Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Do you have a method to remind you which leg to do your shot in?

Apparently, I can't remember week-to-week.

I would say do it in the leg on the side of your dominant hand? But then again I am pre T myself and I don't really know if the doctor-thing tells you where to do it so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong or anything.

Quote from: MacG on March 24, 2015, 09:18:19 PM
Do you have a method to remind you which leg to do your shot in?

Apparently, I can't remember week-to-week.

Even though I'm injecting E, I also alternate thighs when self-injecting. What you can do is in your smart phone setup two different repeating appointments in your calendar. The first one call it "inject left thigh" and set it to repeat every 2 weeks. Then setup another appointment a week later from the first one and call it "Inject right thigh" and set it to repeat every 2 weeks. So now you will get a reminder every week on which thigh to inject it.

Quote from: Sydney_NYC on March 24, 2015, 10:01:31 PM
Even though I'm injecting E, we also alternate thighs when self-injecting. What you can do is in your smart phone setup two different repeating appointments in your calendar. The first one call it "inject left thigh" and set it to repeat every 2 weeks. Then setup another appointment a week later from the first one and call it "Inject right thigh" and set it to repeat every 2 weeks. So now you will get a reminder every week on which thigh to inject it.

Smart!

Quote from: MacG on March 24, 2015, 10:08:54 PM
Smart!

Very!

I can't remember which side of my belly button I did my sub-q shot from week to week.  ha!

I never remember which side of my belly I did my shots so honestly I just guess XD if I am really not sure then what I do is go where I wouldn't normally, like slightly higher or lower or closer or farther from my belly button just to make sure it isn't the exact spot I last injected.

I'm bad at remembering which side to do, but I'm thinking about using a little notepad to keep track of things.

I just did my shot about 10 minutes ago, and I had this exact problem! It's hard to remember sometimes. I've found it easiest to just count the number of needles/syringes I have--I get them in a set of six, so if I'm taking an odd numbered one (the 1st, 3rd, or 5th in the pack) then I know to do the right side, and if I'm taking an even numbered one (2nd, 4th, or last in the pack), then I know to do the left side. That seems to work out okay for me.

Call me old school, but I write my injection info in a small notebook...Date, time, dose, body site, lab results.  It has really helped to track things since my levels have always been so wacky! 

Yup, a notebook. I rotate among four locations (left/right, top/side), and I record the date, time, and location, and I make a note if anything untoward happened: if the shot hurt more than usual or I forgot to aspirate, bled a lot, or was sore after the previous shot.

I keep the supplies in a small Pelican case, and the notebook and a pen live there, too -- just part of the routine.

I have a white board calendar at my desk where I sit to do my injections. I just make a note on there on the day. I'm also writing down details (did I bleed, did I feel lightheaded, did I need to lay down and take a minute, etc.).

These are fantastic ideas.

I have a calendar (old fashioned, hang-on-the-wall style) that I pre-mark each week with the leg and shot number (today is L 27!).  And even when I think I remember correctly I double check (and often remembered wrong!).

I have a friend who does her shot a couple hours ahead of me.   For a long time, she would text me which leg it was.

For whatever reason, I haven't heard from her lately.  I've resorted to my phone's calendar now.   It's not as nice.

But we usually get together in the evening afterwards and at least share our e-glow  :)

Quote from: Megan Rose on March 25, 2015, 09:08:56 PM
I have a friend who does her shot a couple hours ahead of me.   For a long time, she would text me which leg it was.

For whatever reason, I haven't heard from her lately.  I've resorted to my phone's calendar now.   It's not as nice.

But we usually get together in the evening afterwards and at least share our e-glow  :)

That's sweet!

I just write down the date and which leg it was each time on a paper that I keep with my T and injection stuff.

I don't remember and just tend to guess. Sometimes I do it in whichever leg feels squishier at the time. I will say that it's gotten more painful now that I've taken up running and have firmer thighs to stab through, haha.

I don't do injections for HRT, but do have a biweekly injection for other reasons. I cast another vote for the notebook. I keep the date, the lot number of the medication, and which leg, as well as a spot for notes to explain anything that might be relevant. I like to keep the lot number in case there ever turns out to be a problem with a batch of the medication, this way I can easily know whether I am affected.

That's the problem I have with my HRT sometimes as a result I have done the same leg 2 times in a row one time, but have been pretty good at remembering mentally. The notebook idea or any place that you keep track of when you need your next injection would be the pest place for it and on that note I think that is what I should do too. Good Luck
Mariah

Quote from: MacG on March 24, 2015, 09:18:19 PM
Do you have a method to remind you which leg to do your shot in?

Apparently, I can't remember week-to-week.

QuoteI like to keep the lot number in case there ever turns out to be a problem with a batch of the medication, this way I can easily know whether I am affected.

Jeni, that's a great idea. I'm on my way upstairs to make a note of it.

