Another 'Happy'; Let the Games Begin/Open Forum

Good morning all!! well i was honored with the presence of aunt flow tuesday night and am about to begin my ivf journey. it's a good thing i went to that class on tuesday to learn all about it - yikes!! i'm so nervous - not really about the whole thing - i can handle the meds with the epipen or smaller needles - it's just the progesterone needle that's huge and i'm petrified of - especially since my dh is going to have to give that one to me and what if he gets shaky? i have a friend who at this point (she's up to ivf cycle #5 - has gotten pregnant with some of them but m/c - i really hope this one works and is healthy for her)gives herself the progesterone shots. i don't know how she does it she has to twist, stick, and push - all as fast as she can so hurts less or at least is over quicker. she says she'll show me if i want how to do it myself - i don't know we'll see. at least the first time they'll do it in the drs. office. and i'm also nervous about the anesthetics during the retrieval (where they take the eggs out) - although the nurse said it's a pretty light one - not a deep sleep so that calms me a little knowing that. anyhow just wanted to keep everyone updated - you know read up on someone else's saga and this way noone has to feel alone - i'm right there with you. i just got two books (one recommended by my above friend and the other just looked like it would be a cute read). the first (which i started and so far so good) is called "A Few Good Eggs" by Julie Vargo and Maureen...something, i forgot her last name. and the other is called "Conception Chronicles"...

[have 2 kids]

good luck Berko!

[Berko]

continued from previous post

and here again i don't remember the author's name. i'll let you now how they go.
also, something i noticed this af around is that periods definitely are heavier when on meds then when not (at least for me). i know sometimes on here i read about people thinking their "lighter" period is not a period at all so i just thought i'd mention that i almost thought that too - until it got a little more and also realized i wasn't on meds this month and have been for past few so probably why past few were heavier than this month's - now back to my regular one. it's so weird that we know so much about our bodies that even the change in heaviness of period is something we look out for and hope with. anyhow just found that interesting and thought i'd share - you know aren't you all interested in my period and how light or heavy it is? :)
hope everyone has a wonderful day.

feel free to use as open forum and any questions you may have.

[Berko]

thanks!! :)

[mslkpage]

Does the progesterone injection go in the muscle, or in the fat? The reason I'm asking is because I recently decided I prefer taking my hcg injection in my thigh (quadricep muscle). Dh has given me one in the butt before, but I don't know if he hit the muscle, and I didn't like not being able to see what he was doing. So, I changed things up this cycle and took in the quad, and that's where I plan to take it from now on.

[jen023]

Hey! Good Luck! I hope that you get that BFP on your first try!!

[low22]

Hey!  Good luck with everything!  Where have you been all week???

[Berko]

in the class i took they said to take it right above the butt area. it's one that has to go through the whole skin - so skin, muscle and everything that's why it's so long and in that area and not the stomach area. i'm not sure about taking it in the thigh, but they said want us to take in the rear area. my friend was showing me how to know exactly where it goes. you take your forefinger and place right by hip bone and from there to end of thumb (a little down) - like a diagnal L shape and wherever thumb hits that's where needle goes - i think i'll have the nurse by my drs. show me - maybe i can do it myself - i don't know we'll see. did your dr. or nurse say ok to do it in thigh area - i would think take a little longer though for needle to go in b/c usually thigh area thicker, no? good luck.

jen023: thanks.

low22: thanks. i went away for weekend - friday through monday - my sister lives in minneapolis and she just moved into a new house and had a new baby a few weeks ago. i was there a few weeks ago to meet my new little nephew and see the rest of her brood and then i went for the weekend to help her unpack and get settled a little and to help out with the kids. i got home monday night, had my ivf class tuesday morning so didn't get back to work until tuesday afternoon and then after going away it's always hectic and have to play catch up so i couldn't get on for too long the past few days - i've read a little, but didn't have chance to respond. i saw your post further down and started responding, but then needed to take care of some things. i'm sorry aunt flow showed up!! but now let's give her a goodbye party like she's never seen before!! i hope this is her last visit for a while (say 9 months or so)!! tell her i say to get the heck out!! you've gotta make room for a teeny tiny baby and it's no place for an annoying aunt!! good luck!! good luck!! good luck!!

[Berko]

above post has responses to you both too.

[low22]

Thanks -- I'm glad you're back -- your posts always make me smile :)

[Hope2OneDay]

Hi, just wanted to wish you luck in your IVF endeavors...I'll keep you in my prayers!

