Bleeding question?

[Marine2000]

I took my first injection of 200mg last night. I cleaned and prepped the injection sight (top right quadrant of my glute). Got the injection in no problem, but when I went to push down on the plunger nothing happened at first. I aspirated (got the little bubble doc said I would get) before injecting but the plunger just wouldn't go down. I'm sure now that it was just newbie bad luck and a really tough plunger. After about a minute I finally got the plunger to go down. Once I removed the syringe all was good for the first 10 seconds while I opened an alcohol wipe to clean with. Then it seemed like as much blood as the 1ml "T" I just injected came back out the injection sight. Now I'm wondering if it's possible to bleed out the test you inject? Also, does it sound like I did anything wrong or has this happened to others? Thanks, and please don't flame my first post...I'm admittedly a newbie...

[flatscat]

no flames here bro.

it is possible that a little of the t came out. sometimes we all get a little blood - and it always looks like more than it really is...

make sure you don't move the needle around too much (which I bet you did since it was so hard to push) if you are using a 25gauge needle - and if your test is thick then it willl be hard every time - try warming the test up in the syringe before you shoot - you can wrap a hot cloth around it - or like i do - just run hot water over it for a couple of min's - this will lower the viscosity some and make it easier to inject. it will get easier every time - good luck

[Marine2000]

Thanks for the reply. So you don't think it's possible to lose the majority of your injection?

[bdzemske]

no flames here bro.

it is possible that a little of the t came out. sometimes we all get a little blood - and it always looks like more than it really is...

make sure you don't move the needle around too much (which I bet you did since it was so hard to push) if you are using a 25gauge needle - and if your test is thick then it willl be hard every time - try warming the test up in the syringe before you shoot - you can wrap a hot cloth around it - or like i do - just run hot water over it for a couple of min's - this will lower the viscosity some and make it easier to inject. it will get easier every time - good luck

never thought to do that, great info

[flatscat]

Thanks for the reply. So you don't think it's possible to lose the majority of your injection?

I guess anything is possible - but remember you are injecting into the muscle fiber and it is spreading out into that area as you inject - so the chances of the majority of it coming out are slim to none - you just nicked a vein and the blood followed the needle path on the backside of the t.

[flatscat]

dbl post - imagine that...

[frawnz]

I have found that if I push the needle very slowly in when I inject (including through the skin), it results in a much smaller tunnel that the needle creates when going in (the skin actually clings to the needle as I pull it out), resulting in almost no blood at all. It does take a bit more mental fortitude to slowly push the needle in instead of just quickly jabbing it, but it doesn't really hurt any more/less.

Also, a good way of preventing post-injection bleeding is to use the z track method. Basically, you pull the skin to one side when you inject, and after you pull the needle out you let go of the skin so it moves back into place, essentially blocking the injection tunnel that the blood could come back out of. I do what I call the reverse Z track in that I inject normally, and when I pull the needle out, I immediately pull the skin to one side. End result is the same.

Lastly, remember that using alcohol on a wound will prevent coagulation and will make the wound bleed for longer. I don't rub the injection spot with alcohol after I'm done because it definitely makes me bleed for longer.

[subnet]

Marine, flats and franz have it! Warm the test up first (I put mine in the sink with very warm water) to make it easier to inject, and don't use alcohol on the injection spot after or it'll keep bleeding. I also keep the syringe in my leg for 10 seconds or so after I'm done injecting before pulling out, and then immediately press my thumb to the spot for another 10 seconds. I get a very tiny little spot of blood in the next minute, but that's it.

What gauge and length of needle are you using btw?

[Marine2000]

First of all, thanks for all the replies gents. Subnet, I'm using a 23g/1.5" for cyp injection. I'm really confidant with my endo and that's what he gave me. You know know how it is though, always feels good to get confirmation from other guys in the same boat. Any thoughts on gauge/size though and I'll pass it on and see what he thinks. Thanks again guys

[subnet]

That'll work marine (my doc suggested the same), however I'd suggest a 25g x 1" for the quads and 1.5" for the glutes. 25g since it'll be less pain. Unless you have a lot of fat to go through, you can go shorter with the needles. I know many of us here use these sizes, and some even use 29g insulin pins but I haven't had luck with them.

If you inject into the delts, you can go 5/8".

[rebelstate]

That'll work marine (my doc suggested the same), however I'd suggest a 25g x 1" for the quads and 1.5" for the glutes. 25g since it'll be less pain. Unless you have a lot of fat to go through, you can go shorter with the needles. I know many of us here use these sizes, and some even use 29g insulin pins but I haven't had luck with them.

If you inject into the delts, you can go 5/8".

i agree with subnet, i use 21ga to draw from vial then switch out needle to 25ga to inject,i use numbing anticeptic wipes,i stand up my arms down and touch my leg to right of center with my finger (the one next to thumb) to find spot,then rub with numbing wipes then inject hold and pull back on plunger to make sure no blood then push alittle wait a second to make sure i dont get that i just injected a vein feeling then push the rest in,dont worry about blood after just have a band aid ready,i dont always bleed but you are going hit small veins most of the time before you get into muscle

[flatscat]

talk about rugged

[JohnnyVegas]

Great info! I hope to be doing my first injection soon, and even though I have known the process for years, it is great to hear the extra stuff.