Itchy / red injection site

[Gutterpump]

Hey guys, so about a week ago I shot my regular bi-weekly shot of test-cyp into my glute (with slin pin). I may have forgotten to rotate the injection site, but I definitely always clean the site and vial with alcohol prep pads. For the past week the area's been redish (like a rash but no streaks, no bumps) and very itchy, but no pain.

What should I do? Doctor visit? Benadryl and wait it out? Cortisone cream?

First time this has ever happened in all my years on TRT.

I'm going to try benadryl lotion on it for now, was planning on seeing Dr next week anyhow. Curious what people think though.

 

[sammpedd88]

Ice it and take ibuprofen. If it doesn't go away in a few days, go see a doc. Now back to more important things....why are you injecting bi-weekly?

 

[Gutterpump]

Like many people, I inject twice a week to keep E2 down and more stable blood levels.

 

[sammpedd88]

Like many people, I inject twice a week to keep E2 down and more stable blood levels.

You said bi-weekly which is every other week..lol. No biggie. Main thing is you're injecting twice a week! I looked up the definition and we are both right. I never knew biweekly also meant twice a week too.

 

[Gutterpump]

You said bi-weekly which is every other week..lol. No biggie. Main thing is you're injecting twice a week! I looked up the definition and we are both right. I never knew biweekly also meant twice a week too.

Ya it gets me mixed up sometimes too, I should've said e3d

 

[Gutterpump]

Well, I put one of those huge gauze shaped bandaids on it with Benadryl gel and that's stopped the itching. So strange though that this has never happened even once to me in all these years. It's not a new vial of test either. I've used the same vial for a delt inject the other day and was fine.

 

[sammpedd88]

A friend of mine I work with had something similar happen to him. He's on TRT too. He won't inject in his quads anymore because of it.

 

[Gutterpump]

I think mine might be from re-using the same injection site too many times (in a row). Time to start finding new spots hehe
I don't use quads anymore either. Mostly delts/glutes.

 

[sammpedd88]

Just curious, but why don't you inject in your belly fat since you use slin pins?

 

[Gutterpump]

I used to do that but I use .5" slin pins and am able to go IM into glutes and delts. Less irritation than sub-q this way. I get burning from sub-q belly injections. Glutes and delts, when I use the .5" pin and press further in (indent into area), it pins like butter, no site irritation.

 

[sammpedd88]

Never heard of that! Learn something new everyday.

 

[Gutterpump]

Never heard of that! Learn something new everyday.

I use ace quite often so this technique def comes in handy haha

Edit: I think it also depends on level of leanness

 

[Gutterpump]

Well, the area was about 4" x 6", the itching/pain didn't stop and the skin started to peel off over the past 4-5 days. I've made an appointment to see my Dr next week. I'm pretty sure it's getting better as it doesn't hurt anymore, just itches. The skin has just about finished peeling now too.

There is no ball protruding outwards from the skin, nothing that looks like an abscess. I really wonder what gave me this reaction and what exactly happened. It was my last shot of test from a vial I'd been using for a while. Really strange.

 

[Gutterpump]

Well it's getting even more fun now! I'm getting hives wherever there's pressure around that area, even coming across to my stomach and up my side. I had a very large bandaid over the patch where the spot injection reaction was (I plastered benadryl gel on the gauze-type bandaid), and where the sticky part of the tape hit my skin, there's huge hives there now too. In a perfect rectangle. What the bloody hell.... Popping Zyrtec now... but I can't get in to see a dermatologist or my doctor until next week/Tuesday. This is all kinds of $hitty... First time in my 6 yrs of TRT that anything like this ever happened.

 

[Gutterpump]

Went to the Dr's this morning and he said it's a drug rash. A drug rash from not rotating inj sites though? I really f&(^ing hope I haven't developed an allergy to test shots. What the blood hell... Hope this prednisone he gave me does the trick for good, and that it was just a one time rarity.

 

[GreekTheBrick]

Did you inject into exactly the same spot or close to it?

 

[Gutterpump]

Did you inject into exactly the same spot or close to it?

Close to it, general area on my glute. I don't understand why I'm getting a systemic histamine / drug allergy reaction from it though. It started as just a local reaction but after just over a week it went pretty much systemic. Hope this prednisone helps because it's damn near impossible to sleep at night.

