Tuesday, March 27, 2012
How To Prepare & Inject Menopur
When I was about to start my shots, my brother searched his cell phone for youtube videos on how to do specific injections. I happened to watch one while I did my first injection. It helped a ton. Today could be my last day of Menopur injections since I have blood work and an ultrasound in the morning so I thought I had better get recording.
Monday, March 26, 2012
4 to 6
Menopur Injections:
I have been doing Menopur injections since last Thursday. I went in for blood work and an ultrasound on Sunday morning and my eggs are being produced as needed, however, my lining isn't thick enough. We moved from 4 vials of Menopur per day to 6. When I prepare the syringe, I am using 1cc of sodium chloride (dilutent in liquid form) to all powders, six vials worth.
My next appointment for blood work and ultrasound is Wednesday morning. At that point we will then probably more to the next injection. Our retrieval is only about a week away. For the retrieval, Nate will get a nerve block to get his testicular biopsy done while I will be put under and fully sedated.
I have been doing Menopur injections since last Thursday. I went in for blood work and an ultrasound on Sunday morning and my eggs are being produced as needed, however, my lining isn't thick enough. We moved from 4 vials of Menopur per day to 6. When I prepare the syringe, I am using 1cc of sodium chloride (dilutent in liquid form) to all powders, six vials worth.
My next appointment for blood work and ultrasound is Wednesday morning. At that point we will then probably more to the next injection. Our retrieval is only about a week away. For the retrieval, Nate will get a nerve block to get his testicular biopsy done while I will be put under and fully sedated.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Shot 1: Score!
I did it! I injected myself for the first time and I didn't die! Okay so that is a little over dramatic but I did get extremely dizzy, queezy and pale as my brother watched me jab myself in my pinched belly fat. I couldn't talk but just breathe while I slowly injected the Menopur. My first fertility injection on this IVF journey, try 1, cycle 1.
It was very useful to be able to google for Menopur and watch a few videos on youtube before and while doing the loading of the syringe and the injection. I wasn't sure which needle to use for sure. It ended up being about 27 g and it was very small. Luckily.
Now, Sunday I have my first test to check the enlarging follicles and see where our progress is before starting a new drug. I am so excited. I did the shot at 9:30am and was so proud of myself. It took a little while to recover from being lightheaded but proud, I am.
It was very useful to be able to google for Menopur and watch a few videos on youtube before and while doing the loading of the syringe and the injection. I wasn't sure which needle to use for sure. It ended up being about 27 g and it was very small. Luckily.
Now, Sunday I have my first test to check the enlarging follicles and see where our progress is before starting a new drug. I am so excited. I did the shot at 9:30am and was so proud of myself. It took a little while to recover from being lightheaded but proud, I am.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Use a Jabbing Motion to Inject Intramuscular?! What?!
I'm figitng. I am nervous and my stomach is upside down. Only a few short days until the shots start. Lots of shots. I have never been scared of needles and shots but this many and not done by a medical professional makes me queezy all of a sudden. I have shots that need to be taken both Intramuscular and also Sub Q. With the sub q injections, I can use my upper thighs or I can pinch my belly to use that area. In the upper buttocks/hip area, I am pretty sure the intramuscular and stabbing action needed is what frightens me there. :) I'll be fine but it makes me nervous. I am hoping Nate will be good at helping with the injections. The timing is important though so I am sure there will come times when I need to do them.
We have delayed our IVF from January to now (March 2012) because of my extensive travel schedule. For work I have had the opportunity to travel to more than 15 cities in the US and Canada in less than eight weeks. I did get some great experiences in before starting this actual process. With Nathan's azoospermia, we have no choice other than medical intervention for us to conceive or at least have a chance at it. As a reminder, Nathan carries the CF (cystic fibrosis) gene and was born without vas deferens which are the vessel for sperm to be carried out of the body. After having a testicular biopsy, we found sperm and here we are now on a calendar. An actual cycle that we have planned for months. I feel fluttering of nerves as I blog. Excitement and possibility just pump me up.
