For those of us with a compromised immune system, it is often advised to have infusions of Immunoglobulin to help fight infections.

Three years ago when I was first prescribed Ibrutinib I was receiving regular intravenous infusion of Privogen . Then came Covid and visits to the hospital were curtailed. My last pre pandemic infusion was February 2020. This involved controlled administration taking up to  five hours each month. Being told this was not going to be possible during the lockdown I asked if I could self administer at home by infusing under the skin. Unfortunately because of lack of funding I was told it wouldn’t be possible. Instead I was offered an alternative way of preventing infections- thrice weekly antibiotics. Not ideal but it actually kept me infection free for fifteen months.

Fast forward to April and I was scheduled for surgery to correct an incisional hernia so I requested a resumption of the immunoglobulin infusions to prevent post operative infections. I had one infusion- the worst experience ever! I had a problem with the catheter and experienced ballooning when the immunoglobulin spread into the tissue of my arm causing a huge swelling that took three days to subside. It was apparently a very rare event but can happen. 

Fortunately  the surgery was fine and a month later I returned to the hospital for another infusion. This time it went fine! Better still the consultant informed me I had been selected for a new scheme for self administered subcutaneous immunoglobulin . The department pharmacist had negotiated with a drug company to supply the product. This would help patients in two ways. For regular users it meant no longer having monthly trips to the hospital. This would free up clinic time for those who were classed as emergencies. Coming when there appears to be a National shortage of immunoglobulin in the UK it appears to be win- win.

To prepare for home administering there was a booklet and video and then a training day where I was taught how to do it.The kit arrived by courier to my home- a months supply of product and ancillary kit- needles and everything needed. Enough to fill a small suitcase. I extracted enough for one infusion and headed for the hospital this week. Admittedly was very nervous as I had to infuse 25 ml of immunoglobulin and this given no syringe pump as the scheme did not allow for that.

The senior nurse that taught me was brilliant! She showed me everything stage by stage- preparing a sterile area to place all necessary equipment, how to load the syringes and insert a butterfly cannula under the skin. She made it so easy. She put the first butterfly in and administered the first 10 ml. No pain, no reaction, no problem. Then she guided me to fill the other two syringes and prime the., insert the second butterfly under the other side of the abdomen an watched me empty the rest- 2 more syringes. It was simple, painless and easy and the whole thing took less than40 minutes. That included instruction time! After that I was told I could fly solo and will now be doing this regularly once a week at home. Saving an 80 mile round trip to the hospital and five hours sitting in the clinic. Result!

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