Questions about injecting technique. Hulp >.<;

[GentlemanRDP]

So, I've been on T for...uhm six weeks now, and a thought occured to me this morning while I was injecting. Sometimes, when I inject, I bleed, and other times, I don't. I remember my doctor telling me that when I push the needle in, to pull the plunger back to see if blood goes in it. He said that seeing blood was a good thing and to go ahead and inject.

But, I realized that I never asked him what I'm supposed to do if I do not see blood go into the syringe.

Am I supposed to push the needle in further, or pull back a little bit?

I mean, I shouldn't just pull it out of my leg and try again; that just doesn't sound sanitary, and using a used needle is a bad idea, I know that.

But I'm confused as to why I'm bleeding sometimes and not bleeding at other times; does this mean that I'm hitting a layer of fat, or bone or something? (He said that I wouldn't feel even if I did poke bone since the needles so small.

So any of you happen to know what's going on here? Am I just not hitting the right spots, am I doing something wrong? I'd ask my doctor, but It's late here, and the office is closed, and I'm curious now.

Thanks in advance!

[Liam K]

If you're bleeding after your injection, and you didn't see any blood in the syringe when you aspirated, it just means you nicked a vein or your needle went through a vein on the way in or out.  It happens sometimes, there's no way to avoid it, and it's not a big deal at all.  Just put some pressure on the site and you should be good to go shortly thereafter.

Also, I think you may have misheard your doctor.  Generally, you don't want to see any blood in the syringe when you aspirate.  If you do see blood, this is not a good thing.  The point of aspirating is making sure that you're not injecting into a blood vessel.  You should clarify this with your doctor.

[GentlemanRDP]

Hey, thanks for the info.
You're right, I probably just heard him wrong because I was so excited to start on the shots. Hah.
I appreciate your time, thanks!

[Brendon]

I'm with Liam on this for sure.

I was told not to inject if I pulled back and there was blood. That typically means you're in a vein, and you're not supposed to be putting this in your veins. O.o My doctor said that if I pulled back and blood came back, I needed to pull the needle out, dispose of it, and try again with a new one. As far as I've been told, if you're doing IM injections, there should not be blood when you pull back.

Regardless, I think it's pretty normal to bleed sometimes and not others. Sometimes you probably just nick things with blood in them, nbd. Sometimes I bleed, sometimes I don't.

I would suggest calling to clarify. Make sure you don't try to inject in another spot if you've already pulled blood into the syringe, and congrats on the T.

[GentlemanRDP]

Thanks for the input!
Sounds like I just need to make the effort to give him a call tomorrow.

...That all makes sense,
But one more question, because of that last thing that you said Brendon.
So, if I see blood in my syringe, do I have to throw all of that T away? (Agony)
Or do I just squeeze it until there's no more blood, and then switch the needle?

[Brendon]

So, if I see blood in my syringe, do I have to throw all of that T away? (Agony)
Or do I just squeeze it until there's no more blood, and then switch the needle?

I was told to throw the whole thing away. I'm absolutely terrified of hitting a vein for that reason; I'd hate to throw it away. 

I'm not sure that you would even be able to just squeeze the blood back out. I know when I aspirate, when I let go of the plunger on the syringe it pushes back in on its own; the air bubbles or whatever they are don't mix with the testosterone, they just go right back out. I don't think it would be like that with blood. With them both being liquids, they would probably mix to some extent.

[GentlemanRDP]

Ugh...What a waste.

So...with my natural curiousity biting at me,
Anyone ever tell you what would happen if you were to inject it into a vein?
I have a feeling that I'll only make myself more paranoid, but I just can't help but ask xD

[Cindy]

Sorry to jump into a boy thread,

I do lots of injecting in my job.

The pull back is to see if you are in a vein or worse an artery (highly unlikely, particularly with the needles you guys use.) you want to hit muscle tissue. There should be very little red in the syringe there will be on the skin don't worry about it. If there is two options withdraw and try another site. If you are practised partially withdraw and go side ways (sounds gross sorry).  A tip I give people who have to take regular injections is to rub some of the anti-teething cream around the site, it's a mild anaesthetic and until you get used to injecting it may help.

If you develop large bruises (haematoma) after injecting they don't mean much but see your Dr. You may be iron deficient. A problem with FtM (sorry, not meant to be rude)

Cindy

[GentlemanRDP]

Thanks for the tips!
I appreciate it.

But I actually have no problem with the pain,
It doesn't bother me - and while I used to bruise all of the time,
I asked my doctor about it (Since he did bloodwork for me) and he said that I don't have an iron problem,
The bruises were caused by my abnormally low T levels.

Thanks anyway though!