ivf - day 30 - all about injections

"IVF" is synonymous with "injections."

Once one decides she's going through with IVF, she comes to a quick realization that (1) she needs a personal assistant and (2) she will become a human pin-cushion.

I didn't have a problem with #2, but #1 is a post for another day....

I'm a pretty easy patient because needles don't bother me and I'm the strange one at the dentist and never want my mouth numbed, so I'm okay with a little pain, too.

IVF injections begin with Lupron. I mentioned this earlier, but it's basically a suppression drug that takes me into a menopausal state. My ovaries are at rest. And, they need rest, because on Saturday, I'm puttin' 'em in to overdrive!

So, this is what I do every morning at 7:00am:

Open the alcohol wipe (sorry for the blurriness, it was 7:00am and I was holding the camera and working my magic at the same time).

Wipe off a spot on my belly. This must have been a day for the right side. I toggle back and forth, since, well, I have ovaries on both sides.

And, as a side note, I never thought my belly would be making its blog debut under these circumstances.

Then, I use the other side of the wipe to clean off the top of the Lupron container.

Next, I insert the syringe/needle into the top. Notice how there's air in the syringe. I then depress the needle to put air into the container, to make withdrawing the liquid easier. Otherwise it creates a sort of vacuum....I'm no physicist and this is how I was taught to do this, so this is what I do.

Then, I turn the container upside down. Air goes to the top (duh) and I get my liquid with no bubbles. I pull back on the syringe until the stopper is at the 10 iu mark (now I'm down to 5 iu's).

Drumroll please....it's time for a one-handed injection while holding a camera.....

Ta-da!!!!!!
Now it's time to dispose of the syringe/needle in my very own sharps container. Safety first, you know.

Just a few closing remarks now:

• I pulled my shirt down before leaving the house.
• Later on the day I took these photos (Monday), I had an appointment at the fertility clinic: a suppression check. At this appointment, they took blood and did an ultrasound to see if I had any cysts and to monitor how many micro-follicles I had growing. All was well there. Then, I went to another room for my trial embryo transfer. Ultimately, I didn't have to do this since I had just had one done last June. But, normally they would lay me down and insert a tube through my cervix and measure the length to where the embryos will be placed later that cycle. It's not the most comfortable thing, I'll be honest, so I'm glad I didn't have to do it. We did go over pre-op protocol and Jennifer, my IVF nurse, explained my upcoming meds. I got to practice with some placebos (the real stuff is too expensive) and now I'm ready to go on Saturday with my stimulation meds. My Lupron was decreased to 5 iu's as well.
• The question was asked on my folate post regarding purchasing folate over-the-counter. I get mine at Vitamin Shoppe, but I'm sure you can find some at Wal-Mart or any pharmacy. One thing to consider when purchasing folate is the amount in each pill. You need at least 1g (gram) of folate per day, but vitamin companies don't make it that easy for us. It's available in 800 mcg (0.8g) and 400 mcg (0.4g). Chances are, you're getting 200mcg in the food you eat each day, so taking the 800mcg is fine.