A question about (dun dun dun!) needles

[Siege]

Will most probably seem like a dumb question, but it won't leave me alone.

I got my T prescription yesterday (12/11/12), as well as oodles of needles - namely the ones that came with the syringes (25g 5/8"), and 18g 1.5" for drawing (I need to stop by the drug store on Friday for the 23g 1.5" needles, alcohol wipes, and a sharps container before I give myself my shot).

I was looking at imed.com, and found that they sell syringes with 23g, 1.5" needles already on them, and the 18g needles separately. It seems more cost effective to buy the syringes and needles, and just switch out the needle tips when I draw and inject. To clarify: the syringe comes with the 23g needle; I would take that off (without removing the plastic cap over it) and replace it with the 18g, then draw up my T and switch that back out for the 23g, and inject.

Good/bad idea? Has anyone done something like this before? 

Also, does anyone have tips/tricks for painless (or at least less painful) IM injections?

[Devlyn]

All right, what's the....oh, a needle topic...<passes out on floor>

[Zumbagirl]

Good/bad idea? Has anyone done something like this before? 

Also, does anyone have tips/tricks for painless (or at least less painful) IM injections?

I don't know how much this will help. I inject once a week with depo-estradiol which has the consistency of something like vegetable oil. I use a single 22g 1.5 inch needle to do it all. What I found is to be very patient when drawing from the ampule because it flows very slowly and I want to be careful not to draw in too much air. That was how my endo taught me years ago and I have been self-injecting for maybe 12 years now. From what I understand depo-testosterone is similar and sort of like a thick oil as well, but I could be wrong. I haven't seen it in many a year, in all of those 12 years and hundreds of injections only one time I hit a blood vessel so now I know where the injection sites are for me.

I have found that since I control the needle there is either no pain at all or less since I am controlling it. In fact of all the things that can happen to me in a doctors office an injection or drawing blood doesn't even phase me anymore. I can watch the whole thing and never have to look away

Hope that helps!

[Flan]

Switching needles is plenty doable although it depends on the assumption that inserting the needle into the vial (stopper) is going to dull it when the issue is coring (needle bevel getting caught on the stopper and taking a chunk out). My issues with painful injections were mostly from needles that weren't sharp from the get go rather than anything the vial/stopper did.

[Kevin Peña]

Stick it through the skin, let it rest for a second when the pain will subside, then stick it deeper slowly. The initial response is really all you feel, and everything after that is easy.

Either that or you can get an auto-injector and just stick it to you. 

[Biscuit_Stix]

Brilliant. I may steal this method because drawing that muck through this tiny needle is a pain in the ars- ahem, neck. As far as painless/less painful injections, I've found varying locations have varying pain levels, but they're different for everyone. I didn't mind the stab in the thigh, but I know people who abhor that site. I personally abhor the bum, haha. And last time I tried my upper arm, the damn needle snapped off in me. Fun times. I still don't know why it did that but I haven't attempted my arm since. Mine have been a bit uncomfortable lately but the fact that my needles have been less than sharp isn't helping me out any I really need some new ones

[Siege]

Stick it through the skin, let it rest for a second when the pain will subside, then stick it deeper slowly. The initial response is really all you feel, and everything after that is easy.

Either that or you can get an auto-injector and just stick it to you. 

I wonder if anyone's ever though to make something akin to an insulin pump, only for T...hm....

By "stick it through the skin", I'm assuming you mean slowly? A lot of videos and forums elsewhere are saying to 'dart' it in, but that seems like it'd hurt more...?

[Siege]

Brilliant. I may steal this method because drawing that muck through this tiny needle is a pain in the ars- ahem, neck. As far as painless/less painful injections, I've found varying locations have varying pain levels, but they're different for everyone. I didn't mind the stab in the thigh, but I know people who abhor that site. I personally abhor the bum, haha. And last time I tried my upper arm, the damn needle snapped off in me. Fun times. I still don't know why it did that but I haven't attempted my arm since. Mine have been a bit uncomfortable lately but the fact that my needles have been less than sharp isn't helping me out any I really need some new ones

I might have too much junk in the trunk for bum injections, and I don't trust myself to be able to do it in the arm. D:
Thigh it is! Plus, I figure alternating legs/locations each week will help keep scarring to a minimum. 

[Kevin Peña]

By "stick it through the skin", I'm assuming you mean slowly? A lot of videos and forums elsewhere are saying to 'dart' it in, but that seems like it'd hurt more...?

Put it slightly into the skin quickly and let the initial pain subside. Doing it quick makes you feel it without being aware of it. Doing it slowly increases the mental aspect of pain. Once you do, the rest is cake. I never took sex hormones, but I've had IM injections before.

[Cindy]

Never stab, just push.

[Cindy]

MMmm Devlyn has needle phobia.

Should I tell anyone

[Siege]

MMmm Devlyn has needle phobia.

Should I tell anyone

Try casting Raise, and I'll get the Phoenix Downs, just in case.