Shots shots shots shots shots - [LMFAO]
When you saw this title, I hope you started chanting shots the way that LMFAO and Lil Jon do in the song “Shots” - AND, I hope you know that this is a little bit differently than they meant it ;)
This morning I began PIO shots as the next step in my FET transfer protocol, and this song was what my husband used to keep me laughing.
The last PIO injection I did for my pregnancy with my daughter was 11/2/18. It was my 109th PIO shot, and the routine was so ingrained in my husband and I that we didn’t think twice about getting out the supplies, preparing the injection, administering the shot, or recovering from it.
I wish I could say that this morning, I picked up where I left off almost two years ago. But, to be honest, that just simply wouldn’t be true.
I have been trying to mentally prepare for these injections for weeks now. I knew they were coming. I organized my medication and supplies when they arrived. I scheduled the injections on my calendar. I pulled out my heating pad and my ice pack and buzzy in preparation. And then, I realized that I was full of feelings.
I was nervous. The needles for PIO injections are really long. They look intimidating. Remembering the discomfort, the bruising, the knots under my skin from before - that made me inhale sharply. The firs time around, I didn’t know what PIO would be like until I was already doing PIO. Now, I know. Now, I’m worried. What if I’m not as tough or as brave as I was then?
Starting injections also meant that my IVF restrictions started too.
Unfamiliar with those? Let me give you a summary:
Refrain from engaging in intercourse
Refrain from lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk
Refrain from extra exposure to heat (saunas, hot tubs, baths)
Refrain from consuming more than 200mg of caffeine per day
Refrain from drinking alcohol
Refrain from significant exercise (but stretching and walking are ok)
Refrain from prolonged bedrest (light movement is recommended)
Refrain from traveling (its fine, we’re still living in a pandemic)
The most major change for me, besides the twice daily injections will be the obvious. Until intrauterine pregnancy is confirmed or disputed, I cannot lift my 25lb toddler. My 16 month old girl, who doesn’t understand why mama won’t do “Uppey!” is already less than thrilled about this. Luckily, she lives with two other strong and snuggly adults who will pick up the slack while mama “has a boo-boo,” but hearing her cries about this still pierce through my heart.
When my daughter and her hopeful siblings are older, I know telling them these stories of their creation will mean so much to them, including the way that our lives changed each time. I know that I’m really proud of and grateful for the ways that we as a family have made room for Infertility, whether or not we thought it was fair or frustrating, and the ways that we fought tooth and nail to get to this moment in time. Building our family is much harder than we ever imagined, but we’re also not people who’ve ever said no to chasing our dreams.
Now, the thing you’ve been waiting for -
The most common questions I get asked about PIO!
Q: How do you prepare for each injection?
A: Here’s my “down to a science” method - the one that I found worked best for me two years ago.
Ice the injection site (upper, outer quadrant of butt cheek) for 8-10 minutes to numb the area.
Use Buzzy for about 30 seconds on the injection site.
Slide Buzzy up about an inch above the injection site, and use alcohol swab to clean injection site area.
Keeping Buzzy in place, administer the injection.
Using a handheld, vibrating massager, massage the area for 3-5 minutes.
Apply a heating pad, on medium heat, to the area for 30 minutes.
Q: How do you prevent under the skin knots after injections?
A: I have a strict injection rotation policy. Since my FET protocol is 2x a day PIO injections, I do the morning and evening injections on the same side of my butt and then switch to the opposite side for both injections the following day. The morning/evening injections are in opposite corners of the upper, outer quadrant of my butt cheek to ensure that both injections have enough space.
If this feels confusing to you - see image to the left!
Q: How do you organize your IVF supplies?
A: I’m so excited to share something new on this front! In the past, I have used a variety of plastic bins or three drawer organizers for my IVF supplies - including medications, patches, suppositories, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, gauze, bandaids, etc. It’s always felt really important to me to feel organized, but I was never able to find “the best” option. Enter MyVitro! I learned about MyVitro earlier this summer, and I’m really excited about everything their company offers.
Danielle, the founder, struggled with infertility and was discouraged about the lack of products made specifically for IVF Warriors - so she created her dream options! Next week, Danielle will be sharing a little bit about her own story, the creation of MyVitro, and some advice on balancing Infertility, Fertility Treatments & your Career as a guest post here on the blog! I can’t wait to feature her here!!
And, my favorite news. Not only am I so pumped to be using the fertility caddy & shot station as I administer my own PIO shots, but I’ve also partnered up with Danielle to bring you all MyVitro at a discounted rate!
To save 10% on MyVitro products, use the code: HEARTFELT
*Note: Discounts don't apply to Deluxe or Essential IVF Support Kits.
If you’re browsing the site or trying to pick out which products are best for you - reach out & let me know! I’m happy to help you decide!
