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I look forward to it all week!  ;D

('course that may be because I am only two months in?)

<passes out on floor>

I do and I'm over two years in.  I always go for it first thing in the morning on shot day.

For the first a few months, the shot was totally the highlight of my week. Then it became a task.
After hysto as I no longer have the fear of getting my period and my PCP reduced my dosage to so low that I don't even think it matters if I inject or not lol, so now sometimes I even forget about it and inject a few days later. Trying to be consistent, but I just forget...

At first? No but I did it anyway hah.

Now? No longer causes phobia reactions but still not exciting....I forget sometimes lol. Still not exciting though.

Just another task at almost 3 years and counting. Another prick in the butt once a week.  :laugh:

I was excited for like two shots and now I hate it. I get really anxious over it. I'm actually procrastinating it as I type right now.

Quote from: CursedFireDean on October 27, 2014, 05:18:19 AM
I was excited for like two shots and now I hate it. I get really anxious over it. I'm actually procrastinating it as I type right now.

Really?  I can't remember, are you doing sub-Q or intramuscular?

Not sure if excited would be the right word in my case. Determined, maybe. I have trouble getting up in the mornings, especially this time of year, so when shot day is coming up I get in a mindset for it. I mentally tell myself things like, "I WILL get up immediately when the alarm goes off and do my shot. I've done this every time before. I can do it." I do my shot first thing to make absolutely sure I can't forget it.

CursedFireDean, is your anxiety over the pain, or over fear of screwing up the shot somehow? I'm always a tad nervous that I'll botch it. Having a very specific routine helps me, as well as reminding myself I've done it successfully x number of times already. Another thing that helps me is accepting that I'll be anxious, but knowing that anxiety itself won't stop me from doing it anyway.

I do! My biggest problem is getting my script ordered, though. I am SUCH a procrastinator, so I usually end up waiting until the Friday before my injection (I inject Wednesdays) to order it. And I need to get my needles refilled this time, too. x.x

I was excited the last two times...until I got an inflammation in my left thigh muscle the second time around. .___.

I always get excited since I get to miss school to go to nyc for the day. But I also get excited to actually get my shot! I'll be 10x more excited when I can take everything home and do it myself because I'll be saving money.

I get excited. I feel so much better on T than without it, so I get pretty excited to do this thing that makes me happy.

I did the first 2 times, and was able to quickly do it. But after my last shot where it took nearly a half hour to do it, I dread it. It could be other things that's triggering severe anxiety in me, but I've skipped my last shot (going on 2) because of it.

Quote from: Edge on October 27, 2014, 03:52:24 PM
I get excited. I feel so much better on T than without it, so I get pretty excited to do this thing that makes me happy.

Hadn't thought of it this way. Thanks for a new perspective. I am glad I have access to treatment, how did this slip my mind when actually injecting?

Quote from: Brett on October 27, 2014, 08:22:40 AM
Really?  I can't remember, are you doing sub-Q or intramuscular?

Subq, so I shouldn't be as anxious as I am.

Quote from: blink on October 27, 2014, 12:23:39 PM
CursedFireDean, is your anxiety over the pain, or over fear of screwing up the shot somehow? I'm always a tad nervous that I'll botch it. Having a very specific routine helps me, as well as reminding myself I've done it successfully x number of times already. Another thing that helps me is accepting that I'll be anxious, but knowing that anxiety itself won't stop me from doing it anyway.

It's pain. Or rather, it's that I don't know how much pain to expect. For example I didn't even feel my second shot, but today's hurt like crazy. It stung badly afterwards and it hurt more than normal going in. I think my anxiety is because I dont know whether it'll hurt or not.

Quote from: CursedFireDean on October 27, 2014, 07:08:26 PM
Subq, so I shouldn't be as anxious as I am.
It's pain. Or rather, it's that I don't know how much pain to expect. For example I didn't even feel my second shot, but today's hurt like crazy. It stung badly afterwards and it hurt more than normal going in. I think my anxiety is because I dont know whether it'll hurt or not.

I'm sorry it is like that for you.  I guess I am lucky that it is not that stressful to me.  The most stressful part is switching the needles around because I am afraid I am going to stick myself.  The shot itself doesn't bother me.  Is yours every other week?  Mine is every week.  Maybe it is just a matter of you having more good experiences than bad.  Hopefully, the good experiences will build up and then the worry will abate over time.

I get really excited and look forward to it all day.

I guess so, I think it's bracing me for it even if it's just every three months and my fiancée does it for me. IM shots just aren't that comfortable and it takes a good while to get it done.