I just finished reading "The Conception Chronicles" about a month ago...it's absolutely hysterical! (and it's very informative as well :-)

[Berko]

low22: aawww...thanks!! you make me smile too!! :)

mslkpage: my nurse said to kind of ignore what the pamphlets say b/c they're using old information and to do it the way they said to do it. she also said you can always ice the area first to numb it a little. did a nurse in your drs. office show you what to do? maybe you can go in for a quick lesson or refresher. i'm so nervous about them - but i'm sure i'll survive - we all do, no? isn't it nice not only do our wonderful dh's not have to get any needles poking through their tuchases, but they also get to be the ones to poke us - humph!! men and women equal? - i think NOT!! :) (i'm no feminist really i'm just a worried woman)

[mslkpage]

I did ask a friend that's a nurse if it would be okay, and she said it was fine, because a muscle is a muscle. The nurse at my ob's office gave me a very brief lesson on giving an injection, and I did use ice when I took the shot in my thigh. So far, the nurse has given me 2 injections, dh gave me one (made me very nervous), and this cycle, I let him stick me (no pun intended), but I did the rest. I'm slowly trying to work up to giving the whole injection myself. It's really not that bad. I was very nervous about at-home injections, but after a couple of times, you'll be a pro. :)

[1twinmom]

hey, good luck! I gave myself the progesterone shots this last time around. I think I did it better than my Dh because it really didin't hurt that much. I know the size of the needle is scary but don't worry you'll get through!  The anethesia during egg retrieval was kinda cool. You'll probably fall asleep but before that it's a nice relaxing buzz!

[kris123]

Good Luck!!  I just got of the af on Monday.  We are going ttc every other day.  My cycle was 34d, so I am not looking for af till the 18th of next month.  So I have had two since my m/c in June.  I hope next time you have a post BFP and I have mine too, then we can both be happy.

[projectbaby]

I have been waiting to hear from you!!!  I wanted to post about the book, "A Few Good Eggs"... I am almost done with this book and I LOVE IT!!!  It has helped me sooooo much and has given the true experiences of women going through infertility!!!  I think everyone here should read it!!!  I look forward to reading it daily and I don't want it to end... yes, it's that good!!!  Anyway, I am sorry to hear about AF and her arrival....but I am also excited that you are starting the IVF process....b/c that means you are trying the best things possible to get preggo!!!!  I also met with the Dr. on the 22nd (remember our conversation???) and he suggested that we try one more drug before IVF...but also becasue of scheduling soooo I will be starting to take Letrozole after AF arrives  (which maybe she won't??!!!!)  hCG shot and IUI, again.... I really hope this works.... I just wanted to start IVF  this month, but its a "no go", so in the meantime I am enjoying life....  sooooo anyway.... please keep me updated about your process and let me know what you think about the book!!!!!  Good luck !!! Jacquie

[Berko]

Hi Jacquie. of course i remember our conversation. sorry you're not going to be able to start ivf this time round, but hopefully the meds will work their charm and you'll be able to skip the whole needle-poking, hormone raging, egg "hatching", embryo making ivf altogether and go on to a healthy belly-popping, hormone raging, clothes not fitting, nauseaus mornings (and afternoons and evenings), wobbly walking pregnancy. to give you a positive boost letrazole and iui worked for me once (2nd pregnancy, 2nd m/c) and hopefully with the hcg shot it'll be an added boost. (for the record i took the shot once and did not feel it - i repeat nurse injected and i did not feel it - and this coming from a scaredy cat needlephobic person - so don't worry about it.) back to the book, so far i really like it. i picked it up and looked at it a few months ago but felt that i couldn't buy it cuz i didn't fully fit into the infertility mode - but reading it now i realize i do - you don't have to go through every little bit of it to fit - but at the time i thought but i'm not up to ivf so i wouldn't feel like the book's for me - well look at that now i fit the mold!! thinking back i shouldn't have even looked at the book then i wouldn't have thought "hmm...i don't really fit the mold cuz not going through ivf" and then maybe ivf wouldn't have come my way - all b/c of a cute looking book that i wanted to read...imagine...i should write the authors a letter...next time they shouldn't make their book look cute and funny!! :) good luck!! good luck!! good luck to you!!! hope that letrazole gives you a really good boost and that the sperm cooperates. i would give my eggs and his sperm a pep talk before the iuis - maybe they need some "discipline" before they're even conceived!! :)

[Berko]

mslkpage: thanks for the vote of confidence - i'll be sure to let you know of my professional status as it comes.

1twinmom: mmm... a buzz - i could probably use one so i'll just have to change my mindset instead of being nervous i'll have to look forward to it and be excited. by the way how are your twins doing? (well both sets actually - i hope the "old" ones are getting used to being the "big" siblings to the "new" ones.) you're going to have to change your screenname to 2twinsmom.

kris123: sounds like a plan. good luck this month!!

[1twinmom]

Hi. Both sets are fine. the set in the NICU are doing great! They are beautiful and genuine miracles! The set at home are just getting so big. I swear that they have grown soooo much in the past month and a half. My daughter seems like she's 2 going on 12 at this point and my son is all boy and loves to bother his sister just to watch her flip out!!!

[mslkpage]

Ooh, if the needle is that long, then the thigh would probably not be the best place. I didn't ask the nurse about changing the location, but the instructions from the pharmacy said that it needed to be injected in the muscle, and that the hip or the thigh was the common area. It hurt a little more than if I had taken it in the butt, but that's how I knew I did it right.

[projectbaby]

Thank you so much for the good luck...you crack me up with your e-mails!!!  anyway, I wish you all the luck and I know it may be stressful but relax and NOW we have a real reason to be bi*c*y!!!  It's all the hormones fault!!!!  I can't wait to hear all about your experience with IVF... I wish I were you right now... I guess I am just ready for the next step but the Dr.'s are not...so I had better listen to them!!!! Have a great day and hope to hear from you soon!!!  LOTS of BABY DUST to you!!!  Jacquie