IM Questions

[Rachel]

Hi, I have a few questions about intramuscular injections.

1) I just took my 5th injection and there is 1/4 of an injection left in the bottle. Do you save it for next time, throw it away or round up with the last injection? I was very carful to deliver the exact dose each time.

2) I injected 1.5 days early because I wanted to see if I feel better. The last 4 cycles at the end of the cycle I "seamed" to feel the effects dropping off a cliff 3-4 days before injecting. I had 5 refills, now 4 refills which are good for almost a year and I see my PA in March. So I have a lot of medication available. I have been fighting off the desire to inject early but I did it today. I know above X amount of E it has no value. If 4 days a cycle I get no benefit then that is a lot of wasted time and results.  Any thoughts, Ideas or comments.

3) A few minutes after I inject and then for 3 days the injection sight and a bit of the surrounding area is sore. Is there anyone else this happens to?

[jamesdoran]

Hi, I take testosterone by IM but it's pretty much the same in most respects regarding your questions.

1) I personally would save it in case you have any delay in getting your next prescription. I'm sure it's adviseable to discard it in a safe way though. Maybe call your pharmacy and ask proper disposal techniques.

2) how often do you get your shot? Some people do better with more frequent injections. For instance, my T injection is bi-weekly but my doc said if I needed to I could switch to every 10 days or once a week if i was having bad mood or hormone fluctuations. So maybe check with your doc about injecting smaller amounts more often. 

3) totally normal, one thing that helps this is massaging the area right after your shot. also, if mine is really bad I'll ice my leg or butt, wherever I inject at that time.

[Rachel]

Thank you James,

I would not discard the E left in the bottle. I was going to round up but because I was going early I did not want to compound less days with more medicine because I wanted to see how I felt at a 12.5 day cycle. I inject every other week. I noticed I had the feeling of I need to hold on just a few more days at the end of the cycle and I definitely feel the effects drop.

Thanks for the info on the injection site soreness. I feel much better now.

[KayXo]

I personally use everything in the vial (no wastage, it's $$$) and if it's not enough for the injection, say 3/4 of what I should be injecting, then I inject 1/4 of the new vial in the other butt so that if, ever, I get a reaction, at least I know which vial caused the reaction. I wouldn't ever mix both and inject in same area.

For Estradiol Valerate, it seems most do well on a weekly basis although a few do ok bi-weekly or every 10 days, I personally take it every 5 days. For Estradiol cypionate, it can be 10-14 days.

I sometimes get sore, sometimes not. It could well be due to several factors like the excipients in the vial, how tense the muscle was at the moment of injection, how the nurse injected, where exactly (higher above the butt hurts less than outer quadrant of the butt where there are more nerves).

[Rachel]

Thanks KayXo,

Yes I take Estradiol Valerate (delestrogen). 14 days was too long. I will inject at 10 days next to see the difference and discuss it with my T
therapist Monday and she will say to inform my PA.

I do my own injections in the outer quad and sometimes there is some involuntary twitching. My leg muscles have a lot of lean firm muscle. I could try the butt. 

Thanks.

[Newgirl Dani]

Hi Cynthia Michelle,

I was on 14 day cycles myself but after many difficulties I switched to 10 day cycles at the same dosage.  As to the question about leftovers, I am going to ask my pharmacist tomorrow when I pick up my new script.

My main reason for this reply is to give my reasoning for not experimenting with cycle changes on my own.  This is just my opinion but I believe it to be very important to use a certain procedure in relation to hrt and keeping my doctor 'in the loop' at every step of the way.  This method has two functions: 1) Informed decision making is important for success.  and even more important 2)  It creates an inclusive and honesty bond between doctor and patient.  I imagine for myself that if I were a doctor and were finding out about any changes 'after the fact', I would begin to wonder "ok, how am I going to be accountable for my role if anything goes wrong after giving my approval on prior choices made without consulting me." 

