Moon Blood

On the third day of my Aunt Flo I am required to go to the doctor and recieve a rather large supply of injections to self administer twice a day at home.

So it is the third day and Joseph and I went to the doctor.  I got another exam and then we went home with 7 boxes of injections.

The 8th box, the nurse used on me this morning. 

Between 8am and 9am and 6p and 8p at night I am to have an injection.  Yes.  Only one.  The same medication, but only one, twice a day.
Yippee!


I asked again about the egg retrieval and the doctor said I would NOT be put to sleep and I got very teary for about a minute and then asked him why and asked him to do it anyway.  He said it is less dangerous to not put me to sleep and I told him, again, I am a wimp and I need pain medication.  He said not to worry. 

I looked around on line and a few other places for more information and it seems to be hit or miss on pain during this process.  Some say it is just bad cramps and a bit of pressure.  Other say it hurts a lot during but not after.  Still others say they felt nothing during.  Hopefully I fit into the later group. 
The good news is, it only lasts 15-20 minutes.  I can handle that.

So, I have 4 days worth of injections and then on Saturday morning I go back to the doctor to get an exam and see if my medication needs to be adjusted or whatnot.  After that, I will continue to take injections until the next Friday or Saturday and then get examined again and have the surgery that same day.  That means by November 8th or 9th I will have the surgery to take my eggs and then a few days later have them put back in and we see what we see.

More as it happens.  

The medicine I am injecting myself with is called: follitropin.

More information can be found here or see below.  I have copied and pasted for anyone that is curious.

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Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

Gonal-f RFF (follitropin alfa for injection) (*revised formulation female) is a manmade form of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) used to treat infertility in women who cannot ovulate and do not have primary ovarian failure. It is also used to stimulate sperm production in men. Gonal-f RFF is often used with another medication called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Common side effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, mild stomach/abdominal pain, bloating, redness/pain at the injection site, or breast tenderness/pain.
The dose of Gonal-f RFF to stimulate development of the follicle is individualized. Doses may range up to 300 IU per day depending on the individual patient response. Gonal-f RFF may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Stop using Gonal-f RFF when you become pregnant. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible harm to a nursing infant, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Some women using this medicine have developed a sudden buildup of fluid in the stomach or chest area. This condition is called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and can be a life-threatening. Avoid having sex and call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms of OHSS:

• severe pain in your lower stomach;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating;
• feeling short of breath;
• swelling in your hands or legs;
• weight gain;
• urinating less than usual.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using follicle stimulating hormone and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body);
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in your arms or legs; or
• severe pelvic pain on one side.

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache;
• mild nausea or stomach pain;
• mild numbness or tingly feeling;
• mild pelvic pain, tenderness, or discomfort;
• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;
• breast swelling or tenderness;
• acne;
• mild skin rash; or
• pain, bruising, redness, or irritation where the injection was given.

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, nausea, vomiting, mild stomach/abdominal pain, bloating, redness/pain at the injection site, or breast tenderness/pain may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual bleeding from the vagina/uterus, pain/redness/swelling of the calf muscles, cold/numb/pale skin of the arms/legs/hands/feet, swelling of ankles/hands/feet.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, vision changes, sudden severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath.
This medication may cause a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This condition may occur during treatment and after treatment has been stopped. Rarely, serious OHSS causes fluid to suddenly build up in the stomach, chest, and heart area. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop the following side effects: severe pain or swelling in the lower abdominal (pelvic) area, severe nausea/vomiting, sudden/rapid weight gain, difficult/painful breathing, change in the amount of urine.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.