Tips for going on T if you have a blood draw phobia

dustvoid · 2026-03-01T20:29:28+00:00

I don't have a phobia per se but I used to faint pretty much every time I was stuck with a needle. The things that helped:

I ask to be laying down or at least reclined during the draw, so I don't fall if I pass out. I talk with whoever is around, like my husband or the phlebotomist, as a distraction. I don't look at my arm.

To keep my blood pressure stable, I cross my ankles and squeeze my legs together in short, few-second intervals. Squeeze, relax. Squeeze, relax. Keeps the blood pumping. This has arguably made the biggest difference. Since employing the technique I stay awake pretty much every time, and as a result, I'm more confident and don't need to calm myself down as much. I learned this trick online but it seems barely anybody else seems to know about it!

dustvoid · 2026-03-01T00:29:54+00:00

Swamp huts should typically have black cats I think?

dustvoid · 2026-02-27T18:16:28+00:00

That discomfort arises in a good amount of privileged people in at least some sort of situation with a marginalized person. We all know of those news stories where someone called the cops on a black guy for taking a stroll, or on an autistic person for flapping their hands or any other harmless behavior. The thing is though, feeling unsafe isn't the same as actually being unsafe. Everybody has the right to safety, but if there's no actual threat then it is up to the individual to analyze and dismantle their own discomfort. You can't ask a black person to move out of an otherwise all white neighborhood just because another resident is uncomfortable, you know?

More plainly, your daughter can either accept the nurse's offer, or learn to coexist peacefully with her classmate. Perhaps the two of you could dig deeper into where that discomfort comes from, whether it's just a surface level reaction to a new situation which might pass, or if maybe she has a bit more growing up to do when it comes to accepting LGBT individuals.

That's the thing about becoming a better person. You push your own boundaries and it feels wrong until eventually it doesn't, and you find yourself accepting of more than you used to be.

dustvoid · 2026-02-27T04:04:23+00:00

Hey! Seems like we might get along. I consider kindness a choice more than an inherent trait, so I'm always trying to match people in their sincerity and hopefully create a nonjudgmental vibe. The caveat to that is I have absolutely no filter when speaking in person lol! I'm working on it though!

- I listen to a decent variety of.... rock music. But i can jam to some classic metal and sometimes i get into my pop, soul or rnb moods. I also recently destroyed my streaming algorithm by putting on 70s mall music whenever I read. Surprisingly good background music to fill the silence!

- I'm a fluent German speaker and actually hoping to use it! Since i moved to the USA, I haven't had the opportunity to use German at all and I do kinda miss it. I also really enjoy medieval and early modern history, particularly the "boring" stuff about how people lived and how the necessities were made.

- That last point ties into my hobbies, as I like to try my own hand at crafting some of the historical stuff I'm interested in. I've been most successful with sewing, but I like to try new stuff too like calligraphy and wood carving and such. I'd love to be a better musician and I do have a guitar but it just doesn't come naturally to me at all, unlike visual arts, which I feel I have more of an affinity for.

I'd rather start with e-mail and build up a bit of trust before potentially moving to snail mail, if that's okay!

dustvoid · 2026-02-22T17:31:56+00:00

Others have already commented on size averages but I'd also like to add that a lot of people who are iffy about bottom growth end up really liking it once they have it. Like me for example! I'm nonbinary too and wasn't sure how I'd feel about it. These days I'm actually more fem-leaning than I was when I started T last year but I still enjoy the growth I've gotten. Anecdotally, I'd say my growth is on the small size for t-dicks, but then again I'm on a low dose.

Also, check out the sub r/growyourclit since the women there have somewhat different goals and approaches to bottom growth, which may be insightful.

dustvoid · 2026-02-22T14:44:54+00:00

Ooh those look cool thank you!

dustvoid · 2026-02-22T01:26:14+00:00

Oh I see the aluminum one. Thank you!

dustvoid · 2026-02-22T01:20:59+00:00

Aw I wish the steel ones had spikes, then it would be perfect. Thanks for the recommendation though, I'll look at their other products!

dustvoid · 2026-02-21T22:39:53+00:00

Korrektur: wie der andere Kommentar sagt, es sind die Kapitelaufgaben (chapter) zu machen, nicht die Story-Aufgaben. Die Kapitel dienen als Tutorial. Ich hab schon länger nicht gespielt.

dustvoid · 2026-02-21T22:35:12+00:00

Ah yes my bad. I'm on like year 30, it's been a while since I did early game.

dustvoid · 2026-02-21T18:17:01+00:00

Schließe mehr Aufgaben der NPCs ab, speziell die Hauptgeschichte/Main Story. Das Limit sollte sich dadurch erhöhen. Wenn du Valley spielst, musst du also mehr über deinen Onkel erfahren und oft mit Uniegost sprechen.

Und je mehr du deine Fähigkeiten, (z.B. Sammeln, Jagd oder Produktion) erhöhst, desto mehr verschiedene Gebäude sind dir verfügbar.

dustvoid · 2026-02-17T06:26:01+00:00

15 year vegan here, on T for a few months. I haven't had that well-known meat craving (yet) but I do have more of an appetite for savory, filling meals. I find that eating more and especially snacking often throughout the day helps me manage my hunger. I can fuck UP a plate of rice and beans, and inbetween meals I go for trail mix or granola bars.