So, over the last five weeks I have taken birth control pills to start regulating my body. I took the last dose yesterday the 18th of March, 2012. On this Wednesday morning at 7:30 is my sounding. This is where the cervix is measured and the shape is noted. I will then be given the ok to start injections which we believe will be the next day, March 22nd. The injections will consist of the following medications, however, some of this is cloudy to me and I have a lot of questions on Wednesday so bare with me while I learn this myself :)
With these injections we want to produce several eggs in one cycle. Menopur which stimulates the development of follicles. There is also Ganirelix which suppresses hormone production, prevents ovulation and allows improved stimulation of ovarian follicular development. Chorionic Gonad prepares the oocytes for the final maturation process which takes 36 hours for eggs to be released after injection. The last of the items I will be using is Clomid- I am not positive as this is one of my questions for Wednesdays appointment and Progesterone which prepares the uterus for attachment of on the lining.
Nathan and I will have retrieval on the same day and I will be sedated but Nate will not be. He will receive a block again as when they did the initial testicular biopsy. When the follicles have matured, I will do the HCG injection and 34-36 hrs later I will have my eggs removed from my ovaries with a needle and ultrasound probe guiding it. The retrievals will be either April 1st or 2nd with us resting the remainder of the day. At that time there will be an Embryologist that mixes eggs and sperm for fertilization. 2 or 3 days later will be the embryo transfer to my uterus. At that time I am on bed rest with only bathroom privileges for 24 hours. This is our now planned infertility journey. We can just pray and hope that the embryo implants and the pregnancy sustains.
So here I am. Preparing for this very important journey...
We have delayed our IVF from January to now (March 2012) because of my extensive travel schedule. For work I have had the opportunity to travel to more than 15 cities in the US and Canada in less than eight weeks. I did get some great experiences in before starting this actual process. With Nathan's azoospermia, we have no choice other than medical intervention for us to conceive or at least have a chance at it. As a reminder, Nathan carries the CF (cystic fibrosis) gene and was born without vas deferens which are the vessel for sperm to be carried out of the body. After having a testicular biopsy, we found sperm and here we are now on a calendar. An actual cycle that we have planned for months. I feel fluttering of nerves as I blog. Excitement and possibility just pump me up.
So, over the last five weeks I have taken birth control pills to start regulating my body. I took the last dose yesterday the 18th of March, 2012. On this Wednesday morning at 7:30 is my sounding. This is where the cervix is measured and the shape is noted. I will then be given the ok to start injections which we believe will be the next day, March 22nd. The injections will consist of the following medications, however, some of this is cloudy to me and I have a lot of questions on Wednesday so bare with me while I learn this myself :)
With these injections we want to produce several eggs in one cycle. Menopur which stimulates the development of follicles. There is also Ganirelix which suppresses hormone production, prevents ovulation and allows improved stimulation of ovarian follicular development. Chorionic Gonad prepares the oocytes for the final maturation process which takes 36 hours for eggs to be released after injection. The last of the items I will be using is Clomid- I am not positive as this is one of my questions for Wednesdays appointment and Progesterone which prepares the uterus for attachment of on the lining.
Nathan and I will have retrieval on the same day and I will be sedated but Nate will not be. He will receive a block again as when they did the initial testicular biopsy. When the follicles have matured, I will do the HCG injection and 34-36 hrs later I will have my eggs removed from my ovaries with a needle and ultrasound probe guiding it. The retrievals will be either April 1st or 2nd with us resting the remainder of the day. At that time there will be an Embryologist that mixes eggs and sperm for fertilization. 2 or 3 days later will be the embryo transfer to my uterus. At that time I am on bed rest with only bathroom privileges for 24 hours. This is our now planned infertility journey. We can just pray and hope that the embryo implants and the pregnancy sustains.
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