Max’s hacks for taking T
I’ve been taking T for a little over a year now, and realized that there are some things that I do that might be helpful for others to know! (Disclaimer: please listen to everything your doctor tells you. Always take their word over mine. I’m not a medical expert, just a guy that wants to make T less difficult.) All of these tips are from someone who does injections on their own, and may not apply to different methods.
1. Ask your doctor if you can switch to taking half your dose every week. This helped me tremendously, because I had a constant flow in my body. T in the body lasts roughly 2 weeks, so taking it every week means that you don’t get that dramatic drop and then skyrocket in levels that really used to bother me.
2. If you’re allergic to adhesives like me, consider buying those tiny circular band-aids! I sometimes scar from larger bandages, but with these little guys and a bit of aloe gel to soothe my skin afterwards that doesn't happen much anymore.
3. Inject yourself at the start of the chorus of a song! Man, this one was hugely helpful for when I first started giving myself my own injections and still now! Knowing that the needle is going in me when that chorus hits whether I like it or not is so good to keep me from getting freaked. And listening to the music is nice in general. I’ve made a playlist for myself of Songs I Take T to so I don’t have to think of a new one if I don’t feel like it. (I’d highly recommend The Chain by Fleetwood Mac for the section when the bass plays and Lizzo’s Good As Hell just because.)
4. This tip might be a bit more extreme and probably wont be the best choice for everyone. But it helped me to get a tattoo outlining the injectable sections of my leg so I don’t inject in the same place every time (which I’m super afraid of). I also got a very square like shape with subsections that I can subsection myself (each corner and the middle) to make it even more dispersed. Even though the result was a little smaller than I realized I wanted, Having a permanent frame of reference is so nice and eases my anxiety a lot. I’m planning on getting it on the other leg too. It’s also nice to see it when showering or wearing shorts and being reminded that I’m living my true life.
5. Ask if your pharmacy how many needles/syringes you can buy for the same price you're paying. I found that at my pharmacy (through my university) was charging me a flat fee whether I bought 10 needles or 3, and asking them to give me as many as I can buy for about $10 got them to give me a huge amount (I can’t remember how many) and save over $400. I’m not sure if all pharmacies do this but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
6. Get a cute little little container for your T supplies! I have a huge bag filled with bulk needles etc. in my closet and keep just enough to last me for a month in these cute plastic drawers I got from a dollar store. It makes things so much more fun and lighthearted and less scary to pull my supplies out of my tiny $1 dresser! :)
7. I learned this one from my dance instructor after asking for her help. Right before injecting put your index finger and thumb around where you plan on injecting and shake your quad out. This will get it warm and for lack of a better word, pliable. Less painful in my opinion. Make sure not to touch the spot you’re injecting if you’ve already sterilized it.
8. Give yourself a treat after every injection! I usually go for an ice cream sandwich or something similar but rewarding yourself with anything that you like, whether it’s food or drawing or watching a TV show, having something to look forward to after the ouch helps me get mine done without waiting too long.
If it ends up that everyone already knows all of these things I’m sorry if I wasted your time. I hope this helps someone! Feel free to message me with questions or if you just want to chat! And to everyone that wants to start T but can’t yet, the result is worth the wait. I believe in you. Stay strong, my brothers.
