I went to the endo and I should be starting T in the next week or so. I'm pretty stoked.
   However I dont know how to self inject. Any tips on where to do it? Does it hurt? Is there a spot that hurts less?
I terrified of needles. I dont think I can stab myself with a needle.

If you're going to self-inject, they should show you how to do it, to make sure you're doing it right.

The needle is pretty big, I'm just telling you that so you can start getting used to the idea (I'm needlephobic, too, and the first time I saw that needle I almost screamed). However, it does not hurt. I inject in my thighs, at the outer side. The hardest part is getting yourself to just do it. I basically ask myself: What is more important, your terror of this needle or your transition? And my transition wins, every time.

Is there anyone else you know and trust that you can get to give you the injections if you have needle-phobia?

My GF does mine. My endo showed her how to do them and she is so much better at doing them than most nurses AND the endo that did them before.

I take mine in the upper quadrant butt muscle. She was shown how to avoid the sciatic nerve.

It is possibly safer to inject in the thigh as M.Grimm has said if self injecting. Always remember to withdraw on the the syringe slightly and make sure there is no blood before injecting to make sure it is inserted into a muscle and that you have not hit a vein or artery.

Quote from: mcalistershaun on September 06, 2010, 02:13:30 PM
I went to the endo and I should be starting T in the next week or so. I'm pretty stoked.
   However I dont know how to self inject. Any tips on where to do it? Does it hurt? Is there a spot that hurts less?
I terrified of needles. I dont think I can stab myself with a needle.

If you don't know how to self inject it is VERY important that you let your endo know this so he or she can show you how to do it step by step. If done correctly it does not hurt much. If you are not ready to self inject you should tell your endo this.

John

I do it myself in my upper quadrant butt muscle too. The biggest thing is just playing with it some yourself in different spots and standing/laying/sitting in different ways until you find what works best for you.

Personally I can't do it in my thigh due to weird reactions, I get almost an allergic reaction immediately when I do it in my thigh, light headed, break out in sweat, can't stand up or I'd probably faint and dizzy... about 5 minutes of sitting and it would go away but it just got to the point where it was too much. My endo had never had another patient react that way, she had me switch thighs and it went fine for a couple of months, then same reaction. It had originally been fine in my other thigh for almost a year before I began having the reaction to it. A few months later she had another patient have the same problem, at least after dealing with one of us she knew what changes to make... so that is just a heads up of something to look out for. If you have any kind of reaction like that ask your doctor about other options on where to inject or what size needle to use.

Some guys (like myself) are small enough we can use smaller needles. Most endo's have you use 1.5 inches for length, my endo gave my permission to use a one inch needle instead since I'm thinner and don't have much fat tissue to break through before being in the muscle.  I know some guys with needle phobia's have also used smaller gauges instead of having such a thick needle to inject with, they'd use the normal sized one to draw the T into the syringe and then change to a thinner one for the actual shot. It takes longer for the T to work through the needle since it's so thick to the injection itself takes longer but at that point the needle is out of site and that is good enough for some people.

I'd say practice, find what works best for you and if it isn't going well discuss other options. I know my endo only charges $10 to come in and have a nurse give you the shot if you bring your T with you so that might be an option with your doctor too.

before you do it make sure you watch a how to video. there are alot out there, some better then others. I recommend if you are going to give the shot to yourself to do it in the thigh. I was to scared to do it myself so my dad gives it to me. Its not difficult just scary to stick a needle in yourself (atleast for me). Ill PM you a link to a pretty good video.

I've always done my own shot, but I'm a freak. I like needles. Honestly it hurts less when you start doing it. over time the adrenaline rush from injecting goes away and it just hurts. After that, when I get bored I let a [trusted] friend inject me, but I usually inject myself. Sometimes I'm like man...this is gonna hurt. But the need for T in me surpasses any pain, plus I sort of like it in a strange way.

Your doctor will most likely show you how to do it. Mine did the first one for me, then for the second one I went in and did it then I was on my own from there. And like others have said there are videos as well. Once you've done it once it becomes quite easy.

