Problems With Injections
Most injection pain is temperature and technique. Warm the pen, dry the swab, and rotate sites.
- Warm it upA cold shot is a stinging shot. Give your pen or vial 15 to 30 minutes on the counter to come to room temperature. It’s a small wait for a much more comfortable experience.
- Let the alcohol dryUse an alcohol swab and let the skin dry before injecting.
- Ask about the deviceAsk your provider about pen vs. syringe options if you have issues.
- RotateDon't just pick one spot and stick with it. Rotate between the left and right sides of your abdomen, or try your thigh or the back of your arm.
The “wait, that really hurts” rule: there is a difference between “I feel a bit gassy” and “there is an alien trying to escape my ribcage.” If you have sharp, radiating pain through to your back, or pain that makes it impossible to stand up straight, that is not “just a side effect.” That is your signal to head to the ER.
Seek emergency medical attention if you experience
- Inability to swallow or breathe.
- Severe, persistent vomiting (dehydration).
- Severe abdominal pain that makes you curl into a ball.
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
- If you feel like you are having a medical emergency.
Source: this entry is drawn from “Troubleshooting” in FAT BITCH: Killing the Willpower Myth by Cat Clark (UNLIT Publishing, October 15, 2026). The full chapter has the context this page does not. Get on The First Copy List and we send the order link the day it goes live.
None of this is medical advice. It is educational material drawn from FAT BITCH: Killing the Willpower Myth by Cat Clark, and it does not replace your prescriber, your pharmacist, or your actual doctor. If something here does not match what your care team told you, go with your care team and bring this along to the conversation.