Hello all!

I have been eyeballing this place for some time and I finally took the steps to make an account here! I'm 23, and I started Estradiol valerate less than a month ago, and my question is about the consequences of what I did regarding my injections.

My provider and I originally came up with a schedule to inject weekly every Saturday. This most recent Saturday I went to inject, in a slightly different spot than normal on the thigh opposite of the previous injection (more towards the lateral side of my thigh this time). When I did, I noticed I struck a nerve and swiftly took the needle out (without actually depositing the Estradiol of course). I found myself in a very strong and sudden state of panic, and swore off of doing injections, and I'd somehow find a way to have some alternate form of administration. I felt the urge/idea to simply try again later than night, but I was too nervous that I would mess something up again.

Now fast forward to Wednesday and while thankfully everything with my thigh seems alright, I can't get this off of my mind. I've been beating myself up and I realized I was regressing back into the same state as I was prior to starting E (which while I can "deal" with, certainly isn't what I want). The more time that passes, the more I can't help but really want to try injecting again. I desperately want to go back on E, now that my fear of messing something up feels like it subsided. The injection I was meant to take was <dosage removed>, and this would be the last dose before increasing it to <dosage removed> the next injection.

However my questions are these: did I just throw off this part of my transition by a whole lot by missing my last injection? Would it be ill advised after missing this lower dose injection to continue on with the schedule I set up with my provider? Would there be any meaningful consequences to delaying my injection by almost 5 days?

I've been beating myself up over the past few days about how I simply "messed everything up", but I'd like to know from someone with more experience if I really truly did mess anything up here?




<edit by moderator>

Hi Danielle, welcome to Susan's Place! You'll be fine, it's long-term exposure to estradiol that works the magic. See you around the site!

Hugs, Devlyn

Hi, Danielle!

Welcome to Susan's Place.

You haven't messed anything up.  You might have set back your physical transition by 5 days, but considering that HRT will probably last years, it's not going to make a bit of difference in the long run.

If you have a fear of using needles, talk to your prescribing doctor about different methods of administration.  If they do not want to prescribe oral E for health reasons, you could use patches.  I have been on patches for two years, and they work really well.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

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Yes, as she said you're fine.

When I injected in my thigh I used my hand up against my hip then went out from my middle finger about a inch or two depending on the size of your thighs.

I now inject in my butt because the uptake is longer.

Here is a pic of what I would do.  I would sit down, put the base of my hand or wrist up against my bone.  Go to my middle finger, then go to the outside from my middle finger. 




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@itsDanielle 
Dear Danielle:
    Greetings from another Danielle... I like that name too!!!
    I am happy to see that you signed up as a member of Susan's Place and that you have now posted in the Forums and that you are no longer in the "lurker zone." 

    As you post here you will be able to exchange thoughts and comments with others that are experiencing many of the same things that you mentioned in your Introduction.

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.

    I see that our lovely member  @KathyLauren  has already Officially Welcomed you,
but please allow me to also warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***There is a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new like-minded friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    There is information and important LINKS that  KathyLauren included below her Welcome Message to you.   You will find information about the site that will help you navigate around and best utilize the features here.   
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle (the Alaskan one)

@itsDanielle   
Oh, and another thing Danielle...
Please plan to follow the LINK that @KathyLauren  provided for you and find your way to the Introductions Forum so that other members will be aware of your arrival.
     
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle (the Alaskan one)

OMG!!! I hit a nerve once. I almost passed out from the pain, but I finished the injection first.

Yeah, missing a dose isn't critical in terms of the transition, but it might effect your emotions. I know when my last injection is running out because I start to get moody.

CindyLou's example is spot on. I learned this from a video after hitting a nerve once. I take it a step further. Once you've found the spot press down with two fingers, and spread them out. Inject between Fingers. Once done rub the area for a minute.  Little to no pain doing it this way.

After 5 years of giving myself a shot weekly, I still dislike it. BUT, it is well worth my dislike for the shot itself. I alternate between right and left weekly. I have had several times when i hit a vein, leaving a bruise or sometimes blood....scary but not to worry, as my dr. has told me. On occasion (last week) I believe I hit a nerve, as my thigh muscle was twitching during the whole process. .......Its well worth the anxiety!!!

First I would like to say how much I prefer gels to injections.  They are easy on your liver (Like injections)  They also give an even level of hormones rather then a roller coaster.

However - I did do injections for quite a while and although this is really old school I used to slap my thigh where I was going to inject, clean the area with an Alcohol pad then inject.  It negated the part of the injection I really didn't like.  My endo has me on Estrogel which I like but there are also patches that you can use.   Climera?  Or V something Dot?

I far prefer the upper outer butt quadrant... the thigh never went well for me!!! 🙋‍♀️

Here is a link to a simple method of where to inject.
http://intramuscularinjectionsim.blogspot.com/2011/05/intramuscular-injection-sites.html
I do this 4 times in a 7 day period twice for E and twice for P

Is it me or do Two of those require contortion or assistance?