Chorionic Gonadotropin

This weekend I had to take a shot of Gonadotropin (Norvarel) - My doctor saw 5 follicles and He told me to give myself a shot this weekend - Saturday night at 10:30 p.m.

I was supposed to take out 1cc of the bacteriostatic water with a syringe and put that syringe in the chorionic Gonadotropin.. swish it around and then take it out with another syringe and

give myself the shot in my upper hip... around the "fatty" area... not on the bone... above it.  

My doctor said dont give it to youself.. ask someone. Can you think of someone that would do it? I said confidently....yes!  my mom or my sister..

or my dad.  He said ok and gave me the items.

I visited my parents house and they told me NO WAY... I can give you a shot..go to the hospital..  but when we called the hospital, I was told that they would charge us for the shot..

WHATEVER...  so that was out.

I finally talked my sister into giving me the shot..  I followed the directions.. I took out the 1cc water with a 18 syringe and then pulled it out and mixed it with the chorionic Gonadotropin,
I swished it around and I couldn't get it out!!!  I was like... the needle was not long enough to pull the solution out..

My quick thinking mom said let's go to the emergency room..

I saw security and told them my story and they gave me a smerk and let me in. Then I went to the receptionist and I explained that I needed someone to help me or give me an injection.
She looked at me puzzled until I said that I have a procedure on monday and I am taking fertility meds.. She said ok and got the nurse.. I explained to the nurse and she
said that I needed to check in ... to make a long story short.. there was so much confusion going on, she said ok. I will just do it. go in the other room. I went into the other room and she gave me a shot.

Done! ( and she didn't even charge my insurance - very nice lady)

Later I felt the area and my right butt cheek felt a little strange. Maybe the solution going through my muscle.. Who knows.

Anyway, I have my IUI today..

Ok.. I have been taking clomid for 5 days and I stopped after the last dosage. I went to my doctors office and i had an ultrasound..
This is what an ultrasound is like.. They take this long tube with a plastic covering over it.. and they stick it up between your legs to your uterus. I reminds me of a papsmear. It doesn't hurt.. just a little uncomfortable.

Anyway, he looked at my uterus and said it looked good. Then looked at one ovary and found 1 follical - he said it is 18.. (whatever that means), then he looked at the other ovary and saw multiple follicals, 10, 13, 13, 13 - so I have 5 mature follicals ready to produce an egg..  Once I take this Gonadotropin, it should cause ovulation - and I should release 5 eggs....

YIKES!!!!

Anyway, I have to take an injection of novarel in the upper part of my buttocks.. near my hip.. This is Chorionic Gonadotropin..

I always make it a practice to look up meds before I take them.  here is some info about it...

I take my ICI on Monday.. he said that he wanted to wait a couple of days.. I guess this means that it will get bigger...possibly..

just guessing..
 

hCG is extensively used as a parenteral fertility medication in lieu of luteinizing hormone. In the presence of one or more mature ovarian follicles, ovulation can be triggered by the administration of hCG. As ovulation will happen about 40-45 hours after the injection of hCG, procedures can be scheduled to take advantage of this time sequence. Thus, patients who undergo IVF, typically receive hCG to trigger the ovulation process, but have their eggs retrieved at about 36 hours after injection, a few hours before the eggs actually would be released from the ovary.

As hCG supports the corpus luteum, administration of hCG is used in certain circumstances to enhance the production of progesterone.

In the male, hCG injections are used to stimulate the leydig cells to synthesize testosterone. The intratesticular testosterone is necessary for spermatogenesis from the sertoli cells. Typical indications for hCG in men include hypogonadism and fertility treatment

