Needling Doses

Today was the my first 6-shot day. I was to do 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. It seemed simple enough, with the exception of the one of the meds wasn't due to arrive until 10:30 am. Luckily I requested a morning delivery, and they sent me a link to the FedEx tracking so I wasn't too concerned.

I halved one of my pills, took my synthroid, put another canister of pills in my purse for later, (giving Tim his canister too) and took my remaining meds out of the fridge. The first shot (Lupr0n) was relatively easy, alcohol pads, syringe, vial, inject 20 units, done.

Ok, maybe easy is not the word... it currently takes me about 24 steps...

1. Wash hands...
2. Get stuff out of the refrigerator
3. Wash hands again because the door handle could have had germs on it.
4. Lay down a napkin for my medications
5. Select a syringe
6. Remove the vial from it's container
7. Get the alcohol wipes and cotton ball ready
8. Retrieve the sharps container
9. Wash my hands again...
10. Disinfect the vial and my tummy with alcohol wipes
11. Prep the syringe by filling with 20 units of air.
12. Inject air into vial.
13. Draw up 20 units of fluid from the vial using insulin syringe
14. Let the liquid warm up slightly. (It HURTS when you forget this step.)
15. Put the vial and extra syringes away while waiting.
16. Wash my hands again...
17. Rub alcohol on my tummy again because my shirt has touched it.
18. Wait for the alcohol to dry...
19. Pick a spot on the cleaned area that doesn't already have a hole
20. Slowly inject the meds.
21. Remove the needle and swab any blood with a cotton square.
22. Put the needle in the sharps container.
23. Lay down on the couch until the nausea goes away.
24. Wash hands again for the next injection.

I started reading the instructions on the F0llistim (FSH) as it had been awhile. My new Dr's instructions said to take 3 FSH and 1 hMG AM & PM. Seems simple, except the pen had increments of 25. I have 7 boxes containing one 900 IU cartridge it obviously wasn't three cartridges. The math seemed wrong for three clicks. We figured the 3 must stand for 300 but I placed a call into the nurses just to be certain and head off to work since I have to come home when the Men0pur arrives anyway.

Thankfully my morning meeting was canceled, and FedEx informed me that the Men0pur arrived so I headed back home. Still no word from the nurses, but figure I'll call when I get home. I get home and open the box, and it has the vials, and the mixing cap, but no syringes or needles! Nothing! I call the pharmacy, and the prescription that was sent didn't include needles! They could send some out, but they won't arrive for a couple of days. While on the phone with them, I frantically searched my medicine stash for any extra needles left from my previous cycle that might work. I found plenty of IM needles and a few syringes, but no 1/2" ones.

I called the clinic and the receptionist asked if I was sure that I really wanted to speak with the nurses, because the nurses are all with patients at the moment. I explained how I am trying to take my morning meds (it's now after 10 am) and I didn't receive any needles for one of the medications and I don't know what dosage I need. Apparently that was the magic combination. "One moment please" and I got a nurse!

They tried to call the needles into my Target pharmacy, but the type of needle was too complex for them to carry. So they found a pharmacy by my work that carried them. (Unfortunately, I was at home.) I had another meeting in under an hour and needed to leave ASAP.

I asked for the dosage on the F0llistim and they said the 1 equals one vial, and one vial = 75 ml. So 3 FSH = 225 on the pen. Very confusing if you asked me, since the "vials" in that one are cartridges, and I have other "vials" that are more or less than 75. But I got my answer and I needed to get moving. The 1 for the hMG is 1 ML. Crazy really.

They called in my needle prescription and I took my F0llistim pen shot. Slapped a cotton square on my tummy and rushed out the door. No laying down this time.

I made it to my meeting, and then headed back to stop at the pharmacy to pick up my needles , popping my first "do not take with milk" pill of the day along the way. I then then had to swing by home to try and get my AM shot in before 1:00. The pharmacy doesn't have my needles ready because I'm not in their system. So I have to fill out their forms, and then pay $16 for the 8 syringes and subcue needles. (Which would have been free if I had gotten them with my original order!) I rush home, and mix the meds in the vial for my 1 hMG dose (which is really FSH and LH mixed together) once done, I make a quick tomato sandwich so I don't pass out, and then rush back to work with another hole and a new cotton square on my tummy.

On the way to work, I experienced a heat flash in my well conditioned car, and briefly thought I was going to pass out. I flooded the car with cool air, and prayed the air conditioning was still on in the office. (It was.)

Hopefully the 3 shots tonight will go a bit smoother... Somewhere in between I still have to take 2 metf0rmin pills, 1 pre-natal vitamin, 1 huge calcium "horse pill", one folate, the second "do not take with milk" pill, and my baby aspirin.

Sweet dreams...