Can someone give me some insight in injectables? May be starting them soon....

[mommyof3andhopefully4]

Hi everyone....I may be starting injectables soon, but just had some questions.

1)  how often do you give them to yourself?  Clomid is a five day thing, so I was just wondering for injectables...
2)  where in your cycle do you do them?  Like what cycle day?
3)  any side effects?  I was fine on Clomid....didn't really have any side effects except my periods are heavier and a little more crampy.
4)  expense.  We have no fertility insurance.  So how much are we looking at and is there a cheaper place to order them?  Thank you so much all....

Heather

[mommyof3andhopefully4]

Thank you so much for the info!  I am thinking I am covered also....I am going to check with my drug store tomorrow!

[bny807]

i also just started injectables this cycle.. i took femara cd3-7 and then follistim cd3-100iu, then cd5 75iu,, then cd7 - 75iu..... I will have my ultrasound tomorrow cd9 and see what to do next, but have the novarel trigger ready...
    My follistim (for a 300iu pen) was $245 from ivp care
    and novarel 40 from ivp care, then  the femara is covered under insurance.. but they do not cover fertility meds either..
i imagine if your plan is differnet for prescriptions that you might be getting some of the meds coered it sounds like!   that would be great! : )    
   No side effects for me other than the femara side effects (we uped my dose from 2.5 to 5mg this cycle - a few hot flashes and a little sleepiness and thats it)

GOOD LUCK! :  )

[mommyof3andhopefully4]

Thank you all so much for all your information.....I think all my questions were answered!  I know they are really expensive....****!  Clomid and trigger have been cheap.  

4Angie-  Can you send me that spreadsheet?  ***@**** you so much!  

I am meeting with my RE next wednesday.  I have decided to not take the Clomid this month (and obviously the trigger too) and meet with him.  So we are basically taking this month off.  When I talked to the nurse today about it she agreed it was a good decision....why didn't she tell me that the other day?  Sometimes I wonder what I am paying them for...I am seriously thinking about switching RE's.  I have a good referral to a different one and if my visit with my current one doesn't go well next Wednesday I am going to consider switching.

You know, I was thinking about the fertility meds I am currently on.  I pay $0.00 for the Clomid and I pay $14.00 for the Novarel.....that sounds to me like it is insurance paying for it along with it.  Do you think that it is possible for the Rx coverage to cover the meds and not the actual fertility procedures?  The insurance for the meds and for our actual healthcare are two totally different plans.  My DH works for a company/developer that is pretty big, but our local pharmacy is where we get our prescriptions and it is 100% paid for if it is generic and it is 80% paid for if not.  I am thinking I have Rx coverage...what do you think?

Scienceteacher-  No, I am out.  AF came yesterday and my b/w was negative on Friday.

Thank you all so much for all your help and SSBD to all of us!

Heather

[BabyBlue07]

When i have follistim injection.  it's 75IU

I injected on CD3, CD5, CD7, and CD9.

Usually your doctor give you instruction how to use the injection

good luck

[scienceteacher79]

I have insurance that pays 70 % of my meds and my share from Schrafts.com (walgreen pharmacy mail order) was about 250 bucks (remember that is after my insurance kicked in their 70%) for my menopur (6 vials) and trigger (ovidrel).

Someone on here said ivfmeds.com was cheaper and I looked it up - they are. But they are in Europe so it tends to take longer to get them. If you plan right, you can save alot by buying from them.

Also, someone else on this website has a spreadsheet of different meds and their prices from 3 or 4 different companies...Put out a post and ask whpo has the spreadsheet of medication prices.

I took clomid CD3-7 (i think :) and started shots around CD8 or 9 (i think - can't really remember and my paperwork is at home :)  and went through 5 vials and 2 U/S during that time of shots. No real effects that I remember - a little more moody (but think that the clomid - it always messes me up!) . Shots didn't hurt - just get a good chunk of fat right int he belly and you will be fine. I got the tiny needles (that's what the pharm. sent) and it didn't even hurt going in.

