PIO Shots

[JulieF]

I have never written to a forum, but feel very strongly compelled to relate my experience with the PIO shots. I have had bad experiences in the past with injections and IV, and thus I started out more fearful than most about these injections. And, after reading all the posts about how awful they were, I was terrified. I spent months worrying about the day I would have to start them. The day I was to start the injections, I went to my clinic so the nurse could show my husband how to do the shots. I was so upset; I was crying and almost didn’t think I could go through with the whole thing—just because of my fear of these shots. I got the shot. They ARE A BIG FAT NOTHING!!!! The nurse used no cream, no heat, no ice, no nothing and it didn’t hurt. I almost didn’t feel a thing (the only sensation was a slight, a very slight, prick because I moved away).

I am so upset that people have been whipping others into this fear frenzy over NOTHING!!. I am the biggest baby when it comes to shots, but these have been NO BIG DEAL.

After we got home, I was still a bit worried about DH doing them (he aint no nurse), but these have gone fine. We use Lidocaine cream applied one hour before the shot (I do the contact lens cap taped over the cream bit, and it works fine), but this is mostly for DH. He worries less if he knows the skin surface is numb. I don’t warm the oil, or ice anything, or apply heat afterwards. The first two or three times there was a slight sensation—but NOTHING that I would call pain (and I call a lot of things painful!!!). But, after that, NOTHING. Honestly, most of the time if DH didn’t tell me the needle went in and was pulled out I wouldn’t know anything happened. DH does say that the dart motion is important. A couple of other things. One, I do the shots in the AM and make sure to rub the area for a few minuets afterward to distribute the oil, this seems to help as I have not had any real problems with muscle aches (nor do I seem to have any lumps). Two, I’ve only been doing the PIO for less than two weeks (I find out next Monday if I’m PG), but I can see, however, if these shots went on for weeks and weeks that the area might become tender—but that’s what the Lidocaine helps with. I have a fairly small bottom, so it’s not that the stuff is going into padding—I don’t have much of that back there.

Bottom Line: PIO SHOTS ARE A BIG FAT NOTHING. The only uncomfortable sensation would be from muscle aches--which are largely preventable.

[BC-KarenS-MI]

Julie,
The biggest thing with the PIO is the fear because of the size of the needle. I've been around these bb's for a long time & I don't remember anyone trying to scare anyone about the PIO. In fact, most people, like you, will say that once they've had the shot, it's not as big a deal as they thought. I think part of that fear is because the needles for stims are so much smaller & are only sub-q, as opposed to the PIO that are IM & 1 1/2" needles.

You've just not been on the shots long enough to develop the wonderful lumps that generally afflict anyone who's taken them. April will be 2 years since I last had a PIO shot, yet I still have a couple small lumps. My back side is fairly small too. I've never used Emla cream or anything to numb it either & they've been just fine. Rubbing the area well after the injection is key too though. Rubbing helps to disperse the PIO out so that it doesn't stay lumped in one area.

Good luck on Monday!! You're almost there!! Be sure to let us know how your beta comes back!

Karen

[JulieF]

Thanks Karen for your well wishes!

[flicka7]

I was going to say the same. Let us know how you feel about them after 10 weeks of shots!!! It doesn't hurt that much, but you get really tired of it after a while.

[tanjalalie]

I stopped the PIO shots on Dec 25th, 2004, and I am still sore on both sides, with seemingly permanent lumps

But, I gladly bear it, as it's for the best possible cause!

Tanja

[Laenae]

Glad to hear that it was easier than you thought. I guess for some it is easy and some more difficult.

Unfortunately, in all my IVFs and IUI cycles, I have gotten big welts and black and blues from giving myself the PIO shots. DH doesn't give me the shots -- he is afraid of needles :-) I also end up bleeding at site in which I inject. So, PIO shots are not what I look forward to but know they are necessary -- especially for me as I have Luteal Phase Defect.

Good luck in your cycle.

Love,
Laenae

[JulieF]

Just an update and response to
flicka7. After two months of shots, there's still no pain, no soreness, no black/blue, still no nothing. I've only bled a couple of times, and those were the times that there was a bit of bruising and soreness after. Maybe I'm just hitting the right spot.