The first twenty-one years of my life were carefree and filled with all the quintessential growing pains of youth. But the year I turned twenty-one I was in a serious head-on collision that changed everything. After sixteen stitches in my forehead and a mild concussion, I noticed my feet were numb and my balance was off.  

Five years later, in 1986, my symptoms became worse and I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Those were dark times for the MS community because there were no medications for us. A course of steroids was the only drug prescribed to reduce inflammation.

In 1993 the first MS medication was FDA approved. I was elated. This was what I was praying for. A drug formulated specifically for my disease. I read the literature carefully and noticed one word that made my heart skip a few heavy beats.

Injectable.

If I wanted to use this medication I’d have to learn how to safely inject a needle subcutaneously into my skin. I was petrified but knew I had no choice. Summoning all my inner strength I took the plunge.

For twenty-five years I never fully embraced sticking needles into my body, but I did what I had to do. I hoped for a better way, feeling guilty about dreading something I knew was a blessing. Every time I sat down to inject I thought, “This medicine will help me feel better.”  

When Portal Instruments reached out about the development of their needle-free injector for patients with chronic disease to self-administer medication in the comfort of their homes I was intrigued. My first reaction was I was diagnosed too soon! Imagine if this technology was around years ago.  All of the stress and anxiety I experienced would never have happened.

Portal Instruments needle-free injector

But I was also thrilled that today’s patients will have an opportunity to experience a worry-free way of injecting. No needles, no anxiety, a win-win.

Portal Instrument’s technology (licensed from MIT) is not only needle-free but also injects a narrow stream of medicine through the skin in half a second. That’s super fast!

What’s also impressive is they’ve created a method for customizable interactive disease management tools between patients and their medical care teams in real time. This is an ideal way to keep patients accountable to take their medicine on time.

For those of you who have needle anxiety, go easy on yourself. That's perfectly normal. We weren’t born to self-inject. It can be tough to get started - it's certainly something I never welcomed. Here are a few challenges I found with injecting:

Time of Day: Remembering to inject can be difficult when you’re not used to it. When I started I injected at different times of the day. That was confusing. Then I decided bedtime would be the ideal time. After getting ready for bed I’d sit on the edge of my bed and inject.

For people with cognitive deficits injecting at the same time of day can be a big help.  

Learning how to inject: Yikes! I had such a hard time learning how to stick a needle into my body. I’d watch and re-watch the video provided by the pharmaceutical company on how to inject, step-by-step. It admittedly took me awhile.

Travel: This requires a little bit of planning. I pack my medication package - needles, medication and alcohol wipes - in a clearly marked bag that’s scanned by security. I attach a doctor’s note to the bag stating I’m a patient and the medicine I carry is necessary to manage my disease. After passing security I transfer the clear bag to the medical box (provided by some pharmaceutical companies) and then slip the box into my carry-on luggage.

Safety: When there are children and pets in a household special attention must be paid to needle storage. It’s dangerous to leave unused and used needles where little ones or pets can find them. Always remember safety first. Needles should be stored on a high shelf in the kitchen, bathroom or closet. Immediately after use place them safely into a Sharps Disposal Container and store on a high shelf. When the container is full find where to safely dispose of your container.  

Get ready by relaxing: When you're ready to inject you might be feeling some anxiety or stress. Play your favorite music, do some deep breathing, clear your mind, find a place where you won’t be distracted, listen to a meditation app, or add your favorite essential oils to a diffuser. Breathe again. 

QUESTIONS:

In the comments below please answer the following questions. Your answers will help Portal Instruments learn more about what patients want in a needle-free injector. Thank you for your time and effort.

1. Is this device of interest to those who regularly administer injectable medications?
2. What do you think of the needle-free device?
3. What features make Portal’s device appealing?
    

Read more of what the press said about Portal Instruments by taking a look at these articles from USA Today and NPR.

NOTE: This is a sponsored post by Portal Instruments. I received compensation in return for my honest review. All opinions are, as always, completely my own.