I'm single and also gave them to myself in front of a full-length mirror, just twisted around a bit. I had the nurses put giant X's on my hip/butt with marker and redo them when I went in for anything. I can't imagine giving myself an IM shot in my thigh. Doesn't that hurt like hell?

I too am single and my doc at SGF told me to do the PIO in the thigh would make it almost impossible to walk the next day.

I just had to pysch myself into being able to do it on my own. Have a nurse at SGF draw circles on your back side, that takes 100% of the guess work out of where it should go!

I load up the ipod with music, warm the oil in my bra about 20 min before hand...take a couple of deep breaths and pop it in. Slowly inject. Honestly it doesn't hurt going in, if you do it in a swift dart like movement. Even slowly pushing the needle in didn't hurt, but pushing the PIO in can be a bit uncomfortable. After I massage the area and sit on a heating pad for about 20 min.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

a nursing student would never give this without licensure.
never

If you insurance company gives you a stink (and they will), I'd honestly put an ad out at local college nursing programs (RN not LPN) and specifically say you want someone who has already passed NUR102.

I found this on SGFC website and was thinking of using them myself http://www.homeinjectionsplus.com/

I self-administer my PIO shots while standing in the bathroom looking in the mirror. The worst part is gathering up the courage to plunge that needle into your own body! There are a lot of videos on YouTube--watch a few and give it a try. You are going at this single, so I already know you are a tough cookie.

My PIO tips:
1. Warm the vial of PIO in my bra to make the oil thinner, before loading it into the syringe to inject into my booty
2. Make sure you are injecting above your butt-crack line.
3. I am not sore, bruised or filled with painful lumps. I credit this to no icing beforehand.
4. Massage the area afterward for a few seconds.

I did them myself as we'll. not too bad. Are you in the dc area? Do you have any friends who might be willing to help?

OP here - I've done the estrogen shots in my thigh without any real issues. I was surprised that they weren't okay with the thigh for PIO. I was thinking to maybe have someone just come out for the first couple times until I get comfortable with it. Thanks for the link.

The thicker the liquid, the slower you have to inject it. For the weekly P17 shots, it took practically a minute to inject it all, without feeling any discomfort at all. The muscle has to be as relaxed as possible, which won't happen the first time but might the next time!

I did the shots myself. Just stood looking sort of sideways in a full length mirror and it was fine. You can ice the spot ahead and you won't feel it. The nurse can mark the right spot for you if you're worried.

I had a home health aide come to my house to give me weekly P17 shots while I was on bed rest. My insurance company fought it big time, though. Maybe start with Alere?

http://www.alere.com/us/en/health-solutions/health-management/women-and-childrens-health/ob-homecare.html

Can you ask SG about suppositories instead? I don't think one is known to be all that much better than the other.

Look on YouTube for videos. Its possible to do these shots on your own. The videos have some great tips.

Be organized with everything you need next to you. Antiseptic swabs etc. Get your meds into the syringe.

Lie on your stomach and kind of shift onto one side so the butt cheek you want to inject is slightly raised. I know the needle looks huge but it doesn't actually hurt that much going in.

If you can have someone help the first time you do it, it will get you over the psychological barrier. I was convinced I couldn't do it but ended up being fine.

Your nurse can give you a recommendation of someone who can do this. I think it's ~$75/visit. I'm terrified of needles and manged to do subcutaneous myself. I'm single too. However, I think I'd have to make the investment for the PIO shots--that needle is too big to DIY.

I just found out SGF wants PIO shots given in the buttock and not the thigh and think that will be difficult as I'm single. I was wondering how much this cost well and if it's really necessary to do PIO in the butt.