Switching to SQ from IM - Advice?

Hey KSman, so you inject in your legs SubQ ? Also, if I read above correctly, you load your 50ml slin pin to the top, and swab it if you haven’t used the entire does to use later ? I have thought of this, but have been afraid
to inject bacteria that maybe on the needle.

Seems like a lot of different SubQ methods, and you need to experiment to see what works best for you.
FWIW Dr. Crisler has a how to Sub Q video on youtube. I don’t think T-Nation will allow me to link it,
but if you go to youtube and type Dr. Crisler Subq the video is the third one down.
He has a little different method. YMMV

As always, thank you for putting your time into this forum, I know I, and many others, appreciate your experience and knowledge.

Nicely produced video!

The idea that a 1/2 #29 needle will produce a jet that can damage tissue is bogus. With that needle, the flow is limited by viscosity. With moderate pressure you inject “5” iu [.05 ml] per second and can easily go faster with no issue. I did find that when pressing very very hard, the jet can sting, but that is very extreme and unnecessary. Again, do what is comfortable.

Injecting laterally into the pinch does not cause damage or leakage. When you let go, there is no pressure. In any case, leakage from a #29 puncture is going to be less than the needles that he suggests.

With longer injection times, there is increased risk for the needle tip moving and cutting the tissues. When you inject laterally into the pinched fold of skin, the needle barrel end is steadied by the pinch. You may also find that you find other ways to steady the syringe to eliminate movement during the injection. I rarely get bruises or bleeds. I do press on the puncture immediately to allow closure, 10 seconds works for me.

I also like injecting over my upper legs as this allows one to sit, be still and see things well. With longer injection times, siting and being still has merit.

Costs: Insulin syringes are very inexpensive and are available without Rx in most jurisdictions. The needles that Crisler suggests probably cost more and as he suggests, some may not be readily available.

If you are self injecting and you doctor is opposed to injecting more than once a week, most guys can get insulin syringes without Rx and manage how their weekly dose is delivered. The syringes that Crisler suggests will be Rx only and then one is a slave to their doctors whims.

Swab and reuse: I understand your concern. But when you consider that you inject through the skin, which is teaming with bacteria, what is the concern then. Swabbing cleans the skin, removes loose dander, dirt, oils, sweat etc. If you are worried about bacteria, look at the procedure for taking blood donations or surgeries. I press a plastic tube, a pen cap might work, onto the injection site. That marks the target. I then swab that and then I can see where I swabbed and inject there. I swab aggressively, scrubbing the skin, second pass with a clean corner of the swab. You might see the color of you skin pigment doing this. The way Crisler swabs with a casual wipe is a joke.

The EOD injections produce serum levels that are steadier than Crisler suggests. There are numerous injection deposits with overlapping release curves. As for not needed to use an AI, when I switched from EOD IM, same dose same syringes, to EOD SC, my E2 labs did not change and I did not need to change my anastrozole dose. So IM VS SC did not matter for me VS IM once a week. I did not do IM very long. I started T, then T+hCG and with the hCG and insulin needles, I started T that way ASAP to be able to harmonized T and hCG injection routines. I introduced AI later. So I did not get to compare T+AI IM once a week to T+AI EOD.

Many stated and doctors state that T in oil cannot be injected. As an engineer I knew that that was wrong, time is the only issue. From a doctors point of view, they expect to load and inject in seconds, so they would think that way.

My age management Doctor reports that he has guys that after a couple of years, do not need an AI anymore. I have trouble accepting that fact. However, if a guys loosing major amounts of fat, then the aromatase problem may be reduced to get acceptable E2 levels without an AI. But is the acceptable level optimal? Even that is all true, that does not mean much. One still needs E2 management and if the labs results indicate that you need less and less anastrozole, that works.

This seems like a lot of detail, but it all boils down to a technique and a simple routine.

As for my contributions: When I started TRT, it was not an easy experience. I had the hyper sexuality, followed by the estrogen crash and the shrinking aching testes. Got hCG but E2=37 was a good case of estrogen poisoning for me. The I got to T+AI+hCG and ended up with E2=28 and I was transformed! Increased anastrozole to get to E2=22pg/ml using the very easy calculation that I came up with. That seemed intuitively for this engineer with a modulation competitive drugs and the same logic also dictated that the anastrozole dose requirement has a linear relation to serum T levels and from there that means a linear dose relationship to the testosterone dose.

I have been motivated to take the mystery out of these issues by making recommendations. I also am motivated to have guys understand the issues in a way that makes their doctors look stupid in comparison, which is not hard to do. I guess that I am providing all of the support and knowledge that I wish that I had from the get go. Unfortunately, many guys find their way here after a SNFUBAR/SNAFU/FUBAR experience.

After finding out what was on most sites where TRT was discussed, I got sick of the bro-science and bull shit. People who come to T-Nation just seem to be more mature, educated and intelligent. What was found on most steroid BB’s was also lame. And the nonsense I used to see about PCT was very discouraging; that seems to have improved as clearer minds have prevailed.

On Crisler’s method, it seemed a bit hokey to me. He recommends to not pinch your skin before Subq, which seemed like a recipe for trouble to me. But, he does show the method and explain his reasons. I appreciate him as I do you, in that you both forward the acceptance and science of TRT.
I have noticed TRT clinics growing nationwide that offer T + AI + HCG, If they are offering that protocol with good follow up, along with labs and adjustments I think it will be a good thing for men everywhere (and the people in their lives).

Crisler is full of shit…and full of himself (so what does that make him?)…

the man is a convicted woman beater for christ’s sake. if anybody cane read his most recent insane ramblings about that case, and still continue to take him seriously, they may need a mental evaluation themselves.

I love your bluntness VT you crack me up. And you are right, Crisler does come off like a complete toolbox.