As for your fear of needles, you could ask about subcutaneous injections. I do sub-q injections in my thigh and the needle is tiny, only half an inch long. Not as intimidating as the larger needles and it's virtually painless. I'm not sure if all doctors will do that method but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Congrats on getting T.  If you do end up self injecting it is a simple enough procedure that is best learned from someone who know what they are doing.  As the others have said, ask your doctor to show you and good luck. 

Thanx for the advice but seeing somebody get a shot makes me wince in pain and the thought of doing it myself. If got a lot of fat to get through. There's ether things that make me worry.
How will i know im in the muscle? What if i hit a vein or an artery? What if i inject it wrong? Do you just stick it in and inject or do you have to tap the needle for air bubbles? What if my thighs too fat?
If i was diabetic id probably would of died years ago.

There's a very good and even humorous how-to video on YouTube...with a sexy nurse. At least, she's meant to be sexy; she didn't do anything for me, of course.

I searched and can't find it. Anyone know the video I mean? Gah. Mark, do you think you're talking about the same vid?

Anyway, Mcalistershaun, is there any possibility you can get your first couple of shots at the endo's or even at a clinic or something? Then they can show you how to do it.

Mine don't really hurt when I do the right buttock, or actually right above the buttock (I'm right-handed). I'm still getting the hang of injecting left-handed on the left side. Sometimes that's not so pleasant. But right-handed is a cinch. Sometimes I feel nothing, sometimes only a little twinge. I think it really hurt only once, and it wasn't PAIN. It was more like, "Oh, ouch. Darn." Then again, I might be remembering the left side.

Once you get a little instruction and get over your fear/apprehension, you should be fine. But the instruction really helps.

P.S. Congrats...do you have a date yet?

Quote from: Arch on September 11, 2010, 03:28:20 PM
There's a very good and even humorous how-to video on YouTube...with a sexy nurse. At least, she's meant to be sexy; she didn't do anything for me, of course.

I searched and can't find it. Anyone know the video I mean? Gah. Mark, do you think you're talking about the same vid?

Yes I'm pretty sure it is the same video. I sent it to him in a PM, idk if he ever got it though.
If you want I can also send you the link.

I do Sub-Q injections. The needle is WAAAY smaller, and it only goes into the fat. It's the same kind of shot that diabetics do. It's not as painful and much less stressful to do yourself. I don't even bleed at all! I'm a huuuge wimp too, so if i can do it, then anyone can!

Just ask your doctor about it. It works exactly the same as intramuscular injections. The T is the same, the dose is the same, the frequency of injections is the same, everything is exactly the same besides the needle size and where you inject. You can do the injection into your stomach fat (where i do mine), your thigh, or the fat on your arms. The needle is really short. I've done both kinds of injections and sub-q is soooo much easier and less painful.

My endo told me that more and more doctors are switching their patients over to Sub-Q. Apparently, doctors were reluctant to switch because they weren't sure how well it would work, but a lot of recent studies have been done, and it's literally EXACTLY as effective as intramuscular injections. My endo told me that right now, mostly other endos who specifically specialize or work with a lot of trans patients are using it, because that's where the research has been done. She said that most likely, other doctors/endos will switch their patients over to it too, it could just take some time. Ask your doc!

It's worked really well for me

I've been on T for almost 2 in a half years, and JUST started 'self injecting' a couple months ago. I was pretty spoiled at the clinic I went to, and have never been a fan of needles. After giving every excuse in the book for a near 2 years, the nurse basically called me a p*ssy and I had a point to prove. It took me a good 5 minutes, to do my first shot, and once the needle was IN, I was good as cake. It's all ONE BIG MIND FK!
The shots get easier and easier as I'm doing them myself. Couple deep breaths, and I'm good to go. As zombie said, the need for T in your blood, over weighs the needle phobia.
I do mine in my upper thigh muscle.

I've been doing my own shots after my very first one... its not as bad as you would think... just when i do mine i make sure to kinda slant the needle at a angle it seems to go in better... if you angle it the way the end of the needle is beveled ya know? I always inject in my thighs... i've never bled, i did bruise myself once though from sticking myself too hard but that was when i first started... but just over coming the fear is the hard part i suppose.. i've never been really scared of needles since im a big fan of piercings haha, but! good luck to you dude. Hope all goes well!

-Logan