Susan's Place Transgender Resources

First of all, about 8- 10 hours after the injection my leg has started aching terribly.  It feels bruised for about 2 inches all the way around the injection site.  Is this normal, or should I be calling my doctor?  If it's typical, is that something you experience every time, or does it stop once you get the hang of injecting?

Also, right after I injected I noticed some of the T oozing out of the injection site.  Again, is that normal, or did I likely not get the needle far enough in?  (It was about 3/4 of an inch into my leg.  The nurse who showed me how to inject said I didn't need to take it all the way to the hilt.)

Jamie there is a simlar sort of thread here https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,58736.msg372344.html#msg372344  (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,58736.msg372344.html#msg372344)
which will answer most of your questions there :)

You muscle is just bruised thats all. Nothing to worry about.

Jay

Thanks for the link, Jay.  That was helpful.

It's not a problem, just annoying and painful.  How long have you been on T?  I found for the first 6 weeks or so I was in pain after each shot.  Eventually, my technique improved and now it's very rare that my injection sites are sore for more than 2-3 minutes.

Quote from: Mister on April 23, 2009, 08:15:10 PM
It's not a problem, just annoying and painful.  How long have you been on T?  I found for the first 6 weeks or so I was in pain after each shot.  Eventually, my technique improved and now it's very rare that my injection sites are sore for more than 2-3 minutes.

That's good to hear.  I figured I was just being paranoid.  I guess that's what comes from reading all those pages of dire warnings that come with the vial.  :D  I've been on T a whopping 3 days now.  No changes yet.  *taps foot impatiently*  Well, except the acne's starting.  Yay!  ::)  But then, it's about the time of month when my acne acts up anyway, so I'm hoping that's all it is.

Quote from: Jamie-o on April 24, 2009, 06:29:10 AM
That's good to hear.  I figured I was just being paranoid.  I guess that's what comes from reading all those pages of dire warnings that come with the vial.  :D  I've been on T a whopping 3 days now.  No changes yet.  *taps foot impatiently*  Well, except the acne's starting.  Yay!  ::)  But then, it's about the time of month when my acne acts up anyway, so I'm hoping that's all it is.

Acne typically takes a couple of months to sprout up, so i'm willing to bet my lunch money that this is your typical time-of-the-month acne.  Changes will come- try and be patient.  As for injecting so it doesn't hurt, make sure you've got your leg fully extended when you inject (legs up on couch is perfect) and try doing it after a hot shower- i found it was less painful to inject when my muscles were all gooey and pliable.

Quote from: Mister on April 24, 2009, 10:03:27 AM
Acne typically takes a couple of months to sprout up, so i'm willing to bet my lunch money that this is your typical time-of-the-month acne. 

I've talked to guys who had acne almost immediately and guys who didn't get zits for a couple of months. Is there a "typical" arc for this phenomenon?

I don't know how typical I am, but I've been on T for more than two months and still no acne. My appetite hasn't changed, either. That might be because I mainly eat protein anyway...does the appetite increase because the body needs to feed all the new muscle, or does it increase for some other reason?

I think it's so interesting to see the variations among guys.

P.S. Jamie-o, you're so funny.

Quote from: Arch on April 24, 2009, 12:29:38 PM
I've talked to guys who had acne almost immediately and guys who didn't get zits for a couple of months. Is there a "typical" arc for this phenomenon?

I don't know how typical I am, but I've been on T for more than two months and still no acne. My appetite hasn't changed, either. That might be because I mainly eat protein anyway...does the appetite increase because the body needs to feed all the new muscle, or does it increase for some other reason?

I think it's so interesting to see the variations among guys.

P.S. Jamie-o, you're so funny.

Yes, there's a typical arc.  Depending on the dosages people start at and their individual constitutions, their periods may never reemerge and it may take others upwards of six months for them to stop.  You will not get testosterone-driven acne 'til testosterone is the dominant hormone in your system.  The indicator of this is cessation of menses.  So, yes... it typically takes a couple months for ovulation to cease and for testosterone to turn your face into that of a 15 year old boy.

Quote from: Mister on April 24, 2009, 07:34:33 PM
So, yes... it typically takes a couple months for ovulation to cease and for testosterone to turn your face into that of a 15 year old boy.

Well, I think you're assuming that ovulation hadn't already ceased. Perhaps I should clarify. I went through menopause a couple of years before I started T. Still no acne for me...I'm looking for some wood to knock on. Anyway, I have always had ultra-dry skin and never had a real problem with zits when I was a teenager. So I'm hoping to avoid becoming a pizzaface.

On a different note, is there a way to avoid a burning sensation that I get after an injection? I'm not self-injecting yet, and I have had different nurses giving me the shot. Sometimes it burns and sometimes it doesn't--doesn't seem to be consistent with any particular nurse, either. Weird.

Quote from: Arch on April 24, 2009, 07:43:29 PM
Well, I think you're assuming that ovulation hadn't already ceased. Perhaps I should clarify. I went through menopause a couple of years before I started T. Still no acne for me...I'm looking for some wood to knock on. Anyway, I have always had ultra-dry skin and never had a real problem with zits when I was a teenager. So I'm hoping to avoid becoming a pizzaface.

On a different note, is there a way to avoid a burning sensation that I get after an injection? I'm not self-injecting yet, and I have had different nurses giving me the shot. Sometimes it burns and sometimes it doesn't--doesn't seem to be consistent with any particular nurse, either. Weird.

the nurse is injecting the T too quickly. it's not harmful, just painful. 

Quote from: Mister on April 24, 2009, 07:50:36 PM
the nurse is injecting the T too quickly. it's not harmful, just painful.

Interesting. I poked around on the Web a bit but never ran across this info. Thanks.

Also, Arch, I never had an increase in appetite - I think it is protein cravings, cause I always ate a lot of protein. I had less of a desire for sweet stuff and am one of the guys who've lost weight on T. Gained muscle and lost weight, but I also did work out with a trainer for a year.

Dennis

Quote from: Dennis on April 24, 2009, 10:50:15 PM
Also, Arch, I never had an increase in appetite - I think it is protein cravings, cause I always ate a lot of protein.

I wondered about that. It makes sense to me. My digestive system can't handle too many carbs--probably due to my Northern European ancestry--so I eat a lot more protein than the average bear.

Then again, maybe I'm just a total Neandertal. You should see the state of my knuckles after a long day. ;D