The March 2008 Infertility ONE Thread - Page 8

[ItyBty]

mermay - I can reassure you about the needles - I used to be a HUGE needle-phobe, but the Follistim needles really dont hurt at all - you barely feel them! The first night of my first shot DH and I were handing the needle back and forth all "You do it! No you do it!" Because I was so freaked out by it, and when I finally stuck it in, I barely felt a thing. If it helps, ice down your shot-spot with an ice cube to numb it a bit, then use the rubbing alcohol swab, then do the shot. I'm not gonna lie, the HCG shot is a bit more of a pinch, and you have to push harder to stick it in, but it really only hurts for a second. I promise you once you do it once, you'll be the same way I am, I promise you you'll barely feel the Follistim needles. The anticipation of them was far worse than the actual prick.

[NishaG]

One more thing: Maybe you can add, if you have room that I had an ectopic pregnancy 16 years ago, so I only have 1 tube and ovary?

[mischievium]

Originally Posted by NishaG

One more thing: Maybe you can add, if you have room that I had an ectopic pregnancy 16 years ago, so I only have 1 tube and ovary?

Aye, aye, captain!

[mermay1677]

Originally Posted by ItyBty

mermay - I can reassure you about the needles - I used to be a HUGE needle-phobe, but the Follistim needles really dont hurt at all - you barely feel them! The first night of my first shot DH and I were handing the needle back and forth all "You do it! No you do it!" Because I was so freaked out by it, and when I finally stuck it in, I barely felt a thing. If it helps, ice down your shot-spot with an ice cube to numb it a bit, then use the rubbing alcohol swab, then do the shot. I'm not gonna lie, the HCG shot is a bit more of a pinch, and you have to push harder to stick it in, but it really only hurts for a second. I promise you once you do it once, you'll be the same way I am, I promise you you'll barely feel the Follistim needles. The anticipation of them was far worse than the actual prick.

ItyBty - thank you for the encouragement... I'm sure I'll feel the same way in the end... but for now I've had to hide all the "supplies" to keep from freaking myself out!!!

Well, today is day 2 of provera.... and the cramps have increased.... so who know when AF will actually show and I'll have the opportunity to jab myself w/a needle... lol...

[Julia'sMom]

So...can you ladies offer any tips to make the HCG shot better? Can you ice the site? Better to lay down or stand up? I'm assuming it was an IM shot (in the butt). Last time I had a SQ shot which I did in my thigh which wasn't bad. My dh is quite worried about having to give me that one.

For those taking Provera, it wasn't bad. In fact, while I had heavy AF afterwards (~8 days) I didn't have any bad cramping. I'm just glad my thick lining is all cleaned out and we can start fresh.

Right now, waiting on ins approval to order meds to start clomid.

[ItyBty]

For the HCG shot, I use my belly, same as with the Follistim. I don't bother icing first, but it is more of a pinch than the tinier Follistim/GonalF needles, so you do have to push a bit harder to get the needle in, and you may find that icing works for you. I just waltz into the kitchen, grab the shot from the fridge, make sure the air bubbles aren't in the needle, swab my belly with rubbing alcohol, and give myself the shot.

[songbird45]

my dh gets faint and lightheaded at the mere THOUGHT of needles. There's no period sex around here because he gets weird and queasy around blood.

I hope the Clomid works, because I don't really know if he'll be up to the challenge of giving me shots.

[Julia'sMom]

Originally Posted by ItyBty

For the HCG shot, I use my belly, same as with the Follistim. I don't bother icing first, but it is more of a pinch than the tinier Follistim/GonalF needles, so you do have to push a bit harder to get the needle in, and you may find that icing works for you. I just waltz into the kitchen, grab the shot from the fridge, make sure the air bubbles aren't in the needle, swab my belly with rubbing alcohol, and give myself the shot.

Just out of curiosity, what is the brand name of your hcg shot? I used Ovidrel first time around (years ago) and it was like you describe and the shot was all ready prepared. This time I am getting Preganyl? and I'll have to do some chemistry lab with mixing liquid and powder then rolling to mix before drawining into the needle to inject. They didn't give any other possible locations beside the butt, which means dh has to do it. Hmm...maybe I should ask.

