Hey guys -

So I start T in a week and the doc said I'll be injecting into my stomach (like the side/lovehandle-ish area). I was just wondering if any of you guys inject there.

Also any tips for my first time sticking myself? The doc will be teaching me and making sure I can do it on my own.

Thanks! I'm ridiculously excited/anxious.

My best friend who is standing a few feet away from me does his injections into his stomach as well. He does his best to relax (lays on his bed) and grabs a hold of where he plans to inject and sticks it right in on like an angle. He has an issue where he develops scar tissue very quickly so it makes injections a bit more painful. Make sure you choose different spots each time you inject and don't do it in the same spot. Your needle is super short compared to the intramuscular so it shouldn't be as scary. Both he and I taught ourselves how to do the injections and it was pretty easy. Don't worry if you feel some pain the next day or right after your injection. It's all normal and part of the process.
Congrats BTW

Quote from: RaptorChops on July 30, 2015, 07:05:47 PM
My best friend who is standing a few feet away from me does his injections into his stomach as well. He does his best to relax (lays on his bed) and grabs a hold of where he plans to inject and sticks it right in on like an angle. He has an issue where he develops scar tissue very quickly so it makes injections a bit more painful. Make sure you choose different spots each time you inject and don't do it in the same spot. Your needle is super short compared to the intramuscular so it shouldn't be as scary. Both he and I taught ourselves how to do the injections and it was pretty easy. Don't worry if you feel some pain the next day or right after your injection. It's all normal and part of the process.
Congrats BTW

Thanks!

What Raptor said.

I was worried from the start it would be done IM, and I'm not a fan of needles. SubQ takes a lot of edge off the needle anxiety for me since they are so small, and now I'm finally able to do my shots on my own after relying on my partner to do them for me. They aren't that bad, and are rarely painful or leave any sore/tender feelings (in my experience).

Yeah my friend was doing IM at fist but his anxiety was too much for him to do so his doctor put him on the SubQ. I get bad anxiety too from mine and I do mine IM. That needle is long as hell and I start sweating so bad when i'm about to inject. Then my muscles tense up and then my leg starts spazing haha. I get it done though.. gotta do what we gotta do. Just keep positive thoughts when you do it and know your results are going to be awesome

Are there any differences in the way IM or SubQ works? Like the effects or the timeline of T?

Quote from: AbeLane on July 31, 2015, 06:52:21 PM
Are there any differences in the way IM or SubQ works? Like the effects or the timeline of T?

That's one thing I'm not sure about. My friend is a month ahead of me with his testosterone (both about to be on our 2 year marks) and his changes seem very slow compared to mine. I think he even takes a little bit more than I do because his injections are every week. Mine are every other week. Then again all of that could be because he had a lot more estrogen in his body, at least that's what he told me. So his hormones are probably still in the process of fighting each other while mine just gave in to the T and said screw it we're out of here.

I believe the SubQ is still new and they are continuing to do research on it. So far though I haven't heard or read anything about it actually effecting your transitional timeline. Maybe it takes a little bit more time to absorb?

I don't believe there is a significant difference in either injection style or with gels for that matter. Raptor - is your friend a bigger guy? Fat contains aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen. I don't believe it occurs at a significant rate, but it may explain why his changes are slower than yours.

Quote from: ftmax on August 01, 2015, 01:49:44 PM
I don't believe there is a significant difference in either injection style or with gels for that matter. Raptor - is your friend a bigger guy? Fat contains aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen. I don't believe it occurs at a significant rate, but it may explain why his changes are slower than yours.

He's actually a lot smaller than me (he's thin and about 130 and I'm thin and 155lbs). He has a lot of really dark hair on his stomach, legs and arm pits. My hairs on my stomach are very light and I only have a few dark hairs but nothing very masculine but, my chin and face have a lot more darker hairs than he does.

Quote from: AbeLane on July 30, 2015, 06:08:39 PM
Hey guys -

So I start T in a week and the doc said I'll be injecting into my stomach (like the side/lovehandle-ish area). I was just wondering if any of you guys inject there.

Also any tips for my first time sticking myself? The doc will be teaching me and making sure I can do it on my own.

Thanks! I'm ridiculously excited/anxious.

http://transguys.com/ref/research/subcutaneous-injections

I do subq and I am very happy with it.

Not on T, don't know when I'll end up starting it, but I think I'd be really squeamish with getting shots in my stomach/sides because I'm really sensitive/particular about those areas :O But I think I'd get over any squeamishness for T lol

Anyway, congrats on starting! I have no tips for self injections, obviously with having no experience with those. I'm nervous about that as well though.

Again, congratulations and good luck =)

Quote from: Bimmer Guy on August 02, 2015, 10:55:22 AM
http://transguys.com/ref/research/subcutaneous-injections

I do subq and I am very happy with it.

Thanks for the link!

Quote from: MeganeRei on August 02, 2015, 10:17:23 PM
Not on T, don't know when I'll end up starting it, but I think I'd be really squeamish with getting shots in my stomach/sides because I'm really sensitive/particular about those areas :O But I think I'd get over any squeamishness for T lol

Anyway, congrats on starting! I have no tips for self injections, obviously with having no experience with those. I'm nervous about that as well though.

Again, congratulations and good luck =)

Thanks! I'm sure when you get there your doctor will help you work out the best place for you.

Quote from: MeganeRei on August 02, 2015, 10:17:23 PM
Not on T, don't know when I'll end up starting it, but I think I'd be really squeamish with getting shots in my stomach/sides because I'm really sensitive/particular about those areas :O But I think I'd get over any squeamishness for T lol

Anyway, congrats on starting! I have no tips for self injections, obviously with having no experience with those. I'm nervous about that as well though.

Again, congratulations and good luck =)

You'll get over it pretty quick. I always hated needles and always refused to go to the doctor because of it. I would have panic attacks and cry if I had to have my blood drawn. Now I'm so used to getting pricked that it doesn't bother me. I still get anxiety about doing the shot because sometimes I'll start to stick it in and then it will be painful so I pull it out and go to another spot.  I guess you just have to realize it's going to be something you have to do the rest of your life and you better be on board with it

Quote from: Bimmer Guy on August 02, 2015, 10:55:22 AM
http://transguys.com/ref/research/subcutaneous-injections

I do subq and I am very happy with it.

+1 here. Do Sub-Q shots. Easy breasy bros! I switch either side of my stomach. About 2 inches from my belly button. Pinch an inch of skin, then straight in. No big deal at all