Pin Cushion September 9, 2004
So, my husband called me tonight to tell me that he’s stuck working late. Something about inventory and seizure and FBI. I don’t know. So, I was left facing my injections alone. I’ve done the Lupron ones myself, and they weren’t a big deal, but I was mentally prepared for them. Tonight I was not. I haven’t done the Gonal-F ones, and the thought of sticking a needle in my stomach kind of freaked me out. I don’t know why, but it just seemed worse than the thigh.
I went to prepare my syringes, and that’s where the trouble began. I wasn’t sure if I had enough left in my Gonal-F multi dose vial for tonight or not, so I decided to try. I stuck the syringe in the vial and the plunger just bounced back like a spring. I had a syringe do this once before, so I tried a different one. This time the syringe worked properly, but nothing would come out of the vial. I know the instructions say that only 1050 of the 1200 IU are retrievable, but I figured I might get a little out since there looked like there was enough in the vial.
I gave up on that vial and decided to reconstitute another multi dose. As soon as I got the top of the syringe containing the water open it started to empty itself with my fingers nowhere near the plunger. I quickly jabbed it into the vial and proceeded to reconstitute my precious drug. I went and got another syringe to use with the new vial. I started to fill the syringe but couldn’t make the plunger stop pulling back. It just wanted to fill up all the way and would have nothing of my 150 IU dosage. I emptied the full syringe back into the vial and reached for a fourth syringe. It’s a good thing those multi dose kits come with lots of syringes. This time I actually succeeded in filling the syringe to the correct dosage.
On to injecting. By this time I was thoroughly worked into a tizzy and was wishing someone other than my cats were on the premises to give me those damn shots. I started with the Lupron, because I had done that one before. I managed to get it in but was too nervous to actually jab it in. The needle went into my thigh slowly, but at least it was in. Next up was the Gonal-F. I was even more nervous by this point and couldn’t seem to manage the will to dart the stupid thing in. I finally did it, but it went in even more slowly than the Lupron one. Ouch.
So, that was my fun night with my injections. At least they’re done (hopefully correctly enough) and I can go back to worrying about what the hell my follicles are doing in there. They better be growing, that’s all I have to say.
- Posted in : IVF Part 1: IVF #1
- Author : amanda
Comments»
There are probably people who know more about this than I, but I think when the plunger pushes back you can inject some air into the vial to make it so it won’t do that.
Congrats on doing your first Gonal F shot alone!
- beaver girl9/9/2004 9:44 PM
You did great! I could never do them in my thighs because for some reason I thought it would hurt more than my stomach. I always thought that I couldn’t do them alone, until I too was faced with no other choice. It’s amazing what we can convince ourselves to do in order to achieve.
I always pulled the plunger back to suck in the same amount of air that I would need in medicine, then injected that air into the bottle, then sucked out the medicine. Because it’s vacuum sealed, sucking out liquid without putting in air can cause that kind of battle with the syringe, or at least that’s what my pharmacist warned me.
I used to allow myself one chocolate from a box of Sees for each injection, until I lost control in a fit of side effects and ate past my limit.
congrats on doing those injections all by yourself. it sounds like it wasn’t the easiest task in the world. . .hope your little follicles are growing just like they’re supposed to. kreeping my fingers crossed that this is YOUR cycle!
Thanks, ladies. Beaver girl and Pazel, thanks for the info about the air. I’ve always done that with the Lupron, because the directions said to, but the Gonal-F ones didn’t. It’s good to know the reasoning behind it. I’ll try that from now on. Hopefully I won’t have too many more of those suckers to do, at least this time around.
Stomach & hips–yes. Thighs–no
Congrads on improving your drug habit!
Marla
the middle way
Congratulations on shooting up like a pro :)
Menita
(lifesjestbook)
I feel your pain. I was PETRIFIED of my first Gonal-f injection. It’s nothing now, really. Once you do it once, it’s old hat from there.
Congrats on being brave!!
Ugh, I was there on Sunday, my first injection. I was scared. Luckily, Dh was there to give it to me. Congrats on finishing the task! I am sure you did fine!
You did great!! I admire you, I would have been scared to death! My fingers are crossed for you!
Congrats with your first shot alone, and good luck with this cycle!
–One of the first times I did mine alone, I stabbed myself three times with the needle–it bounced out. It sucked.
I hope follies grow like grapes!
Karen/naked ovary