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PIO-- pain in the butt...

KLake42KLake42 member
in Infertility
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.
Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve
Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low
TTC with frozen donor sperm and science

7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!  
fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! 
Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)

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Re: PIO-- pain in the butt...

  • prudence9-2prudence9-2 member
    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... 
    TTC history in spoiler box:
    Me: 42, single
    Hysteroscopy: 2013
    IUI #1-2: 2013 BFN
    Surgery 10/2015: Planned to start trying again but had a surgery. (Not related to fertility)
    Surgery 5/2016: Planned to start trying again but had another surgery. (Not related to fertility)
    IUI  #3-5 (with Clomid): summer 2016 BFN
    IVF #1: 11/2016. 30R; 21M; 20F; 8B (6 day5 & 2 day6); 4 normal after PGS
    Medicated FET #1: 1/31/2017 transferred 1 embryo 3AA. BFP. Embryo stopped growing at 6w 1d. MUA at 9w 3d.
    Medicated FET #2: June 2017 - cancelled...
    Hysteroscopy #2: June 2017
    Medicated FET #2: 8/7/2017 transferred 1 embryo 5BB. BFP. Ended in CP.
    Medicated FET #3: 10/11/2017 transferred 1 embryo 3AA. BFN
    ERA: December 2017 - need an extra 12 hours of PIO
    Medicated FET #4: 1/24/2018 transferred 1 embryo 4AA. BFN
    Out of embryos.  :'(
    IVF #2: 03/2018.

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  • nim81nim81 member
    Massage, walking around, and heat helped!!
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  • JuliaGoolia719JuliaGoolia719 member

    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.

    Together Let Us Seek the Heights


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  • kaseycocokaseycoco member
    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.
    TTC #1 since Aug 2015 (unexplained infertility)
    10/16-12/16 -3 IUI, all BFN
    2/17 IVF #1 froze 5 five day blasts
    5/17 FET#1 BFN  
    6/17 FET #2 BFP :)  EDD 2/27/18

    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • LeFemmeVioletteLeFemmeViolette member
    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. 

    Me: 32, Hubs: 36
    Married: September 2013
    TTC since April 2014, Dx: MFI
    DH started Clomid Oct 2015
    April-June 2016- 3 IUIs: All BFN
    July 2016- IVF #1: 16 eggs ->1 PGS-normal embryo
    Sept 2016- single FET #1: BFN
    Nov 2016- IVF #2 16 eggs -> 3 PGS-normal embryos
    Jan 2017- single FET #2: BFN
    Feb 2017- endometrial scratch
    March 2017- FET #3 (double transfer): BFP!
       Beta #1: 386 (9dp5dt), Beta #2: 1,960 (12dp5dt)
       Pregnant with: Triplets Twins Singleton
       It's a GIRL! :)
       EDD: November 16, 2017
       Dx w/ preeclampsia: Updated delivery date: 10/4/17
    <3 Hazel Summerlyn <3
    Find me on the IG

    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • prudence9-2prudence9-2 member
    @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. 
    TTC history in spoiler box:
    Me: 42, single
    Hysteroscopy: 2013
    IUI #1-2: 2013 BFN
    Surgery 10/2015: Planned to start trying again but had a surgery. (Not related to fertility)
    Surgery 5/2016: Planned to start trying again but had another surgery. (Not related to fertility)
    IUI  #3-5 (with Clomid): summer 2016 BFN
    IVF #1: 11/2016. 30R; 21M; 20F; 8B (6 day5 & 2 day6); 4 normal after PGS
    Medicated FET #1: 1/31/2017 transferred 1 embryo 3AA. BFP. Embryo stopped growing at 6w 1d. MUA at 9w 3d.
    Medicated FET #2: June 2017 - cancelled...
    Hysteroscopy #2: June 2017
    Medicated FET #2: 8/7/2017 transferred 1 embryo 5BB. BFP. Ended in CP.
    Medicated FET #3: 10/11/2017 transferred 1 embryo 3AA. BFN
    ERA: December 2017 - need an extra 12 hours of PIO
    Medicated FET #4: 1/24/2018 transferred 1 embryo 4AA. BFN
    Out of embryos.  :'(
    IVF #2: 03/2018.

