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Why do i have to trash this?? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 1 month ago* by to c/mtf@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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Seriously? Taking the advice from my doctor, im supposed to trash after 4th shot. He says there will be a bit left, but because of contamination(???) he wants me to switch vials every 4th shot.

Like, is that the real reason? Because it physically hurts to throw this away, knowing how much i and others have worked to get this stuff in the first place, and how many sisters cant access it ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Also really seems like a waste of time and resources. Like people had to make this, and that required time effort and money. Are we cool with throwing away the results of so much progress and effort?

Idk, its hitting me now that i have to toss one, these are all questions i have that my doctor will probly hear next time i go in ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

PS. My nails look bad, its been a really rough month, dont talk about it ๐Ÿ˜‚

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[โ€“] 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

So, just passing by as a diabetic, but not trans, and I'm confused a bit about the contamination part.

I use insulin that seems to come in a vial exactly like this, and have had to only throw a vial or 2 out over the 10 years I've been type 1 diabetic, and thats been either from:

  1. the vial being bad from the pharmacy that turned it kinda almost gelatin or soap-like texture (maybe it wasn't kept cool, somewhere in the transportation process)

Or 2. From bacteria contamination that turned the vial cloudy.

But most or the time, I can use the vial as many times as I need until the insulin is finished. This is the first I've heard of particulate contamination being a problem like you're saying.

Is this just the difference between the liquids inside the vial, and how sensitive the human body is to the contamination? Because based on my diabetes experience, I would just continue using the vial as is, unless it actually causes some sort of problem for me.

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  • [โ€“] [S] 6 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    I love having your input its great to have someone with inject experience โค๏ธ

    The contamination thing seems really strange to me too, idk it felt like a catch all reason to give people when they ask

    Afaik the liquid inside is just a small amount of estradiol really overall, and its suspended in oil. I havent looked into mine that much (maybe i should) but ive heard sesame oil apparently

    Its really interesting thats not been a concern for your medication, but they told me this upfront before i took any of it

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  • [โ€“] 9 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    I am on estradiol valerate

    My Dr, the nurse, and 2 pharmacists told me to toss mine after 28-30 days because it starts breaking down after a few weeks and isn't worth injecting anymore. Nobody mentioned contamination. The pharmacists were making exrea sure I knew I needed to wipe the top of the bottle with alcohol prep wipes to avoid contamination.

    I'm getting refills every 4th injection anyway, but there's so much left inside, I kind of wish I could independently verify it is breaking down (not just find info online, actually have it tested somewhere or something idk) because I know someone who would absolutely want the extra...

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  • [โ€“] [S] 2 points 1 month ago

    Thats interesting, idk the similarities or differences in our meds and obviously im not a doctor but you are the first person to mention this breakiing down problem. Maybe its more likely for valerate??

    But cypionate (what im on) seems to be shelf stable for years. The consensus ive been hearing is when its open its good for about 6 months safely. Ive heard mention of people going longer, but those are outliers and most agree 6 months is a good rule. I believe at my dose 6 months would make an empty vial.

    You have the same concerns i have. I see stories every so often on here of people struggling to get doctors, clinics, pharmacist, psychs etc etc to believe in their transness. Some people it takes years! So i does hurt to throw it away.

    Which is why ultimately i wont be doing that. Might use till gone and build a backstock, might donate. Idk yet.

    Like i said, not a doctor, but if youre feeling and thinking the same as me then i say its worth doing research into it and seeing if there is something you can do. โค๏ธโค๏ธ

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  • [โ€“] 1 point 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    So, again, coming at this from a diabetic perspective, ya might try researching around or talking to people from other countries about this.

    I had heard similar for insulin in the US. If its unrefrigerated, it will most likely go bad after about a month, but I had heard in the UK and some of europe, their guidance says 60 days.

    The other thing is: thats for unrefrigerated. I'm not sure what ya'll are taking and if it has to be kept refrigerated or not like insulin does, but for insulin, if its kept refrigerated, even as you're using the vial, it will last muuuuch longer in the fridge, like years.

    Take all of this with a grain of salt because if I have a bad vial of insulin, I can tell immediately with diabetes as my blood sugar will start to sky rocket, and I can correct it with other insulin I've stockpiled.

    If your medication starts to go bad and you use it, I'm not sure how that manifests and how harmful that will be to your goals with going trans.

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