I dread needles. Tips on self injecting please!

[Mr.Warrick]

I must admit my irrationality. I don't mind the after pain but I DREAD needles like a four year old. I can't stand the millisecond and the stinging sensation of the needle going in.

I would rather triple the after-pain than suffer that nasty stinging feeling.

I tried to stretch my thigh but it didn't help. So any other tips?

- Is butt injection better than thigh injection?
- Does pinching the skin help?
- Does looking away help?

Thanks so much guys.

[Elis]

I'm the same way . You could try the gel which is what I'm currently on. Or the injectible that rhymes with libido (have to get past the censors ). I haven't tried it myself but you only have to get it injected every 6 weeks so I may switch to that if I can.

[Tristyn]

I must admit my irrationality. I don't mind the after pain but I DREAD needles like a four year old. I can't stand the millisecond and the stinging sensation of the needle going in.

I would rather triple the after-pain than suffer that nasty stinging feeling.

I tried to stretch my thigh but it didn't help. So any other tips?

- Is butt injection better than thigh injection?
- Does pinching the skin help?
- Does looking away help?

Thanks so much guys.

S'up Finn and welcome.

First of all, congratulations on getting to this point in your transition!^^

Now, because I am pre-transition and have not even gotten as far as you have with accessing T, I am truthfully unable to share any personal tips of this topic with you. However, I can at least suggest a couple of things. One thing you could do is request to have your endocrinologist administer your shots instead. Sometimes its less anxious to have someone else do them because the relief of a professional doing this could be beneficial for you. Or maybe go on youtube and look for self injecting T videos featuring FTMs. Even though I am not doing HRT yet, I have done the latter. If you'd still rather do the shots yourself, I would request for a smaller sized needle. If that is still an issue for you, you may want to look into a gel in place of the shots.

Good luck and great job for making it to this point in your transition!

~Nixy~

[Laura_7]

-you might ask a nurse to show you
-there are vids on youtube
-you might switch to another form of application. There are gels and implants. Implants start to be covered .

[Mr.Warrick]

Hi guys,

Well, I'm living in a developing country and the nurses are not that nice. That's why I prefer to do the shots myself. It's much more gentle than letting the inconsiderate nurses do it.

Yes, I've watched a bunch of vids but then, I have to try all the different tips before figuring out what works. So I'm asking what is working for you guys

Thanks again 

[Laura_7]

Hi guys,

Well, I'm living in a developing country and the nurses are not that nice. That's why I prefer to do the shots myself. It's much more gentle than letting the inconsiderate nurses do it.

Yes, I've watched a bunch of vids but then, I have to try all the different tips before figuring out what works. So I'm asking what is working for you guys

Thanks again 

You might have a look here:

youtube.com/watch?v=E__kMjcp0XM

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/SpinalCordInjuryProgram/IMselfInjectionTesto.pdf

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,181682.msg1612114.html#msg1612114
(you might have a look at the link... and the whole thread...)

All at your own risk...


*hugs*

[Tysilio]

I've been phobic about needles all my life, and I was super anxious about whether I'd be able to inject myself. What helped me was doing some mindfulness exercises around doing the injection, gradually learning that the feelings I had about it were just feelings, and that it was OK to have them, and then starting to focus on the positive things about doing the shot. Sounds sort of hokey and woo-woo, but damn if it doesn't work!

There's a ton of stuff out there about mindfulness meditation right now (in fact, it's sort of the fad of the moment, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable), and it's worth learning the basic techniques. Here's a source where you can learn more: http://www.mindful.org/anxious-stressed-thats-okay/.  There's a lot of information on this site.

If you're seeing a therapist, you might want to ask them about this. More and more professionals are trained in these techniques, and it can be very useful to work with someone who's knowledgeable.

Hang in there with it!  You can learn to be OK with injecting yourself, and it's totally worth it!

[FTMax]

My doctor discourages people from injecting in the butt. There is a nerve there that will hurt a lot if you hit it.

What I do is sit on the couch and put my leg up on the coffee table (calf and heel on the table). This makes the fat in my thigh easier to grab a hold of. I make a C shape with my hand and grab about a 1-2" section of my thigh. I let go after I inject but before I pull the needle out. No pain whatsoever. I wouldn't recommend looking away. You don't want to accidentally jab yourself somewhere you shouldn't.

The key to reducing the amount of surface level pain is going to be minimizing the time the needle spends breaking the skin, so doing it faster. My aunt (diabetic, so she needles herself daily) recommends using an ice pack on the area for about 5 minutes prior to injecting.

[Stu in YYC]

I've also struggled with poking myself with the needle, mostly because of the initial pain, but also because I have a tendency to get lightheaded and queasy when it pierces the muscle. This is what I've found helpful:

1. Giving myself a little pep-talk right at the point that I'm ready to pierce the skin, something like, "this pain is for all the brothers out there right now going through way more pain right now. If they can handle it, I can handle this."

2. Gently touching the needle to different parts of my injection area, to find a spot that feels a little more numb than others.

3. I haven't tried this, but now that I'm thinking about it, having a show or something on at the same time that's a bit of a distraction.

4. I also squeeze a bit of flesh on my thigh before I inject and slowly let it go as I'm injecting. 

5. Keeping the needle at a steady angle (usually 90 degree) during injection, so as not to have it move too much once it's in the muscle.

