This new shot, that is. For any of you that know me really well, you know how I feel about the title. Sickos.
I'm into my second full week of shots, and they have been surprisingly hard this time. Last cycle I didn't even think about the shots. After the first one was done it just became something I had to do. This time has been so much harder for some reason physically. After talking about it to a friend who has done a few IVF cycles herself, we came to the conclusion that there is some sort of scar tissue from all the meds, so the needles just hurt more. Not sure if it's true, but it sure seems that way! That's where the title of the blog comes in - my stomach just couldn't handle any more pokes! I emailed my nurse to ask if "Geno could do it in my butt" - I could have said it much more gracefully, but again, if you know me well, I get much more of a kick out of being not-so-graceful. Anyways, she said I could give the shot anywhere I can "pinch an inch". So on to my butt cheeks we went! Let me tell you how much better it's been since I made the switch to the butt. (Oh I love this reference too much). Really though, the shots are a breeze! A little sting, then nothing! Not even a red spot!
Until I started the Repronex last night. Oh. My. GAH. It sucks. First of all, it comes in two little vials that you have to mix yourself. It involves taking a big daddy needle, sucking out 1 ml of sodium chloride, putting that into the vial full of powder, swirling (not shaking) it around, drawing it all out with the huge needle, twisting off the huge needle and replacing it with a much smaller (yes please) needle. Phew! Last night I was so un-suspecting. I had Geno give me the Lupron and Follistim, no big deal, and was bent over, ready for the third one. It instantly hurt - and it hurt badly - then stung all the way down the back of my leg. Like stung bad enough that I was jumping up and down with tears in my eyes and jogging in place because I didn't know how else to make it stop. Then my skin broke out in a big red rash that ran down the back of my leg and hurt all night. You can imagine how excited I was to do another one tonight... but, to my surprise, it wasn't so awful! First of all, last night I drew up all of the Sodium Chloride from the first vial - I was only supposed to draw up 1 of the 2 mls - so that's why it burned like Hell. Literally. Then, I thought I should get all of the air bubbles out, so I pushed the plunger up just enough that a drip of medicine would come out the top of the needle. BIG mistake. When that needle broke the skin and had liquid fire on it, I about fell on the floor. So tonight I just made sure that there were no bubbles from the beginning so I could surpass that initial puncture burn. Both of these things together made a HUGE difference! Little burning, no red rash, and no jogging in place while crying and yelling obscenities. Which Neisan then repeats.
So on to another week! This week I continue with the 3 shots. I go in on Thursday morning for an ultrasound and blood work to see how many follicles are growing. Then I continue on with the three shots while being monitored daily via ultrasound and blood work until they say it's go time! Right now we are looking at a September 30th retrieval, then 3 to 5 days later will be the transfer day, depending on how good the embryos look. Neisan was a 3 day, and those are supposedly not as strong... I'm not convinced :)
In about two weeks I will be doing this thang - it's crazy. First of all because I never thought I would be in this place, even with Neisan. Then because I was told I couldn't do it again period. Geno has been beyond great with everything. Last time I honestly didn't need anything. I took it all in stride, nothing was too painful, I was able to do my own shots. This time though, I have leaned on him so much. And he has definitely been a rock! He has stood there with my while I cried with a needle in my hand, taken over when I needed him to, and has been so patient with me feeling like crap. In all honesty, even though looking at the medications he has to take may not look like much... but how would you like to be shown to a room by a nurse and told to leave your specimen on the counter? Oh, and the magazines are in the bottom drawer. I can't say I'd be able to turn myself on while everyone on the outside knew what I was doing. But like he says, he's "a professional". He's already given his back-up specimen in case he can't perform on the day of the egg retrieval, so we're covered! I love to give him crap about all of this, but I appreciate it so much. We are both willing to put ourselves in uncomfortable positions to have a family. I love you Geno.
On a Neisan note, he's had a rough week. Puked all night one night, was up another two with a fever and coughing and a runny nose, so we stayed home all day today. To ease the boredom we played with pay dough - this was the first time he hasn't eaten it - but he might have asked 100 times. Only a small bit ended up in his mouth this time though, and that's a feat. I, on the other hand, cannot help myself when there is playdough, or clay, or any other moldable substance... I have to make something inappropriate. I did, and Neisan clapped. A good time was had by all. Can't wait to have a few more little ones to make appendages out of playdough with!
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