Hi Guys,
My name is Brian and I'd like to offer some tips.
I'd just like to say to the guys starting out and those who have been injecting for awhile. Make sure you Asperate (sp).... once the needle is in the muscle, pull back on the plunger to make sure you don't have any blood in there, if so, pull out and inject again. Blood and T do not mix.
I've been injecting T for 34 years trust me on this one.
Also it's important to Rotate your injection sites, if you can use your hips and your thighs, that way after 20 years you will have a place to put it.
Scare tissue builds up after sometime, so do yourself a favor and rotate.
All my best
Brian
CLearlakeBear
Thank you!
another thing... DONT INJECT COLD T! lol
QuoteMake sure you Asperate (sp).... once the needle is in the muscle, pull back on the plunger to make sure you don't have any blood in there, if so, pull out and inject again. Blood and T do not mix.
I had read somewhere that aspiration isn't needed. They have done tests and that there have been no proven risks involved.
Interesting. I know my DR/NR whatever said to make sure I asperate?!
Myles
cheers for this advice about switching injection sites, I get my partner to inject me and he always remembers to aspirate.
I never aspirate, and in 9 months of injecting, I haven't had a problem. My doctor, when I first got the prescription, said that it's not necessary, and can actually make shots more painful.
SD
Quote from: Sebastien on April 01, 2009, 06:09:02 PM
can actually make shots more painful.
SD
That's what I always figured. What the hell would you be pulling back up anyways? 0-0; That's what worries me, cause it sure wouldn't be air, and I don't want to be sucking up tissue.
It's to check, IIRC, to see if you've hit a vein versus muscle. If you see blood, you've hit the wrong spot. But I do remember it being more painful, awkward, etc. In my last 4-5 shots, I've avoid aspiration and it's been fine. I always alternate legs (upper thigh) and aim for the general same area (making a "T" or inverted cross).
Thanks for the tips dude! I really could have used them when I was shooting up!
Jay
How the heck do you do shots in your hip, though? Is he talking about your rear end?
Hips strike me as too high with limited muscle mass. I think he may be referring to "ass shots". That said, if you self-inject those might become difficult as middle-muscle (and keggers) build. I've found thigh the easiest by far.
For my Brother who don't want to listen to me....good luck, in the long run you will have problems...thanks for the trust...I'm been injection T longer than most of you have been on this planet. I'm sick, I don't have time to waste, I wanted to share very important FACTS about T...but you have your own way of doing things so all I can do is wish you all my best and good luck, I'm out of here...after inj T for 34yrs one would think others would listen but to each their own. God Bless.
I know my Dr. told me the reason for doing the aspiration was that way you make sure you are not in a vein. The T needs to be in a muscle so it can depo correctly not sent Thur the blood stream. (just remembered the actual reason she gave me) Also last week was my second shot, first at home I forgot to aspirate and guess what I hit a vein so it happens.
Myles
Thank you Myles,
You know I didn't mean to be so pissy when I posted what I did last, it's just I care about all of you and it's important to me as a GrandDaddy to help my Brothers so they can live and be happy without problems due to T.... what concerns me most is that the Doctors are telling some of you it's not important to Aspirate. It's very important. I do know what I'm talking about and care about care about each and everyone of you....I'm 56, I'm sick, I'm here to give you all I can about what I have been through, to pass good info along. I would NEVER say anything to put any of you at harm...I'm like a parent watching over my young....I can't help it...it's the daddy in me I guess.
Google it.
I think the issue here is that people don't know you yet. You can't just leap in and give advice until people know you can be trusted. I'm not saying you can't be, but people have to know who you are, and you have to build a rep.
My best advice for shooting T is to get a registered nurse to do it, but I live in Canada and it's free for me :)
Dennis
Quote from: CLKBear on April 08, 2009, 11:55:05 PM
Thank you Myles,
You know I didn't mean to be so pissy when I posted what I did last, it's just I care about all of you and it's important to me as a GrandDaddy to help my Brothers so they can live and be happy without problems due to T.... what concerns me most is that the Doctors are telling some of you it's not important to Aspirate. It's very important. I do know what I'm talking about and care about care about each and everyone of you....I'm 56, I'm sick, I'm here to give you all I can about what I have been through, to pass good info along. I would NEVER say anything to put any of you at harm...I'm like a parent watching over my young....I can't help it...it's the daddy in me I guess.
Google it.
No one is saying you are intending to harm. I merely mentioned the not-aspirate part because I had been told that by a nurse. And honestly, I never take anyone's advice entirely at face value until I've read all opinions and research the topic myself. I did read it (and am thankful for the opinion) but in the end, like my transition, it's up to me to make that final decision as to how or what I'm going to do. I decided to transition with open eyes and open heart, fully knowing all risks (transitioning opens up a variety of health issues).
QuoteMy best advice for shooting T is to get a registered nurse to do it, but I live in Canada and it's free for me :)
That's fine if you have the schedule for it. I'm constantly on the road and don't have a flexible enough schedule to do it, even if free. So I had to learn to do it on my own. I find I rarely hit a vein so perhaps I learned well or know where things are. *shrug*.