I used to go by date. Odd date, left butt cheek. Even date, right butt cheek. (I haven't alternated in a while because the little things are the first to go when I'm overwhelmed, and I've definitely been overwhelmed for the past year or so. But when I was doing it, it was a great system.)

Notes. I note the date, injection site (quickly indicated by one to four dots - I do subcutaneous and cycle through far to the right, a few inches to the right, a few inches to the left, and far to the left of navel), whether there was any bleeding or oil leakage, any technique modifications I'm trying, anything else that seems relevant.

if u dont remember it doesnt matter.  A whole week went by since your last shot it doesnt make a difference

In the long term, it may matter, as scar tissue can build up in the muscle. As I understand it, that's less likely to happen if the muscle has longer to heal in any given place.  It may matter less if you're injecting sub-Q.

If you forget which leg for one week its not gonna make a difference "in the long run" as far as scar tissue goes....its just one injection

if u feel uncomfortable inject somewhere else....u can inject in your thigh, shoulder or butt

Calendar with a simple r or l in the date area.

But as said if forgot it will not be a national disaster.

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 04, 2015, 12:06:53 PM
If you forget which leg for one week its not gonna make a difference "in the long run" as far as scar tissue goes....its just one injection

if u feel uncomfortable inject somewhere else....u can inject in your thigh, shoulder or butt

I didn't ask where to inject. I know where. I asked for tracking methods, as I would like to keep track.

Quote from: MacG on April 04, 2015, 03:00:31 PM
I didn't ask where to inject. I know where. I asked for tracking methods, as I would like to keep track.

You ever think...maybe write it down on a piece of paper then?  thats usually how a lot of folks keep track of stuff like that.

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 04, 2015, 03:27:23 PM
You ever think...maybe write it down on a piece of paper then?  thats usually how humans keep track of stuff like that.

Not cool.

its kinda common sense....my endo switched me from every 7 days to every 6 days because I was having physical and mental withdrawal symptoms on the day before my T shot was due.....it runs through my body much faster than most guys.....so i always write down the next day it is due since it changes to a day earlier every week.   It is a pretty fail-proof method...all u need is a pen or pencil and a piece of paper....and probably the best advice





No Dosages Please

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 04, 2015, 03:27:23 PM
You ever think...maybe write it down on a piece of paper then?  thats usually how humans keep track of stuff like that.

I was looking for -creative- ideas.
I actually have a curiosity about how other people do stuff.

I'm all for "creative ideas"..... but since when does remembering which leg to do your T shot in require a creative idea?  it requires a piece of paper and a pen to write down whether your right or left thigh will be used for your next injection.

Why does it matter what anyone else does.   Do whatever works for u.... and i find a piece of paper and a pen to be a good reminder.....its been used for centuries now...

If u dont like my advice do something way more complicated and "creative" if u desire....I'm just telling u the most practical and common sense solution to your problem

Thanks so very much! I never thought about... A pencil.

I don't care for your attitude. You spew negative junk all over the boards.

Hi friends  :police:

Some of the responses here have been rather rude and less than helpful

If you can't find an intelligent and respectful way to offer advise, find something else to do with your time

Thank you

V M

i shared the best advice i have and the one that works for me since i inject every 6 days not every week so it is a different day every week.....and the easiest solution to remember the day is to use a post-it pad and write down my next injection day so i dont forget....has not failed me yet.....

Quote from: MacG on April 04, 2015, 04:06:24 PM
I was looking for -creative- ideas.
I actually have a curiosity about how other people do stuff.

Here's a creative idea: Someone could make a Shot-Tracker app. How am I doing?  8)

Hugs, Devlyn

I don't do injections, but I mark a wall calender for important events - Possibly you could mark a calender with an L or an R on your injection dates

Quote from: AleksiJason on April 04, 2015, 04:13:40 PM
I'm all for "creative ideas"..... but since when does remembering which leg to do your T shot in require a creative idea?  it requires a piece of paper and a pen to write down whether your right or left thigh will be used for your next injection.

Y'know, my system doesn't require anything except a knowledge of the date. Not that I'm Wile E. Coyote, SUPER genius, but I suspect that a few people will say, "Gee, I hadn't thought of that" and will switch to my way of doing things. I developed this procedure because I really hate keeping track of my shots on a calendar or even a sticky note. It's just an extra step that I see as completely unnecessary, and when I'm overwhelmed with stuff from work and life, an extra step is a liability. Other people might have a similar view.

If you don't ask, you don't hear about other ideas.

an extra step?  u are acting like u are writing a book....it takes 2 seconds to write it down on a piece of paper.   And if u are bogged down with work and have a lot on your mind or whatever you said....it doesnt even require any thinking to write down the opposite leg u injected with after your injection.....it requires pretty much zero effort

I have had enough of this stupid argument.

Thank you

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