https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:14:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1751804 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 22:27:33 +0000 SweetiePie 1751804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Great job! The hardest one is the first one so you've got this! xo </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1751693 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:26:52 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1751693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: Thanks! It's good to know what's possible. And the ice help so very much... :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1751687 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:24:24 +0000 mrswin 1751687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Wow you are a rockstar! I am glad that it went well for you today. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1751655 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:14:38 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1751655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: Ice is AMAZING stuff! Didn't even feel it -- at any point-- which remarkably I can only say for about half (or slightly fewer?) of the times DH has administered the PIO so far! I got everything drawn up and got my gauze pad and Bandaid laid out, then I numbed the area (upper outer buttock/hip) with about 4 cubes of ice in a plastic baggie for several minutes. Finally, for the injection, I half-sat on my bathroom counter with the big wraparound mirror, prepped the site, gave the injection, and done! (Then massage, of course...) I can't guarantee it'll be that easy every time, but I'm definitely not apprehensive about it now! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1749978 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:08:02 +0000 swedishfish 1749978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: brave woman! Good luck! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1749975 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:07:19 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1749975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jenn23: Thanks! :heart: I'm planning a test-run tonight, since DH will be out of the house at our normal time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1749766 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:00:42 +0000 Jenn23 1749766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Good luck!!! Love your positive attitude!!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748834 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:20:13 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1748834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: @SweetiePie: Thank you SO much! You have no idea... I watched a couple of YouTube videos...and I've got this! I'll be posting updates! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748805 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:59:32 +0000 Shutterbug 1748805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: yay, glad you saw this! I don't think I can @ you in a thread you haven't posted in, which is probably why you didn't get a notification. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748797 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:54:54 +0000 SweetiePie 1748797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: haha, I didn't get a notification for some reason! Sorry @FliegepilzHut: I'm just seeing this now!</p> <p>Yes I did PIO myself entirely on the right side. Eventually I did rely on my husband for the left side days just to push the plunger. To me that was the hardest part (since the oil is thicker and had resistance). </p> <p>What I did was stand in my bathroom. I got everything prepped and ready and heated the oil up a bit. @spaniellove: gave me that tip! I would put the heating pad on while I prepped the shot and then Id wrap the syringe in the heating pad for a minute or so. Don't want it to be hot! Just warm. You can usually see the oil has become more liquefied. </p> <p>Then I would go back into the bathroom and lean against the counter (while standing). I once read that it helps to relax the leg of the side you are injecting on. Relaxing the muscle makes it hurt less. I did the hip/butt area. My doc showed me an area that was high and "outside" enough that I could turn and easily reach/see it.<br /> So I would put most of my weight on the non-injection leg and slightly bend the injection side leg.<br /> Wait for the alcohol to dry completely! It stings less.<br /> Hold the skin taught with your non dominant hand, and use your dominant hand for the injection itself.<br /> Then I tried to do the "dart" motion they recommend. I'd give myself a 3 count windup (lol) and then I'd try to inject it as straight as possible and as quickly as possible.<br /> This might be hard to explain but I'll try:<br /> I would hold skin flat/tight with my left hand around injection site and inject wih my right. Then once the needle was the whole way in id grab the barrel of the syringe with my left (letting go of the skin) and moving my right up to the plunger. Pushing the plunger down with my thumb was easiest for me.<br /> Go slowly because you don't want to develop pockets of the oil.<br /> Once the plunger was the whole way down, I'd get the gauze ready in my left hand and pull the needle out quickly and straight.<br /> Immediately put the gauze on the injection site and massage in circular motion for a few minutes. Then I would lay on the heating pad while I watched tv or did my makeup (eventually doc wanted me to do it in the AM). </p> <p>Hope this helps! It sounds like a lot but honestly it wasn't so bad and I really got used to it! The hardest part was running out of injection sites about 7 weeks in. I also asked my doc about the thigh and they really didn't recommend it.<br /> Feel free to ask me any questions. I'd wish you luck but you'll do fine :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748670 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:29:56 +0000 Madison43 1748670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it myself -- my husband travels for work and I had no choice. I injected at the butt. Basically, I got everything all set up and then used a full length mirror. I started with my back to the mirror so I could aim for the right spot, then I turned to the side to make sure the angle of the needle was right. Honesty, it's not that hard once you do it once. