IVF and Meds

Hi Ladies,
I just recieved my meds for my IVF..OMG I literally cried, the box couldnt be any bigger!! There is so much stuff in there!! I can handle to follistum and the Menopur shots (needles are small, same size as my previous shots I took) but the needle for the progestrone!! Its huge!! Anyone know, I have heard that one goes in your thigh..Im super freaked out and hubby gave me my shots before but the needle was alot smaller..He says he can handle it but now that its coming closer to the date I have to start them I can tell he is a little freaked out as well..
I told him he needs to just do it fast..he says he is afraid of hurting me..well if he goes slow it will hurt more..anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on easing my mind about this big needle.? (its strange, I used to be a phlebotomist, no problem sticking other people but cant do myself, I even feel sick when I have to have my blood drawn) I know this will be worth it in the end, but that doesnt ease my fear at all!!
Thanks for listening..
SSBD!!

[mysty2001]

I gave myself the progesterone
I used a bag of frozen veggies or can of OJ and got my rear/hip cold for a minute - then I did it - there were times It would have been nice to have someone else because the needle just did not want to enter (obviously bigger so less sharp)

[butterflybabies]

OMG I just got a chill when you said it didnt want to enter!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! I like the frozen veggie idea!!
Thanks

[Houston79]

Hi! I freaked out when I saw those needles for the first time too, but they go in pretty easily if you do it in your upper butt area.  I say that and I'm a skinny girl, so that tells you it isn't so bad.  The best thing to do is just jab it in quickly and it really doesn't hurt.

[Helen72]

Pio shots were not a big deal.  Actually I stopped mine yesterday.  You can use an ice cube to numb the area of the injection and a heating pad afterwards to help it absorb.  The needle should go in very fast.  It's like throwing a dart.  The injection itself is a little slow since oil goes in very slowly through the narrow injection needle.  

I hated PIO shots in the beginning but once I got my bfp I liked doing them since it's one thing that is under your control that helps to maintain your pregnancy.

When do you start your injections?

[butterflybabies]

I start my shots July 31st! Helen you gave me another chill at the thought of PIO liquid going in slowly!! what happens if you push on the syringe fast? does it splash out!! also how is your pregnancy going?

[bny807]

Just wanted to wish you luck with this cycle!!!! Keep us updated and Hope this will be the last time you have to worry about injections and all the things that come with ttc for a long long long time! : ) GOOD LUCK!

[miky72]

I gave myself the PIO shot and I will begin again tomorrow.
They are not such a big deal.Once you start you'll see.
Also usually they give you 2 needles a bigger one to draw the liquid and a second one to inject.
Make sure you do not use the bigger one on yourself!!! ;-)
good luck!

[sasparilla]

Yep, I agree with Helen & Miky.. They really arent that bad.  Just JAB that needle in fast.  Going slow just prolongs the sting. I also gave myself most of my PIOS.  I didn't use any cold to numb, but I did use heat after.  I would fill my syringe, change the needle, the wrap the entire syringe & needle combo in a heating pad or a wet, hot washcloth  for like 10 - 15 seconds, then do the shot (real fast), and then use the hot, wet washcloth on the injection site.. I would rub real hard to disperse the PIO and then rewarm the washcloth and lay it on my butt for about 2 or 3 minutes.   I only had one lump and never really a bad shot.  I promise, it's really not bad once you get used to them.

Good luck Butterflybabies!!!!!!

[wanting4#1]

I was at work when I received BOTH boxes and I know what you mean about being overwhelmed!  I thought that I was going to die and thought there is no way I am strong enough for all of this, but when I started doing it, I realized that I was and you will too!  

My DH gave me the PIO shots and I was a nervous wreck (we went to the shot training that is offered in our area) and he was calm as could be!  I laid down (I always did it before bedtime, so that I could just lay there and then fall asleep to keep from using the muscle), he numbed it with ice and he pressed down so that it would numb deep into the tissue.  The first time he did it, I cried and said 'please tell me when you are going to start' and he said it's already over!  It got much easier after that because I wasn't worked up so much! :)

Good luck and take each day as they come! :)

[wanting4#1]

One more thing - he gave me the PIO shot into the hip/butt area - not my thigh!  I don't think that you're supposed to do the PIO into the thigh, but I could be wrong!

[sasparilla]

Wanting & Butterfly.. My RE said you "could" do it in the thigh, but would probably end up with a nasty charlie horse.  And since I'm a Miss. Know-it-all, I told my IVF nurse I was going to do it in the thigh, and she said NO and I would end up limping for days.

[Juana824]

I hate PIO shots!!! My Dh gives them to me in the buttocks. With the first cycle we didn't use anything and they hurt like h el l. The second cycle, we used ice and it was much better. I have never injected in the thigh. Good luck to you!

[Helen72]

So you jab the whole needle in quickly but the injection will be going slowly since oil moves slowly through the needle.  It will NOT splash.  You just have to apply a little pressure to make the oil inject.  Like sasparilla said, warming the oil in the syringe helps.  I used to fill my syringe and then carry it in my bra for about 5 minutes.  This keeps the oil at body temperature and you will not feel the oil going in as much and it will be going a little faster.

Like everyone said, it's scary the first time but it's not that bad!!!  

I hope that August is your lucky month!!!!

[butterflybabies]

Thanks Ladies for all the advise and comfort. You made me laugh!! I feel a whole lot better!!
SSBD to all!