Until then….
Due to all of the other issues, one of the REs recommended that I increase the Crinone gel (progesterone) from two to three times a day. Ack. We also discussed doing additional intralipid infusions, which was to be discussed with yet another RE this afternoon.
The nurse just rang and said that the doctor thinks it’s a good idea to do more intralipids. Lucky for me they are now available at the clinic, so no need to drive to the complete opposite side of Dublin. I’m also supposed to continue to rest and relax.
In other news, the RE also wants me to switch from Crinone gel to progesterone in oil injections. I’ve not done those before because the progesterone in oil (PIO) available in Minsk was made with peanut oil. Since I have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, I had to use Crinone. I’m less than thrilled about doing PIO IM shots every day, but honestly, I will do ANYTHING at this point to keep this pregnancy, so PIO it is. If any of you have helpful tips and tricks for PIO shots, please share.
Thank you again for all of the kind words, thoughts and prayers. We still have a long, long way to go.
Posts
We are so excited for you and your husband!! We will be praying for you daily! We love you. R,E,S
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you heard that sigh of relief from D7! This is such great news and finger's crossed their suggestions help alleviate these crappy symptoms and allow you to relax a little!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the positive result! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI always did my PIO shots in the morning, and then jumped into a hot shower. I used the hot water massaged directly on the area, and it seemed to help. Of course, when I had to do them twice a day, I gave up. They aren't that bad. Sometimes they were completely fine, and sometimes a complete pain, but worth the effort.
OMG! I am so relieved to hear this news! I'm so happy for you. I continue to hope that things will go well for you and your family. I didn't take any PIO shots so I can't help you there but I have heard that warming the area with a heating pad or hot water bottle helps. Best of luck with those shots and I hope you get even better news in 10 days!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't be happier to read this!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great news!! I actually didn't like crinone at all an also went back on PIO. My technique was to have a warm pad around the siringe while DH was doing the injection (tricky I know but well worth it) and then I would have kept the pad on the bum for as long as I liked it. Some other seems to find it less painful if they have a cold pad on the bum beforehand, but that never worked for me. I am sooo happy for you and also happy to hear they now do the IL in the clinic! Much love, Fran
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you and hope that all continues to go well!
ReplyDeleteI found that heating the PIO vial in a warm wet wash cloth towel before injecting really helped. Honestly, I have a really low tolerance for pain and the PIO shots aren't as bad as they sound. You do get used to them....
I'm so happy and relieved to see that beautiful picture and hear the good news!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I will keep keeping my fingers crossed for you :)
What wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteDon't sweat the PIO shots, I'm on day 33 of them and honestly, they aren't too bad. My hips are a little tender to the touch, but otherwise I'm not having any problems.
M. does all of them for me, and makes sure to inject like a dart. We have a whole routine. I lean over the kitchen counter, rest my chin on my hands, take a deep breath in, and M. counts to 3...on 3 I breathe out and after he injects it, he rubs the area for a couple of minutes.
I know some girls ice the area first, but I haven't needed to do that.
I'm SO happy for you and continuing to pray!
Great to hear!! Best wishes to you guys.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear this! You've been in my thoughts a lot, I'm so glad that things are going ok. Please keep us posted!!
ReplyDeleteI AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THIS!! I have faith that you will have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a beautiful baby in nine months. :)
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOD I AM SO EXCITED!!!! I checked your blog earlier and you hadn't posted and here you are pregnant!!!! YEAH!!!!
ReplyDeleteI presume you are doing the PIO in sesame oil if you are allergic to peanuts.
Okay this is my foolproof method. I always do mine at night for some reason. ( have only been doing them about 6 days but so far I am hardly sore at all)
Here goes:
Alternate butt cheeks. Did you have anyone draw a bullseye on your butt to show the place? that helped S when she was shooting me up. It's the upper quadrant of your butt cheek ( hate that word) where there is a lot of muscle.
Okay - sit on the couch and put a big old bag of frozen peas on the area that is to be injected. I put it directly on my skin but you don't have to. Leave it on till it is good and cold ( about 5 mins) I always prepare the shot before I sit down with the peas. ( that sounds funny, doesn't it?!!) When you draw the oil into the syringe ( with the fat needle) do it really slowly and draw more than the prescribed dose. Then if you have a bubble - you can just push the excess back into the vial and the bubble will go too.Then put the thinner needle on. Sorry if I am overdoing this! Get a heating pad and a warm washcloth and have them waiting for you for after the shot.
Once your butt is numb, have your DH ( I hope he is around every night because I could not do it myself - not sure about you) give you the shot as if he is jabbing a dart - one quick movement ( remember I am not a nurse but that is what my nurse told me).Once it is in, have him pull the plunger back a tiny bit to make sure there is no blood - you don't want to inject into a blood vessel. If there is blood, pull out and try again a little further over. If no blood, have him inject the progesterone very slowly - could take about a minute or even five. Then have him pull the needle out and rub hard with the warm washcloth on the injection site. Then sit down on the heating pad and stay there for about 10 - 15 minutes. Like I said, not a nurse, but this routine has really been working for us and the peas really numb your butt so you can't hardly feel the injection - it just feels like a bit of pressure.
Good luck - I am so happy for you! Keep on keeping on! Take it easy and give the cats a scratch for me:) (BIG HUGS)
I'm so happy for you! You totally deserve this. I hope you get to enjoy it soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm so, so, so happy to hear your news and see your lovely picture. Such good news!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Yay!!! :-) I will keep praying for you. Love, S
ReplyDeleteWhooo-hooo! Congratulations!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have been checking your blog daily for updates... Congratulations! Kyle and I are so excited for you! Baby is beautiful already! Stay relaxed, my friend and let all of us doing the worrying for you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteI had reactions to peanut, cottonseed, sesame oils so this time we went with corn... there are lots of options out there for you... hopefully you can get your hands on one of the others since you are allergic to peanuts.
Here from LFCA
AWESOME NEWS!!!!! So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteMo
Wonderful news, so exciting!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news! Best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the great news!!!!
ReplyDeleteTry progesterone in ethyl oleate. It's hypoallergenic and it's thin you so you can use a much thinner needle. Your hip will love you for it. :-)
Congrats!!! Isn't it the most wonderful feeling!
ReplyDeleteAt my 9 week scan the other day, my nurse had to measure one of my babies twice to get a good measurement. She says it's sometimes the angle that can throw it off a few days.
I saw your announcement over at Lost and Found and just had to come on by to say a huge CONGRATS! Heartbeat is a huge milestone and I'm very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI've been on PIO 4 times now as a surrogate, here are some of my tips, and yes, I do do them myself!
1. Warm the oil, it helps thin it out so you don't have such a lumpy bottom, nor is it as hard to get out
2. Scratch, slap, pinch or flick skin just before injecting. It helps numb the surface of the skin and the injection hurts less.
3. Do NOT use ice to numb the area, you want to warm it
4. Take the injection prior to shower or bath, or use a heat pack for 15 mins twice a day to help the oil absorb and prevent lumpy bottom syndrome.
5. Massage often to help the lumps from the oil
6. Take injection approx the same time everyday. I found at night before I went to bed was easiest cause the morning rush is crazy, and well, I generally am always in my house before bed at night. Also I can leave the heat pack on my butt and just go to sleep.
7. Make sure you get the right area to inject. Ask your doctor to draw a circle on your butt, it'll last a couple of days but hey, you'll know where to land the needle.
Hope that helps, and Congrats again!
Wow. Great news.
ReplyDelete