tissue. That would NOT be good!! ( and that is why they don't come in longer lengths!) So, to avoid that risk, the needle gauge size should be no smaller than a 23. At least this is what I was taught and practiced as a bedside nurse for almost 30 years. If one learns to admin an inject properly, the pain IS minimal. I had a LOT of patients ask if I was done, when in fact, I was.

The issue is that certain meds are made to absorb in certain tissues. If a med meant to be adsorbed by the muscle is administrated into the adipose, then the recepient will not receive the med or at least all of it, (That is the message the report was trying to convey) and it can cause a problem by not being absorbed by the adipose tissue. Perhaps even remaining in the adipose tissue and not adsorbing at all, thus becoming a "knot." Depending on the med, THAT can be a problem, also. IE: causing the adipose tissue to necrose or die.

Making fun of a certain segment of the population is NEVER helpful in reporting a serious issue, the REAL issue is then not realized by the non medical community, and especially those who would benefit most by hearing this type of report. They are stuck in the emotional whirlwind of feeling shame, and no one who is being shamed is in a position to learn. I think that that reporter should be sanctioned for doing a terrible job of reporting a very legitimate topic!!!

I hope that this helps in some small way. I hate it when reporters get it so wrong!!!

[Derrell M]

Morning Glory,

Have you ever seen a situation where a needle broke off inside? How do they remove it?

With some of us, I think a 1 1/2 inch needle would come uncomfortably close to hitting bone. Have you ever seen that happen?

[Morning Glory]

Friend,

Yes, I have seen and had needles come close to, and in fact hit the bone. Not the way it should be, however, just pulling back a mm or 2 can solve the problem for that moment. That is why on smaller behinds one should only use a one inch needle. And, no, I have not had a needle break off, just the threat of that being a bad outcome was enough for me to not take chances. I think that if one did break, it would require some kind of surgical intervention.

[Clio]

My son stepped on a needle that broke off inside his foot when he was about 9. Surgery was indeed the order of the day.

Clio

[Neil D]

Aaaah, you guys are all wimps!

If you really want something that involves needles and pain, try an Arteriol Blood Gas. It is common enough, and it is commonly taken at the wrist or just above the elbow. Many a therapist hit bone when obtaining the gas. Feels like a painful beesting.... deliberately done...

[Halfstep Denise]

I apologize for my words coming off as insensitive.

The reporter was very professional and never said anything wrong and maybe I read her wrong, but I sensed she was trying to surpress a laugh.

My life has been a rollercoaster of fighting with weight and having to deal with needles (injections and IVs) so I am very familiar with both issues.

Denise Farquhar

[Clio]

Oh Denise... I am so sorry. I didn't mean to imply that YOU were insensitive. In fact, I agree with everything you said. I was responding to the original post, and was adding my two cents on to your very perceptive response.

I also felt she was trying to surpress a laugh, and couldn't understand why it would be posted to originate a topic with no comment from the original poster. All I could see/feel/hear was the pain/shame/guilt that article and the way it's written could engender in someone reading it.

Hence my wondering regarding the intent in posting it without comment to begin with. It may be true, but the treatment of the topic with no explanation, seemed to me, anyway, to border on cruel.

Clio

[Susie]

After reading this subject so far, I am amazed. I hope that very heavy, lovely ladies who are new to this forum will not come across this very serious subject too soon in their initiation to Adventist Forum. I am blest with a normal healthy weight but if I were obese, I may never come to the Forum again. Are we being cruel or what? Maybe I need to lighten up.

[Dr. Shane]

I must be insensative or out of touch because it didn't occur to me this subject might offend someone. I just saw it as a odd story. The news has been reporting for years that more and more Americans are becoming overweight and now it has gotten to the point that needles aren't long enough for injections. I just saw it as interesting. I am no slim-jim myself.

My appologies to anyone offended.

[Susie]

Shane, No one could have thought that you would want to hurt anyone when we see you with that beautiful baby in your arms. For that concern, after such a big Thansgiving dinner ,it may be an oppropriate time to remind us that the pounds come on so quickly--Also Christmas is coming. Yum, Yum.

[Clio]

Thank you Shane. I'm sure it was unintentional, and it may be that some (me) are overly sensitive.

Clio

[Derrell M]

Believe it or not, there are some of us who look with envy on those who carry significantly more weight than us. A colleague once told me that I would have to jump around in the shower to get wet. Others have told me to watch out on wood floors because I'd fall throught the cracks, and if I turn sideways I'd disappear. At the carnival I was attempting to dunk a clown and he said that I must be a starving Ethiopian. He suggested that I go get my weekly meal and then come back.

That was some years ago and I have since gained over 35 pounds after vigorous dieting and some exercise. I would still be delighted to hear someone call me "fat."

[Planey]

Quote:

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Friend said:

I would still be delighted to hear someone call me "fat."

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No you wouldn't.

Believe me.

However being told you are skinny is probably no fun either.

The best defence is often to deprecate yourself before someone else gets a chance.

A rather thin girl at the school I teach at was once asked what she was planning to wear to a 'fancy dress' school social event. She replied that she was going to wear a plain simple dress, stand side on and stick out her tongue. She was then a zipper.

Graeme

[Derrell M]

I'm up to about normal weight for my height now, but just like someone who has struggled to lose weight would probably like for someone to call them thin, I would feel quite accomplished at being called fat.

Yes, I've joked about it over the years just to get it out on the table and dealt with, and then redoubled my weight gain efforts.