Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Wynternight on December 20, 2014, 01:46:16 PM

Title: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Wynternight on December 20, 2014, 01:46:16 PM
Last night I got my first vial of estradiol valerate and decided today would be the day I start. I've posted before that I have a phobia about getting injections/blood draws/IVs which is ironic given I'm a nurse and paramedic.

So today I woke up and went to my stash, took out the bottle, a syrine, filled the syringe with the proper dose and said "OK, let's do this!"

10 minutes later...

Self: "So...I see you still have the syringe in hand."
Me: "Piss off. I'm working on it."
Self: "..."
Me: "Right! This is it, here I go!"

Five minutes later...

Self: "So...how's the injection going?"
Me: Shut up. You're distracting me."
Self: "Want me to give it?"
Me: "No! Leave me alone. I got this. OK, this is really it this time. Here goes!"

Five minutes later:

Self: **whistes** Ya know, I'm getting kind of hungry..."
Me: "!#*^*(@#*)&^$*^#(*^!! Screw it!**

**poke**

Me: "Say....that was good. All of my patients say I give good shots and they never feel it. I didn't feel that at all."
Self: "Told you. Big wimp."
Me: "Sod off, damn you!"

30 minutes later...

Me: "Feel pretty good. I'm not, uh, I'm not scared at all. I just feel kind of... feel kind of invincible."
Self: "Me, too. I got a very positive attitude about this."
Me: "Good, me too."
Self: "Yeah!"

...

Me:"Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?"

10 minutes later...

Me: "What's in the stuff?"
Self: "Wind, fire, all that kind of thing!"

So yes, I am feeling a pretty nice sense of wellness that I was hoping I'd get from HRT. The edge has been taken off my dysphoria. I like this. 
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Mariah on December 20, 2014, 01:53:55 PM
Yay! Big hugs and congrats on the accomplishment. The other day when I was having my blood drawn I told her that hurts more than giving myself a shot. Her response was that it must be a very small needle and I said no. It's true I don't really feel it at all. I'm so glad you were able to over come your fears. I know with my first few shots into myself it took me a moment set mine aside and get it done, but the more I get used to it the easier it gets
Mariah.
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Newgirl Dani on December 20, 2014, 02:17:07 PM
Good for you!!!  No small feat, and huge for some.  Success is yours, enjoy this ride, you just bought the faster model.   Dani
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Ms Grace on December 20, 2014, 03:02:09 PM
Cool! Needles needn't hurt...I've had nurses take blood and not felt the needle at all, mind you I've had doctors try to do the same and it felt like they were using a nail gun. Clearly you have the magic touch. Enjoy your E! How frequent are the shots? Things can get a bit "interesting" a day or so before the next shot so beware of emotional roller coasters!
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Wynternight on December 20, 2014, 04:56:53 PM
Quote from: Ms Grace on December 20, 2014, 03:02:09 PM
Cool! Needles needn't hurt...I've had nurses take blood and not felt the needle at all, mind you I've had doctors try to do the same and it felt like they were using a nail gun. Clearly you have the magic touch. Enjoy your E! How frequent are the shots? Things can get a bit "interesting" a day or so before the next shot so beware of emotional roller coasters!

I asked for 10 days to avoid the 10-14 day blahs of every two week administration. If I start getting the roller coaster feelings I may divide the dose to half every five days.
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Clhoe G on December 20, 2014, 05:08:06 PM
Haha sounds like my first few shots, I use to run from anyone that was gonna give me a shot ever since I was little, but after estrogen I was like huh? No big deal...

Till I went to the dentist.  :embarrassed: ouch
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Monica Jean on December 20, 2014, 05:18:23 PM
Excellent progress!  You did it!  Now continue to enjoy all the effects of E... :)
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Rachel on December 21, 2014, 01:24:18 PM
Congratulations!! You made a huge step forward. You will like the difference IM makes.

I fainted at my shot training and had to redo the training 2 weeks later. Then I gave myself another shot and almost fainted. Now I am 7 shots in and it is not biggie. I just do a time out and make sure I do all the steps correctly.

I just switched to 10 day cycles ( with my PA's consent) just last Tuesday because I was getting lows at the 10 day mark .
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: Nightorchid on December 22, 2014, 11:13:25 AM
I love my IM Estradiol.  Been on it for 6 months and totally lost any fear of the needles.
Title: Re: First Experience With IM Estradiol
Post by: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 12:39:07 PM
Congrats! I also feared needles, much less now. :)