PIO starts tomorrow....scared

So I just got my PIO in the mail. I start it tomorrow. SO scared. I have done many shots but I her this one is the worst. FET on Wednesday.

Wish me luck and send any words of wisdom about PIO.

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

This is what Pitterpatter11 said to me and it totally helped (I didn't follow these steps yesterday and it hurt but today with the ice and warming the PIO, I didn't feel a thing!!)

For the PIO shot here was my procedure.
1. Apply heating pad to injection site for 5+ minutes.
2. While you are doing this, get warm (not boiling) water and place vial in it.
3. Inject PIO into appropriate site. I found that when I injected on my right side, there was no pain at all. I also found I had no pain when I did the injections, but when DH did them they stung a little.
To do the injection myself, I stood in front of a mirror with my weight on the non-injection side. I twisted as far as I could to the right. I would use my left hand to keep the injection site taut and then i would inject the needle with my right hand. I would then remove my left hand and use it to pull back to the plunger and then I would inject.
4. With a heating pad, massage the area for 5-10 minutes. Keep heating pad on injection site for additional 10 minutes - reheat if necessary.

I never had a bruise or knot the entire time. I made sure to rotate the injection every single day and like I said before, I pretty much only injected on my right side.

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

These videos helped a ton too!

Preparing the Shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbpZ6n3M9UY

Doing the Shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-EY_4P67Hs

Good luck! I was terrified yesterday doing the shot for the 1st time and looked up a ton of videos/ articles online so I know how you feel.

PS- the laying down on the floor to do the shot worked well too!

Message edited 12/12/2013 9:47:58 PM.

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

The video shows exactly where to inject! It's in the upper outer quadrant of your butt. Imagine a line going horizontal across your cheeks at the top of your butt crack. Then imagine a line going down each cheek right in the middle (I drew dots on my butt to visualize better). You want to be in the top outer box so it's kinda above your butt- almost lower hip area. The injection video shows exactly where. My mom injected in my mid butt yesterday thinking that was the area and it was more painful. Like I said before, today I didn't feel a thing but I think it was the area plus icing and laying down which all did the trick!

PIO starts tomorrow....scared

I always laid down on the couch before DH did it. It was easier for me to relax my muscles and I would never move. It really doesn't hurt bad. It looks way more intimidating than it is. I actually chose to be on PIO for 10 weeks over suppositories. You'll be ok - I never even used a heating pad or ice and never had real bruises.

Good luck!

PIO starts tomorrow....scared

It is NOT as bad as you would imagine! I dreaded it since everyone would always talk about it in fear. The whole process listed above probably takes 20 minutes, which is a pain, but it was worth it since only once in 6 weeks did I have any pain associated with it - that was a time when I let my DH inject it and I swear he hit a nerve - literally!

I had the nurse circle the injection sites on my lower back/ upper butt. I rotated daily. I found that my left side did not like the injections so I stuck with the right side.

Good Luck!!

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

I was terrified. Honestly the anxiety of standing there waiting for dh to give me the shot was so much worse than the actually shot. The first one I didn't even feel and didn't believe him when he said he did it.

You will be fine and so, so worth it.

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

PIO starts tomorrow....scared

Thanks ladies. Just watched the video with DH. He is ready but I am not. AHHH...maybe we'll do it in another hour.

PIO starts tomorrow....scared

DONE- went okay. No pain yet. Hoping it stays this way.

Re: PIO starts tomorrow....scared

PIO starts tomorrow....scared

So glad it went well!!!

Message edited 12/14/2013 12:54:16 PM.