I've actually developed some pretty bad needle-phobia after my first few self-injections for some reason, so although I do look forward to getting my dose I also have a lot of anxiety surrounding the actual shot.

Long answer short: Used to get excited but not anymore. I hate shot day with a passion, more the pre-shot business than the shot itself.

Opening the glass ampule spikes my anxiety prior to the shot because even though I have an ampule opener, I'm still terrified of accidentally slicing open my fingers... it happened the first time and the glass sliced my finger so deeply that the image of the blood is ingrained into my mind like it happened only yesterday.

It really makes me wish testosterone came in those vials where it has a rubber top where you simply just push the needle through that and you are able to tilt the vial upside down to get the correct dose without any air bubbles. The vet clinic I worked at had those vials and I've seen transguys on Youtube have similar vials with T in it. Screw glass ampules...! It is near impossible to get the entire dose out into the syringe without getting millions of tiny air bubbles... and this is me being very careful with withdrawing the dose and making sure the tip of the needle is submerged in the liquid. I have to spend at least ten minutes gently tapping the syringe and pushing the plunger to get as many air bubbles as I can out.

Besides from that, the actual administration of the dose goes smoothly, I have gotten better over the four years, it's just the pre-shot BS that shakes my nerves. I feel better after the shot in general as the anxiety is over but I also feel I don't want to be on T anymore. I don't want to keep taking shots for the rest of my life for every three months because there's added anxiety if I accidentally miss a shot when I think I've done it already.

I want to go back to tri-weekly doses instead of tri-monthly. The tri-weekly dose comes in a pre-filled syringe and needle - it was very convenient. Unrelated but I want to go back on a low-dose T regardless as I am suffering from irritability on the tri-monthly dose but I will discuss it with my doctor, as always.   

Tomorrow is shot day!  I am increasing to 1/2 of the "full dose" tomorrow from 1/4 of the full dose.  I pretty much have decided to socially transition, but for medical reasons I still want to titrate up, rather than just jump to the standard adult male dose.  More gentle on the body (and vocal cords), this way.

Absolutely !  Love T day!  I'm still very new in my transition, but I physically feel SO much better now that I am on T I look forward to Momday's :)

Quote from: Brett on November 01, 2014, 04:03:56 PM
Tomorrow is shot day!  I am increasing to 1/2 of the "full dose" tomorrow from 1/4 of the full dose.  I pretty much have decided to socially transition, but for medical reasons I still want to titrate up, rather than just jump to the standard adult male dose.  More gentle on the body (and vocal cords), this way.

That's a good idea for another reason as well: not everyone needs the "full" dose. For example, my Dr. started me on half the standard dose and that ended up being the perfect amount for me, and I'm still on the same dose over a year later.

Quote from: TheGrayWolf on November 05, 2014, 12:18:04 AM
That's a good idea for another reason as well: not everyone needs the "full" dose. For example, my Dr. started me on half the standard dose and that ended up being the perfect amount for me, and I'm still on the same dose over a year later.

Great point.  I saw my T provider yesterday and got the script for the labs.  I think I will wait until after next week's shot to get the blood work done.  That way there will be two weeks worth of 1/2 the average dose in my system at that point.

Over two years in and still love shot day ;D I get mine every 15 weeks, it might feel like more of a chore if I had to do it more frequently

I'm double excited for my next shot (which is right around my birthday! woo!) because it'll be the first one since my hysto; and I no longer have to get the e-blocker shot at the same time. I'm really looking forward to seeing my blood work results and checking out how removing my E-Factory has affected my levels.

My nurse seems to get a kick out of my progress too so that's always nice, she always notices and comments on my changes. I get a hormone boost and an ego boost  :D

Quote from: Jeatyn on November 06, 2014, 05:22:28 AM
Over two years in and still love shot day ;D I get mine every 15 weeks, it might feel like more of a chore if I had to do it more frequently

I'm double excited for my next shot (which is right around my birthday! woo!) because it'll be the first one since my hysto; and I no longer have to get the e-blocker shot at the same time. I'm really looking forward to seeing my blood work results and checking out how removing my E-Factory has affected my levels.

My nurse seems to get a kick out of my progress too so that's always nice, she always notices and comments on my changes. I get a hormone boost and an ego boost  :D

Hi, Jeatyn.  I always find it curious how guys outside the U.S. get T blockers while we don't (or at least I have never heard of anyone in the U.S. taking it).  T kicks the ass of estrogen so easily.  I wonder if the reason for giving the blocker is so you don't have to use as much T?  Since T is a pretty damaging hormone if you think about it (heart disease, high blood pressure, etc), perhaps that is the reason.  I would be curious to know why.  Anyone know of any studies on this?

