Last night we did our first "big guns" shots -- we started the follicle stimulation drugs.  For me, that meant 5 units of Lupron, 85 units of Menopur, and 200 units of Follistim.  Each had a different needle and different rigamarole that went with it.  We've been doing the Lupron shots for two weeks, so we're experts on that.  I sucked that one from the vial to the syringe and gave that one to myself.  Then I got the Follistim pen ready by cleaning the parts, putting the medicine cartridge inside it, reassembling it, attaching the needle, and "dialing" the gauge to 200 units.  James took care of the Menopur by using the long needle to suck the liquid out of one vial and inject it into the powdered Menopur, then switched to the short needle to stick into my belly.  He delivered the last two shots.  The other two drugs were fine: minimal pricking and couldn't feel the medicine going in.  The Menopur, on the other hand, felt like acid.  It burned, and there was comparatively a whole lot of it.  I'm going to have to figure out a better way, because as of that moment last night, I started dreading tonight's shot.  Maybe an ice pack would numb the area.  Gotta get out the kitty-shaped "Boo Boo Buddy." In the meantime, I got a wonderful surprise.  A friend of mine from high school sent me a personalized HUGE Hershey's chocolate bar with "Go IVF Go!" written on it in white icing.  I think we ALL deserve that.  And I, for one, am not going to wait for my shots tonight to get started eating it.  (See its picture in my gallery below).

Replies

deleted_user
deleted_user

That\'s a great gift from your friend! How wonderful that you have someone so supportive in your life. I feel your pain with the Menopur - I used it the past 2 cycles, and the first cycle wasn\'t so bad...but this past one...oh boy, was it a doozy! I don\'t know the exact # of units, but I used 1 vial of liquid with 2 vials of powder, and I know what you mean about it feeling like acid! Are you squeezing the injection site before hand? Try that if not - it may help a bit. Also, rub the injection site afterwards. Good luck!
deleted_user
deleted_user

UMMMMMMMM CHOCOLATE!!!!!! What a great friend! Quite a little science experiment you got going on. Don\'t you just feel like a human pin cushion? You inspired me, I went and got my own Boo Boo Buddy instead of using ziplocks and ice cubes. It\'s a bright yellow smiley face, perfect size for my injection sites! When I hold it in place for a few minutes it leaves a smiley imprint so my DH knows exactly where to inject.
Baby dust to you!
deleted_user
deleted_user

Wow sounds like a lot to go through. I am starting my shots tonight, Sept. 9th. Hope all is getting easier with the Lupron. The chocolate sounds wonderful!
deleted_user
deleted_user

Ahhh...what a sweet friend you have, literally. :) Chocolate is so rewarding! I hope you can put all these journal entries in a book someday for your little one to read when he or she grows up. They should know what their mommy went through just for them.
deleted_user
deleted_user

Mmmmm.... chocolate.... I rhink I need to get myself one of those boo-boo buddies.... Where do you get them from? I agree - the menopur stings!