Doing your own PIO shot

Twinkie0612

So my husband called and he is going to be working really late tonight, so I might be on my own for my PIO shot. 

For ladies that did their own shot, any advice or tips?

My other option is to call my mom and see if she will do it.

O2girl

I have no advice! But good luck!

Twinkie0612

weeklyplanner said:

My DH is going to be away for a week when I start PIO for FET.  I know a lot of ladies do it themselves by leaning on a bathroom counter and using the mirror.  I give myself all my other injections, but I just don't think I can do PIO.  I think I'll be calling my mom as well!

@weeklyplanner, I don't see how this would work for me, with the size and configuration of my bathroom.  I will probably end up calling my mom, which should be a fun favor to ask. 

princessisadora

Are the glutteals the only site we can use? I was planning on calling my nurse cause my butt is so sore I don't know if I'll have enough sites to rotate for 14weeks( if we are lucky!)

Twinkie0612

@princessisadora that was the only place my clinic shows for IM PIO injections.

jschwind22

::ticker::

HI Twinkie!

I watched some you tube videos.  I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, twisted around, and jabbed it in.  Make sure you jab in quickly!  You can do it!

Twinkie0612

jschwind22 said:

::ticker::

HI Twinkie!

I watched some you tube videos.  I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, twisted around, and jabbed it in.  Make sure you jab in quickly!  You can do it!

@jschwind22 Hi lady love your ticker!  Twinkle is the size of a peach already, crazy! 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.  I had no problem with the subQ shots but this one makes me nervous! 

katib77

I will be doing my own PIO shots most likely (I'm a whiz with needles and DH is a scaredy cat) so I was wondering the same thing since it seems like the most common one NOT to do yourself.  But I know others have in the past so I'll just be joining that group in ten more days.  Good luck!

Bklyn75

Long time lurker - figured this would be a good time for my first post. I knew my DH would be going away for 16 days the morning after our ET so I have been giving myself the PIO shots since the get-go (32 times, and yes, I am counting!). We have pretty large mirrors on the medicine cabinet in our bathroom so after I prepare everything (ice area, warm PIO, etc..) I stand in front of that so I can see my target area clearly and I make sure all my weight is on the leg opposite from the side I am injecting into. And I don't jab it in fast. I have had very minor bruising on only one side, never hit a vein, and only recently had any lumpiness. At this point, I don't think I would trust anyone else to do it for me. Once you do it solo, it really isn't bad, you just have to get over the anxiety, which to me was worse than the shot. Good luck!

bhead81

SIG/TICKER WARNING...

I started doing my own PIO injections about 2 weeks into them and I have to say I do them so much better than my husband.  Take your time and breath...when you are ready you can do it.  I am not able to "dart" it in so I go slow but that doesn't hurt besides the initial poke.  I like to lay on my side on the bed and do them.  I also like to heat the area before and after I give the shot.  You can do it!!!

jebretz

I read a hilarious blog post about a woman trying it in her thigh. she says DON'T!, that it hurts worse after (not going in, but after) and watching it go in to the thigh vs butt is worse. 

Good luck! I plan on doing my own if we ever get there! 

Lm92599

I had to do the PIO shots on myself for 3 days after our ER before our fresh transfer was cancelled, the first one I had my self all worked up, so I had my sister do it and it was fine. The next three I gave myself and I just sat in a chair and jabbed it. The oil goes in slow but that was the only thing that bothered me. I had my nurse draw two big circles on each side where I could give myself the shot. You can do it. It will be fine

beachy6

For my last FET, I was determined to show those darn PIO who was boss! Plus, DH was out of town and I didn't have a choice!

But, it was seriously easy peasy. I did my sub-q this time, too and this really isn't any more difficult than those. I ALWAYS numbed my hip area first. Some people say don't do this, but my office encourages it. Doing so has never hurt my progesterone blood test or led to lumps, so the theory of it not all absorbing is a crock as far as I'm concerned. I would numb for about 5 minutes and then slowly push it in. I never darted it myself.

I would stand in front of the mirror, twist my head around like an owl, and slowly push the needle in. I never hurt. The needle going in never hurt more than a sub-q for me. It pushes in slowly, but that's okay. Also, make sure to pull your skin taut with the hand your not injecting with, this helps the needle not pinch the skin as it goes in. I felt this helped a TON! DH didn't do this and his injections always hurt!

After I did a couple on my own, I found that I preferred it because it didn't hurt as much when I did it. I also looked up videos online and it helped me see how other women did it. It also gave me the strength to actually do it myself! The first time I was FREAKING out!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

AJC&Maggie

Tonight I will be doing my own as well. I was planning on doing my leg.

Twinkie0612

I chickened out and was all set to have my mom do it and DH got home earlier than expected. Crisis averted!