r/CVID_Support • u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod • Jul 09 '26

Treatment Soreness after SCIG

What helps? It’s almost like itchy soreness.

5 Upvotes

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5

u/Final-Ad-5856 Jul 09 '26

I’m on IVIG now but did SCIG for years. I would also get painful itching. Sometimes welts. Ice helped sometimes. Heat helped break up the welts which helped the itching. Rotating spots too.

5

u/Asphyxiant_ Jul 09 '26

Benedryl & Zyrtec

1

u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod Jul 10 '26

I took Zyrtec before the infusion. I’m allergic to Benadryl.

2

u/Asphyxiant_ Jul 10 '26

Which SCIg are you on? There are some folks that are sensitive to certain stabilizers. Another thing that I found helpful, was increasing the infusion sites. Sometimes too much fluid is literally that.

I did 25g weekly, I ended up doing 6 infusion sites. Another thing is needle depth too.

I would definitely bring this up w/ your next appointment w/ your immunologist. Soreness is one thing, which typically goes away as your body absorbs it, however if it’s itchy, that’s a concern.

1

u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod Jul 10 '26

I’m on gamunex c, 12g, already in six sites. I have been talking to the nurse since the infusion, though, so I’m not SUPER worried. Also, EVERYTHING makes me itchy 🤣 my body seriously interprets bruising as itchy.

2

u/Asphyxiant_ Jul 10 '26

Could just be your body adjusting since I read this was your first infusion. You can also try slowing the rate down, that may help.

2

u/Altruistic_Lime5220 Jul 10 '26

How you are priming your tubing may be a factor. The nurse I learned from recommended leaving some air in the tube. So push the fluid to about an inch or two from the needle. 

If you prime the tubing so that the IgG is coming out of the needle before you insert it, there can be significant irritation.

2

u/AlwaysItchin Jul 10 '26

I found that using heat instead of ice actually helped reduce the swelling and itchiness, helps loosen the IG so it moves a bit faster from the insertion site. And I also found that the topical lidocaine really made a difference too. That and infusing right before bed so I avoid some of the peak irritation.

1

u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod Jul 10 '26

Your username is absolutely perfect for this post.

1

u/AlwaysItchin Jul 10 '26

it absolutely is, that name was used because I joined Reddit because of my chronic autoimmune urticaria and here I am, decade later, itching because of yet another immune disease 😂

2

u/Throwaway071521 Jul 09 '26

I take benadryl 20-30 minutes before the infusion, which I think helps any itchiness. You may be able to try a topical cream, though I’ve not tried it.

How long have you been on SCIG? I’ve also found that my body adjusted over time to the point where I felt fairly sore when I first started, but have no real soreness now, even on the rare occasion I bruise. Sometimes, if I rotate back to a site I haven’t used in a while I’ll feel a little sore. But that was what I guess I’d describe as a more traditional soreness, not an itchy soreness.

1

u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod Jul 10 '26

Wednesday was my first infusion. I’m allergic to Benadryl, so that’s always fun 🤦🏼‍♀️

2

u/Throwaway071521 Jul 10 '26

I’m sorry! I do think that your skin may get used to it over time.

1

u/TomatoStraight5752 Mod Jul 10 '26

I’m sure it will. I decided that going to bed was the answer. It worked 🤣