We are scheduled for a retrieval on Tuesday. Now the only thing standing between me and mature eggs is the HCG injection:
I wasn't that worried about it until I saw the needle that I'm supposed to use (me: "is that the mixing needle?" Nurse: "no, that's the mixing needle. This is the needle you inject. All 1.5 inches") and when they told me the cautionary tale of the Woman Who Didn't Follow Instructions. This woman had 10 follicles, but 0 eggs retrieved. Why? Because she decided that the intramuscular needle was "too big" and used the subcutaneous needle instead. Since the HCG didn't get absorbed, it could not trigger the eggs to mature. Since the eggs didn't mature, none could be retrieved. Ouch.
I always follow their instructions (yay OCD), but I didn't realize until I heard this tale just how critical the HCG trigger is. I got so paranoid about it and where to inject that they ended up drawing a giant target on my ass for me to use when the time comes. I've also called my neighbor who is in the medical profession and has done multiple IVF cycles to see if she is willing to help since Sweetie just about passed out at the notion of sticking me with a needle (so I guess that would be a no on helping me with the progesterone injections, huh?).
I have resigned myself to the fact that my ass is a giant pincushion and this shot is going to H-U-R-T.
Update: the shot did indeed H-U-R-T and we had some trouble getting all of the medicine into the syringe, but I managed to take it only 5 minutes late. Hopefully that 5 minutes won't make much of a difference.
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10 comments:
OK. Now I'm cringing.
You're a better man than I.
And I hope that you have more success than I!
Argh... my HCG injection in a few weeks will be the first intramuscular shot my husband's ever given me (everything else has been subcutaneous, with nurses giving me the trigger).
So much pressure for one little shot! But sooo many people manage to pull it off, no problem. Wishing you all the best!
i send you some needle-taking energy. my fear of needles is one of the many reasons why we aren't considering IVF right now.
good luck!
Yay! on being ready for trigger! Good luck!
Thanks so much ladies! I did manage to get my neighbor to help and she'll be here 5 minutes before plunge time.
I will have to get used to the needle for the progesterone injections, but the trigger is so effin important, I want someone else to help.
I stumbled upon your blog, and have spent the last 25 minutes reading about your journey. I also have been down the long and unforgiving infertility trail as well, and we also have decided to proceed with our first IVF treatment which will begin mid-February.
I hear ya on the "thinking positively" and the challenge of that. I too believed that I was in the position I am in because it was some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy; but I'm over that now. The Secret does bring up some good points, but I suppose the overall message is that there's power in positive mental attitude, and it looks like you are doing much better than I with that. Maybe a "stuffed" BFP doll is the way to go?!?
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck, and look forward to hearing how things go for you along the way.
Hooray for Mrs. X! While we're handing out Organ of the Month awards (and your ovaries sound very deserving), we should also give you an IM medal for bravery. I'm looking forward (hear the irony in these 1s and 0s) to my first IF-related HCG butt shot this month, and I will try to follow your example.
Here's to your ravishing, splendiferous eggs and a lovely retrieval.
Jill_986 - welcome and thanks for taking the time to read my sordid story. Best of luck to you in this arduous journey.
Shinjil- thanks for the wonderful awards (my ovaries have already decided that they have won, so they muscled out the other competition) and your wonderful thoughts.
Just because I am curious and no where near having children in any way, why IVF over adoption? Sorry if it's an insensitive question or controversial in any way.
Hi Chinesetwine- thanks for your question. There was a time not that long ago that I was where you are and I would have asked the same thing. BTW - it's a good question and not insensitive to me. :)
For us, right now we are still very invested in having our own biological child. I want our child to have my husband's good looks, my interest in the arts, his math whiz abilities. I want to be able to look at the child and see him and all of our families. I'm also still very much wanting to experience pregnancy and childbirth. So, for now, it is worth going through IVF to reach that dream.
Should we get a few more years down the road and that's not looking likely, we will consider adoption.
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