injects: do you ice?

farmerlynda · January 2012

So I was just watching this video (which, if you're doing IVF, I highly recommend! the girl is so sweet it made me tear up). Anyway, she recommends icing for all injects. Plus I've been reading up on my meds, and apparently Menopur burns like a b!tch.

So to all the IUI or IVF injects girls -- Do you ice, or tough it out without ice? Has anyone talked to their RE about using ice? I've already called the office once today and don't want to be a nag... I don't remember them mentioning anything about it in the injects class about whether or not it's okay.

One other question -- if you ice, do you do it after the alcohol swab, or before? Seems like you should ice it first and alcohol after, but then it might wear off by the time the alcohol dries...

Thanks for humoring my silly injects questions

sbrowns08 · January 2012

Always swab right before injecting. Also, no ice for stims. It can slow absorption. Gl!

hootie123 · January 2012

My office has no issues with you using ice. I actually remember my nurse telling me that this is hard enough - you don't need to make it any harder on yourself by not icing. That said, I used a small round gel ice pack I had from my laser eye surgery - and I just held it there for probably 30 seconds. Then you use the alcohol and then inject. You never want to ice after swabbing with alcohol. You should probably call tomorrow and see what their thoughts are on icing are though.

bulldogmama 09 · January 2012

I don't ice. I've been pinching my skin as the nurse instructed and it hasn't hurt. I do have some ugly bruises but they don't hurt. I have mostly been injecting in my stomach but have used my upper thigh the last two nights.

genmalone · January 2012

I iced the very first time I did an inject but never did it again. I used Gonal-F and Follistim though which I've heard don't hurt nearly as much.

I have heard the "slows absorption" bit but it can't really have that much of an affect. Also, definitely use alcohol wipe just before inject.

Good luck!

farmerlynda · January 2012

Thanks for the responses, ladies! Maybe I will try without ice tonight and if it stings call the RE's office tomorrow and ask. When I was googling about it, I couldn't find a consensus either... it's interesting that different REs have different rules!

lynn0926 · January 2012

The only time I iced was for the novarel trigger IM in the bum. Ask is you can mix your other stim med with the menopur. My clinic has me mix it with my Follistim with the Repronex (same as menopur) and there is no burn. It is the liqued in the menopur that causes the burn. The actual medicine is the powder.

Blueyed228 · January 2012

I inject in the belly and never ice. I never found the need to. Sometimes the shots sting a bit, but its over so fast.

AKB090609 · January 2012

I did at first... Then got lazy and decided that a good skin pinch worked just as well to manage the sting. HTH!

MrsZ816 · January 2012

My RE is adamant that icing is not ok. I was petrified of the shots at first because I had heard Menopur was not fun. However, I was instructed to mix the gonal-f and menopur and found it to not sting much at all. Good luck!!!

farmerlynda · January 2012

Well, after hearing from the anti-icing contingent, I made it through the injections without ice! I flipped out on DH for like 5 minutes before I let him stab me with the follistim... but the follistim was no big deal. It just felt weird (like liquid pressure under my skin), but didn't hurt. The menopur did burn a little but it was over quickly. I was more surprised by it (and yelled out "motherfvcker!") but I wasn't actually in pain.

I think it was harder on DH than me... because he had to be the calm one when I was like "WAIT! DON'T DO IT YET!" He made me sit on my hands because I kept pushing the needle away. Embarrassed

So yeah, I was a giant sissy over nothing! I guess my actual pain tolerance is way higher than my imagined pre-pain tolerance...

sbrowns08 · January 2012

farmerlynda:
Well, after hearing from the anti-icing contingent, I made it through the injections without ice! I flipped out on DH for like 5 minutes before I let him stab me with the follistim... but the follistim was no big deal. It just felt weird (like liquid pressure under my skin), but didn't hurt. The menopur did burn a little but it was over quickly. I was more surprised by it (and yelled out "motherfvcker!") but I wasn't actually in pain.
I think it was harder on DH than me... because he had to be the calm one when I was like "WAIT! DON'T DO IT YET!" He made me sit on my hands because I kept pushing the needle away.
So yeah, giant sissy over nothing! I guess my actual pain tolerance is way higher than my imagined pre-pain tolerance...

glad it went well!! I was way more nervous when I had DH try and give me my stims shots. Finally I just grabbed the needle and did it myself, and it was way easier. Kind of like when you were little and your mom brushed your hair and it hurt like heck, but when you did it yourself it wasn't bad. Or maybe I'm the only one who had that happen....lol
edit: autocorrect

ashleymarie512 · January 2012

farmerlynda:
So yeah, I was a giant sissy over nothing! I guess my actual pain tolerance is way higher than my imagined pre-pain tolerance...

Story of my life!! I haven't used injections yet so I can't really give any input as to ice or no ice, but I totally hear ya with the imagined pre-pain. When I was prescribed allergy shots (once per week) I about freaked out. I made myself so worked up that I caused myself to have upset stomach before the shots. They never hurt as much as I always imagine them to be. Good luck and hang tough!! Smile

ycristina84 · January 2012

Ice is really not necessary. Just pinch for a little bit and it's fine. You actually don't feel anything most of the time. I was so scared to do it and it's really painless. I was actually told that ice was not ok to use, so I have never used it.

kellyrn9956 · January 2012

I am glad I read this post b/c I have been icing Tongue Tied . I will not do so tonight.

farmerlynda · January 2012

sbrowns08:
glad it went well!! I was way more nervous when I had DH try and give me my stims shots. Finally I just grabbed the needle and did it myself, and it was way easier. Kind of like when you were little and your mom brushed your hair and it hurt like heck, but when you did it yourself it wasn't bad. Or maybe I'm the only one who had that happen....lol
edit: autocorrect

I totally agree -- I think it would actually have been way easier if I had just done it in a room by myself! Because then I would have just sucked it up and gotten it done. But, I think DH likes being involved in the process... and now that I got over the first one I think it will be fine for him to do the rest. Plus, this way I can blame him for the bruises!

I think I will make him stop counting to three though. That gives too much build up. Just say "okay" and do it. Less drama that way.

farmerlynda · January 2012

kellyrn9956:
I am glad I read this post b/c I have been icing . I will not do so tonight.

I'm guessing it doesn't make too much of a difference so don't feel bad... but better safe than sorry! btw, MH had clearly been researching injections yesterday and when I got home he said "guess what! we can put ice on your stomach so you won't feel anything!" Meanwhile I had posted this thread about an hour earlier

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