I managed to get through 8 months of stabbing myself in the leg once a week... then, on my last shot before running out of T once again, I tried to put the needle in, and my leg began to twitch involuntarily once the needle was about halfway in. It freaked me out to no end, and though I managed to do that one shot very recently, three months later, I'm afraid that once I'm able to get T again, I won't be able to handle doing shots. Oral T is not an option, and I know patches and gels aren't as effective, so I have to get over this.

Question is, has anyone had involuntary muscle spasms, twitches, etc during shots, and if so, how did you deal with them? Also, I'm wondering if perhaps my needles are a bit long... the dr gave me 25 1/2 gauge, 1 1/2 inch long, and I feel like maybe they're going too deep and hitting nerves. Any info or suggestions on how to face this fear would be greatly appreciated.

SD

If you went for 8 months of weekly shots with no problems stabbing yourself and had the twitching problem once, I'd say you just happened to hit a nerve on that particular shot.  I've also had an involuntary muscle spasm when doing  a shot.  I smoothly stuck the needle all the way in and my leg gave one large spasm, knocking the needle halfway out.  I believe my needles are too long.  The nurse who taught me now to self-inject got a good look at my thighs and said that 1.5" would be too big for me, so I was prescribed 1.25" needles.  Unfortunately, the pharmacy didn't have any 1.25" needles, so I get to deal with the 1.5".  The next time I gave myself a shot, I tried not pushing the needle all the way in and I was fine.  Granted, I've only poked myself a total of three times (two that actually delivered T, the other being a re-do with a new needle).  I brought this up (my muscle spasm) in another post and Beni, who also experienced muscle spasms, gave me this advice:

Quote from: Beni on January 25, 2009, 09:47:55 PM
When i was injecting (not T of course) I just injected to about 1- 1.25 inches of the 1.5" long needle.  I also aimed for mid leg in the quad.  When I would once in a while get too close to a nerve or slice a blood vessel going in, the leg would jerk.  I then tried to avoid that spot from then on.

The shorter needles might treat ya well--maybe try 1.25"?  Also: did your thighs decrease in size at all since starting T?  If so, that may be why the 1.5" needles were once OK, but might go in too deep now.  Or, it could have just been a 'freak' occurrence (nicked a cutaneous nerve) that had the bad timing to happen on your last shot before you ran out of T for a while, causing you anxiety after three months.  If the spasming happens again, I would take the syringe out, put on a new needle, and try a different injection site--don't suffer through trying to do a shot while your leg is twitching.

Yes it was probably passing near a nerve which can cause the muscle to spaz a bit.  so much for me once that the needle came out. It happens from time to time.  Using a slightly shorter needle or not going in the last 1/4" on a 1-1/2" needle would help that. 

BTW I was terrified of needles before I started injections.  The things we do just to be who we are.

Beni

Your needles are fine.

I've had my leg twitch with the needle all the way in.  It was weird, it freaked me out and my thigh was a bit more sore afterward than it usually is, but it was no big deal.  I mentioned it to my doc who shrugged adn said it happens sometimes.  It hasn't happened since.


Try to relax! I always do my shots right after leaving a hot shower.  My muscles are all gooey and are much easier to poke into than if I'm just home from walking around all day.

I've had that happen to me once or twice.  Maybe you could ask someone else who you trust to give you the shot so you won't mentally freak yourself out?  My parents did mine the first couple of times until I gained enough courage to do it on my own.

I had needles with a passion and am looking for alternatives myself, but my everyone keeps telling me "no no no it won't be as effective!!!"

I stab my thigh of course and am going to ask my doctor if they other place to stab would be better.

Quote from: shanetastic on February 05, 2009, 03:22:37 PM
I've had that happen to me once or twice.  Maybe you could ask someone else who you trust to give you the shot so you won't mentally freak yourself out?  My parents did mine the first couple of times until I gained enough courage to do it on my own.

I had needles with a passion and am looking for alternatives myself, but my everyone keeps telling me "no no no it won't be as effective!!!"

I stab my thigh of course and am going to ask my doctor if they other place to stab would be better.

Your butt!  it's way easier but can be a bit of a pain to do yourself. 

Quote from: shanetastic on February 05, 2009, 03:22:37 PM
I've had that happen to me once or twice.  Maybe you could ask someone else who you trust to give you the shot so you won't mentally freak yourself out?  My parents did mine the first couple of times until I gained enough courage to do it on my own.

I had needles with a passion and am looking for alternatives myself, but my everyone keeps telling me "no no no it won't be as effective!!!"

I stab my thigh of course and am going to ask my doctor if they other place to stab would be better.

I could never have someone else do it for me unless they know what they're doing.

As far as the twitch goes, it happens to me allll the time. In fact, last time I actually hit a vein and when I took the needle out I bled quite a bit. I use to have problems doing my shots but I found that if I just go into it calmly and not try to psych myself into doing it I'm fine. The shower thing works also. And I usually prepare my shot early in the day and take it later after my shower, for some reason it helps me stay calm to not do it all at once.

Quote from: Scratchy Wilson on February 05, 2009, 04:08:35 PM
I could never have someone else do it for me unless they know what they're doing.

Because it is my responsibility, I don't ask my GF for her assistance often, but there are times when
I would shake and even break a sweat from the anxiety that I just knew I couldn't do it, so she would
help. I have to admit she does the task alot better than me. I could never just 'dart' it into my thigh as
suggested by my doctor, I have to place it against my skin and gradually increase pressure until it goes in.

she doesn't have that problem and just darts it in, and to be honest I don't feel the pierce at all, only the
base of the needle touching my leg, so if you can get someone to help to get you past the anxiety the next
time or two I say go for it, there really is no special skill involved except to be able to *hit* the mark.

