Pergesterone in Oil OUCH!! These shots are URGH!

[jennyfer976]

Ok so i know I should not complain but these pergesterone shots are hurting very badly lately. I am getting like a pea sized lump under my skin and the last one even bled a little afterwards and bruised! Anyone else ever have bleeding after a shot or the lump under the skin or a bruise? Is that normal? Is dh doing it right?

[Colia]

PIO injections hurt. My DH gives me the injections-he is so gentle- and after my DD (10yo) massages the area with a tennis ball. I have found that a heat pad does help a bit. Use a 1.5" needle not a 1"! After the pharmacies booboo in giving me the wrong size it has HURT badly. I need to go back to the heat pack. Dont leave the heat on too long though b/c the nurse has told me it can boil and she said that isnt good. *shrug*

[Dfisch]

I put Orajel on a cotton ball and rub the site of the shot 5 minutes prior to my injection.  It numbs it enough to make the shot not hurt as bad.

[alaskacouple]

you also may try warming the oil before injection....it makes it go in MUCH easier. I put the oil in the syringe and then hold it in my palm, or if I am lying around I will put it between my thighs for about half an hour....get the oil nice and warm.

Also, the knots..... my dh would massage the area for about 5 minutes after injection, and massage quite hard...break it up into the muscle... the knots are from the oil just sitting there in the muscle area....

My dh also would see air bubbles when he drew back....

[jennyfer976]

nope air bubbles are found after the needle is already in he pulls back to make sure no blood enters the syringe...at that point a few bubbles can be seen.

[morgansmommy]

Jennyfer, if there is airbubbles, that may be what hurts, is this BEFORE he puts it in?  If so, have him get the air out first but putting the needle up and pushing the air out.  I may be confused though.

[jennyfer976]

Wow thanks everyone...so i am going to try some of your suggestions tonight and see if they help:) Also about hitting a blood vessel, when he pulls back on the syring there is never blood, always air bubbles so it is ok to inject right? Just checking.....cuz sometimes it still bleeds after.

[40smama]

Even though it's been a year since I did those nasty PIO shots, what helped me was to completely numb my hiney (put an ice pack on 10 minutes prior to shot) & then afterwards, I used a heating pad to dissipate the oil so I wouldn't get lumps.

Nursey's right - if you're getting bleeding, you're hitting a blood vessel.  I had that happen plus I also got the bruising on my backside.

Anyway, try numbing your backend a little more to see if that helps - sorry it's hurting but afterwards, you won't even remember the pain (well, just barely :-)) - jennifer

[pumkin08]

I am on progesterone treatment but I don't do injections, I take a pill 3 times a day and I will have to keep taking it till around 10 or 12 weeks. But it's interesting that I hear you ladies are all doing injections? I will ask my Dr about that and why I am taking pills only (not that I am complaining!). Good Luck!

[sasparilla]

Sitting on a heating pad or putting a hot, wet washcloth on the area really helps dissapate the oil so the lumps aren't that bad.  I also run my oil under very hot water for about 15-30 seconds before the shot.

[Nurseypie]

Jenny,

What oil is your progesterone in?

With my 1st 3 IVF cycles the progesterone was in peanut or sesame seed oil. This time however, my progesterone is in Ethyl Oleate, a much thinner substance. It is so thin that the medication can be drawn up with a 22" needle and injected into the muscle with a 25" needle. I can barely feel the shot and sometimes I do not feel it at all. I do have lumps at my injection sites but after repeated injections it is bound to happen.

You are hitting a blood vessel if you are getting blood return in your needle hub. Try to remember which site the blood came from and avoid that site. Also, I'm sure your nurse told you this but just in case: Don't stick yourself with the same needle that you draw the medication up with. The puncturing of the rubber on the vial causes the needle to dull. In either case, I wanted to tell you about the Ethyl Oleate because a lot of people haven't heard of it yet, but it is just as effective and significantly less painful.

W

[anne72]

Yeah they do hurt like hell! I used to ice the area before sticking myself, it helps a little. Also give the area a good rub afterwards . good luck! It will be so worth it !

[mysty2001]

I think you only bleed when you hit a vein
I not got the lumps

I put a bag of peas on the area for a minute before I took the shot
also they gave me a little smaller needle to inject than draw up because I am smaller - but there is no question they hurt

[morgansmommy]

I have had them bleed twice, and once was when the nurse did it.  I would suggest the same of rubbing the spot real hard after he is done.  Mine hurt tonight too, and we have to do them HOW LONG??????? But you are right, its hard not to complain when we know why we aredoing it... OH and one more thing, try heating up the oil on a heating pad before you put it in, that may thin it out.

[Maria2707]

Do you apply the cream(I cant remember the name) on the injection site 30 minutes prior to the shot? Once the shot is given, tell your dh to slightly rub the injection site. It shouldn't bleed much.

[scienceteacher79]

I haven't taken them but I have heard they hurt like HELLLLLLL! I am so sorry - but the are for the best. Hang in there and move the spots around. A friend of mine says she has lumps everywhere from them - so I definately don't think you are alone in this. Good luck sweetie - and Congrats again!