Nobody to do my shot for me, No IM needles, can I switch myself to sub-q?

[KamTheMan]

So I just finished an extremely stressful move back to Utah into my parents house. It happened very suddenly, so I've yet to contact the NP at the Planned Parenthood in Denver I've been getting my T from. My roommate has been doing my shots for me because it's nerve wracking for me. I also ran out of needles so I borrowed from him the past month, but now I'm here so I don't have any. My dad uses insulin needles for his blood thinning meds so I have everything I need to do a subcutaneous injection. And I think I'd be able to do that myself, since it's a smaller needle and not going into muscle. Do you think I can just try and see how it goes? Until I somehow find a doctor here in Utah that is? I do my shots every Wednesday so I'm trying to figure this out by then. Thank you for any info you can give me!

[CursedFireDean]

I also get my hormones from Planned Parenthood and if I remember correctly my doctor told me I would be on the same dose whether IM or Subq (I'm on subq) so I think it would be fine. I went with subq specifically because I know I can't do IM to myself, like you. It should be fine, but I know I've heard some people have higher/lower levels on subq vs IM, so if your next bloodwork is weird, then that could be why. (Then again, my PP doctor doesn't even check hormone levels, she just goes off of changes.)
Anyways in an emergency I'd say it's probably fine, but make sure to talk to your doctor when you can next see them.

[palexander]

call your endo and they can refer you to someone in the area to restock your needles i don't think its smart to make that decision without the doctor's consent

[Jessica Merriman]

The biggest problem would be drawing the thick fluid with an insulin needle. Easier to push a big rig up a steep hill. 

[blink]

I do subcutaneous shots with 23g needles meant for IM. It's easy. Here's my entire process:

1. Warm vial by holding it in the bend of my knee for approximately one minute (makes drawing up much easier/faster)
2. Clean top of vial with alcohol swab
3. Open packaging on syringe and uncap, draw up an amount of air equal to dose
4. Inject air into vial (to maintain internal pressure)
5. Hold vial upside-down while drawing the oil - I pull back more than the dose, then use that excess to push the air bubble that always forms back into the vial - triple check that the dose is correct/all excess is back in vial, remove needle from vial
6. Pinch up an injection site (I use abdominal fat), release the pinch but keep fingers on either side of the site. Clean with new alcohol swab, let dry. Pinch the fat back up
7. Insert needle (I just don't put the entire needle in to compensate for the extra length), let go of fat, inject
8. Keep needle in for 10-15 seconds, maintaining pressure on plunger, withdraw, and immediately apply a clean bit of tissue to the area to check for leak or blood (there is often a very small oil leak, it makes no difference)

[beaver]

I think the T used for subq and IM are different. My testosterone cypionate specifically says it is for IM only. The question is not the needle, because no matter the size, you can inject (just the matter of comfort and such). Unless you have a new prescription for subq T, I really would not suggest switching just like that. Some pharmacies will sell you needles and syringes if you show them that you have a prescribed medication that needs to be injected. Either way, I would consult with a medical professional immediately.
Best of luck.

[KamTheMan]

Thank you everyone for the responses! I'm a few days behind schedule but I'm not worried about it. I was able to get needles today to last the month, so I'm gonna do the IM once I work up the courage. I think I need to put on some good music and watch a ton of injection videos on YouTube. I haven't done my shot myself in quite some time.. I wish I had extra needles to practice on an orange or something. If anyone has any specific shot videos they could reccomend I'd really appreciate it. Kinda brickin it right now..

[blink]

I think the T used for subq and IM are different. My testosterone cypionate specifically says it is for IM only. The question is not the needle, because no matter the size, you can inject (just the matter of comfort and such). Unless you have a new prescription for subq T, I really would not suggest switching just like that. Some pharmacies will sell you needles and syringes if you show them that you have a prescribed medication that needs to be injected. Either way, I would consult with a medical professional immediately.
Best of luck.

For the record, it's the same stuff. My T also says "intramuscular use only", has only ever been used for subcutaneous, and my T levels are good.
Possibly all the vial packaging out there says that. Many doctors - and obviously whoever does the packaging - aren't quite up to speed on this issue, unfortunately.

[CursedFireDean]

I think the T used for subq and IM are different. My testosterone cypionate specifically says it is for IM only. The question is not the needle, because no matter the size, you can inject (just the matter of comfort and such). Unless you have a new prescription for subq T, I really would not suggest switching just like that. Some pharmacies will sell you needles and syringes if you show them that you have a prescribed medication that needs to be injected. Either way, I would consult with a medical professional immediately.
Best of luck.

Mine also says that even though my prescription says Subq. The T is the same, no worries there. The realisation that subq works just as well is very new and many professions are not up to date on this. I imagine the company that makes the T is just covering their butts since they KNOW it should work IM.

[blink]

I imagine the company that makes the T is just covering their butts since they KNOW it should work IM.

Hadn't thought of this factor, thanks, that makes it less aggravating that they seem not up with the latest research.