Today I am tired

I  took the clomid at lunch yesterday. My first day. It made me feel as if I was going to start my period. You know the couple of days before it starts when you get
a dull throbing achy feeling. My lower back and around my pelvic area in the front hurt a little. I have had really painful periods so this was kind of along the same
line. I didn't take any medicine because I didn't know if I can take an Ibuprofen...or something like that. I have to take two more pills today, tommorrow and until Monday.
I work at nights and I felt kind of hot.. like I was starting to sweat and I am not sure if that was due to the clomid or if I was just working hard. Usually the store is cool at night when there are not customers but yesterday the temperature felt ok.  Once I took the medicine I felt a little light headed but that went away. So far, I guess I can say that
everything is ok.. So far. I called in work for tonight and I am going to go home and go to bed. I dont feel really well and I have to work all weekend. So I need to get some rest. I have to take another dosage
today.. Oh yeah. I contacted my doctor and I can take tylenol or Ibuprohen.. I took one and it isn't helping a whole lot.. Maybe if I get some rest I will feel better.

1st day of Clomid

Don't listen to everyone's horror story about Clomid..

one of my friends called to tell me about her friend going to the emergency room using Clomid...  I said "Thanks, great".  (wow that made me even more nervous)
 I had been very aprehensive about this medicine and today was my first day taking it..

I ate lunch and then took my dosage..  100 mg which is two 50 mg pills. I heard that every 50 mg of clomid your chances go up 10% for having multiples.

I am going to check that out and post the information.

We'll I took the medicine with my lunch and so far I feel pretty ok.. I was feeling a little light headed and I feel a slight pain around my lower waist on both side... Kind of a dull ache.

But because of the bad menstrual periods that I had growing up.. This is a piece of cake... (SO FAR - knock on wood).

I am used to working or going to work not feeling good..

Everyone's body is different. You won't know how you will react to it until you take it yourself.

I am so nervous!  my period started and I am calling my doctor to start the process for the IUI... Intrauterine insemination..

I am actually excited but kind of scared and nervous of the unknown..

I am so nervous!!  

STARTING THE BABY TRACK

I have about a good week and a 1/2 before my period starts. This is when I have to start clomid.. I have a friend that is already using it.. I was looking at the information
regarding clomid... looking at the bottom info... I dont want mood swings, headaches...hot flashes..... Gosh.. I will be 37 in about two months...(sept)..


 

Clomid or Sereophene, both brand names for clomiphene citrate, are commonly prescribed oral medications to enhance your chances of getting pregnant. This fertility medication can be prescribed for certain women who are having difficulty with getting pregnant, usually because of ovulation issues, such as infrequent or poor ovulation. After a proper medical screening to ensure that you are a candidate, your regular OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinologist and sometimes nurse midwife or nurse practitioner can prescribe this medication for you. It is usually taken for five (5) days during your menstrual cycle, starting at the dose of 50 mg. This dosage can be increased, if a need is found. As with any fertility treatments, side effects associated with the use of Clomid/Serophene include: Mood Issues Fertility medications and hormones in general are often blamed for the foul mood of any woman of childbearing age.

 

