First subq injection, first lump!

[RickP]

I've been injecting IM for a few months but 1) I hate needles so much and 2) my E2 is a little high so first I want to try to lower it without an AI, so I decided to experiment with subQ.

Of course I get a lump from my first injection! I pinned 45degrees in the abdomen, injected 0.25ml/50mg with a 29 1/2" needle. I'm switching from 100mg/week to 50mg biweekly to lower my E2.

The needle went through without pain, but the injection itself burned a little. The burning sensation subsided quickly but it's still there as minor itchiness, and after two days I think the lump has grown larger, not smaller. I might be freaking out but I think it's almost visible to the naked eye. As I said I can feel it but it doesn't really hurt much, I slept fine tonight.

1) Does this interfere with the absorption?
2) Is there anything I can use to help with the infection or at least the itching? Topical ibuprofen, ice, etc?
3) Where do I draw the line from "fucking subq, let's wait a few more days and hope it goes away" to "I have to go see a doctor for antibiotics or aspiration of the abscess".

 

[halfwit]

Give it a few more days, subq injections can cause hyperlipotrophy, which are basically lumps caused by the irritation of the fat cells in the area. If it continues to itch or shows signs of infection, then I'd go see a doctor.

Did you wipe the injection site with alcohol first? If so (you should be), the burning/stinging sensation is usually alcohol that didn't dry and entered the site.

My .02c

 

[RickP]

Yes, I always wipe the top of the vial and the injection site with alcohol first, as I always did with IM. The alcohol definitely dried because I am a giant pussy and it took me 20 min to go through with the actual injection

 

[halfwit]

Yes, I always wipe the top of the vial and the injection site with alcohol first, as I always did with IM. The alcohol definitely dried because I am a giant pussy and it took me 20 min to go through with the actual injection

Tap the area with your finger tip next time, if you feel any discomfort, you're probably too close to a nerve. Also stay a couple inches away from the belly button, as there are a bunch of nerves there and the fat that resides there tends to see less blood flow than the fat on your hips/inner thigh/oblique area.

Absorption will be fine in either case though.

 

[RickP]

I've read about staying 2 inches from the belly button, i think i was far enough (though obviously I could have gone closer to the obliques, maybe I'll try that next time). What do you mean tapping? Tapping my belly doesn't reveal any "hotspots", it just reminds me that my cut was way overdue

 

[Jimstigator]

Few things I have found doing SubQ for 6 months...

- Pinch a little fat a few inches left or right of bellybutton, then go into that. Using that technique, I never have post injection pain. BUT, if I just went in at an angle, or straight in, I always had pain after. I don't know why, but having that tight little pinch in my fingers, then going into that, stopped any and all pain after injection. Despite what you might read, nothing comes back out or anything weird

- Less oil, less lumps. When I injected EOD, I got no lumps. Now that I have changed to less frequent injections, there are some lumps, but dude... relax. They go away. At any time, I seem to have one on each side

- After the injection, I massage the site with my finger for like 30 seconds. Seems to disperse the oil a bit and reduce the bump

- Don't like the gut? I have heard great things about the little pad of fat above your gluts. Yeah - its an odd angle and you have to hit it single handed, but from those I have talked to, most who go there for injections stay there

-Jim

 

[Jimstigator]

I am not a Dr, but I don't think you have an infection, BTW. An infection isn't really something you confuse with a bump under the skin. You will know.

-Jim

 

[RickP]

Yes I forgot to say i pinched before i pinned too (and released it before i injected). I'm not flexible enough to pin glutes, but I thought about maybe have my gf do one injection a week to give my abdomen a break. Ultimately I don't want to depend 100% on her, and I don't carry much fat on my thighs and triceps despite not being particularly lean so I will always have to depend on belly and love handles.

Edit: yes I'm not concerned about it yet, it's a minor annoyance for now. I was just asking in case it keeps getting worse instead of getting better.

 

[Jimstigator]

I don't release anything until the needle is back out. Not that I am an expert, but thats what works for me. Pinch few inches from belly button, go in 45 degree, inject, pull needle, release pinch, massage 30 seconds, repeat. I was doing it EOD, so easily over a hundred of those since starting subq.

-Jim

 

[RickP]

Thanks. How much were you injecting EOD and now though? I feel like squeezing will reduce the maximum amount of oil you can fit.

 

[3J]

i had a horrible experience with sub q injections of test... i got a lump every time.. skip it.

use the same proccess. same needle.. but inject im..

 

[Virginian]

I inject with 29 gauge 1/2 inch needle in quads. Max 0.5 cc. Never had a lump. Not sure if that is IM or sub-q, but I suspect IM. You could give that a try.

 

[Jimstigator]

Thanks. How much were you injecting EOD and now though? I feel like squeezing will reduce the maximum amount of oil you can fit.

EOD was about 28mg test, so .14cc per injection. E3D I am doing 56mg test, so about .28cc.

-Jim

 

[RickP]

On a side note, my doctor just fucked up my E2 test, is 5 weeks enough time for a blood test to reflect my new subQ 2x/week levels?

 

[halfwit]

On a side note, my doctor just fucked up my E2 test, is 5 weeks enough time for a blood test to reflect my new subQ 2x/week levels?

At 5 weeks on subq? Yes.