Broke Our Trigger Shot Cherry

I didn't even know we were doing trigger shots until I called my RE when I got my period, as he instructed. I started my cycle on October 4th and called. I spoke to his nurse and she explained I would start the Femara on Day 3 of my cycle, take it for 5 days, and then get an ultrasound 9 days after I start the pills. Then, she said I would do a trigger shot on/about day 14 of my cycle. I tried to pretend like I knew what she was talking about and when my SO came home that night I asked him if he remembered the RE or his staff discussing any kind of shots with us. He swore (like me) that no one ever mentioned injections. 

The specialty pharmacy called me a few days later and arranged to ship the trigger shot and all the supplies I would need. I got the box via UPS a couple of days later. It looked like some kind of crazy science kit. It was overwhelming. I shoved everything back in the box and stored it somewhere safe until it was time to see the RE on day 14 of my cycle. At least I THOUGHT we would see the RE. We only saw the nurse, or ultrasound tech, or both. I am not really sure what she is. She did an invitro ultrasound and said I had two great follicles and two decent ones. My initial reading was a "9", whatever the hell that means. She said "they" want an "initial count" to be a 7 or higher. (They are terrible about explaining things clearly and I feel stupid that I don't know what questions we should be asking.) After the US she mixed my shot for me and gave me some basic instructions for administering the injection. She said she would speak with the doc to be sure what day he wanted me to do the shot and call me later. 

I got the call last night and she said not to do the shot until tonight, Oct. 18 (Day 15). Then, she said we should have intercourse tonight, Thursday, & Saturday- at least, perhaps next Monday and Wednesday as well, if possible. Based on what the doc told me before, we will start Progesterone 5 days from now. The nurse didn't even mention the Progesterone at our appointment yesterday, but both my RE and OB confirmed prior that we would be doing it, and I have a standing script for it already. Then, I'll get a blood pregnancy test November 1st. 

For those who are just starting to research fertility treatments and/or haven't taken a trigger shot yet, I thought reading my experience might be helpful. Obviously, I need to work on making sure my RE's office is more clear and that I'm asking enough questions. I'm not sure how to solve those problems because I don't KNOW what to ask or what they should be telling me. I'll keep thinking on that. 

AS FOR THE INJECTION...

Let me premise this by stating that I was a medical clerk and tech for years, and I had a lot of medical procedures in my past so needles and what not do not scare me at all. I had no issue with the idea of doing the injections myself, and I felt confident in my ability to do it. For others the idea of doing your own shots might be too much. 

By the way... Financially it is much cheaper (for most patients) to have the pharmacy ship the injection to you instead of to the doctor, but that doesn't mean you have to do it yourself. I have a friend who didn't want to give them herself she so asked her RE's office to do it. She had the injections shipped to her and she took them to the office with her for her ultrasound (US) and had the nurse administer them the same day. However, there can be an issue here. You need to be sure you have the right number and size follicles before doing the trigger shot. (That's what the US is for.) If your doctor's office is very far from home, you take the chance of getting there and your US showing you need to give your follicles a day or two more to mature. You might have to make a second appointment for the shot, which means more driving, and potentially another copay &/or time off work. We decided to administer the shots ourselves. 

The shot itself didn't hurt at all. I took the weight off the leg on the side I was using (they go in your lower hip/butt muscle). I just bent my knee and rested the knee on a chair to relax my glute muscle. Then, my SO used the method shown by the nurse for finding the stick location and squeeze the tissue. I stuck the needle in, which I didn't feel at all, and he pushed the plunger to inject the medicine. It didn't hurt at all. My butt and lower back on that side hurt pretty bad for about an hour, like after getting a flu shot or a bad Charlie horse. We waited a few hours and got busy, as directed. It's still tender but not painful. Still, I really hope I don't have to do it again, because it would be great if this worked the first time. I ordered a pack of 50 pregnancy tests online today, due to arrive Oct. 24th. Fingers crossed!!!