I set my alarm to wake me at 5:30 a.m. Hit snooze once because I needed just 10 more minutes to get my mind prepared. But I got up, got my Lupron, syringe, and 2 alcohol preps and got to work. I used one prep to wipe the top of the Lupron bottle, then I peeled back the syringe packaging. Stuck the needle through the cap, drew out 10 units (not at easy as I thought). Wiped an area under my belly button and to the right. I didn't hesitate -- I got a fatty pinch of skin in my left hand and stuck the needle in with the right. Pushed down the plunger, waited a few seconds after that. I then pulled out the syringe and discarded the needle in the biohazard container box that came in the FedEx shipment as part of my prescription. That's it!
Honestly, the hardest part was drawing out the 10 units of Lupron. (All the Lupron injections will come out of this one bottle, FYI.) The syringe plunger was a bit stubborn but I tried not to let that raise my anxiety.
There's a slight, very mild burn at the injection site. Tolerable but noticeable. From setup to administering the shot to clean up, the whole process took me less than 5 minutes. Helpful for when I get ready for work in the mornings; I thought my nerves would make this take a whole lot longer. Day 1, done!
Let the menopausal side effects begin...
Good luck with this cycle! I hope that this first cycle is THE cycle!
ReplyDeleteA tip about drawing the Lupron: trying pulling about 15 units of air into the syringe first. Then, put the needle into the vial and push the air into the liquid. Tip the vial up so that the syringe is under the needle, then pull back the plunger to withdraw the meds. Pull more than 10 units into the syringe, then push up again to exactly 10 units. That will get rid of any air bubbles. It should make it much easier to get the meds out. This method works with the progesterone injections, too. It sounds like a lot and you might fumble at first, but after a while you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed. :)
Oh, also - check out Calliope's blog at http://creatingmotherhood.com. She's a great friend of mine and is also a SMC. She has a great network of other SMC's on Twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I struggled again this morning so I will absolutely follow your suggestion, makes a lot of sense -- & thanks for Calliope's blog, checking it out now :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope that works out better for you! One other blog you should definitely check out if you haven't found her already is Melissa at http://stirrupqueens.com. She's like the "mother hen" of the infertility blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I love stirrupqueens, how could I have left that off my list?! Thanks again!
ReplyDelete