Tutorials on Self Injecting

[Nygeel]

I've been self injecting since day 1 and it's come to my attention that the nurse that taught me wasn't very specific. This has lead to many instances of screw ups giving my injection (which also causes anxiety due to screw ups). Tonight I gave myself my shot, tried to do the Z-trac method but I must've hit a vein or something because there was a lot more blood than what I was used to, and what seemed to be a lot of the oil came out. It looked really awesome because the densities are different. The oil took up a large part then little circles of blood floated sorta in the middle of the oil.

Anyways, back on topic. My screwing up so many times has made me want to call my doctor but since they've made many many many mistakes all of which were from bad to "WHY THE F--K DO YOU STILL GO THERE?" I've decided to ask on here and see if anybody has a tutorial or written instructions on how to do an IM injection to the thigh. I think half of my shot came out...maybe less. I'm not going to re-do it because of that but it would be great to know how to prevent stuff like this from happening.

[PandaValentine]

I got my doctor to do it twice before I tried self injecting in front of her.

I don't have any tutorials or anything but this is what my doctor told me, it's what I do.

I divide my thigh into three sections, and make sure to do the shot in the middle section and on the outer centre side of the thigh. Look for veins. I used to have more but for some reason they seem to be disappearing as my legs get smaller, and also there is a lot of hair there now. grab a chunk of the skin where you want to inject and squeeze it. Of course following the steps of disinfecting the area. Then just pop the needle in. I prefer to do it slowly rather than quickly because I get to feel it more. It's kind of empty feeling for a while and then I can feel when it jabs into a nice muscular area. Pull back on the syringe, I always get some air bubbles, I always wondered about that, because I don't remember it my first few times but whatever. I get very little blood after my shots, usually don't even need a band aid.

Go to youtube, they have instructional videos, I'm not sure if any have good close ups of the thigh though. I know I've seen a few before I started T and even while on T, which reminded of a few steps I was forgetting, haha. Like I have to use two needles everytime because I don't have extra um needles for the one syringe so its a waste but cheap because I got a huge box that would have lasted four years, until I started doing it every week, now they might last another six months since I'm using two as well.

[PandaValentine]

Also are you making sure the needle is really screwed in well? Because I know there was one time I almost forgot before I did the inject, luckily I noticed.

[Nygeel]

The needles on the syringe are the ones I use. Divide the thigh in three in what direction? I don't see any veins on my thighs. They're pretty chunky and I don't have definition so I can't really feel where a muscle is.

[PandaValentine]

Well yeah but they come off don't they? The needle part that is connected to the syringe?

In length, so to the knee. If it helps for the first time use a marker and draw some guidlines of where the middle section would be and then draw a box around where your targeting your needle to go.

Just draw a line with your mind down the middle of your thigh from your knee and move the needle so it's no in the middle but to the outter part of your thigh, since that's where the biggest muscle is. If it helps and you don't mind wasting a needle, just make sure there is no air and do a practice shot with an empty needle. You may just bleed a lot, but unless blood comes into the syringe, you haven;t hit any veins.

I know I'm not the best at explaining these things. I'm sure somebody else on here could do much better.

[AndyTL]

Okay tip one, Z Track, way hard to do by yourself. Especially if your nervous. Tip two, if you're having oil leakage you need to make sure you are:
1. Aspirating, cause that little bubble that comes up will help.
2. Use a smaller gauge needle, we found that 23 and up with chunky thighs and you leak.
3. consider the possibility of a longer needle sometimes one inch just won't cut it.

btw bleeding a few drops isn't super bad, REMEMBER TO ASPIRATE!

Safe Grid:


Block off Top:


Block off Bottom:


Safe zone width:


The "possibly safe for skinny kids" zone:


"Don't go down here" zone:


Woot! Safe ZONE!:


The skinny kid zone is a possibility but watch the angle you go in. Any questions or need info feel free to PM me. Also any tips that someone else knows always helps!

[PandaValentine]

Ah those pictures are exactly it, it's much better when you can actually see where to inject. I personally use 25g needle.

[PandaValentine]

Oh yeah, never go in on a 90 degree angle, like straight up and down, you want it to be tilted slightly.

[AndyTL]

Yeah true that, angles can mess you up. And yeah we use 25 gauge too.

[Nygeel]

PandaValentine, yes they do come off but since I never twist it there isn't really a concern about the needle coming off.

AndrewT, thanks. I'm not aspirating (nurse never told me to). They also never told me to keep a bubble in the needle. I'm using a 22g 1.5 inch needle. There was a small puddle of blood, slightly bigger than my thumbnail after pulling the needle out using Z track.