Not a fan of Follistim....

Re: Not a fan of Follistim....

• twistsandturnsto2 member

  July 2013

  When I injected anything, I always pinched my skin with one hand and did not let it go until the injection was finished. The other hand had the pen and used my thumb to push the plunger with my palm facing up.
  
  Maybe you could get a feel for the pen by taking all the meds and needles off of it and figuring out how to best hold it for you. Just dial a dose empty?

  Me: 37, DH: 35 :: TCC since 2/11 SA: Perfect! CD3  HSG = Blocked Right Tube
  

  April- Femara 2.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN   May- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN
  June- Femara 7.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN  August- Lap & Hysteroscopy = Blocked & Partially Blocked Tubes
  September- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN  October- 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
  IVF # 1: Stims 11/30 ER 12/12/12! (10R, 10M, 8F, 2T, 6 F) :: Beta #1- 176  c/p @ 4w4d
  FET #1 February 26th :: Lost 4 to Thaw, Transferred 2 = BFFN
  IVF # 2 Stims 5/10 ER 5/21 (15R, 13M, 13F, 2T, 7F- 6d3 & 1d5) :: Beta # 1- 15 c/p @ 4w
  

  FET #2 Cancelled, Right Tube Developed a Hydro  8/28 Hydro & Scar Tissue Removed  Cleared for FET
  FET #2.2 Scheduled for September 20th
  2 Thawed, 2 Transferred! Beta #1- 96, Beta #2 906! :: EDD June 10th
  2015- 2 failed FET. We are done
  SURPRISE! BFP 8/8/16   EDD 4/1/17
  

  
   
  

  
  
  
  

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• LoveDrewb member

  July 2013

  Ice on the injection site before injecting was the only thing that kept me from bruising.  Good Luck!

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• krdesi member

  July 2013

  Thanks girls. I tried pressing the plunger down when it was empty to see how it worked and it didn't go down at all! Maybe my pen is broken? I literally have to slowly twist it down to get the medicine out and I have to let go of my skin after the needle is in to hold the pen still with one hand while twisting with the other.

  
  

  **Siggy/Ticker Warning**   

           
                TTC #1 since May 2012

                May 2013: First R.E. appointment

                DH: SA is good

                 May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal
             June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked

                 July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1

                August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos

           October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI

                      November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties) 

  November 18, 2013: First EVER BFP! 

  Beta#1: 91  Beta#2: 288

  1st U/S- 5w2d Saw yolk sac!

  3rd U/S- 7w4d HB of 157bpm!

  TEAM BLUE!

         http://movingtolight.blogspot.com/

       

                                      

                                      

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• PhillyJ33 member

  July 2013

  I think something is wrong with your pen, it shouldn't be that difficult! Do you have the yellow arrow and yellow dash on the other half of the pen lined up? I do remember my nurse saying that it could cause issues if they aren't but I can't imagine that is what is causing what you described but I thought I would throw it out there. I would call the pharmacy and ask for a new pen, I was told they are free. You don't need that stress!

  Me 36/DH 46 Me: Low AMH (.21) DOR, mild endo; Started seeing RE 11/12
  Jan-March '13 3 IUIs Clomid + Trigger = BFN

  April '13 IVF 1 MDLF converted to 4th IUI due to 3 runaway follicles! BFN

  July/Aug '13 IVF 1.2 Long Lupron = 7R, 6F, 2T= BFP!!!

  Beta 1=512, Beta 2=1,368 Beta 3= 4,128

  It's a boy!!!!

  SUA, GD

  EDD 4/26/14

  
  He's Here! Arrived 4/15/14!!!!
  
  September 2015 - FET with remaining embryos
  Twins! EDD: 6/14/15
  
  PAIF/SAIF Everyone welcome!
  

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• darby17 member

  July 2013

  Yeah it sounds lke something isn't right with your pen. But my nurse showed me how to pinch my skin and put the needle in (holding the pen like a dart). Then let go of the pinched skin so you can use both hands on the pen. One holding it in place, the other to press down the button. She said it is too hard to do it one handed while pinching your skin.

  Your office probably has plenty of extra pens on hand (I had to get one from my dr. b/c the pharmacy didn't send it w/the meds). So if the two handed injection doesn't work - ask for a new pen.

  Good luck!

  Me:38 - TTC for 3+years - Multiple failed IUIs (w/clomid, femara,injectibles - all BFNs) IVF #1 - Jan 2012, CP -IVF#2 March 2012, CP - Went back to IUIs all summer. Multi-Cycle Egg banking for FET. Egg retrieval #1 October, 2 frosties. Retrieval#2 January 2013. 6 eggs banked - waiting to be fertilized in March, FET March! Zero eggs survived thaw process - FET Cancelled. New RE - Now banking Embryos for PGS - July ER- 3 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, 1 genetically normal embryo! FET - Feb. 2014, BFP - Mar. 2014, EDD 11/6/14 It's a GIRL!

