So, I haven't been able to get on for a two weeks, but since I have access to the site now, I am taking advantage of it! I self injected for the first time yesterday, and despite getting the shakes and having to wait until the adreneline kicked in full force to get over my fear of needles, I was able to do it successfully. The soreness has been minimal, which I am thankful for since I am on a new gym routine. But my question is this - is it normal to have a small bruise afterwards? I have a bruise about the size of a dime. It is not severe, but it appeared pretty quickly. If it helps, I use a 23 gauge, 1 inch needle. If I go any smaller I cannot draw the T up, and I have heard that using a smaller needle, even if you can, is actually more painful.

But on the plus side. . . first self injection!

I've been told a bruise is bleeding under the skin - that bruises sometimes occur from injections if you just happen to hit a capillary.

I had an evil nurse stab the ever loving snot out of my arm once for a shot, and it bruised practically immediately. I may have deserved it... But, I would say yes, bruising after a puncture wound would be normal 

Usually I don't get bruises, but I think three shots ago I had gone through a vein or something which caused bruising. I wouldn't worry about it, I've been told it can happen every once in a while. If you experience soreness in the few days after your shots, that is also normal. If you don't have any pain at all, that is exceptional, haha. Has only happened for me twice so far. Just take deep breaths to get relaxed, drink some tea (if you like tea), turn on some calming tunes, and you'll be fine. Reward yourself afterwards too!

Otherwise, congratulations on your first shot!

Yeah that's normal I get a bruise after every injection I have bar my actual T shot. That is done by a nurse into my backside and produces a lump that makes sitting unpleasant for at least a week afterwards.

Minimal bruising is normal and usually isn't anything to worry about.

On a side note. Did you doctor tell you how high your natural T was? When I first started, mine was extremely low (43 >___O; ) And I used to bruise ALL the time, I'd wake up with bruises. But anyway, my point is that if your natural T is really low, you might bruise the first few times that you inject until your T gets up there higher, I know I did.

Also, about the gauges. Well, I used to use a 25g and I could draw it up just fine (If you're not familiar with needle gauges, higher numbers mean that the needle is smaller) I've switched to 22g though. As for pain-wise, I don't feel much of a difference now. The biggest difference was how long it took to draw and inject. A larger needle is going to mean that drawing and injecting is faster, which was why I switched needles, the 25g was so thin that injecting often took longer than a full minute due to my dose. I've been told repeatedly that smaller needles hurt less, however, they're also harder to push into the skin.