PIO - I don't think I can do it....

marbear81

I know.. you prob think I'm a big baby and maybe I am.. but I just don't think I can do it.. we are supposed to start these next week... my RE did say that if I *really* don't think I can do it then he will give me prometrium... so my question is.. has anyone else jumped ship on PIO? are they both similar when it comes to how effective they are? The nurse made DH give me a practice PIO shot during our IVF orientation and it's all I can think about.... (my bum felt like the worst pulled muscle)

I just don't know what to do.. am I giving up my not choosing to do PIO... ya know if I get a BFN after this, I will blame myself for not doing PIO. . . .

kimarino13

I was TERRIFIED too!  Seriously, seriously terrified.  But I actually preferred it to stim shots because it didn't burn.  You can do it.  I promise.  The heating pad before and after will be your friend!

marbear81

kimarino13:

I was TERRIFIED too!  Seriously, seriously terrified.  But I actually preferred it to stim shots because it didn't burn.  You can do it.  I promise.  The heating pad before and after will be your friend!

to be fair, I didn't have a heating pad for my trial.. they did tell me to heat for 10 mins before and 10 mins after.... (sigh) I guess I could give it a try and then go from there..

theworms

You can do it - Just remember the end result and it is worth it.

I tried to get out of using it too but my RE stressed that it really is the best way to progesterone into the body.

GL

kimarino13

I thought about switching to supps before I even started PIO, too.  I was so scared.  But I told myself that I would try them, and if I couldn't bear them, then I would switch.

Do them laying down on your tummy with your legs relaxed.  Make sure to use the heating pad beforehand and have your H massage the area with a flat palm for 1 minute after the shot (then lay back down on the heating pad).  Also try warming the oil between your bbs while you lay on the heating pad before the shot.

krissyh21

I did endometrin after switching from a clinic that used PIO exclusively. I questioned my new RE on this and he said there had been various studies showing that neither one is better then the other and both are effective.

That said. After being on endometrin for 3 weeks I really wished I never switched. I liked PIO better. The shots are truely not that bad, your muscles may ache after the shot but the needle itself is easy. Suppositories are gross and icky, you need to constiantly remember to do them (3 times a day) and PIO is over and done with in 3 minutes. 

Echloe

You can do it. I was a needle-phone pre-ivf and now I give myself PIO. Ask your RE for lidocaine cream. You put it an hour before and the spot is totally numb for the injection. This is the Sole reason I can stand the big needle. I really can't feel it going in at all!!

LuluK1102

You can do it, you can do it!

FWIW, I'm terrified of IM injections too and am about to give myself a trigger in a few hours. I watched a bunch of youtube videos this afternoon to get myself prepared. I think it's the anxiety about it more than the actual shot.

Good luck!

*jenjen*

I just did my first PIO shot yesterday....i am such a big sissy and freaked myself out so much leading up to it...but honestly, it wasn't terrible.  I mean, of course it's a needle going in your butt, but i numbed the area for a minute or so before and dh did it.  I used lidocaine cream for my trigger but thought the ice numbing worked better.  You can do it!!

kimarino13

And the higher up you do it, the less it hurts.  The "target zone" is pretty big, and I find I like the ones that are up near my hips/love handles best.

newsbaby

Having done PIO and supps, I prefer the PIO. Like another poster said, it is over quickly as opposed to the supps which are constant 24 hour ICK. Have your DH do them and don't even look. I bend over the couch and read a magazine (for something to concentrate on) and my DH does them.

Good luck - you CAN do it. Something will just come over you and help you through.?

marbear81

where do you get the lidocaine from? I've never heard of it before but am willing to try anything before giving up......

*jenjen*

I'm not sure if you can get it OTC, but my nurse called it in for me and i got it with my meds.  If it's prescription only, i'm sure your nurse can call it in for you to pick up at your local pharmacy.

armywife76

It's called EMLA Cream and has lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%.  It is prescription only, but it helps tremendously with the pain. Ask your RE for a script and good luck!