self-injected to having someone else do it?

[kenton_07]

I've been self injecting ever since I was put on hormones. The thing is, lately I don't feel like I'm getting the most out of my injections and that I've lost my technique to do them properly. I was thinking about going to planned parenthood or something to get them done bi-weekly. What are your thoughts? I've already had top surgery and hysto. I just feel like I should have someone that knows exactly what to do, take care of it for me.

Has anyone gone from self-injecting to having someone else do it? What was your experience?

[aleon515]

I'm on topical, but I see nothing wrong with it. I'm sure a lot of folks have gone that way. I know people who just developed a phobia of it and others who just didn't think they could give themselves a shot without hurting themselves more. I know a couple guys with nurse friends or partners. I know guys who give each other the shots.

--Jay

[aross1015]

What do you mean when you say you don't feel like you are getting the most out of them?  Are you injecting the correct amount of T, at your scheduled time and injecting all of it at that time and in the correct spot and way for the type of shot you are doing (IM or sub-q)?  If so, then the part where you don't think you are getting the most out of them is very likely all in your head.  If it would make you feel better to get someone else to do your shots, then go for it, but it really seems unnecessary for anything other than peace of mind. 

[Ayden]

I'm the opposite in that I may be having nurses do it soon and I'm not exactly thrilled to have that happen.

I don't know what you mean when you say you aren't getting everything out of them. Depending on how long you've been on T your changes will slow. I'm not even sure there is a technique. If there is, I would like to know, since I've just been doing the 1-2-3-poke method.

[KamTheMan]

Planned parenthood billed me $60 for the visit and $32 for the injection every time. And $32 each time for the T. Just got the bill. Not happy.

[King Malachite]

I would definately let someone do that for me, even if I had to pay them.  I have a phobia of needles so I plan to go on androgel or the patch.

[kenton_07]

What I mean by not getting the most out of them is that there is always some left in the syringe that does not come out. I feel like I should be getting every bit possible out of the needle that I extract from the bottle. I just want to be sure I'm doing it the most effective way possible. I do the 1-2-3 poke method too because I feel like that's all that needs to be done. Does anyone else have T left over in the syringe after they inject? I push the thing all the way down but at the tip of the syringe right before the needle theres always some left in there.

[aross1015]

Left in the syringe or left in the needle?  Any left in the needle part doesn't matter as far as your dose goes. 

[Ayden]

Sometimes I have a very small amount left in the syringe but it's mostly due to some in the needle back flowing. It's a really tiny amount, but noticeable. I can push the plunger all the way and still have small bit left.

If you want to have a nurse do it though, I'm sure you can. A lot of guys have nurses do their shots.

[Felix]

What I do with the tiny amount left after injection is pull up some water into the syringe afterward and squirt it onto my genitalia. That way I don't feel like I'm wasting anything. I don't know if it makes a difference.

I don't like when other people inject me. I could avoid paying out of pocket if I got my shots from my clinic, but I stopped doing it that way because it was annoying to go there so frequently, and because I feel like it is less likely to hurt if I do it myself. I do occasionally look over self-injection how-to guides or watch videos, because I feel like I get lazy and thoughtless with technique and positioning if I don't remind myself once in awhile.

[Jessica Merriman]

What I mean by not getting the most out of them is that there is always some left in the syringe that does not come out. I feel like I should be getting every bit possible out of the needle that I extract from the bottle. I just want to be sure I'm doing it the most effective way possible. I do the 1-2-3 poke method too because I feel like that's all that needs to be done. Does anyone else have T left over in the syringe after they inject? I push the thing all the way down but at the tip of the syringe right before the needle theres always some left in there.

As a Paramedic I can say they compensate for that when they imprint MLs on the syringe. 

[LordKAT]

As a Paramedic I can say they compensate for that when they imprint MLs on the syringe. 

Correct. Lab tech for a time and I can say the same.

[aross1015]

What I do with the tiny amount left after injection is pull up some water into the syringe afterward and squirt it onto my genitalia. That way I don't feel like I'm wasting anything. I don't know if it makes a difference.

It doesn't.  Injectable testosterone isn't made to be absorbed in that way.

[BrotherBen]

Nurses are not magicians, they can't get that last .01ml out of the syringe any more than you can. As long as you're getting your labwork done and it's coming back okay, you're doing just fine.