Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Newgirl Dani on April 28, 2015, 04:22:45 PM

Title: Injection Tip
Post by: Newgirl Dani on April 28, 2015, 04:22:45 PM
I'm putting this up mainly to keep people informed and not forget important steps.  It is not meant to scare, cause worry for me, or anything of that nature.  At first I was not going to put this up, not really because I'm embarassed but at the time (30 min. ago) I figured it has probably happened to others, or at least someone.

I allowed my mind to drift and forgot to push the air out prior to injection.  I was not tipped off until I heard a slight phsst type of sound while withdrawing the needle, it was then that I realized my mistake, it was the sound of air escaping as the air went in last.  I have been injecting every 7 days now for 10 months without misshap, the reason for now?  Well I guess the act became too routine.  I will live to see another day, muscles have an extrodinary amount of ability to absorb materials and most escaped back out, I just need to not let my mind wander. 

Someone new to injecting may be reading this thinking 'how could anyone allow a mind to wander when your sticking a damn needle in your leg', well, anything that becomes so routine that the original fear disappears is ripe for mistakes.

Be Careful, always pay attention.....always.   Dani
Title: Re: Injection Tip
Post by: Mariah on April 28, 2015, 04:55:32 PM
Thanks for sharing Dani. After completing the training and I still did that my first time at home. I totally forgot to make dead sure the air was out and it wasn't.
Mariah
Title: Re: Injection Tip
Post by: FTMax on April 29, 2015, 06:03:01 AM
Thanks for writing this up Dani. I know when I was taught, they didn't give me any kind of written instructions, and I was only shown once before I was sent on my way. When it came time to do my second injection at home a week later, I had to watch videos to refresh myself.

It's a lot to remember!
Title: Re: Injection Tip
Post by: Rachel on April 29, 2015, 10:45:13 AM
Hi Dani,

That is a good tip.

I have three more,

I inject in bed, just in case I get light headed and because I have everything prepped so I can go to bed and not put any weight on the leg I just injected into. I get no pain afterwards if I do this and if I faint I am in bed. Also, I once forgot to check for blood prior to injecting. Now I do a time out just before injecting and I go over each step in my mind.








Title: Re: Injection Tip
Post by: awilliams1701 on April 29, 2015, 01:27:53 PM
I'm currently taking pills, but I am curious. What's the effect of having air in the injection?
Title: Re: Injection Tip
Post by: FTMax on April 29, 2015, 05:03:01 PM
Quote from: awilliams1701 on April 29, 2015, 01:27:53 PM
I'm currently taking pills, but I am curious. What's the effect of having air in the injection?

If it's a small air bubble (common with injections if you don't tap the syringe and push excess air out of the tube), it will get reabsorbed by the muscle.  If it was a lot of air, it can cause some pain and bruising, but that should be it. Nothing terribly harmful.