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  • KLake42KLake42 member
    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!
    Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve
    Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low
    TTC with frozen donor sperm and science

    7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
    2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
    Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
    Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!  
    fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! 
    Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)

    Report Reply
  • JuliaGoolia719JuliaGoolia719 member
    @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!

    Together Let Us Seek the Heights


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  • Kp214Kp214 member
    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.  
    Me:32 DH:36
    Me: DOR, poor egg quality, MTHFR
    DH: MFI
    TTC since 3/2014
    2015: 3 IUI's-BFN
    12/2015: 1st IVF cycle-(9 follicles retrieved, 5 mature, 3 fertilized w/ICSI, transferred 1 excellent and 1 good embryo on day 3)-chemical pregnancy
    3/2016: 2nd IVF cycle- canceled (3 follicles retrieved, 3 mature, all fertilized w/ICSI, 1 fragmented, 2 arrested) 
    3/2016: RE suggested donor eggs- taking an ivf break and to supplement 
    9/2016: 3rd ivf cycle-cancelled due to early ovulation
    Oct./Nov 2016: 4th ivf cycle- EPP-AFC:5, retrieved 10, 10 mature, 8 fertilized with ICSI, 6 blastocysts biopsied and frozen. 3 CCS normal embryos
    1/9/17: transferred 1 embryo-BFP 1/16
    1/18/17: beta #1-104
    1/20/17: beta #2-174
    2/2/17: first u/s, heartbeat of 107 at 6w1d
    7/20/17: baby boy born at 30+3 via emergency c-section 


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  • PoeMasquePoeMasque member
    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! 
    Me: 39 SO: 36

    Dx: low progesterone, possible DOR - officially "unexplained"

    TTC#1 since November 2015
    9/16/2016 IUI#1 - BFN
    10/12/2016 IUI#2 - BFN
    1/21/2017 Clomid/IUI#3 - BFN
    March 2017 IVF: BFP! (beta#1 191, beta#2 378!) - it's a boy! DS born 12/6/2017

    TTC #2 since July 2018
    May 2019 IVF #2: BFP! (beta#1 346, beta#2 646) - vanishing twin at 8 weeks. Baby B still going strong - due 2/8/20!
    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • MomifbyseaMomifbysea member
    @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!
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  • PoeMasquePoeMasque member
    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! 
    Me: 39 SO: 36

    Dx: low progesterone, possible DOR - officially "unexplained"

    TTC#1 since November 2015
    9/16/2016 IUI#1 - BFN
    10/12/2016 IUI#2 - BFN
    1/21/2017 Clomid/IUI#3 - BFN
    March 2017 IVF: BFP! (beta#1 191, beta#2 378!) - it's a boy! DS born 12/6/2017

    TTC #2 since July 2018
    May 2019 IVF #2: BFP! (beta#1 346, beta#2 646) - vanishing twin at 8 weeks. Baby B still going strong - due 2/8/20!
    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • JuliaGoolia719JuliaGoolia719 member
    @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!

    Together Let Us Seek the Heights


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  • AngelaagAngelaag member
    For OOP, any suggestions on the cheapest pharmacy for PIO. My script is with ethyl oleate. Thanks!!!!
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  • JESSABER0414JESSABER0414 member
    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)

    Married: October 2014

    Me: 35 DH: 39

    TTC since November 2014

    Diagnosis: Anovulation from PCOSish without syndrome, Male factors - low motility and morphology issues

    April-Sept. 2015 - Clomid and TI - BFN

    Dec. 2015- HSG - Clear tubes

    Jan., Feb., March 2016 - Letrozole 7.5mg and TI with HCG trigger= BFN

    April, May, June 2016 - Letrozole 7.5mg and IUI with HCG trigger= BFN

    September 2016 - IVF round #1;ER 9/26 with ICSI on 14 eggs - developed mild OHSS. 

    Sept 2016 - 12 non-PGS embryos frozen (5 5AAs)

    FET #1 Jan 16, 2017 - BFP!- MC at 6W5d

    FET #2 May 8, 2017 - BFP! EDD 1-24-2018

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  • AngelaagAngelaag member
    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. 
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