That said, increasing hormones can be a recipe for altered moods or mood swings. Most women find these to be temporary, usually lasting just during the actual days that you take the medication or a day or two later. Headaches Headaches are a problem also associated with hormones. Consult your doctor if you experience severe headaches or if you have any complications like visual disturbances with your headaches. If you are prone to headaches, try to talk to your doctor beforehand about the most appropriate treatment. Multiple Pregnancy (Twins, Triplets, etc.) The multiple pregnancy rate associated with the use of Clomid and its companions is about 10 percent. Talk to your practitioner to find out your personal risks because these may not all be related to the medication. Hot Flashes Hot flashes are annoying, but also a part of the hormone game. You may experience them anytime during therapy but many women find they strike often at night. Cool showers, fans and sleeping in the nude (also good for getting pregnant) can all help you maintain a sense of calm during this period. Ovarian Enlargement Ovarian enlargement or hyperstimulation is possible with this medication. This is why your doctor will follow you and watch you for signs of hyperstimulation. It is fairly uncommon but one of the main reasons that good follow up and screening are needed when using medication to induce or increase ovarian function. Hostile Mucous Hostile cervical mucous can prevent pregnancy. Your doctor may screen you or ask that you watch your signs of ovulation via your cervical mucous. Some physicians may prescribe aids for issues with cervical mucous, but you should not self-medicate. While many people think that Clomid is the answer to fertility problems, it is not the magic fertility pill many people assume. Only your doctor or other health-care professional can help you decide if Clomid therapy is right for your type of infertility. HERE is information regarding - Hyperstimulation   Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a complication from some forms of fertility medication. Most cases are mild, but a small proportion is severe  Symptoms Symptoms are set into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild symptoms include abdominal bloating and feeling of fullness, nausea, diarrhea, and slight weight gain. Moderate symptoms include excessive weight gain (weight gain of greater than 2 pounds per day), increased abdominal girth, vomiting, diarrhea, urination darker and less in amount, excessive thirst, and skin and/or hair feeling dry (in addition to mild symptoms). Severe symptoms are fullness/bloating above the waist, shortness of breath, urination significantly darker or has ceased, calf and chest pains, marked abdominal bloating or distention, and lower abdominal pains (in addition to mild and moderate symptoms). Classification In mild forms of OHSS the ovaries are enlarged, in moderate forms there is additional accumulation of ascites with mild abdominal distension, while in severe forms of OHSS there may be hemoconcentration, thrombosis, abdominal pain and distension, oliguria (decreased urine production), pleural effusion, and respiratory distress. Early OHSS develops before pregnancy testing, and late OHSS is seen in early pregnancy. Complications OHSS may be complicated with ovarian torsion, ovarian rupture, thrombophlebitis and renal insufficiency. Symptoms generally resolve in 1 to 2 weeks, but will be more severe and persist longer if pregnancy is successful. This is likely due to the role of the corpus luteum in the ovaries in sustaining the pregnancy before the placenta has fully developed. Typically, even in severe OHSS with a developing pregnancy, the duration does not exceed the first trimester.  Pathophysiology OHSS is characterized by the presence of multiple luteinized cysts within the ovaries leading to ovarian enlargement and secondary complications. As the ovary undergoes a process of extensive luteinization, large amounts of estrogens, progesterone, and local cytokines are released. It is held that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key substance that induces OHSS by making local capillaries "leaky", leading to a shift of fluids from the intravascular system to the adbominal and pleural cavity. Thus, while the patient accumulates fluid in the third space, primarily in the form of ascites, she actually becomes hypovolemic and is at risk for respiratory, circulatory, and renal problems. Patients who are pregnant sustain the ovarian luteinization process by the production of hCG. Epidemiology Sporadic OHSS is very rare, and may have a genetic component. Clomifene citrate therapy can occasionally lead to OHSS, but the vast majority of cases develop after use of gonadotropin therapy (with administration of FSH), such as Pergonal, and administration of hCG to trigger ovulation, often in conjunction with IVF. The frequency varies and depends on patient factors, management, and methods of surveillance. About 5% of treated patients may encounter moderate to severe OHSS. Mortality is low, but several fatal cases have been reported.  (that makes me feel ok... I think it is important to get as much info as possible) Treatment Physicians can reduce the risk of OHSS by monitoring of FSH therapy to use this medication judiciously, and by withholding hCG medication. Once OHSS develops, reduction in physical activity, closely monitoring fluid and electrolyte balance, and aspiration of accumulated fluid (ascites) from the abdominal/pleural cavity may be necessary, as well as opioids for the pain. If the OHSS develops within an IVF protocol, it can be prudent to postpone transfer of the pre-embryos since establishment of pregnancy can lengthen the recovery time or contribute to a more severe course. Over time, if carefully monitored, the condition will naturally reverse to normal - so treatment is typically supportive, although patient may need to be treated or hospitalized for pain, paracentesis, and/or intravenous hydration. References Delvigne A, Rozenberg S (2002). "Epidemiology and prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): a review." (PDF). Hum Reprod Update 8 (6): 559-77. PMID 12498425.  Delvigne A, Rozenberg S (2003). "Review of clinical course and treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)." (PDF). Hum Reprod Update 9 (1): 77-96. PMID 12638783.