Intro and questions

Hello everyone,

My name is Melissa and I joined the list a few days ago. I have spent the past
couple of days browsing through the archives for answers before I asked them
here. I started on 5 mg byetta last Thursday morning and was down 3 lbs by
Monday. No nausea at all, thankfully. Starting on Tuesday, I started gaining
that weight back and as of this morning I am actually up a little from the start
point.

To answer Rebecca’s question….yes, I get extremely tired after taking the
shot, feel like I need a nap. But then when I go to bed at night, I can’t go to
sleep. Is insomnia a side effect (does anyone know?)?

I have been having a little issue and have tried the suggestions in the archived
messages about insuring that you are getting the full does, but none of them

seem to have worked. My problem is that in the last couple of days when I
remove the needle, there is a little "puddle" of the medicine on my belly so I
know that I haven’t gotten the full dosage. I have tried leaving the needle in
for a count of ten instead of 5 and dialing up the next dose while the needle is
still in. Has anyone else had thisproblem? Do think that I may have some
defective needles? Not real sure what to do kind of curious as to whether that
may account for the weight loss stopping. Not that this is all about weight
loss, but the loss sure was nice.

I was on Avandamet and Glucotrol before the Byetta. My Dr told me that I
couldn’t have the Avandia with the Byetta so he changed to the Glucophage and
Glucotrol. But I noticed in the archives that several of you are taking Avandia
or Avandamet along with the Byetta. Does anyone have any idea why some Dr. do
and Dr. don’t combine the Avandia and Byetta? After reading that Avandia causes
weight gain, I don’t mind that he changed the medicine, I’m just curious as to
whether my Dr may not be up to speed or what.

Glad that I found this group, it has really answered a lot of questions for me.
I REALLY never thought that I would ask my Dr to put me on a shot.

Melissa S

9 Responses to “Intro and questions”

  1. Leigh Stevenson Says:

    Thanks Gary,

    I was only dialing up to the point that the dose is ready to pull the punger
    (until I see the 5 and stop there) but it is a pretty big puddle on the skin, at
    least twice the size of the period at the end of this sentence., maybe more so.

    Thanks for the information, I am getting a lot of questions answered from this
    group.

    Melissa S

  2. Maggie Beck Says:

    yes! same as me. thank you. was begining to feel it was just me.
    Welcome to the group and good luck with everything
    Rebecca

    On Jan 5, 2006, at 5:48 AM, Melissa Simmons wrote:

    To answer Rebecca’s question….yes, I get extremely tired after
    taking the shot, feel like I need a nap.  But then when I go to bed at
    night, I can’t go to sleep.  Is insomnia a side effect (does anyone
    know?)?

  3. Neva Marjory Says:

    Regarding your concern about extra puddles on the tummy and on the
    needle tip: I had a similar problem when I went on the 10mg. Actually,
    I noticed that when I started my NEXT dose, I would have quite a bit
    of spillage even as I was twirling the knob to be set for an
    injection. So I called Byetta and the lady told me that I should be
    "keeping the pressure on the the knob when I inject for the entire
    time that I have the needle inside". In other words, I used to press
    the knob and ease up my thumb and count to 10 or even more. Now, I
    don’t ease up the pressure on my thumb while I am counting. That works
    just fine and the leakage stopped.

  4. Leigh Stevenson Says:

    Thanks, that may well be the problem. I do not hold the pressure on the plunger
    the entire time it is in. I will try that and see if it helps.

    Thanks again,

    Melissa S

  5. Maggie Beck Says:

    yes! keep your thumb on it. the byetta site actually has some good
    videos if anyone needs to check.
    and you are supposed to dial afterwards until you hit the -> but NOT
    the 5 OR pull it out.
    Rebecca

    On Jan 5, 2006, at 11:53 AM, montyhines wrote:

    Regarding your concern about extra puddles on the tummy and on the
    needle tip: I had a similar problem when I went on the 10mg. Actually,
    I noticed that when I started my NEXT dose, I would have quite a bit
    of spillage even as I was twirling the knob to be set for an
    injection. So I called Byetta and the lady told me that I should be
    "keeping the pressure on the the knob when I inject for the entire
    time that I have the needle inside". In other words, I used to press

    the knob and ease up my thumb and count to 10 or even more. Now, I
    don’t ease up the pressure on my thumb while I am counting. That works
    just fine and the leakage stopped.

    Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted
    it.

  6. Neva Marjory Says:

    Are you saying that just after you have finished the injection, you
    are supposed to wind the knob till you see the down arrow and then
    remove the needle and store the Byetta? I always remove the needle and
    store the Byetta pen right after I finish the injection and when I am
    ready for the NEXT dose, I wind it up till I get the down arrow to
    pull and then go through the clicks till the 10mg shows up and then I
    inject.

  7. Derek Lurline Says:

    I do it like you do and I am fortunate. I occasionally have a tiny drop at
    the end of the needle but I am quite sure that I am getting what I need.

    Jane

  8. Maggie Beck Says:

    On Jan 6, 2006, at 10:23 AM, montyhines wrote:

    Are you saying that just after you have finished the injection, you
    are supposed to wind the knob till you see the down arrow and then
    remove the needle and store the Byetta? I always remove the needle and
    store the Byetta pen right after I finish the injection and when I am
    ready for the NEXT dose, I wind it up till I get the down arrow to
    pull and then go through the clicks till the 10mg shows up and then I
    inject.

    Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted
    it.

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  9. Irwin Mayme Says:

    Melissa, I sometimes get a small puddle of the Byetta after I withdraw
    the needle. I usually gently press after I withdraw the needle and that
    seems to help. I’ve been on insulin for a while and this sometimes
    happens. I wouldn’t worry about it.

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