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748628 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:52:51 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1748628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@GreenThumb: Thank you! I think I will give it a try...how bad can it be??? :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1748614 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:43:24 +0000 GreenThumb 1748614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: I didn't ever do it myself by we always used the backside per my RE office! I really like these videos for all different types of meds: <a href="http://www.nyufertilitycenter.org/ivf/injections" rel="nofollow">http://www.nyufertilitycenter.org/ivf/injections</a><br /> I'm going to be away from DH one night when we are in the midst of the move, so I've already gotten my mom on board with doing my PIO that night. But I would definitely do it myself if I had to! :goodluck: You can do it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747847 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:45:16 +0000 Jenn23 1747847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Props to you ladies that have done it yourself! I never could have done that. My husband did all the PIO injections. The IVF nurse drew bullseyes on both upper butt areas so he knew where to do them. Never said we could do them in any area but there. But man, I couldn't do it myself. I've seen lots of women do it on YouTube, though. You could watch those and see if you think you can do it. Otherwise, go get it done at your RE office!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747274 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:26:08 +0000 spaniellove 1747274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shutterbug: I remember that too! </p> <p>@FliegepilzHut: Maybe you can wall her? She wrote out an explanation somewhere! Or maybe you can go into your clinic and have the nurse give you your injection for those few days? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747159 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:43:30 +0000 tequiero21 1747159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luckily I never had to do it. It was sooooooo hard doing ganirelix (sp?) and that was an easy shot lol. It was on the butt tho. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747104 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:26:27 +0000 swedishfish 1747104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have a nurse do it. My IVF nurse offered to come to our house and give me the PIO injections for the low price of $50 a pop. :shocked: but I would've paid it if DH was out of town! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747103 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:26:00 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1747103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TheFixIts: Thank you! Only 2 more, then? :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747037 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:09:09 +0000 TheFixIts 1747037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! On my right. The only thing that surprised me is how thick the oil is! It's hard to get in there!</p> <p>Hubs gets home Friday. I'll be glad for him to resume his duties :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1747008 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 07:56:23 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1747008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meganmp: Thanks! DH is getting very proficient after the first week!</p> <p>@TheFixIts: Excellent! Did you inject on your dominant hand side? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746811 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 23:32:46 +0000 TheFixIts 1746811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Literally had to do this for the first time tonight! Definitely do your butt. My RE said the thigh is horribly painful. It wasn't so bad reaching around. Just use the bathroom mirror. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746789 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:56:48 +0000 meganmp 1746789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: I never had to do them myself, but I had my husband draw on my butt with Sharpie to make sure he was getting the right spot. I could have done it myself if I needed to- lying on my side with my top let bent up. My advice for PIO- warm it up for about ten minutes ahead of time- I just put mine in my cleavage. Then, scrub (or have DH scrub) the area with an alcohol wipe... scrub HARD, for about 20 seconds. Right before he (or you) stabs, have him blow quickly on the spot. It makes it cool when the alcohol evaporates, and helps. The scrubbing helps numb the area, and when PIO is warmer, it's easier to inject. When he did it this way, I barely felt it. I mean, it wasn't awesome, but it helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746750 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:14:48 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1746750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I hope so!</p> <p>@derevival: Yikes! :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746746 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:12:57 +0000 derevival 1746746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to do it once and that was enough for me. I did it while standing up, so I could look in the mirror and make sure I aimed the needle correctly. I saw a YouTube video that advocated for the butt; supposedly the thigh hurts more. Guess you could try it once and see if it is more painful. Sorry - I guess I don't have any real tips. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746743 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:12:38 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1746743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: @Shutterbug: Sounds like I get serious street cred if I do get this figured out! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746680 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:27:14 +0000 Shutterbug 1746680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where is @sweetiepie? She did her PIO injections herself. I remember because I thought it was so badass! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746672 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:22:10 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1746672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do PIO, but I think butt would be so much less painful! I know lots of bees have done it so I'm sure you'll get good advice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746667 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:19:13 +0000 PurplePumps 1746667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh my, I have no idea, but just want to wish you luck!<br /> I think if my husband had to be out of town and I had to do that I'd seriously just drive to the docs office everyday and have them do it! I can barely hold still for him to do the ovidrel shot... and that's after 10 minutes of squirming and stalling! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-pio-self-administration#post-1746611 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 20:42:41 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1746611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I almost hate asking this...but my answers from Google were not satisfactory.</p> <p>Have you given yourself an intramuscular progesterone injection? What site did you use (hip, butt, thigh)? Any tips? </p> <p>My DH is going to be out of town for a couple of days, so I'm going to have to figure this out. If I remember correctly, I was discouraged from using the thigh site for the PIO...maybe because it's more uncomfortable? But it surely is accessible... Educate me, please! </p>