Susan's Place Transgender Resources

 :-\
So since I started t it hasn't been consistent every single week and there's been times I had to go off because I ran out. So these past couple of months I promised my dr I was going to do it every week on the same day, and I stuck to it until last week. I had ran out of t and it takes the dr a few days to email the pharmacy back. Well I got it two days after the day I needed it. I wasn't sure weather to do it or not. The problem is, I was going to do it but I didn't have drawing needles, they only gave me the other ones so I'm still not able to do it. It would be drawing and shooting with the same small needle.
I have labs this week. So I was wondering does it make a big difference on labs if I missed one week. I have to get the needles straightened out, but they never get back to me. Even so it will be a few days til the dr replies and I will miss another week. My question is will it really effect my lab results, is it that big of a deal? I know I should call the dr and ask them but they either put me on hold for 10 minutes or don't get back to me when I leave a message. Its so hard to get a hold of a nurse let alone the dr. If anyone has any info that would be great, if not I guess ill have to go and when I see him tell him what happened?

I'm not sure about the question you are asking but I have a question.  When are you calling your doc to tell him you need a refill?

It will def effect your lab results. In December I had an appointment and life had been hectic so I had forgotten to do my shot the week before and when my doctor got my results my levels were extremely low.

Then this past appointment I had done my shot right before going and they were extremely high.

I know my doctor personally likes my lab work to be done in the middle of when I have taken my shot and my next one. So since I am every other week, he likes it to be done on the week where I am not injecting.

I would say calling and asking is the best option, as now I have to go in next week because my doctor wants to do lab work again to see if I need anything changed dose wise.

it might take a bit longer... but you should still be able to get it out of the vial with the smaller needle.  I mean it goes out that way... why wouldn't it go in?

You should probably try to inject because it will mess up your testosterone levels. What gauge are the needles? It should be okay to draw and inject with the same one.

If the doctor's not giving you the type you need, you can always order them yourself online. When I started injecting, the doctor gave me a guage that was kind of big and the needles were longer that I felt comfortable sticking all the way in, so I just got smaller ones. They're fairly cheap, I think I got 50 for $15-$20.

In the future, maybe switch to bi-weekly shots? This way you're not all over the place every week and also ask if your doc can prescribe you a few refills in advance this way when you see yourself getting low in the bottle you can go back to the pharmacy and get a refill without waiting the few days for the doc to send the new script each time.

Might be a better route than all the hassle it seems you are having now with the weekly thing going on. Also, set yourself some reminders, post it notes, phone alarms what have you. So you remember to do the shots ect.
I have mine in my phone to alarm me at the correct day and it even says which leg I'm supposed to inject so I don't forget that either.

As for labs, yes missing injections can set off your results. I'd recommend moving forward your lab date until you can consistently take your shots on a normal basis.

Quote from: charlie85 on May 27, 2014, 12:38:01 PM
I would say calling and asking is the best option, as now I have to go in next week because my doctor wants to do lab work again to see if I need anything changed dose wise.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd been calling and calling and leaving voice messages and got nowhere. Luckily I found one option to help with the needles. As for trying to get them by myself with another pharmacy that is not an option I tried that last time they said I needed a prescription.

Its not the fact that it will take longer to get into the syringe, I don't want to be drawing and shooting with the same needle. I did it once and never again it hurt too much.

And for some reason my dr won't prescribe refills, so I have to call it in every time. I try to call it in before I run out but they don't approve it so I have to wait til the last minute which doesn't work because it takes so long. Its frustrating.

Quote from: notyouraverageguy on May 28, 2014, 07:02:15 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. I'd been calling and calling and leaving voice messages and got nowhere. Luckily I found one option to help with the needles. As for trying to get them by myself with another pharmacy that is not an option I tried that last time they said I needed a prescription.

Its not the fact that it will take longer to get into the syringe, I don't want to be drawing and shooting with the same needle. I did it once and never again it hurt too much.

And for some reason my dr won't prescribe refills, so I have to call it in every time. I try to call it in before I run out but they don't approve it so I have to wait til the last minute which doesn't work because it takes so long. Its frustrating.

I'd find another doctor if at all possible.  As yours sounds pretty incompetent.  A good doctor would know that your hormones need to be taken consistently.  By him taking his sweet time to contact the pharmacy, as well as refusing to let you call it in when you one dose left, you are not able to take your hormones consistently. 

Quote from: notyouraverageguy on May 28, 2014, 07:02:15 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. I'd been calling and calling and leaving voice messages and got nowhere. Luckily I found one option to help with the needles. As for trying to get them by myself with another pharmacy that is not an option I tried that last time they said I needed a prescription.

Its not the fact that it will take longer to get into the syringe, I don't want to be drawing and shooting with the same needle. I did it once and never again it hurt too much.  That or just taking it off and putting it back on again. 

And for some reason my dr won't prescribe refills, so I have to call it in every time. I try to call it in before I run out but they don't approve it so I have to wait til the last minute which doesn't work because it takes so long. Its frustrating.

Maybe try switching to another smaller needle after you draw it out?  It will release the pressure or whatnot, and should leave you with the same result as drawing with the larger needle.