Good luck - but HEY! Aren't you in the 2ww - stop thinking about next time, there won't be a next time, right!!!  :) HUGS!

Good Luck sweetie! HUGS!!

[4Angie]

I started injections this month and this is how it worked for me.  Keep in mind that everyone is different, so the protocol will be different.

I ordered 900 IU of Follistim at $708
Pre-filled Ovidrel at $69

cd3-U/S and B/W-started with 150 IU of Follistim.  They give you a pen that attaches a needle and you can dial in the dosage from the vial you order.
cd4-reduced dosage to 125 IU of Follistim
cd5-125 IU Follistim
cd6-another u/s and b/w.  increased Follistim to 150 IU again.  Dr. ordered another shot called Antagon (Ganirelix-sp?) to reduce chance of LH surge.  Gave myself both shots.

Ordered 3 Pre-filled Antagon at $114.50 a piece

cd7-gave myself 150 IU Follistim and another prefilled Antagon shot.
cd8-another u/s and b/w-continue with 150 IU Follistim and Antagon
cd9-another u/s and b/w-stop Follistim and Antagon.  Gave myself Ovidrel trigger shot at 7:30 pm.  Had to start estrace pill, vaginally, to increase endometrial lining.
  
Estrace was only $10 under insurance plan.

cd10-1st IUI-continue with estrace pill 3 times a day.
cd11-2nd IUI-continue with estrace and add progesterone pill vaginally 3 times a day.
Progesterone pill cost $50 under insurance plan.
Now, I am in 2ww.
So, summary of medicine:

I used 850 IU of Follistim at $708 (have 50 IU left)-not covered by insurance for me
3 Pre-filled Antagon shots at $114.50 a piece-not covered by insurance
Pre-filled Ovidrel shot at $69-not covered by insurance
Estrace Pills at $10-covered by insurance
Prometrium Pills at $50-covered by insurance.

I have a spreadsheet at home with the names and numbers of 6 pharmacies with the cost of Ovidrel, Follistim, Gonal F, and Antagon.  If you want it, email me at  angie.     clifton    @   cox.   net           Leave out the spaces.  I will send you the information tonight.  

I hope I have helped in some way.

[maybebaby29]

Were you looking at non stop injectibles or a trigger? Ovidrel was like $50 but w/ insurance.

[Tarobinc]

Oops, meant I get the trigger shot on day 11 and then the IUI on day 13

[Tarobinc]

I am on injectables for the monitored IUI.  My DH actually gives me the shots in the back of my arm.  I am able to use the pediactric needle, so its not bad at all and I can't stand needles!  Amazing what you adapt to, isn't it?  I used to ice the area for about a few minutes before/after the shot but now I don't need to do that.  I have gotten used to them.

I take Clomid for 5 days, usually starting on day 5 of my cycle.  On day nine, I get a shot of Bravelle.  I go back for blood work and an ultrasound on day 11.

If all looks good, then I get my trigger shot on Day 13 and then the IUI on Day 15.
On progestrone suppositories until my pg test two weeks later.

I have yet to have an major side effects, just some lower gi issues.  Its more of a nusance than anything else.  We do have insurance that pays for the IUI and its associated labs/ultrasounds but not the meds. For the first cycle, we spent around $500 and we have to use our insurance's pharmacy, even though we were paying for it. (never asked why, just figured that's the way it goes.)  The initial setup consisted of:
10 pills of Clomid ( I take two at a time)
6 vials of Bravelle with 6 vials of solution (but I only use two vials per shot)
Ovidel (trigger shot)
a big bottle (i can't remember the count) of progestrone suppositories
bunch of pediactric needles and also the bigger needles
bunch of syringes
used syringe box
We purchased the alcohol wipes at the local drug store.  You can get a big box of the store brand for not too much.

This cycle I only needed the Clomid, Bravelle and Ovidrel.  Next cycle I will need clomid, ovidrel and the progestrone.

good luck!  I hope I was able to help you.