PIO-- pain in the butt...

KLake42

I've had a couple IVF cycles cancelled, but this cycle seems to be going forward, and I've finally started PIO injections.

Lawd, y'all, these are a pain! The shot itself I can handle, but the knot in my muscle the next day-- ouch!

What are your tips and tricks for minimizing the pain? Massage? Heat? Exercising the muscle? Resting it? Yoga stretches?

I tend to get tight muscles in my hips, especially piriformis muscles, which lead to tight IT bands and low back pain. It feels like the knots from my injections are contributing to the tension on that area, which makes it extra awesome.

prudence9-2

After the shot, I walked in the apt while doing deep tissue massage to the area... (all while walking). Then I placed heat pad on the area for another 10 minutes or so.

Try different spots every day. Sometimes, a little higher or lower (all in the circled place that you are suppose to inject) give different levels of pain... some will hurt more as you inject but less the next day... 

nim81

Massage, walking around, and heat helped!!

JuliaGoolia719

Massage seems to be the thing that has helped me the most so far, I warm the oil in my bra for a few minutes (my nurse said not to use a heating pad on the oil or on the area afterwards), and then I lay down on the bed so there isn't any tenseness in my muscle when DH does the shot.  I noticed the first 2 days where I didn't massage it at all I was more sore than the days after when DH has massaged it for a few minutes afterwards.

kaseycoco

All the other tips already posted (massage, movement, and heat) helped a lot. I found applying a heating pad to the area before you inject also helped to reduce the next day soreness for me.

LeFemmeViolette

I've been doing the PIO for about 9 weeks now. Our process has always been to rub the injection area right after. As others suggested, you may want to try out ice or heat and see which ones feel better. I've heard of some ladies icing the injection area so it's numb, while warming up the PIO with body heat in your bra, or even sitting in warm water for a few minutes beforehand to thin out the liquid. But honestly, you get used to it. I barely feel it now. Make sure you or DH is inserting the needle quickly and in a dart-like motion. Slower hurts more. 

prudence9-2

@LeFemmeViolette I did the injections myself and I just couldn't insert it fast. Did it super slow. It was actually okay. I think it all depends on the spot. Some days were painful while other days I didn't feel it. 

KLake42

Thanks y'all!

I think that ice is the enemy-- I had the worst knot when I iced it. A little heat is good, and rubbing has helped.

Cussing also seems to help-- loudly and creatively!

JuliaGoolia719

@KLake42 ha! If I didn't think cussing would make DH feel bad that he was hurting me I'd do that in a heart beat! I'm not sure which one of us dislikes the shots more to be honest!

Kp214

You might try a foam roller.  I used it afterwards, and that helped.  Also, moving the injection site to a little higher and more on the hip really helped.  Warming the oil helped.  Squats afterwards can help.  However, the first two things I mentioned made the biggest difference.  

PoeMasque

I didn't have issues with knots or pain at all until about two weeks into the shots and then it was just general pain in my hip joints. I stopped doing shots over two weeks ago and STILL feel like my hips were hit with a baseball bat (not even where we injected!). I'm a nurse, I made sure we did everything to minimize issues/pain, bottom line is you are injecting oil into your muscle, there will be reprocussions (pain, knots, soreness) and it will take your body time to get back to normal. That's just the physiology of the whole thing! 

Momifbysea

@PoeMasque can I ask why you stopped the shots? I thought it was for 12 weeks? Do different clinics have different regimens? Now that I just finished the first IVF injections I'm gearing up for that next treat in my goody bag, so to speak!

PoeMasque

We were doing shots and suppositories, and I'm still on suppositories until we hit 10 weeks. Even though I leak chunks of meds out of my vag all day every day I am so glad the shots are over! 

JuliaGoolia719

@PoeMasque I think that's what I'll do if my betas show I'm pregnant, switch to the suppositories. I'm not sure I can handle 3 mos of shots my booty is already sore and it's been 10 days!

Angelaag

For OOP, any suggestions on the cheapest pharmacy for PIO. My script is with ethyl oleate. Thanks!!!!

JESSABER0414

I don't know about chepast but for comparison I paid $120 for one 10mL vial of Pio with ethyl oleate at Metrodrugs in NY. (500mg/10mL)

Angelaag

Thanks @JESSABER0414! I have 50mg/10mL and need 3. I used Metro for my ER. Was hoping to find cheaper, but it looks like they're all about the same.