Hey all,

I thought I would document what my first injection was like as I know there are many that are curious about switching to that method but too scared.  As someone with a horrible fear of needles, I suspect my experience may help others.  Honestly, it was absolutely no big deal.  Usually I tear up when I get blood drawn or a shot and never can look at the needle.  However, when my endo did it today, I couldn't feel the needle at all.  Maybe it's cause it went in my thigh, but it was fine.  And even though I will be doing it again with my endo in two weeks, I honestly do think I will be able to self inject which I never thought I would say.  Like most things in life, the fear of something is much worse than the reality.

As for any noticeable differences between pills and injections, I can't tell at the moment.  Obviously it takes more time than a few hours to notice anything in terms of appearance, but it's been non eventful so far.  Other than a slight light headed feeling (likely because I ate nothing at all today) and some aches in my chest, it's just like when I take my pills.  So emotionally there hasn't been much difference.  As of right now things are the same and there have been no difficulties or side effects from the switch. It will be intersting to see how thing progress.

I plan on using this post to document my experience as I go forward just to share what it's like to switch from pills to injections.  This is something I researched heavily before doing, so I hope sharing this may be helpful to someone else considering it but afraid.

I am interested in this, please keep us posted

I did the same thing in early July and my last two injections (bi-weekly) I've done at home. (They required 3 sessions of teaching with the last one watching you do it correctly.) Like you I hardly felt anything go in. The needle is much smaller than when they take blood, but it is an inch and 1/2 long and goes in at 90 degrees. The funny thing is my wife is happy and prefers that switched to injections with all the benefits, but she really hates needles and can't stand to be in the same room when I do the injection.

In the 8 weeks I've been on injections I've noticed more progress on breasts with faster growth. I do get a a mild version of PMS a day or two before the next injection time, but it goes away within hours of the injection. It anything I think that helps since I'm mimicking closer to a natural cycle of a cis-woman vs taking estrogen orally. The other thing is that my wife and I have synced in that we go through PMS the same time at every other injection so far.

I read in different places that if you don't have any serious liver problems then there shouldn't be much of a problem with taking pills instead.. But alas, enhanced results are always a pro.... I'm with Hideyoshi.... This is relevant to my interests! Please keep us informed, hehe

Congrats learningtolive!

Hope you don't mind but figured I'd post this here about my experience with injections since I also just started them to not too long ago. I'm 24 and hit my two and a half year mark of hrt this month yipee

I started injections about 2 months ago (once a week injections), was on pills for about 2 years and so far the difference I've noticed in my mood is huge. I have more energy now, I sleep better, breasts matured a bit after the first few weeks. The only downside is the day before of my next injection, my levels are pretty low and I can feel it but its manageable. I also get an annoying bruise at the injection site for a few days, that's gone by the end of the week, massaging that area helps a ton.

So yeah I'm feeling the best I've felt in awhile, I didn't notice how badly pills were messing with my levels throughout the day until now. I'm guessing its because I have such a high metabolism and the half life of the pills was faster than what it would usually take.

Don't worry about sharing your own experience, I encourage everyone to share.  This post is meant to document my experience of switching and I'd like to hear other stories about it too.  Maybe it will be helpful for others out there; of course, nothing replaces a physician's input.

I do worry a bit about my levels reducing during the second week, but I have heard that depo-estradiol lasts longer than estradiol valerate.  Since I am one the depo injections, I am hoping that it won't be a problem.  And my levels were so erratic on pills that I can't imagine the injections will drop off as bad as the low lows of oral hrt.  But of course this is only day two, so we'll see.   

So it's been over a week since my first injection.  As of now, it's just like being on the pills though I was on a high dose.  Besides my chest feeling more sensitive, there has been no major differences, physically speaking.  It's only been a week and not much can be measured, but I haven't seen anything much better about injections.  I will say, however, that I've experienced less anxiety and have been more "at peace" since I've switched, but my emotions are even more intense when I feel both bad or good (which surprises me as I'm very sensitive and emotional and cry quite easily).  Still I don't know if this is just conicedence and a correlation instead of it being simply due to the injections themselves.  When you are looking for things, it's easier to read something into it.  So, nothing too different as of yet. 