[ItyBty]

Hmm - I've been using Ovidril - which comes in a pre-filled syringe. I've never tried the mix-it-yourself kind. Is it better? cheaper? whats the difference?

[Julia'sMom]

Originally Posted by ItyBty

Hmm - I've been using Ovidril - which comes in a pre-filled syringe. I've never tried the mix-it-yourself kind. Is it better? cheaper? whats the difference?

I don't know. The RE doesn't carry/use Ovidrel anymore so I've got the other kind. However, the ovidrel did work to conceive my dd.

[Seedlings]

Hi everyone,

I have been using 10,000 units of Novarel as my hcg trigger and I mix it with 1 ml of the diluent (sterilized water) supplied by the pharmacy. There is a seperate large needle that is used to mix the water with the meds. Then you must switch to a smaller needle to do the injection or that shot will really hurt.

Not sure how expensive it is since my paperwork is only showing my co-pay. But per my re I can only inject it in the upper outer quadrant of my behind. I will say that the fist time it hurt for a long time but for the last two I did not fell much pain.

I had a terrible headache on Monday and Tuesday. I just made the connection by reading my med paperwork that it was from the trigger . I was also really emotional too, crying and just not dealing well with things. I am feeling better but it has been a rough couple of days.

We had our ivf education yesterday and it went well. I wish we did not need it but we want to make the April ivf. So we need to get going on all the steps for it. We will know on 3/21 if this iui worked. Right now I am keeping busy so I am trying not dewelling on the poas thing.

[poetgirl]

The Roadblock

Hi there all,
to Everyone and lots of : to all your cycles.

I wanted to pose a question out there.
How do you emotionally handle a "roadblock" or two or three along the path of IF?
IF in itself is a roadblock, I realize, but it is so hard when you've come this far and something makes you forced to take a month off, some new prob. gets discovered, a canceled cycle.

My issue is that my doc found a small uterine polyp in Nov. I waited until Feb. for a polypectomy (did one cycle of clomid in betw. anyway), the polypectomy was not possible due to the shape of the polyp so a surgery was scheduled for March. They just attempted the surgery last Friday and I say attempted because basically they put me under and tried to dilate my cervix for 45 min, failed and woke me up. So here again, I have been sched. for another surgery.
We went to the RE in Dec. at cycle 13 and was ready to go full steam ahead and ever since, it's been : (esp. since we don't even know if the polyp is a problem). All that is to say that I am having a hard time taking all this waiting and failing really hard and I know many of you have been through much worse, but how have you managed to make peace with it or just manage it period.
My acup. says when you get to the fert. treatment stage, you're ready to sprint to the finish line, but often it's more of a long distance marathon. Sigh.
Any sage words out there? I meditated through the first year and though there were many low points, I was much more resilient. TIA!

[poetgirl]

Originally Posted by Seedlings

Hi everyone,

I have been using 10,000 units of Novarel as my hcg trigger and I mix it with 1 ml of the diluent (sterilized water) supplied by the pharmacy. There is a seperate large needle that is used to mix the water with the meds. Then you must switch to a smaller needle to do the injection or that shot will really hurt.

Not sure how expensive it is since my paperwork is only showing my co-pay. But per my re I can only inject it in the upper outer quadrant of my behind. I will say that the fist time it hurt for a long time but for the last two I did not fell much pain.

I had a terrible headache on Monday and Tuesday. I just made the connection by reading my med paperwork that it was from the trigger . I was also really emotional too, crying and just not dealing well with things. I am feeling better but it has been a rough couple of days.

We had our ivf education yesterday and it went well. I wish we did not need it but we want to make the April ivf. So we need to get going on all the steps for it. We will know on 3/21 if this iui worked. Right now I am keeping busy so I am trying not dewelling on the poas thing.

Seedlings, Sorry for the rough few days. I am thinking of you and hoping that your IUI did work! Many hugs and very good wishes your way!

[songbird45]

I'm sure many people here have gone through one or more cycles of Clomid, so can I ask a question about it? I've been having weird vision changes. In certain light I see weird ripply shadows every time I blink or move my eyes. I had it for one day last cycle, and it's been two days so far this cycle (I'm on the same dose). I took my last pill yesterday, so I hope it goes away now, but could this be a result of the Clomid?

