injection infection

[spacerace]

I am freaking out because I think my injection area might be infected.

I did my shot yesterday. I did it on the side of my stomach subcutaneously. This morning, I was itching the side of my stomach and when it wouldn't stop being itchy, I looked at it and the area was red. So, I stared rubbing it, and there is a hard lump area right above the injection site.

So, I started looking up what an injection infection looks like. My plan so far is just to wait until Monday and if it is still a problem go to my doctor.

In the meantime, I can't stop worrying about. I keep thinking that maybe it is only red because I was messing with it. But then there is the lump.

I keep checking it out to see if it is swelling. I read that if you have an infection the area would get warm and you may feel sorta sick. I don't know if I do or not. I freak out really badly about stuff, so I don't even know if I feel a bit out of it because of the possible infection or just because I read a possible infection might make you feel out of it.

Does the lump just happen sometimes? I didn't rub the injection site after the shot like I normally do.

[Adam (birkin)]

This happened to me when I self-injected the first time. I went to see my doctor and he said only to be concerned if I began to have a fever (take your temperature) or if the irritation gets increasingly itchy/burning. He didn't know what caused it, but he said it didn't seem to be too big of an issue

[spacerace]

thanks for your reply

I guess I should go buy a thermometer.

If anyone knows, if it is infected, is there anything really bad that could happen in the 48 hrs over the weekend before I could see my doctor?

Obviously if it got really, really obvious and bad I would go to Urgent Care or something, but I would rather not have to explain everything to them.

[LordKAT]

Watch for red streaks or for the spot feeling warmer than other nearby skin. Pus or oozing would be an urgent time to see a doc.

[Kreuzfidel]

I had this happen to me on two occasions, but I inject intramuscularly.  I had a huge red lump, painful and red and hot for nearly a week - and then it just went away. 

I agree - worry only if you have fever or, as was said, if there are obvious signs of infection such as the streaking and pus.

[Taka]

fever, pus, and red streaks are bad signs. can also be bad if it spreads without those other signs. red and hot can be signs of an infection, but the inflammation can also have other causes. the immune system can act up for all kind of reasons. even if no other danger signs are present, i'd see a doctor if it doesn't get better within a week.

[Jamie D]

I am freaking out because I think my injection area might be infected.

I did my shot yesterday. I did it on the side of my stomach subcutaneously. This morning, I was itching the side of my stomach and when it wouldn't stop being itchy, I looked at it and the area was red. So, I stared rubbing it, and there is a hard lump area right above the injection site.

So, I started looking up what an injection infection looks like. My plan so far is just to wait until Monday and if it is still a problem go to my doctor.

In the meantime, I can't stop worrying about. I keep thinking that maybe it is only red because I was messing with it. But then there is the lump.

I keep checking it out to see if it is swelling. I read that if you have an infection the area would get warm and you may feel sorta sick. I don't know if I do or not. I freak out really badly about stuff, so I don't even know if I feel a bit out of it because of the possible infection or just because I read a possible infection might make you feel out of it.

Does the lump just happen sometimes? I didn't rub the injection site after the shot like I normally do.

If you cleaned the injection site with alcohol and used a sterile needle, there is scant little chance you have an infection.

I do sub-Q injections several times per day, often don't clean the site (like when I am fresh out of the shower), and occasionally re-use the needles.  I have never had an infection.  Occasionally I will develop a "knot" beneath the injection site if I go too quickly, so I will massage the site later.

[Darrin Scott]

I am freaking out because I think my injection area might be infected.

I did my shot yesterday. I did it on the side of my stomach subcutaneously. This morning, I was itching the side of my stomach and when it wouldn't stop being itchy, I looked at it and the area was red. So, I stared rubbing it, and there is a hard lump area right above the injection site.

So, I started looking up what an injection infection looks like. My plan so far is just to wait until Monday and if it is still a problem go to my doctor.

In the meantime, I can't stop worrying about. I keep thinking that maybe it is only red because I was messing with it. But then there is the lump.

I keep checking it out to see if it is swelling. I read that if you have an infection the area would get warm and you may feel sorta sick. I don't know if I do or not. I freak out really badly about stuff, so I don't even know if I feel a bit out of it because of the possible infection or just because I read a possible infection might make you feel out of it.

Does the lump just happen sometimes? I didn't rub the injection site after the shot like I normally do.

Honestly,

This happens to me sometimes and it's gone within a few hours. Sometimes I itch as well. Like others have said, if it gets worse go to a Doctor, but I have it happen sometimes and I think it's normal.

[chuck]

Conjunction junction / injection infection (I cant be the only one thinking this)


I have also had red lumps from injecting IM. The best thing is to relax and talk to your Dr. about it. Can you be more specific about the lump?

[spacerace]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

The redness was gone when I woke up Sunday morning. The lump, however, it still there as of right now, though I think it is a bit smaller.

The lump is about the size of a nickel across and like a 3cm tube shaped length right above where the needle went in. There is no sign of a problem on the surface of the skin at all. The spot where the needle went in is not apparent.

I will keep an eye on it and wait one more day to see if it continues to get smaller.

edit: The area is also really sore, and because of where it is, I can feel it against my shirt and when I move around.

Also, I am worried that whatever caused the lump means that the T is not getting into my system the way it normally does. I've been sorta off mood wise, but that may just be correlation not causation. It feels almost like the injected T made a pocket under the skin and hasn't dispersed yet.

[Kreuzfidel]

I would imagine that the T is getting into your body just fine.  I'm not sure about sub-q method, though - I have my reservations about it - but I'm sure it's all good.