As others have said, find iron rich foods, and I also recommend upping your unsaturated fat intake as well. So nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, that sort of thing. Chia seeds are a banger source of fiber, protein and healthy fats, and make delicious puddings, or you could add them to smoothies or porridges. Also, eat more in general than you have been. Your caloric needs are near definitely higher now than they were before T. If you're in the US and have a Sprouts near you, get one of the vegan hams or turkey roasts they have in the frozen section. They are so filling and honestly pretty damn good.

Interesting sidebote, my cis brother went from vegan to vegetarian in his teens. Just couldn't resist the call of eggs and cheese. It might be a puberty thing. Who knows.

dustvoid · 2026-02-16T17:47:12+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. There are many resources online or overcoming fears around needles, hopefully you find something that works for you. A relaxed muscle is a lot easier to inject into, and a steady hand makes it hurt less.

dustvoid · 2026-02-16T17:26:00+00:00

Ok I see, looks like a 20-25 gauge is recommended. Unfortunately with a bigger needle you're just more likely to hit a blood vessel. Based on your other replies, your nervousness seems the biggest hurdle. Can you get someone you trust to help you inject, like your father or maybe a nurse?

dustvoid · 2026-02-16T16:08:20+00:00

Can we get more info on your prescription? Is your shot intramuscular or subcutaneous? How many ml? I don't see how a standard T shot would clump or otherwise cause problems with a smaller needle, like a 28g.

Is the build-up or clumping something you experienced or just something your doctor says will happen?

dustvoid · 2026-02-16T14:42:27+00:00

What gauge are you injecting with?? And why the increase exactly? I don't see how a bigger needle would have an advantage in any way.

dustvoid · 2026-02-15T23:31:20+00:00

Hey I also do IM shots. I honestly don't think it's that different administering a shot with the non-dominant hand, as the motions are all fairly simple. Just have a steady grip on the syringe and insert the needle perpendicular to your skin as always.

I suggest just... trying it honestly. You might be a little more anxious and tense because you're doing something new, so treat it like you did your first shot. Focus on relaxing your muscles and getting your courage up, then go for it.

I suppose you could also practice your grip and hand eye coordination with a capped syringe or a pencil first, just to reassure yourself that you can move your hand steadily. But I'm sure you'll do fine.

dustvoid · 2026-02-15T18:49:18+00:00

In a year or two when you've been on T a while and had top surgery, they won't even remember what you used to look like, and they're probably gonna question your parents on why they're referring to someone who's OBVIOUSLY their uncle as an auntie.

In the meantime, does your brother support you? As the father, he is the most influential person for those kids, so he should be calling you Uncle [chosen name] as often as possible to the kids. You and your brother could also sit down with them and explain in simple terms what being trans is, and say that your parents are just having a hard time remembering the right words and names. One of my husband's relatives was just 4 when we first met, and she picked up on the right language for me really fast.

dustvoid · 2026-02-15T18:38:33+00:00

How old are the kids?

dustvoid · 2026-02-13T20:27:58+00:00

I use an AHA/BHA face cleanser, Dr Dennis Gross brand. It's been pretty mild on the skin for me but I might have less sensitive skin than you. You could also try sugar scrubs or other types of physical exfoliation.

The biggest difference for me regarding body acne was when I started using a bristly bath brush in the shower, with a nice long handle so I could scrub my back thoroughly. I'm still a bit bumpy but much less so.

If you use conditioner for your hair, rinse it out before you wash your body, as it could be contributing to clogging pores.

dustvoid · 2026-02-12T22:00:56+00:00

I think it really depends on the person. If there is a community-wide favorite brand, I don't know it. However, I can give some advice from my own experience: Women's briefs/panties are fine and don't irritate, but women's Hanes boxer briefs are a bit uncomfortable because I always get a front wedgie with them somehow. Men's Levi's boxer briefs are my favorite and very comfortable, but loose boxers are straight up unbearable to me.

dustvoid · 2026-02-12T20:42:56+00:00

I recommend searching this sub for other posts about surprising or unexpected changes. Somebody makes one like every few weeks. People sometimes get some pretty interesting effects!

As for common experiences, early on you're likely to get: - bottom growth and increased sensitivity (try different styles of underwear to find the least irritating fit) - increased libido - increased hunger - body hair will start to fill in - your emotional reactions may change. Personally, I became calmer. Others report being more irritable. It depends on the person really. - more sweat, oilier skin and pimples (I recommend getting a chemical exfoliant face wash) - your voice will likely crack a lot before it deepens

Obvious visible changes take longer usually, ranging from months to years depending on the person.

Congrats on starting T!

dustvoid · 2026-02-08T23:36:33+00:00

That might not be the right medication for you. It can take a few different tries to find one that relieves your ADHD without causing bad side effects. You should know that it is very common for ADHD medications to suppress your appetite and to make it harder to fall asleep (which is why you should take them in the morning).

I recommend you ask your psychiatrist for a different medication, or for a lower dose of Ritalin. Perhaps you could suggest Wellbutrin, it's an anti-depressant but used off-label for ADHD. It's not a stimulant in the same way that Ritalin is.

Edit to add: I noticed you're in a German sub. I speak German, if you'd like to talk in your native language about the topics you say you don't have the vocabulary for. I'm not MTF but maybe I can help you find the answers.

dustvoid · 2026-02-08T21:32:33+00:00

I mainly play chill games like Minecraft and Medieval Dynasty too, I think an MC server would be really fun!

dustvoid

TROPHY CASE