I have experienced what you are saying Sebastien on two occasions and it was like... what on earth just
happened, but at least it didn't hurt. I think I hit a nerve once cuz it felt something like a shock and it really
scared me, I was kinda hesitant to take the needle back out. Well I still give myself the needed shots and I
still have much anxiety when doing it, but it must be done and the quicker the task is completed, the sooner
the anxiety goes away.

We are here for you when the time comes if your anxiety gets the better of you

  *Hugs* Nicole

Thanks everyone... hopefully I will be able to get back on T very soon.

SD

I'm still looking for the opportunity of shots! we do not have them here in the U.K. We can only get hrt in tablet form but I also take on board the problems facing shots. If I'm lucky enough to get 'shots' from somewhere I will probably get a trained nurse to administer them.

Yeah, butt's easy. But I just drop by the doctor's office on the way to work on Fridays and the nurse does it. It's covered by medical here, so doesn't cost me. I'd have to get more flexible if I was going to shoot myself in the butt.

Dennis

Oh don't let that happen Dennis, then you could kiss your own ass and I'd be out of a job.

"Oh yeah, that's right boss.  Great idea."

Quote from: Kiera on February 09, 2009, 10:28:32 AM

Quote from: tekla on February 09, 2009, 09:46:52 AM"Oh yeah, that's right boss.  Great idea."

lol! I didn't say a damn thing about "reaching over basket ball to floor with knees locked and palms out" first! But then again wouldn't that alleviate the "stretching of skin with reaching right hand" part?

lol such a visual! lol Small Wonder my premiums are so high Dennis! At least the UK has the VAT to help cover costs like "Naturally Blond"

And we have PST to cover that stuff - MSP pays my doctor $9 every time I get a shot in her office, so it's not exhorbitant. Hell, I'd pay $9 a week not to have to stick myself with a needle. Although I've wished sometimes on holiday that I had learned how.

Back to the butt-kissing, Tekla

Dennis

Oh gosh Dennis, you're the best!  I don't even understand why that MSP has to pay that nurse, she ought to be paying you to stick you in the butt.  Wait, that didn't come out right.

I get my girlfriend to inject it into my gluteus medius. Since it's behind me, I can't see it coming, and it always goes in very easily with practically no pain. She is very skillful at it. That is the best way. At the very beginning of the stick, I flinch slightly, involuntarily, but it's OK.

There are occasionally times when she isn't available, and I have to put it into my own quad. That doesn't go quite as easily, even though I don't flinch when it's DIY. I've managed to psychologically overcome the trepidation of jabbing a needle into my flesh. And it doesn't hurt that bad at the moment when I stick. But it does hurt more than when she does it, because the pain comes within the subsequent 24 hours, every time I climb the stairs causing my quad to stretch and contract. Ow. It feels very sore. Am I doing something wrongly?

QuoteI know patches and gels aren't as effective

Thats not true.

Quotethe dr gave me 25 1/2 gauge, 1 1/2 inch long, and I feel like maybe they're going too deep and hitting nerves.

That is the correct size needle for a Intermuscular injections.

Personally I moved to Gel and it is far more convenient than using needles.

Quote from: Kiera on February 09, 2009, 08:02:01 AM
Flat do not understand *why* anyone would continuously to a *thigh IM*, are we simply totally *non-coordinated* and a 1'1/2" in the thigh or hip is way too long, is this what docs are telling you? And the chances of hitting *something* is much higher too, no wonder your stressed out! I've been doing buttock IM's quite frequently, alternating sides, nary any vessel's or nerves to hit and once you get the hang of it you wouldn't give it a second thought.

While standing, looking in mirror, (ok! if on ceiling over bed LAY DOWN) I reach across in front with my right hand (ie: doing left side) and, while pulling skin tight, with your free left hand *poke, readjust hold & shoot*. No anxiety, no soreness ever after . . . lol I tell myself *like botox* my fat distrubution and shape in general are also greater because of it too! (oh! guys! ignore last observation, exercise in wishful thinking!)

Rant Over

Really I was just trying to point out how I got through some scary moments,
not the size pin I use or where to stick it.

The only thing I said that he suggested was that I in one swift motion dart the needle in.
My Doc gave me three choices where to do the injections. I was the one who chose
my thigh, and when I did he suggested that I use a 1" needle cuz of my size, I don't
use 1 1/2 inch. The way I see it is he gave me options....he is a good Doc IMO.

Other than the one time when I must have hit a nerve I have never felt soreness
and I use stairs daily where I work rather than the elevator to help my shape.

Kiera, I would like to do the inj. in my butt, however I don't know If I can. I have
given it thought though and maybe it is just my perception of it that makes it look
difficult...IDK gotta think more about it.

Rant away dear, I saw it as a 'hey girl wake up, there is another way and without
the worry of "what on earth just happened" and you'll realize that after you give it
a 'shot' (excuse the pun)' 


  Thanks dear.
   
     Nicole   

Yeah... it'd be really nice if I could get someone else to give me the shots, but alas, my wife is terrified of needles, and only managed to do her own hrt shots for about a month before she just lost her nerve. I live in the US, so no handy-dandy public healthcare to pay for a dr to do it... guess I'm stuck with dealing myself.

Sadly, I doubt I have enough muscle and/or fat on my butt to do the shot there... I think all the energy went into my chest, unfortunately, because I have been struck with a lifelong case of noassitis. But I will definitely either ask the next doctor to give me 1-inch needles, or try only sticking them partway in.

SD

Noassitis...   I have that too, makes the needle thing like 

Nicole