Namaste
I am hoping if I make sure I am actually awake next time, have a cup of coffee first, actually open my eyes, I can avoid a vein. Not stumble 5 feet from my room to the bathroom and try and give myself a shot!
Myels
Quote from: CLKBear on April 08, 2009, 11:55:05 PM
...GrandDaddy... Brothers... daddy...
if you think youre my brother, dad, and grandpa, (incest ftw?) theres something wrong with you. and id no further trust any of them than myself.
and since you brought up the point of not wanting to hurt your "children"... you know how many parents lock their kids in basements to "keep them safe"?
just because you have our best interest at heart doesnt mean its the best thing for us.
The WHO put out a statement years ago that aspiration is pointless on an IM injection.
The Who? ... as in, the band? lol :D
Quote from: kestin on April 09, 2009, 10:59:09 PM
The Who? ... as in, the band? lol :D
as in, the World Health Organization.
I think this is a case where using the acronym makes it more complicated lol and more awesome.
Quote from: Mister on April 09, 2009, 05:25:08 PM
The WHO put out a statement years ago that aspiration is pointless on an IM injection.
I'm not sure that WHO can make a valid assessment. I'd rather have full studies (which I've been trying to find) by medical research (ideally with more than 25 subjects) to determine whether it's valid or not.
That said, I think the reality is we all have to be careful when doing the injections and we should be regularly rotating (I do agree with the OP on that point). Following instructions by your physician/nurse and learning how to do it as they recommend is the best practice.
Added after quick search: aspiration for intramuscular injections seems to be especially important for younger patients (infants, children, young teens) but seems optional. The biggest risk is to avoid airbubbles and other potential blood clotting issues (these can result in heart attacks, strokes, etc.) As an additional advice (take it as you will), it's recommended to massage the muscle after doing the injection (this might lessen pain and help spread the T.
I'm not sure that WHO can make a valid assessment.
Because they aren't the global medical authority? If not them, who?
Anyone have a link to where WHO said so? Cause otherwise, it's kind of a pointless argument to debate.
Quote from: Miniar on April 10, 2009, 10:14:23 AM
Anyone have a link to where WHO said so? Cause otherwise, it's kind of a pointless argument to debate.
Their site is massive (and justifiably so) so it's a pain in the ass to search, but I found this. Viewing the journal online requires database access that is typically only available for a fee or through an academic library.
Injection technique for immunisation. By: Diggle L, Practice Nurse, 09536612, January 12, 2007, Vol. 33, Issue 1
"OUTDATED PROCEDURES
Cleaning the skin with an alcohol wipe before an injection continues to be practised yet is not necessary. Although isopropyl alcohol will reduce the number of bacteria on the skin, research has demonstrated that this makes little difference to the incidence of bacterial infections after injection.( n3, n4) Current advice is that if the skin at the injection site is dirty, simply washing with soap and water is adequate.( n5)
Another outdated procedure is aspirating immediately before injection.( n5, n6) For decades, nurses have drawn back on the syringe plunger before an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection to ensure the needle is not sited within a blood vessel. In a 1930s medical journal article, it was suggested that one could mistakenly enter a vein when administering large doses of penicillin. Although critics argued that depositing vaccine in a vein when injecting at a 45° or 90° angle was almost impossible, the procedure of aspirating became widely accepted.
There is no scientific evidence to support aspiration before injecting a vaccine. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Department of Health have stated that this practice, which serves only to prolong the injection procedure, is not necessary."
Quote from: Mister on April 10, 2009, 10:19:09 AM
Their site is massive (and justifiably so) so it's a pain in the ass to search, but I found this. Viewing the journal online requires database access that is typically only available for a fee or through an academic library.
Injection technique for immunisation. By: Diggle L, Practice Nurse, 09536612, January 12, 2007, Vol. 33, Issue 1
"OUTDATED PROCEDURES
Cleaning the skin with an alcohol wipe before an injection continues to be practised yet is not necessary. Although isopropyl alcohol will reduce the number of bacteria on the skin, research has demonstrated that this makes little difference to the incidence of bacterial infections after injection.( n3, n4) Current advice is that if the skin at the injection site is dirty, simply washing with soap and water is adequate.( n5)
Another outdated procedure is aspirating immediately before injection.( n5, n6) For decades, nurses have drawn back on the syringe plunger before an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection to ensure the needle is not sited within a blood vessel. In a 1930s medical journal article, it was suggested that one could mistakenly enter a vein when administering large doses of penicillin. Although critics argued that depositing vaccine in a vein when injecting at a 45° or 90° angle was almost impossible, the procedure of aspirating became widely accepted.
There is no scientific evidence to support aspiration before injecting a vaccine. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Department of Health have stated that this practice, which serves only to prolong the injection procedure, is not necessary."
Interesting. It's not WHO explicitly but rather a journal article. And refers specifically to vaccine injection into a vein. I wonder why the angle makes a difference? Since a vein is a pathway for blood (unless you puncture through it) if the tip is in the vein, wouldn't it enter the blood stream?
The angle is probably a factor because if you are perpendicular to a vessel wall and inject, the pressure of injection seems much more likely to burst the wall than if you are running the needle within the wall.
like i said, the WHO site is huge and basically unsearchable for a layperson, but have at it. i've seen it before, just can't find it again.