[Seedlings]

Originally Posted by songbird45

I'm sure many people here have gone through one or more cycles of Clomid, so can I ask a question about it? I've been having weird vision changes. In certain light I see weird ripply shadows every time I blink or move my eyes. I had it for one day last cycle, and it's been two days so far this cycle (I'm on the same dose). I took my last pill yesterday, so I hope it goes away now, but could this be a result of the Clomid?

So funny you mention this, because that is exactly what happened to me. It felt like I was halucinating. It did go away but it was strange.

[Aly22681]

Oh OH, I want to join, I had no idea this thread was even over here.

DH and I have been TTC #1 since Jan 07 (although we had an opps m/c before then). I had another m/c in May 07 at 9 weeks, followed by a D&C and have not been able to get pg since. I have done 4 cycles of clomid, 1 cycle of Femara, and now I'm going back to clomid for one last cycle before heading to an RE. I have done one IUI already and we are planning another for this month. Yay for infertility, only not really!!

[Aly22681]

Originally Posted by songbird45

I'm sure many people here have gone through one or more cycles of Clomid, so can I ask a question about it? I've been having weird vision changes. In certain light I see weird ripply shadows every time I blink or move my eyes. I had it for one day last cycle, and it's been two days so far this cycle (I'm on the same dose). I took my last pill yesterday, so I hope it goes away now, but could this be a result of the Clomid?

It has not happened to me however, I have read it is a side effect. Hopefully it goes away very soon for ya!

[mischievium]

Originally Posted by poetgirl

Hi there all,
to Everyone and lots of : to all your cycles.

I wanted to pose a question out there.
How do you emotionally handle a "roadblock" or two or three along the path of IF?
IF in itself is a roadblock, I realize, but it is so hard when you've come this far and something makes you forced to take a month off, some new prob. gets discovered, a canceled cycle.

... My acup. says when you get to the fert. treatment stage, you're ready to sprint to the finish line, but often it's more of a long distance marathon. Sigh.
Any sage words out there? I meditated through the first year and though there were many low points, I was much more resilient. TIA!

Well, I, like you, haven't been through as much as some on this thread, but I have definitely experienced some "roadblocks." From having to wait 3 months for an appointment with the endocrinologist (not an RE, but a regular endo), to DH having to do yet ANOTHER SA, just to get to the point that we have a baseline on where we both stand fertility-wise so that we can figure out what the next step needs to be.

For me, I've started taking yoga and started making changes in my diet (I'm not perfect, but I am trying to find a way to eat more veggies and whole grains and less sugar and white flour). In my case, I feel like doing these things while I'm "waiting" still moves me a little bit further toward my goal-- making my body healthier and stronger and more ready/ able to carry a child.

I think your acupuncturist is right on, but I don't know if there's a way to make it easier to endure. There are just some things out of our control, things that we can't manage, just find a way to cope with. So... come here, vent, cry, breathe, and do what you need to to get through it .

Originally Posted by Aly22681

Yay for infertility, only not really!!

This made me laugh out loud , this should be our official thread slogan.
Welcome to the thread Aly22681, when you get a moment, please read over the little synopsis after your username on the first page and make sure I got all the details right.

[Aly22681]

Everything looks perfect for me on the main page....

I am cross posting this here bc I think alot of you will understand.... On the 2ww thread that I am hosting, some of the girls just being silly visited this site and asked if they would get pg next cycle...of couse they got "DEFINITLY" and other positive anwsers. However just for kicks when I did it this is what I got......

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi
I went to the magic eight ball site and asked
"will we be sucessful this cycle?" The answer: "NO WAY"
so then I typed in: "Really!!??" and again it replied : "My sources say no"
So then I typed in "No, come on now, be serious" and it replied "Absolutly" :
So the moral of this story is: Maybe TTC is just like the magic 8-ball...
For some people it happens right away, for others, like me, you just have to be persistent!! HAHAHA

[Seedlings]

Originally Posted by poetgirl

Seedlings, Sorry for the rough few days. I am thinking of you and hoping that your IUI did work! Many hugs and very good wishes your way!

Thanks, it really helps to have someone to talk to, this infertility thing is a difficult journey.