Hope that helps.
Best of luck to you!

[Kara.A.I]

Congratulations!

I'm actually about to do my sixth injection tomorrow. I do one every week. They gave me the prescription and zero tips on where to inject, etc. The pharmacist were friendly but couldn't really help. So, I googled it.
My first injection I tried ventrogluteal (hip area) and I'm already a small person. It took three sticks to finally get it right because I kept hitting my hip bone and it caused me to jerk pretty badly. My transman friend told me I was crazy and to use my thigh. Put the tips of your fingers on your knee and lay your hand on your thigh. Like straight handed. Mark where your hand ends. Do the same thing again, but start by putting your palm on where your hip and leg connect, mark that area. You'll want to invision a box, and keep in mind you want to use the middle, outter part of your thigh. I have some reference pictures if you'd like.

As for butt injections, it can be dangerous due to the sciatic nerve and a major artery. A lot of medical professionals are starting to move away from using that site.

Anyways, hope I might have helped a little.!

-Kara


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[Mr.Warrick]

Thanks so much guys. There are a few good ideas here that I will try for my next injection. Hope it goes well and my fear of needles will go away after a few more injections 

[Tysilio]

I hope it goes well for you!

Another thing I've found helpful:  I work on not making false starts with the syringe, those little gestures when you start the "jabbing" motion and then freeze. I wait until I'm relaxed (as much as possible! ) and feeling confident about it, and then I just do it, without hesitating. I don't always succeed, but over time, this has made me much more sure-handed, which in turn helps to reduce the anxiety.

[Elijah3291]

My trick is to either take a scalding hot bath or take a shower and use super super hot water, and if you have a shower head that you can take off the wall and hold, bring the stream as close to your injection site as possible, basically you want your skin as hot as you can bear, it makes the needle go in like butter and hurt less.

[Sharon Anne McC]

*

Please accept this comment and question from 'the other side'.

Perhaps the Red Cross can help with instructions and advice or maybe a Red Cross nurse could do the injection for you.

Maybe friends can inject each other.

If you are doing this once each week, maybe get a gathering and hold injection parties.

I HATE needles (I can so empathise with you doing needle injections) yet I am fast approaching nine gallons at Red Cross.  Despite my anxiety, they do a good job every time.

Now my question and pardon my total ignorance.

Don't you have pills available for your side?  Gee whiz.  I get a 90 days prescription of pills for less than $4.

Maybe it's time to fight for medical equality.

*

[Mr.Warrick]

My trick is to either take a scalding hot bath or take a shower and use super super hot water, and if you have a shower head that you can take off the wall and hold, bring the stream as close to your injection site as possible, basically you want your skin as hot as you can bear, it makes the needle go in like butter and hurt less.

Hi Elijah,

Would ice work the same?

[Mr.Warrick]

*

Please accept this comment and question from 'the other side'.

Perhaps the Red Cross can help with instructions and advice or maybe a Red Cross nurse could do the injection for you.

Maybe friends can inject each other.

If you are doing this once each week, maybe get a gathering and hold injection parties.

I HATE needles (I can so empathise with you doing needle injections) yet I am fast approaching nine gallons at Red Cross.  Despite my anxiety, they do a good job every time.

Now my question and pardon my total ignorance.

Don't you have pills available for your side?  Gee whiz.  I get a 90 days prescription of pills for less than $4.

Maybe it's time to fight for medical equality.

*

Hi,

I'm not sure about MTF but for FTM, injecting is the fastest & safest route. Taking pills cause more harm to your liver than injecting. How about you girls?

[Laura_7]

Hi,

I'm not sure about MTF but for FTM, injecting is the fastest & safest route. Taking pills cause more harm to your liver than injecting. How about you girls?

Same.
Pills with bioidentical micronized estrogen (there are other coated ones) can be taken sublingually which is supposed to lessen the strain on the liver.
For ftm it might take some reading which products are suitable.

There are also topical solutions. But many have very good results with injections or implants.
testo implants start to be covered and be more widespread.
With injections weekly ones or 10 days might be preferable to avoid a low during the last days.


hugs

[Elijah3291]

Hi Elijah,

Would ice work the same?

Ive not tried ice before, but I think not, I'm pretty sure heat relaxes muscles, and I feel like ice would tighten them and make it worse, but yea, never tried it. If you cant do the shower or bath method, get some water hot on the stove and put it on a washcloth and use it as a compress.

also I have to say, Ive never used the T cream, but my bf used it for a while because he didn't like needles and he said its like 3X the price, and you have to rub it on everyday and make sure it dries and doesn't get on anyone else. and as far as I know results come extremely slower, not worth it, for me at least but eh.. I'm not scared of needles and I know a lot of people are.

one more thing, I remember someone saying that as you stick the needle to your skin, insead of just slowly pushing it in, they "bounced" the needle, pressing it against the skin and doing a faint bouncing using more and more pressure until it goes in.. i think this helps distract you, idk..

[Nate]

there is over the counter lidocaine you can use to numb the skin. the otc strenght doesnt numb very deep but should work for the pain of the needle breaking the skin

Nate

[emma-f]

Im terrified of needles so im also prescribed a diazepam to take prior to injections blood tests etc. But then i dont do the injection myself, so my two penniworth is prob worth nothing