What to expect - injections

[DawnOday]

Next week I will be switching to injections. Somehow because it is intermuscular I envision huge needles. I take insulin but it is like a nuisance rather than painful. I am looking forward to it...I think.  Truth be told, injections are one of the reasons I didn't want to go into the service. My heart would have kept me out anyway but... I put it off because I read the injections were suffering medication shortages. But the Doc said. He has not heard of any shortages at least at Kaiser.

[tgirlamg]

Next week I will be switching to injections. Somehow because it is intermuscular I envision huge needles. I take insulin but it is like a nuisance rather than painful. I am looking forward to it...I think.  Truth be told, injections are one of the reasons I didn't want to go into the service. My heart would have kept me out anyway but... I put it off because I read the injections were suffering medication shortages. But the Doc said. He has not heard of any shortages at least at Kaiser.

Hi Dawn!!!

It is a longer needle to get things down into the muscle... I prefer the 1.5" needles in 25 gauge...and I much prefer using the upper outer buttons quadrants over the thigh but nothing to worry about sister!!!...  The first time or two was slightly nerve wracking but,after that... easy peasy and pain free!!! PM me anytime if I canbe of help!!! All shall be well  😀!!!!

Hugs!!!

Ashley 🙋‍♀️💕🌻

[DawnOday]

Thanks Ashley    Whew! Thanks for the info love. I can breathe easier. Fear is a terrible thing. It's kept me from being me for far too long. Hugs

[Dani]

Many people use a larger bore needle to draw the medication into the syringe and then change to a smaller needle for injection. an 18 or 21 gauge needle is often used to draw up the medication. I have not seen a 1&1/2 inch needle in 25 gauge. I have seen 1 inch in that size. The smallest bore diameter I have seen in 1&1/2 inch length is 23 gauge.

However, I have been retired for several years now, so there may be some new sizes available.

You really should inject deep intramuscular, however some people report injecting subcutaneous with the 1 inch needles. If you have very little subcutaneous fat, the 1 inch needles may get your medication into the muscle. There are just too many variables here to make a general statement that applies to everyone.

As Ashley has said, injecting into the upper outer quadrant of the buttocks is the preferred injection site. However, depending on the volume of your injection the thigh may be acceptable. Your doctor or nurse should give you instructions on how to give deep I.M. injections in a sterile manner.

[Lisa_K]

Yeah, you're probably going to need a 1.5" needle that goes all the way in to make sure you're in the muscle.

I use 22ga needles and inject into my thigh because for me, it's easier and more steady than trying to turn around or use a mirror to see what I'm doing and using my leg, it's a lot easier to feel when I've gotten through my fat and into the actual muscle. I don't mess around changing needles to draw and inject but many do.

I was off for a few years but started injecting in the late 90's and it's something I still hate doing that I have to psyche myself for up for each time even though after I've done it and it was no big deal, I wonder why I even hesitated. I usually drink first!

Ask your provider's office to show you how to do it and there's YouTube videos out there if you don't. Have a plan for disposing of your used kit. I just use a plastic Coke bottle but you pharmacy may have official sharps disposal solutions.

You can buy syringes with luer lock needles online. I get a box of 100 that's about $20 including shipping. Unfortunately most that come with 1.5" needles only come in 3cc varieties but that's okay with me. If you want smaller syringes, just get the size you want, usually 1cc and swap the needles.

It may be weird at first but you'll get used to it. After 20 years, it's still weird for me but I do it anyway.

[tgirlamg]

Ah Yes! As Dani mentioned... I use an 18 gauge to draw it up from the vial and then switch to the 25 gauge to inject...  I have had problems with the pharmacy getting me the exact supplies I like do I just order them direct from a medical supply or Amazon etc...

Onward we go brave Sister!!!

Hugs and Lotsa Love!!!

A 🙋‍♀️💕🌸

[Kate.claire]

I use 18 for draw, 23 for glut injections.  My doctor blew my regular prescription and CVS gave me 23 gauge syringes and wouldn't give me the 18 gauge for draw, even though the prescription on the syringes said to use 18 for draw. I had to do the last two by drawing with the 23 gauge...  it's really tough with the oil, but you just have to patiently wait for the oil to slowly trickle through. Most of the time, surprisingly pain free. Still amazed that I do it though... I used to pass out on occasion at the sight of my own blood. . I guess that's how I knew I was really serious about this. Incidentally, most of the time I don't bleed, but on two occasions, I've hit a surface vessel,  which gives a good rivulet of blood initially, but stops in seconds.  I've wondered how much of the injection I've lost, if any, when that happens.

