My last nerve

Despite the title of this post, things are looking up in the Jem household. Yesterday my IVF nurse re-drew my circles for my PIO IM injections. Our clinic is very "in the box" and was not willing to give me other options, so I'll continue doing the shots for as long as possible AND I'm going to like it, dammit! When I described my back-side pain problem to my acupuncturist, she said, "It sounds like the injections were too close to your sciatic nerve. That's why it was so painful!"

That makes perfect sense. Now that the circles are closer to the side of my body, rather than closer to my spine, things are going much better. Injection last night didn't hurt a bit. Maybe this is just because it's going into new real estate. Who cares. It didn't hurt. I also iced less (only 5 minutes) and then followed the injection with 15 min with the heating pad. No, Poppet, hot baths are verboten for us PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise) or PG (pregnant) gals.

Acupuncture was blissful last night. It felt like I was floating. Again, she said I had a good strong pulse, right on target for being PG, but not strong enough for triplets (whew!). As we transferred three embies, I did have some anxiety about this. The first couple of days after transfer I was convinced I was having multiples, given all the twitching and stretching was going on in my nether regions at that time.

I woke up this morning and did a body scan relaxation exercise and feel terrific today. Only symptoms: occasional warm pressure down there close to where my legs meet my torso, sore boobies (only with direct pressure, like if my 20 lb cat Fluffy jumps on me when I'm on the couch!). I still have some sciatic pain on the left cheek and tenderness if I palpate the old injection site, but it's much less than a couple of days ago. No more crying.

Thanks to all of you who wrote with support and ideas. I'm doing much, much better today physically and mentally. I'm in this zen space. I'm fine with the wait until tomorrow's beta. It just means that the little one(s) growing in side me will be that much more ready. Like I wrote in response to Kate's post about battling urgency, instead of "hurry up and wait" my new motto is, "No hurry, No wait." I choose to be in the moment and just let what happens tomorrow happen.

I cried... (updated)

I cried last night after my injection. My derriere is so sensitive that even after being iced, Mr. Jem's sleeve against my bare bottom hurt, not to mention the actual shot and removal of said needle, which seems to hurt as much as the entrance.

BTW, we've discovered that it IS possible to ice for too long. Tuesday night was such one night. The oil didn't want to go into my body and there was a jet of blood after Mr. Jem removed the needle and before he could get the gauze pad from the table next to us (he now keeps the gauze closer AND we don't ice for as long).

Okay, I'm a pretty tough broad, but this is ridiculous. I feel like such a wimp. I should be able to take this. Actually, I can take this, pain and all. Because it's all about the end result. It doesn't hurt if I don't move. Walking sends shoots of pain down my ass, like there's a huge needle still in there.

Going in today at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific) to have Nurse IVF re-draw circles for my injection points. She wasn't the one to do it initially. Instead it was a novice nurse who kept prodding me and drawing and re-drawing the sites.

More acupuncture tonight. Hopefully it will help relax me.

My certitude of a positive result is slowly being eroded. I keep taking deep breaths and sending positive thoughts down there and throughout my body.

Saturday, damn you, where are you??!!

Jem

Update: In addition to the nightly PIO shots, I am doing Pro.metrium (spelling?) suppositories twice a day. Plus estrogen orally three times a day and once vaginally at night. We have ALL the bases covered!

1st shot: let the magic begin!

Last night Mr. Jem and I mixed magical potions. We twisted the special pen, click, click, click until the perfect numbers showed on the dial. We broke seals, then carefully measured fluid and added it to powder before sucking the whole mixture into a vial. Screwing the right needle on, we were ready to go!

After a brief icing of that special place just south of my belly button, I averted my eyes and Mr. Jem plunged the needle into my fat (I'm glad to have gained a little weight lately). I could hear him counting, "One, two, three... five! I'm so sorry!" and out came the needle. The deed was done.

It wasn't that bad. Actually, having my blood drawn earlier in the week hurt more. I was mostly scared. In fact, right before the injection I was just about to tell Mr. Jem, "Forget about it! Let's just NOT do this..." but I know I am courageous and could do it.

I'm actually looking forward to tonight's injection. All this seems like sacred ritual to call down a baby to us! If I thought it would help to paint a pentagram on the floor and light black candles, I would! (not really, but you know what I mean!!)

Last night my injection "cherry" was popped. It's merciful to be starting with Folli.stim and Meno.pur rather than Progesterone in oil, isn't it?

How was your first injection experience?

Jem

Meds ordered

After much hijinx and hilarity (not) my meds are finally ordered and due to arrive tomorrow.

Whew!

What an ordeal. I won't bore you with details, but know that it involved incompetent customer service people, lost faxed prescriptions, wrong mail-order pharmacies who don't accept my insurance, frustrating conversations with the Rx insurance company, and dyslexia. Only the dyslexia was on me. I think it was because my head was going to explode from all the bureaucracy.

But all is well that ends well.

Mr. Jem and I have our injection class tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and start injections (Folli.stim & Meno.pur) tomorrow.

Fun!