Follistim

[trying2conceive]

Has anyone here given themselves the Follistim injection? I might have to do it myself tonight!!! I will be calling my nurse, but just want to know if anyone here has done this without any hassles?!?!

[Heather5]

Hi trying2conceive!

I didn't use follistim, but I have given myself lots of different injections ;-) For my IVF, I used bravelle and menopur, plus ovidrel as the trigger, and now I'm on daily lovenox injections (to thin my blood). It's really not a big deal doing the injections yourself. It will probably be a little scary the first time...but honestly, once you get used to doing it yourself, it is SO MUCH BETTER than having someone else do it! And I'm not just saying that, I really mean it ;-)

Just pinch your skin and quickly inject the needle like a dart. Oh, and to minimize (and usually eliminate) any burning, make sure you wait for the alcohol to dry first.

You can do it!

:-)

[scienceteacher79]

Do you have the follistim pen? It is such a tiny needle that I never even felt it! :)

[trying2conceive]

Thank you sooooo much for your input. My husband took care of the injections during IUI cycle, but I could tell it made him nervous. With IVF cycle, I did fine with Lupron, just want to mount that courage to be fine with the Follistim injections (you know, being it's a longer needle and all)

Thank you!

[dorti]

You can put an ice cubes on your skin and hold it for 1-2 min. It will freeze your skin and you won't feel anything.

[Kathy421]

Taking follistim is actually very easy.  The needle diameter is actually very small.  I know it's scary the first time around, then it'll be a piece of cake.

I'm currently taking my progesterone shots in oil - have already gone thru 36 shots (a little over a month to go) - looking back, the follistim was very easy.  

If you have any questions regarding the injections, or need some encouragement, just go to "you tube" and you can watch others giving themselves the injections.  Made it much easier.

[feather2e]

I have to agree with Kathy421 follistim is a breeze compared to progesterone oil. The trick is to make it quick If you wait too long it just makes it harder.

[trying2conceive]

Thanks ladies. I was lucky enough to have my nurse walk me through it over the phone and it's done! I think I'll be okay from here on out, that is until they have me start the progesterone suppositories - YIKES!

Kathy421: what type of cycle are you going through - IUI or IVF?

Heather5: I thought about what you noted, just inject like a dart & bam, it was done :D

Thanks again! I will be on Follistim sat & sun, then come Monday I will have BW and they'll tell me how much combo of Follistim + Menapur I'll be taking for sure. I hope the E2 #'s are where they need to be on Monday...this whole process is actually going by pretty fast, WOW!