Well, I've now injected myself 5 times and I feel as if I've gotten over my phobia of needles.
To be honest, I found it psychologically VERY difficult to give myself injections. I had to have my girlfriend do them the first couple times.
I had attempted to inject myself the first time THREE different times with 3 different needles in my quad. Initially, I only had 1 1/2 inch 22g needles and they looked like harpoons to me.
I sat there with syringe in hand, hovering an inch from my quad trying to psych myself up. I kept going back and forth between a quick jab and a more deliberate slow stick. I was very anxious and started to get upset at myself for being so anxious. I KNEW it wouldn't be a big deal physically. "JUST A PINCH" I kept telling myself.
Yet, I chickened out time after time. Frustrated, I just went to my girlfriend to inject in my glute. It was such an ordeal that I considered calling my urologist and asking for the androgel instead.
However, I went back to CVS and got a bunch of 25g 1inch needles. The 1in needle looked a lot more manageable to me. I thought I'd have no hesitation with the 1in smaller gauge needles.
Wrong. Again, I had the syringe ready to go, hovering right near my quad. I was very anxious again. Finally, I decided to go slowly and watch TV and NOT look down as I stuck it in. I started to stick it in very VERY slowly. I hit a nerve and it hurt so much I just couldn't continue. I was very annoyed.
I tried again in a slightly different place and the same thing happened. I wondered if I got bad needles or something. Again though, I went way too slow. It hurt.
Once again, (I always use a new needle) I tried it and went a bit more quickly without looking. I watched the TV and told myself no matter how it feels I will get it in. To my surprise I looked down and the needle was all the way in and I felt almost NOTHING. I aspirated and all was good then slowly injected. I DID IT!!! Very little blood. Band aid and on with my day.
Only thing was, that area of my quad got pretty sore. I was pretty far down and wanted to try a different area next time.
Fast forward 4 more injections and I do best on the tope part of the quad basically where my middle finger ends. Similar to this:
SpotInjections.com
I thought I found an area where there are very few nerves. The last 2 injections were completely painless and there was virtually no soreness in that area. Also, there was literally NO blood after I pulled out. I couldn't even tell where the injection was to put the band aid on until I looked very closely.
But, the reality is that it's gonna be a bit more of a pinch sometimes. I just injected myself and it was more of a pinch then the last 2 times, but not a big deal. Also, blood dripped out and down my leg but stopped quickly.
The biggest thing is that like anything else, with practice comes familiarity and comfort. I don't jab it, but I don't go in super slow either. Going too slow lets that needle sit in the nerve area. I tend to hold the syringe like a dart with my wrist laying on my quad.
I no longer have any hesitations about injecting myself! I don't have to psych myself up or anything. It's just something I do every 3.5 days.
So, I hope some of you with needle phobia get some hope from my experience!
After my latest stick:
View attachment 558146
To be honest, I found it psychologically VERY difficult to give myself injections. I had to have my girlfriend do them the first couple times.
I had attempted to inject myself the first time THREE different times with 3 different needles in my quad. Initially, I only had 1 1/2 inch 22g needles and they looked like harpoons to me.
I sat there with syringe in hand, hovering an inch from my quad trying to psych myself up. I kept going back and forth between a quick jab and a more deliberate slow stick. I was very anxious and started to get upset at myself for being so anxious. I KNEW it wouldn't be a big deal physically. "JUST A PINCH" I kept telling myself.
Yet, I chickened out time after time. Frustrated, I just went to my girlfriend to inject in my glute. It was such an ordeal that I considered calling my urologist and asking for the androgel instead.
However, I went back to CVS and got a bunch of 25g 1inch needles. The 1in needle looked a lot more manageable to me. I thought I'd have no hesitation with the 1in smaller gauge needles.
Wrong. Again, I had the syringe ready to go, hovering right near my quad. I was very anxious again. Finally, I decided to go slowly and watch TV and NOT look down as I stuck it in. I started to stick it in very VERY slowly. I hit a nerve and it hurt so much I just couldn't continue. I was very annoyed.
I tried again in a slightly different place and the same thing happened. I wondered if I got bad needles or something. Again though, I went way too slow. It hurt.
Once again, (I always use a new needle) I tried it and went a bit more quickly without looking. I watched the TV and told myself no matter how it feels I will get it in. To my surprise I looked down and the needle was all the way in and I felt almost NOTHING. I aspirated and all was good then slowly injected. I DID IT!!! Very little blood. Band aid and on with my day.
Only thing was, that area of my quad got pretty sore. I was pretty far down and wanted to try a different area next time.
Fast forward 4 more injections and I do best on the tope part of the quad basically where my middle finger ends. Similar to this:
SpotInjections.com
I thought I found an area where there are very few nerves. The last 2 injections were completely painless and there was virtually no soreness in that area. Also, there was literally NO blood after I pulled out. I couldn't even tell where the injection was to put the band aid on until I looked very closely.
But, the reality is that it's gonna be a bit more of a pinch sometimes. I just injected myself and it was more of a pinch then the last 2 times, but not a big deal. Also, blood dripped out and down my leg but stopped quickly.
The biggest thing is that like anything else, with practice comes familiarity and comfort. I don't jab it, but I don't go in super slow either. Going too slow lets that needle sit in the nerve area. I tend to hold the syringe like a dart with my wrist laying on my quad.
I no longer have any hesitations about injecting myself! I don't have to psych myself up or anything. It's just something I do every 3.5 days.
So, I hope some of you with needle phobia get some hope from my experience!
After my latest stick:
View attachment 558146
