1.) How big is the needle for self injections? I get needles all the time but I've never done it myself. Are we talking like a a diabetic's sized needle or would it be a full sized needle?
2.) Has anyone tried T-Kingdom's binders before? I like the whole, buy 3 for $85 but I found one on the Underwork's site, but I like the size of one I found at T-Kingdom's just a bit more. Due to the price though, I am reluctant to buy it just for a trial.
3.) Is the very first step in transitioning to find a therapist?
I've been looking around for awhile now, and those are the questions I remember offhand. I'll probably post more when I remember them.
Quote from: Dyrik on March 26, 2009, 10:35:13 AM
1.) How big is the needle for self injections?
You get to choose the size, at least at Kaiser. If you don't know anything about needle sizes, they give you a pretty big one. Testosterone is thick and needs to be sucked out with a decent syringe.
Quote from: Dyrik on March 26, 2009, 10:35:13 AM2.) Has anyone tried T-Kingdom's binders before? I like the whole, buy 3 for $85 but I found one on the Underwork's site, but I like the size of one I found at T-Kingdom's just a bit more. Due to the price though, I am reluctant to buy it just for a trial.
I got one from Underworks and I can say it does the job well.
Quote from: Dyrik on March 26, 2009, 10:35:13 AM3.) Is the very first step in transitioning to find a therapist?
No, I believe the first step is looking at yourself and exploring your own identity.
The injections where Deep Inter Muscular injections so 2 1/2 Inch needle.
Finding a therapist is generally the first step on the ladder so to speak!
Jay
Not sure how big the neddle is I just looked at mine and it looks kind of short, now thats a real official answer.
I use the tritop from Underworks, they also do a 3 for $85.
Generally if you have already dealt with it within your self yep a therapist is the next step.
Myles
Draw with yellow inject with blue :) lol, my needles are colour coded by size. I don't know if they have the same system in other countries... buut, the yellow coded needle is larger than the one I use to inject with. Does that help?
Ja, I saw the deal at Underworks, I just don't like how big they all are.
And thanks for the tips about the needle sizes, I'll ask my therapist about definites when I get one. Thanks.
Jay: 2 1/2 inch needle? It'd pierce the bone! I'm guessing that's a typo...
My needles are 1 inch long... I had 1 1/2 inch before, and they were too long. Gauge for mine is 25, and I believe typically they're 22-25 gauge. They're likely a bit thicker than insulin needles, because T solutions are typically fairly thick.
I won't say much about binders, because I've always gone with Underworks.
And yes, see a therapist. While you might get lucky, most likely you'll have to have therapy to get T or surgery, if you choose to go that route.
SD
T is commonly administered via intra-muscular injection, so you need a needle long enough to hit your muscle (usually the quadricep, though the gluteous maximus is also used by some people). I do a quadricep (thigh) injection; the nurse who taught me how to inject said that 1.5" 25G is a common size for doing IM injections in the thigh. However, she took a look at my thighs and recommended a 1.25" 27G needle due to my size. She thought that 1.5" would be a bit too long, and she was right (the pharmacy only had 1.5" needles so I started with those but couldn't put them in all the way--I was hitting something hard that I believe was bone).
I purchased some 1.25" and they work much better. However, I couldn't find 25G needles at that length, so I use 27G. It takes a few minutes to inject, but otherwise works fine.
That being said, I have heard of guys who do subcutaneous (in the fat) injections with needles that are similar in length to those used by diabetics. They report T being just as effective when injected in fat vs. muscle, but muscle injections are more common. It is argued that, because T is suspended in a thick oil, it should be injected into tissue that can 'hold' the oil--muscle being more "structurally robust" than fat. Apparently there is an increased risk for abscesses and other injection site complications if T is administered to fat. Some people have been successful with subcutaneous injections; but I've got no problem doing muscle injections with a longer needle, so I'd just as soon not risk it. Talk to your doctor if you would prefer subcutaneous injections.
Thanks guys, that was good with the needles and I will look into a therapist as soon as I can.