  <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Advice"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1a03f5.aspx" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
  
  

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• krdesi member

  July 2013

  Thanks for responding girls. I had every intention of mentioning my stupid broken pen when I went in for monitoring this morning and then the nurse practically ripped my vein out of my arm during blood work and I got distracted by the pain and forgot! I have a call in about it and I am hoping they tell me to come back because they have another pen I can use. The pharmacy is mail order so they would take longer to send it to me. Lol NOT having a good day with this stuff! I'm about ready to head back to bed and hide while I ice my injured arm!

  
  

  **Siggy/Ticker Warning**   

           
                TTC #1 since May 2012

                May 2013: First R.E. appointment

                DH: SA is good

                 May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal
             June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked

                 July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1

                August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos

           October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI

                      November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties) 

  November 18, 2013: First EVER BFP! 

  Beta#1: 91  Beta#2: 288

  1st U/S- 5w2d Saw yolk sac!

  3rd U/S- 7w4d HB of 157bpm!

  TEAM BLUE!

         http://movingtolight.blogspot.com/

       

                                      

                                      

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• kc1218 member

  July 2013

  Aww. Sorry you are having a rough day. I hope you get another pen soon.

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• Tenyearwait member

  July 2013

  My doc. office has extra pens... I would get a new one just for peace of mind!! I am sorry this is causing you so much pain.
  

  DH 38- Low Everything
  Me 33- AMH .9
  Married 11 years
  2002-current IUIs, meds, natural = All BFN
  
  Aug. '13  Attempt at IVF #1 with Lurpon Flare- Canceled due to ovulation through Lupron.
  Sept. '13 - We will try again with EPP.

  October '13 Started BCP for December IVF. Long Lupron protocol. Canceled due to ovulation through Lupron.
  

  April '14 Planning IVF attempt #3. Adding Cetrotide. Doc consult at the end of this month. 

                                                     

  
  

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• krdesi member

  July 2013

  So I got another pen...it works the same. I am obviously doing something wrong or that is how it's done and I just don't like it. I am going to bring one of the pens with me to the doc tomorrow to see if they can show me again. I tried the new pen last night and ended up hurting myself more when I tried pushing it down, instead of just twisting it. Blah!

  
  

  **Siggy/Ticker Warning**   

           
                TTC #1 since May 2012

                May 2013: First R.E. appointment

                DH: SA is good

                 May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal
             June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked

                 July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1

                August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos

           October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI

                      November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties) 

  November 18, 2013: First EVER BFP! 

  Beta#1: 91  Beta#2: 288

  1st U/S- 5w2d Saw yolk sac!

  3rd U/S- 7w4d HB of 157bpm!

  TEAM BLUE!

         http://movingtolight.blogspot.com/

       

                                      

                                      

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• sparkles2040 member

  August 2013

  If the doctor give you a new tactic, please share. I start Follistim in 2 weeks and am super nervous. Good luck!

  Me: 32  DH: 34

  TTC #1 since June 2011, RE December 2012

  HSG: tubes clear SA: Perfect AMH: 0.9 in Jan 2013 0.7 in March 2013

  Femara June 2013: No repsonse. Serophene July 2013: No repsonse

  Follistim August 2013: 12 follicles, 4 mature, IUI, and a BFN. 

  April 2014: Lost 30lbs, got my thyroid under control. Started IVF 

  May: BFP! EDD 1/6/2015 Heatbeat 167!

  Now: Canyon James born 12/30/14 at 6:21pm via emergency c section. 9 lbs 19 1/2 inches
  

  
  

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• krdesi member

  August 2013

  sparkles2040 said:

  If the doctor give you a new tactic, please share. I start Follistim in 2 weeks and am super nervous. Good luck!

  
  Lol, I am on my 3rd pen for Follistim, but I think I will just stick to twisting it, since I only end up hurting myself when I try to push the plunger down. I must be doing something wrong, but it's less painful to just do it the way I have been doing it! Just don't stick it in under your belly button! That hurts like a bitch! Otherwise, it's not bad at all. GL

  
  

  **Siggy/Ticker Warning**   

           
                TTC #1 since May 2012

                May 2013: First R.E. appointment

                DH: SA is good

                 May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal
             June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked

                 July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1

                August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos

           October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI

                      November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties) 

  November 18, 2013: First EVER BFP! 

  Beta#1: 91  Beta#2: 288

  1st U/S- 5w2d Saw yolk sac!

  3rd U/S- 7w4d HB of 157bpm!

  TEAM BLUE!

         http://movingtolight.blogspot.com/

       

                                      

                                      

  Report0 Reply
• sparkles2040 member

  August 2013

  Haha thanks! Belly button if off limits! Great advice.

  Me: 32  DH: 34

  TTC #1 since June 2011, RE December 2012

  HSG: tubes clear SA: Perfect AMH: 0.9 in Jan 2013 0.7 in March 2013

  Femara June 2013: No repsonse. Serophene July 2013: No repsonse

  Follistim August 2013: 12 follicles, 4 mature, IUI, and a BFN. 

  April 2014: Lost 30lbs, got my thyroid under control. Started IVF 

  May: BFP! EDD 1/6/2015 Heatbeat 167!

  Now: Canyon James born 12/30/14 at 6:21pm via emergency c section. 9 lbs 19 1/2 inches
  

  
  

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