Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So the last few months I've worked up a pretty significant fear and hesitation towards taking my subQ shot. It started when my shots began hurting more during the puncturing as well as pain during the T push. I figured that I had just built up scar tissue and should move locations. Its been about 3 months now rotating from butt to both sides of my stomach and I always have the same lingering pain upon puncture and push. I'm not afraid of needles and the jab isn't bad, its the pain that comes after that hurts so damn bad. As I push the T the pain gets worse. I feel like I'm doing something wrong. Sometimes when I push the plunger down, my body tries to push the needle back out. I end up having to stick myself twice because the needle comes out. 
I'm also getting these bad bruises around my injection sight and they're really hard to the touch. idk if its inflammation or the T sitting under the skin.

I'm really sick of being afraid of taking my shot every week. I used to be so excited for it but now I dread it everyweek and I'm only 7 months into a life sentence.

That's not good at all.

Can you get a prescription that is longer acting and only needs injecting every ten weeks or so? That type of injection would need to be given at your doctor's office, though, because it is a large amount going in. But it would be less of an issue for you in the long run.

That option is available here in Australia. I believe the counterpart in the USA would be called AVEED. Maybe something to discuss with your doc.

Quote from: Dan on July 21, 2017, 08:09:15 PM
That's not good at all.

Can you get a prescription that is longer acting and only needs injecting every ten weeks or so? That type of injection would need to be given at your doctor's office, though, because it is a large amount going in. But it would be less of an issue for you in the long run.

That option is available here in Australia. I believe the counterpart in the USA would be called AVEED. Maybe something to discuss with your doc.

That is something to consider. I just moved and am in between doctors at the moment. I'm going to ramp up my doc searching efforts though because there is definitely something wrong here.

I do estrogen shots. When I started I did them in my thighs because I could get to them easily. They hurt for sure. I got tired of having sore bruised thighs so my brother started giving me the shots in the backside. I noticed it didn't hurt at all when he did it. When the Dr instructed me how to do the shots he taught me to press the needle against the skin until it penetrates. That HURTS!  What my brother does is stick the needle in really fast. Kind of like the same motion as throwing a dart. It doesn't hurt at all when it's done really fast. The nurse at my Drs office said you aren't supposed to do it that way but I really don't care. If it doesn't hurt that's how I am going to do it. It also doesn't bruise.
Julia

If it's a consistent issue, I would make an appointment with the provider that prescribed your T and ask that they observe you while you do your next shot so that they can give feedback.

In the meantime, I would watch some YouTube videos of guys doing their shots to see if there is any significant difference with what you are doing.

I do IM shots in the thigh. The only time I have pain is if I go too slowly. So perhaps that could be an issue for you.

Quote from: Julia1996 on July 22, 2017, 08:30:03 AM
I do estrogen shots. When I started I did them in my thighs because I could get to them easily. They hurt for sure. I got tired of having sore bruised thighs so my brother started giving me the shots in the backside. I noticed it didn't hurt at all when he did it. When the Dr instructed me how to do the shots he taught me to press the needle against the skin until it penetrates. That HURTS!  What my brother does is stick the needle in really fast. Kind of like the same motion as throwing a dart. It doesn't hurt at all when it's done really fast. The nurse at my Drs office said you aren't supposed to do it that way but I really don't care. If it doesn't hurt that's how I am going to do it. It also doesn't bruise.
Julia

It's odd; the nurse who supervised me taking my first shot actually said that I should hold the syringe more like a dart and go quickly, like your brother is doing for you, Julia. I found it didn't hurt at all until getting to the last little bit. It's a relatively small amount compared to how some take T, I believe, which probably helps.


Are you pushing any more quickly or slowly than usual? Also, do you have less fatty tissue than before? I've read some people have to go in at more of an angle if they have less fatty tissue.

Quote from: seth.james on July 22, 2017, 07:31:55 PM


Are you pushing any more quickly or slowly than usual? Also, do you have less fatty tissue than before? I've read some people have to go in at more of an angle if they have less fatty tissue.

I go fast like a dart as well. I can't imagine putting it  against my leg and pushing like that. uhhh just no.  I hadn't heard about going in at an angle if you have less fatty tissue. I don't have the problem yet, but maybe in the future. I wondered about going in at an angle. The nurse practitioner who showed me said to do it straight down.

I moved across the country and don't have a DR out here yet. I have plenty of fatty tissue but my fat distribution has changed a lot in the last 7 months. I'm injecting the needle like a dart as instructed by my DR and going at a slow pace. However, I push in busts because the plunge is so hard to push down consistently without having the needle push out.
I didn't change anything in my methods until I started having these injection issues....
I hit another big hormone rush about a month ago so I know the T is doing its thing. I just don't know it what I'm doing is "safe". I'm going to try calling a DR on Monday for an appointment.