 

[GreekTheBrick]

As you described it, it shouldnt happen. There seems no reason for that kind of reaction. It reminds me when I was on some kind of drug for almost a year and one night one shot sent me to the hospital with very high fever. They never found what was the cause of it.

What Im saying is that with drugs this may happen. Probably(and I wish it) it wont happen again in your entire life. It was just one out of a thousand. Just be consistent with the treatment the doc gave and it will subside.

Really hope for the best and dont forget to inform us how its going

 

[Gutterpump]

Thanks. Yeah the strange thing is the rash did start at the site of injection, but now it's pretty much bilateral. Not very red though, can barely see it but the itch was intense (I think the prednisone is starting to work). It seems like I had a local reaction but then it turned into like a fullbody histamine reaction, except not on my face and only on lower back, stomach, lats and inner biceps a bit. Not even on my chest at all. I've read of others who've had something similar happen from not rotating sites, something about the amount of benzyl alcohol or whatever from the test being exposed to that one area for a long time. Too much irritation which then caused a reaction.

I even though it might've been a heat rash because I started training outdoors / out of a crossfit box, and I sweat buckets, but couldn't be since I saw it all start from the glute. So weird.

 

[kenpoengineer]

Did you switch brands of test C? I was thinking you may be or developed an allergic reaction to the preservative or possibly the oil base. Thoughts?

 

[Gutterpump]

Did you switch brands of test C? I was thinking you may be or developed an allergic reaction to the preservative or possibly the oil base. Thoughts?

I really really hope I haven't developed an allergy to these shots Today is day 4 of 7 on prednisone, and itching is still there (all over) but not as intense.

The area where the initial shot reaction occurred is looking much better but still itchy. It's strange. I don't see the redness anymore anywhere really, but the itchiness is still there....

That initial shot reaction was from the last shot from a vial of test C I had been using for quite some time, and I switched over to a vial of test prop (from different lab) that I have. No site problems from the prop. Using 0.2ml in rotated sites daily now.

 

[Gutterpump]

Absolutely no rash left anywhere, but I feel like my whole body is having a histamine reaction...especially in areas where there's pressure on the skin... what the heck. Couple more days on the prednisone and I'll call my Dr/specialist for another appointment.

 

[Gutterpump]

Today is my 7th day on 40mg of prednisone, and it's gotten worse. Really red on my stomach, my waistline (where there's pressure) is the worst. Inner biceps have rash too, and lower back has hives. Wtf is going on.... Back to the dr...

Strange thing is, I don't even notice it when I'm super sweaty at the gym. Wish I knew what is going on.

 

[Gutterpump]

I made a new Dr appointment for tomorrow morning with the Dermatology Immunoligist. Going to ask him for Hydroxyzine and blood work.

Something else has to be going on. I started new supplements recently, could've been one of them that triggered this whole thing. Lycopene and Astaxanthin are the two I'm suspicious about now.

 

[GreekTheBrick]

Maybe you should stop EVERYTHING till you heal. Your system is under attack and therefore vulnerable. Go see a doctor and "demand" to find out whats going on. Be serious about it

 

[Gutterpump]

I definitely don't want to stop my TRT, very doubtful any of those drugs are to blame. My doctor is an immunologist though, he can find the source... just a matter of time, and a lot of discomfort.

My training and energy levels are fine too, no fever.

 

[Gutterpump]

Just an update, saw the doc. He's given me another prescription for prednisone but upped it to 60mg / day, pretty high dose, for another week. Also told me to take 2 Zyrtecs twice a day and then see him in a week. He thinks the prednisone's been helping, and also said they can't really do allergy testing for what is obviously a "drug rash". It's not a contact allergy or food allergy. I've stopped all supplements as well as my transdermal dermacrine for now, but continue with my regular meds (TRT + BP meds).

 

[Gutterpump]

60mg prednisone daily + 2 Zyrtecs twice a day seem to be doing the trick!! Feeling much better.

I'll definitely have to ween off the prednisone though.... 2 weeks at a high dose, and I've already got bad adrenals (which I spoke to my dr about).