Hi - Has anyone heard of Twinject? It is a new alternative to the epipen. My son's allergy specialist just told me about it. It's also auto eject, but has a second dose built right into it (second dose is not auto). It is the same price as the epipen and usually has a longer shelf life. Comes with a hard protective case. I'm thinking of making the switch but would like to know if anyone out there has any information on it? My main concern is the training for all involved - teachers etc. The website is [url="http://www.twinject.ca"]www.twinject.ca[/url]
Haven't written in a long time - so thought I better start off as a new member again.
That sounds like a pain in the neck. And reading instructions when a kid is possibly wheezing and unable to breathe seems difficult... training should come before ever using one. Epipen has an instruction on it too, doesn't it? (We still have our new ones in the protective greenish case and need to take them out to look them over).
Can you ask him to please keep you on the epipens because those you've trained feel most comfortable with those?
If he really resists I'd consider going to my pediatrician or family doctor and asking for the other as a prescription.
Amy
My school nurse showed me the trainer after she went to a presentation. While showing it to me, even she got confused. This is nothing that I am interested in.
I would make it clear to him that you are not willing to re-train and take the chance of confusion in a life threatening situation. If he still refuses, I would just say "I'm sorry, then we will have to go to a different doctor." This is something you need to be comfortable with, and he should be flexible based on that.
just a quick note --- many schools (nurses/teachers etc) are not allowing the Twinject b/c of the syringe second dose, or, won't give the second dose. There was discussion of this on another thread.
Honestly for myself --- I'll carry a Twinject and a regular epi as my "3 doses that go everywhere" and save the syringe til last. I mean geez...if I am alone there is no way that I'd be able to give the syringe if I'm still reacting and having trouble (and shaking hands from the first dose!)
Adrienne
------------------
30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy
I think that if I really resisted, he might give in, he is a wonderful doctor. I think that he really believes this is a better alternative because he was so matter o fact and so here, start learning it, this is what you'll be using.
I usually roll with the punches and accept change in life. BUT, with this, I don't want a change. I just want my normal epi pens in my normal case, with one step...remove grey cap, swing and jab.
Not, pull off the red cap, pull of the green cap, take the whole thing apart and get ready to manually inject a second shot.
I think that once i tried it a couple of times, I could get the hang of it. The thing that worries me is that there are more steps to this than the epi pen. The epi pen is very clear cut....would be difficult to screw it up. (i have heard of people thinking the needle was at the end with grey cap), but it is much more simplistic and easy to demonstrate to people who care for my son.
I know that the school uses the faan form for epi pen, there are new forms for school on the site that have directions for twin ject.
I got the Twinject trainer and the training DVD a few months ago and I thought it was really hard to use. I think in an emergency things need to be as simple as possible, both for you and the teachers. After practicing with a regular epi trainer, I`m sure I would know how to use it six months later in an emergency. A Twinject, six months from now I won`t remember how to use it.
I'm sticking with the epi because that's what our insurance will pay for. If/when the insurance decides to cover only the twinject I will switch to it.
If both were covered, I would carry the twinject myself, but I would have the epi-pen at school.
********
My son's school will use either the twinject or the epi-pen -- but only the first shot of the twinject. They still want a second auto-injector in the office in case the student forgets to bring it one day. (I can't imagine them needing to give a second shot because the ambulance should be there by then, but if a second shot is required they would only give an auto-injector, not the second shot of twinject.)
When my own epipen needs to renewed I will carry the twinjet for my allergies, but DS will have the epipen at school and for himself. I am tired of having so many epipens floating around in my bag.
Ali [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img]
Quote:Originally posted by Carefulmom:
[b]I got the Twinject trainer and the training DVD a few months ago and I thought it was really hard to use. I think in an emergency things need to be as simple as possible, both for you and the teachers. After practicing with a regular epi trainer, I`m sure I would know how to use it six months later in an emergency. A Twinject, six months from now I won`t remember how to use it.[/b]
I second this, we just got a trainer last week because DS is insisting that he wants to carry one instead of epi-pen when he goes to HS. I looked it over and couldn't believe how complicated it was. So I told DS to read all the instructions and if he could train me how to use it we would think about it for HS.
After about 1/2 hour he said, I don't think I want one it's too hard. He just liked the idea of the case that they come in, it looks like a big writing pen. He wants to stop wearing his epi-belt, but that is a discussion for another topic.
Just use the first dose only. Just take off the caps and inject like epipen. You are not required to use the second dose. Twinjects come in a two pack like epipens. You can just carry two twinjects instead of two epipens. It doesn't seem that different to me. I have some.
Cathy
------------------
Mom to 7 yr old PA/TNA daughter and 3 1/2 yr old son who is allergic to eggs.
But if only the first dose is used, then there is no point in having a Twinject. May as well just keep on using the Epipen.
Pages