I had a hard time sourcing the EV back in October, which kept me on patches a bit longer than I wanted, but have refilled twice without issue now.

[SadieBlake]

Dawn, estradiol valerate went unavailable for a few months 3 years ago when there was a problem with the supplier of the excipient oil it's made with -- both makers used the same supplier. Perrigo the maker of generic was unavailable for a year, my last vial was from them, however and it was recently made.

I like it better than oral

[tgirlamg]

Dawn, estradiol valerate went unavailable for a few months 3 years ago when there was a problem with the supplier of the excipient oil it's made with -- both makers used the same supplier. Perrigo the maker of generic was unavailable for a year, my last vial was from them, however and it was recently made.

I like it better than oral

Hey Sadie!

I'm glad to hear Perrigo started offering it again!!... I had thought they were done with it for good and my Doctor just started writing the RX for the name brand Delestrogen but, even with insurance it is quite a bit more price wise!

Hugs!!!

A 🙋‍♀️💕🌸

[SadieBlake]

Hey Sadie!

I'm glad to hear Perrigo started offering it again!!... I had thought they were done with it for good and my Doctor just started writing the RX for the name brand Delestrogen but, even with insurance it is quite a bit more price wise!

Hugs!!!

A 🙋‍♀️💕🌸

Hey back! :-) <3

Unfortunately don't take that I got it to mean Perrigo is in regular production. FDA still lists estradiol valerate IM as in shortage and I don't have time to call Perrigo again and get status from them (last I spoke with them was early summer and the answer then was "we don't know".

All I know is 2 months ago I got one vial that was recently manufactured (and in different packaging than I'd been getting for 3 years prior). That could be a single batch that I know they'ed been trying to get released when I'd talked to them in late spring.

It's a saga :-/

[tgirlamg]

Hey back! :-) <3

Unfortunately don't take that I got it to mean Perrigo is in regular production. FDA still lists estradiol valerate IM as in shortage and I don't have time to call Perrigo again and get status from them (last I spoke with them was early summer and the answer then was "we don't know".

All I know is 2 months ago I got one vial that was recently manufactured (and in different packaging than I'd been getting for 3 years prior). That could be a single batch that I know they'ed been trying to get released when I'd talked to them in late spring.

It's a saga :-/

Sadie!!!

Thanks for the update and facts as best you know them sister!... if nothing else, it sounds like all hope is not lost for Perrigo being in steady supply at some point!... I've had zero issues getting the brand name but, it is pricey!!!

Onward we go brave sisters 💕

Ashley 🙋‍♀️💕🌻

[CynthiaAnn]

Hi Dawn,

I used IM for estradiol Valerate for a bit over six years, it was very cost effective and the results were quite good. I was completely adverse to needles when I started however, I had a nurse train me on safety and how to use a drawing needle. I had almost a panic attack after giving myself my first injection (i kinda freaked out), but slowly I got more and more used to it over time, till it became routine. I liked using the lur lock 23 x 1 for thigh muscle injection and rarely got much blood or had any problems. I just went back to patches this year however. I ran into a little shortage of E refills last summer, had to switch pharmacies....Stock up a bottle or two extra if you can....

Best

C -

[Jen61]

I was using oral estradiol for about a year and changes were happening slowly. When I switched to injections things took off like a rocket.

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[Rachel]

I was on IM for years and used 18 gauge to draw and 22 gauge to inject (1.5 inch needle). I would sit on my bed just in case I fainted, I never did at home. I would think of the specific actions in my head and number them ( I have a diagram with the acts to be done). Then I would do the acts while reciting the act and number. Make sure to asperate. You do not want to inject into a vein.

When I started the injection I would apply pressure and just keep applying pressure. If I hit a nerve I would back out and restart. I would go to bed after injecting. I did not want to flex the muscle after the injection.

I do subQ now and it is so much easier than IM. SubQ is like injecting insulin. The reason Mazzoni said they switched was there is a lower incidence of infection.

I am in the process of switching HRT doctors and they said something about a compounded cream that is administered daily. I asked if I could stay on SubQ and they said sure.

[Jen61]

Here's a good resource on how to do the injections.

https://newerapharmacy.com/injection-instructions/#intramuscular


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