That being said, I've been a bit worried going into week two.  I hear that people start to feel the estrogen drop and I'm concerned that this will happen.  with my next injection waiting till Thursday, I'm hoping I won't be in hell before that.  So far, though, I've been fine and I hear the estradiol cypionate is better in this regard. 

I am on Estradiol Cypionate and I do not have ups and downs. It has been smooth sailing! 

Hi I had injection number 5 last Thursday... Im on Estradoil Cypionate weekly shots... It has been a rough ride for me so far.... Im 5 months in and I started with pills then went to patches and gel and pills in a very high dosage, pretty much constantly taking E in form or another every few hours...  I felt great on all that but it was a real pain to apply so much goop three times a day and the patches never would stick very well... The pills I always would let slowly dissolve between my cheek and gum... While all that was quite a hassle I was doing very well on it but decided to try injections to simplify things.... My E was 128 pg/ml on all that and my doc wanted to start me on the "max" from day one but I started lower out of concern that you cant just take a shot back.... I wish I would have listened to him, but thats all water under the bridge now....

My problem is we started with a mid range dose that was TOO low for the first two weeks after being used to what I was taking That lead to menopausal symptoms like weird food cravings for sweets and salt, hot flashes and really bad night sweats that could only be relieved by supplementing with extra E... SO we have increased a little every week and things are finally getting better....

We did the first four shots in the butt, I was finally getting to feel OK on number three when my nurse did number four a bit higher than the others and despite an increased dosage I feel like she "missed" somehow and I had another BAD week ;( Ive had BAD highs and lows since starting injections... The highs were great but the lows SUCKED

SO for the last one we upped it again to my doc's "max" dose and we went with my leg... SO far MUCH better So I will keep this dose (because my doc says no higher) until my next labs on 10/14...

She gave me some instructions on IM injections and it does say that the shot will be absorbed faster and result in higher serum concentration in the leg VS the butt... I can say It sure feels like its working better for me so far

On the last shot I had my nurse show me how to prepare and perform the injection and I plan to do the next one myself and keep doing that with her watching until Im comfortable with doing it alone myself... I just want to know how though, I enjoy going to the OB/GYN's office once a week and I dont plan to stop that anytime soon... They are all GREAT there and I LOVE my nurse

ALL that said though Ive been disappointed with the results so far but I feel like I might do well finally with the dosage Im on once things stabilize now that we will keep the same dose... So far no need to "supplement" and Im sleeping and feel OK so thats GOOD hopefully it will only continue as things level out here....

I was getting injections during my first tilt at transition. It was Primogen Depo but I have no recollection of frequency now. The rise and fall of levels experienced this way does give you an insight into what cis women experience with their monthly cycle, as their e levels rise and drop while menstruating. Personally I found it to be a roller coaster I could have done without as I become very emotional. Good luck though, I found it also had a strong feminising effect on my face (sadly though, not on my boobs!).

Quote from: Eva on September 13, 2014, 02:07:40 PM
it does say that the shot will be absorbed faster and result in higher serum concentration in the leg VS the butt...

Who says? Where is the science behind this? Just curious...And if levels rise faster, then levels also usually drop faster.

Quote from: Ms Grace on September 13, 2014, 02:40:33 PM
I was getting injections during my first tilt at transition. It was Primogen Depo

Estradiol valerate. Just specifying.

QuoteThe rise and fall of levels experienced this way does give you an insight into what cis women experience with their monthly cycle, as their e levels rise and drop while menstruating.

But the difference is that their levels drop to very low levels and the fluctuation can be significant whereas if taken frequently enough (I take mine every 5 days), the fluctuations are much less and levels will never drop to the same extent, thus avoiding PMS symptoms, thankfully.