Oh, and CONGRATS!     :D

Woo yeah shot day today for me! Definitely get excited but I'm only on week 2 so I imagine I should be :)

Brett, that's an interesting position on testosterone, I always thought the E blockers were because ESTROGEN was the dangerous hormone (in too high amounts), and testosterone aromatizes into estrogen (especially in individuals with working ovaries), which is also why we're supposed to ramp up slowly to get our bodies used to the constant circulation of testosterone and not try to frantically turn it all into estrogen.

My endo recommended a supplement as an E "blocker" which I had already taken in the past for the same purpose haha, I've found it helps with my mood and minimizes acne.

Tbh, all steroid hormones are dangerous if not carefully controlled, that's why people need a prescription and medical oversight :)

Quote from: Brett on November 06, 2014, 06:43:33 AM
Hi, Jeatyn.  I always find it curious how guys outside the U.S. get T blockers while we don't (or at least I have never heard of anyone in the U.S. taking it).  T kicks the ass of estrogen so easily.  I wonder if the reason for giving the blocker is so you don't have to use as much T?  Since T is a pretty damaging hormone if you think about it (heart disease, high blood pressure, etc), perhaps that is the reason.  I would be curious to know why.  Anyone know of any studies on this?

Oh, and CONGRATS!     :D

I don't think most people are offered them by default. In my case I was still getting my monthly visitor after 6 months on T and my E levels were still really high, so I was started on the blocker too and it fixed the problem. My E did not want to give up without a fight  :D

Jeatyn,  I can see why you wanted to get a hysto, since you needed e-blockers after being on T for 6 months.

Quote from: Jeatyn on November 07, 2014, 08:38:31 AM

I don't think most people are offered them by default. In my case I was still getting my monthly visitor after 6 months on T and my E levels were still really high, so I was started on the blocker too and it fixed the problem. My E did not want to give up without a fight  :D

Ah, makes sense.

My first T shot I did all by my self. My dr instructed me how to do it when I went for my physical and blood work. So when I picked up my t I was able to do it no problem. No hesitation and I didn't feel it. He made sure I got really small needle tips. I didn't even feel it. I'm every two weeks with my dose so this Monday is no shot day for me. Instead I get blood work done to check my levels.

I do now! Finally have the technique down, probably took me less than 5 min tonight.

No. It is just another reminder that I'm not cis. Plus I'm on Reandron, can't do it myself and it feels like I'm getting stabbed with a knife. It makes me angry, in addition to being treated like a lab rat by my so called doctor. I was on bi weekly when I started T and I'm going to ask my doctor if I can go back on it, I had no say in changing really anyways and besides the drop of it, which is worse on this one, my level was a lot better. This one barely gets it in the male range and makes me an irritable pile of nothing, and gives me horrible cramps. Plus it elevated my E2 level, like doubled it. I haven't noticed any changes on it, the other one gave me stable changes and I was more than happy to give it to myself, despite knowing the last 3 days would be depressing

I used to love whisky shots, non longer.  Shot day the doctor is THE shot I look forward to.  I plan my day around it! :)

On shot day I feel like nothing can make me stop  ;D Today was the day  :icon_joy:

Heck yes I do.  My shot day is every Thursday and I start looking forward to it on Mondays.  But then it's only been 2 weeks so I'm all excited for my new journey anyway.   :D

Haha me too SyrBigDog, same schedule (just 3 weeks ahead) and def start looking forward to it on Mondays  ;D Just noticed my voice dropped a little yesterday and pretty stoked about it, congrats getting on T!

I know I'm crazy but I swear my throat has been feeling different since the first week of my shot.  lol  Right now it doesn't help that I'm kind of sick so my voice is deeper and everyone is thinking it's already changing.    ;D

yessssssss. i just had my third shot a few days ago, but i'm always super excited

Quote from: SyrBigDog on December 04, 2014, 12:24:51 PM
I know I'm crazy but I swear my throat has been feeling different since the first week of my shot.  lol  Right now it doesn't help that I'm kind of sick so my voice is deeper and everyone is thinking it's already changing.    ;D

that's entirely possible! i started hearing voice changes like three days after my first shot.

I noticed the day after my first shot: not that I had a lower voice, but that I could consistently use the lower range of my voice which I couldn't always do before (esp at certain times of the month ugh).  I did some researching and it turns out that hormones do temporarily raise or lower people's voices within their usual range. Of course with us it's a more permanent lowering but I wonder/think this might be why some people notice a change immediately after starting HRT.