Wow.

My first time getting all stabby with myself. That needle goes in far. So weird.

Where do you all like to inject? Any rituals to share?

The muscle tissue in the upper half of the thighs. Alternating every 2 weeks to the other thigh.
Mariah

Quote from: Tori on December 29, 2014, 09:04:30 PM
Wow.

My first time getting all stabby with myself. That needle goes in far. So weird.

Where do you all like to inject? Any rituals to share?

I'm fine with needles as long as I don't see them going in. I doubt I could ever inject myself without fainting.

I maimed far too many patients as a nurse to even consider injecting myself :~o

It was amazingly painless. I felt it go in but without pain. Hurt less than when the doc does it.

... I made one poor gentleman almost catapult off his bed :~(

It's not the pain that bothers me too much, it's just the sight of the needle penetrating the flesh. Just can't look.

*has trust issues*  :~D

It's not for the faint of heart. As it is it takes me a moment to gather my composer to stick that big needle in my thigh.

Quote from: Ms Grace on December 29, 2014, 09:56:01 PM
It's not the pain that bothers me too much, it's just the sight of the needle penetrating the flesh. Just can't look.

Vastus Lateralis/thigh, every 7 days, switching to other leg each time.  Works nicely for me.   Dani

After seeing self injection as a kid I don't know if I would be able to it. How is it compared to getting blood drawn near the elbow?

For me a blood draw hurts more than a self injection.

Quote from: ErinReign on December 29, 2014, 11:17:17 PM
After seeing self injection as a kid I don't know if I would be able to it. How is it compared to getting blood drawn near the elbow?

It was strange. No pain, just the feeling of a puncture and then it was like two inches in. Definitely needed to psych myself up for a bit. I dunno, knowing that I would not be getting my E without it was a good inspiration.

Quote from: SarahBoo on December 29, 2014, 09:36:48 PM
I maimed far too many patients as a nurse to even consider injecting myself :~o

That's so funnee....

L Katy

ATM on pills, hate it (wastage and some risks), would rather go implant, but if not the needle would work, my Dr never brought that option up??? Not worried by needles 

L Katy

Yes, I've got a ritual every Wednesday evening.
1. Put on a skirt
2. Sit in my most comfortable chair
3. Poke around with my finger tip in a search for the least painful spot to inject into the "leg of the week", and clean that with alcohol.
4. Draw the the wonder mix from the vial.
5. And at last, hover over the leg with the needle for about 5 seconds to gather my courage, then stab it in.

I use a 23 gauge needle so it takes as much as 7 or 8 seconds to inject.  The needle itself isn't a bother (done self piercings before), but it's the pain from hitting a nerve that scares me, and of course the blood from hitting a small vessel.  Had three or four real bleeders over the last 18 months, and had to pull the needle out twice when I hit a nerve.  So other than these little things self injecting is fantastic.   

Quote from: Mariah2014 on December 29, 2014, 10:16:53 PM
It's not for the faint of heart. As it is it takes me a moment to gather my composer to stick that big needle in my thigh.

For sure! Especially for the next few times after things did not go all that painlessly. I almost look like a golfer setting up for that 20 yard put you need to sink to wind the round. A 30 second operation takes 2-3 minutes of self talk and false starts.

I do the alternating thigh thing. Make sure to go for the meaty center of the muscle. Penetrating through 2 groups is bad. Sometimes hard to help when you close your eyes making the plunge 

I was using 24 gauge needles but one time had to resort to 22 gauge. It looked like I had to get a cannon barrel into me. That also psyched me out some. And they hurt more going in. In the cold weather make sure the E is warm up a tad so it flows easier. Warm not hot. Check the storage temperature range on the insert or online

Quote from: JoanneB on December 30, 2014, 09:48:46 AM
For sure! Especially for the next few times after things did not go all that painlessly. I almost look like a golfer setting up for that 20 yard put you need to sink to wind the round. A 30 second operation takes 2-3 minutes of self talk and false starts.

Yep, been there a few times.

Quote from: JoanneB on December 30, 2014, 09:48:46 AM
I was using 24 gauge needles but one time had to resort to 22 gauge. It looked like I had to get a cannon barrel into me. That also psyched me out some. And they hurt more going in. In the cold weather make sure the E is warm up a tad so it flows easier. Warm not hot. Check the storage temperature range on the insert or online

I use a 20 gauge needle to draw the E, and almost stabbed that into my leg.  It was pretty obvious, but I still almost blew it.

Left my estrogen vials in the Jeep over a three day period when the temps dropped to 5 degrees.  They turned cloudy and had to get a new prescription.    Lesson:  Keep the vials inside and at room temp.

Gosh, I kind of feel like I may be slightly alone here when it comes to gauge size.  I use an 18g blunt fill for drawing up, but this here is where I may be alone, I have always used a 22g for injecting.  Only once did I ponder switching to a 23g and somewhere that thought must have gotten lost.  Been using this size for the last half year.  Even though this has not been important so far, it may be later on in terms of possible scar tissue buildup.  Anyone else?   Dani

Same here 18 gage for the draw and 22 gage for injecting. The scar tissue risk is why they have me switching thigh's each time to help avoid that or at least minimize.
Mariah

Quote from: Newgirl Dani on December 30, 2014, 11:31:38 AM
Gosh, I kind of feel like I may be slightly alone here when it comes to gauge size.  I use an 18g blunt fill for drawing up, but this here is where I may be alone, I have always used a 22g for injecting.  Only once did I ponder switching to a 23g and somewhere that thought must have gotten lost.  Been using this size for the last half year.  Even though this has not been important so far, it may be later on in terms of possible scar tissue buildup.  Anyone else?   Dani