Quote
    it does say that the shot will be absorbed faster and result in higher serum concentration in the leg VS the butt...


Who says? Where is the science behind this? Just curious...And if levels rise faster, then levels also usually drop faster.

Kay its in a three page instruction sheet on how to do IM injections my nurse gave me, it says;

"The uptake of drugs from the thigh region is slower than from the arm but faster than from the buttock, thus facilitating better drug serum concentrations than is possible from the gluteal muscles."

It also says the 2ml of fluid is the maximum amount permissible  to inject for the the thigh and 3ml of fluid is the max for the butt...

The reference for that statement is;

Newton M, Newtown DW, Fudin J. Reviewing the big three injection routes, Nursing; 1992; 22: 34-42

I havent been able to find an abstract on that but I admit I haven't tried very hard either

Yea Id think that would be how it works too but whatever Im finally feeling better I like the shot in the leg because I think it's harder to "miss" and I do think she did something wrong with the last shot I had in the butt because the shot didnt seem to work very well at all... I thought it was higher up than the first three she did... It seemed to work a lot better in the leg on my last one at a higher dose and thats really all that matters to me

Like Ms Grace; the first time I was in Australia (and transitioning) in the 80s, I was on twice a month injections of Primogen Depot. My GYN originally started me on weekly injections (in those days they had the GP do it), but after about 6 weeks she switched me to fortnightly injections. But I did find that as I came close to the time for my next shot I would get very irritable and moody and depressed. But 1 hour after my shot, it was pure Euphoria and over the next days my boobs were really active , so much so that after only 8 weeks, they became independent and happily jiggling as I moved!!

That's why I think with estradiol valerate, it's usually best to inject weekly, or at least every 10 days. Just my thoughts on the subject, I'm not a doctor.

Okay, another update.  The second week isn't nearly as bad as I feared.  I don't notice a drop in levels or anything overly dramatic.  However, I have been getting hot flashes the past 2 to 3 days.  They aren't horrible, but they are annoying.  It's like this feeling of heat keeps hitting my cheeks and ears.  While it doesn't last too long, they have been hitting my at nights and a little bit during the day.  And I've been even more blushy then usual which is weird cause I always have blushy cheecks.  Other than that, no real down side this week (well, other than nearly getting in a car accident today and nearly having an engine failure do to running low on oil,lol).  I think the two weeks rate may suit me well in the end. 

Thanks for sharing & good for you. I've been using patches for about a year & have never thought about injections. Years ago I took premain & it sure gave me some hot flashes. I guess it felt good but it was also kind of scarry. Good luck GF. 

Quote from: learningtolive on September 16, 2014, 09:17:52 PM
The second week isn't nearly as bad as I feared.  I don't notice a drop in levels or anything overly dramatic.  However, I have been getting hot flashes the past 2 to 3 days.

This may be temporary as your body is adjusting to the changes and all but if these persist (or keep coming back around the same days) weeks and weeks after the change, then perhaps injections should be made more frequently. Let your doctor know and hopefully, they will know what to do.

I know what you mean about hot flashes, I've had them at times, and like you, also at the beginning of switching from oral to injections so just wait...and hopefully, you won't have them anymore.

Hormones...and the things we go through! But, all worth it, in my opinion.

Well it's day two after my second injection and I feel horrible.  My body aches and mood is down and fell lethargi and have Nausea.   I thought I should have felt better after one.  Maybe it takes time.  I just feel horrible today.   Hopefully it will impeove.  I imagine it's hormone related as my chest is really bothering me today. This sucks.  Guess the slow absorption rate of cypionate rears it's head.

I've been on EV for months now and never experienced any of that. Strange...If anything, I felt I had MORE energy, better mood, the aches that I had disappeared totally.

Same with what Kay said, I actually just made a post about that but it didn't go through, weird.

Anyways I'm on weekly estradiol valerate shots and the only negative effect I get is the day before my next injection and its not that bad at all. Everything else has been super awesome.