I believe this should be important for anyone new here in the forum to have a different view.   Dani

[Rachel]

Thanks Newgirl Dani,

I went to my therapist today and told her I injected 1.5 days early and next cycle I am going to inject 4 days early. She mentioned your #1 & #2.
I need to keep my PA informed (see him tomorrow and it does not help I have a crush on him) and I have addictive behaviors which I need to not hide and not rationalize my behavior. I was so strong but I kept it up until I just did it. I thought both those things before I injected, #1 & #2, and I got to the point where I said I do not care. This is the reason I do not go to bars (alcohol), gay bars (guys and alcohol) and I keep away from drug users at group.

The issue is not that I injected early, or took meds double dose in the past or self medicated some meds, it is the behavior and how I use it to navigate many of the things I do and have done for a very long time.

My therapist mentioned how was I going to handle pain meds if I get procedures. I did not think about that and it is a problem. I do not trust myself with narcotic pills.

Tomorrow I need to tell my PA what I did now and a few months ago. It is not about the meds it is about being honest. 

[Eva]

You might try simply reducing dosage but increasing frequency... Say go with 1/2 your script but inject every 7 days, same amount but less highs and lows.... My doc had no problem with that logic .) The thing is though you might need to adjust the potency to get accuracy, lower mg/ml is better for more frequent shots but it costs more than the more concentrated formulation...

I inject every five days in my outer leg/thigh, Ive done my own for the last two months now...

I USED to be very lean, Ive noticed quite a bit of fat distribution down there since switching to EV though

I do get the twitch but I just go EXTREMELY SLOW with the whole process, no big deal, but it can be hard to stick yourself   It NEVER hurts afterwards though 

[Rachel]

Thanks EVA,

If he does not recommend a 10 day cycle I will suggest 1/2 dose every 5 days too.

I am three days in this cycle and I am so hungry, usually lasts 3 or 4 days.

I really exercise my core and my legs are hard and lean. I have been in IM a little over 2 months. I did notice my skin gets much softer, I get so happy 8 or 9 days a cycle and my breasts are growing well.

[Eva]

I used to feel kinda unbalanced and Id get weird food cravings and all that.... Its way better on a 5 day cycle for me anyway, I never get that "crash" feeling

Definitely feminizing well too to the point I hear positive comments from people Ive known throughout all this

Im a bit of an EX junkie myself... I'll admit I also love the ritual and just like the purely psychological aspect of "getting my shot"... I LOVE IT

[Newgirl Dani]

Thanks Newgirl Dani,

I went to my therapist today and told her I injected 1.5 days early and next cycle I am going to inject 4 days early. She mentioned your #1 & #2.
I need to keep my PA informed (see him tomorrow and it does not help I have a crush on him) and I have addictive behaviors which I need to not hide and not rationalize my behavior. I was so strong but I kept it up until I just did it. I thought both those things before I injected, #1 & #2, and I got to the point where I said I do not care. This is the reason I do not go to bars (alcohol), gay bars (guys and alcohol) and I keep away from drug users at group.

The issue is not that I injected early, or took meds double dose in the past or self medicated some meds, it is the behavior and how I use it to navigate many of the things I do and have done for a very long time.

My therapist mentioned how was I going to handle pain meds if I get procedures. I did not think about that and it is a problem. I do not trust myself with narcotic pills.

Tomorrow I need to tell my PA what I did now and a few months ago. It is not about the meds it is about being honest.

Cynthia Michelle,  I was very much hoping the above nature of yourself would be the one to truly listen.  All my hopes were answered, you've shown what true strength is made of, and this is the ingredient that will bring you to ultimate success.  I do not mean just your hrt but anything that you endeavor to accomplish in life.
I myself had a needle in my arm at far too young an age and my using continued for almost another 35 years.  The uncovering and unraveling of personal defects during the 19 years of clean time has finally led me here.  This post though is not about me, it is only to let you know that you are not alone and any time you need support, I will welcome a PM in order to help in any way I can.   WELL DONE.   Dani

[Rachel]

I saw my PA Tuesday for laser and he asked how the injections were going. I said after 10 days I feel not effect. He then said in March we can do blood and talk about 10 week cycles. I was very happy but at the same time I did not tell him what I was doing and how I felt. So  will go back to 14 days and be a good girl. March I can live with.  I know he has my best in mind for the long term and I just need to trust him.