Last fall, we shared the inspiring journey of Allyson Reed, a breast cancer previvor, dedicated women’s health advocate, former beauty pageant contestant, and professional model. Under the guidance of Dr. Emma Sinclair, Allyson made the decision to pursue IVF treatment along with preimplantation genetic testing to minimize the risk of passing on hereditary conditions.
Allyson is chronicling her path to motherhood through blogs and videos, aiming to demystify infertility treatments and remind women of the importance of advocating for themselves. “I hope sharing my experience helps others realize they are not alone in this journey,” she expresses.
Catch up on Allyson’s journey:
Read Allyson’s Third Blog About Self-Administering Injections:
“Is giving yourself those shots intimidating?” After being asked this repeatedly since starting my IVF journey, I felt compelled to share what a round of injections really entails. Spoiler alert: it’s not as bad as it seems!
I tend to maintain a positive outlook, so when it came to IVF, I put on my brave face and just went for it. Still, there are few things less natural than injecting yourself in the abdomen with a needle.
It was tough, especially when friends checked in with concern that made me question whether I was adequately worried about the process. Fortunately, my clinic has a preparatory injection class for those of us prone to anxiety. After completing my master’s thesis, I vowed to never step foot in another class, but this one turned out to be a huge relief.
During the session at the clinic, a friendly nurse guided us through every aspect of the injection process, from skin prep to syringe filling, including the dreaded intramuscular trigger shot which I discovered would go in… wait for it… MY BUTT!
I panicked at first, but the nurse reassured us that the large needle in the kit was just for mixing medication. We all sighed in relief.
After class, I felt much more equipped as I prepared for my IVF cycle. As fate would have it, I had to start my injections right after appearing on a morning show. I finished my segment, had lunch, and then retreated to my tiny hotel room in New York City to administer my first shots. Suddenly, it all felt overwhelming and I panicked, forgetting everything I learned in class. Luckily, my calm husband reminded me to stop stalling and just do it.
Taking a deep breath, I remembered the nurse’s encouragement, pinched my tummy, and bravely injected myself. To my surprise, it didn’t hurt at all! I felt a surge of pride as I completed my first injection and moved on to the second one, feeling accomplished after what seemed like a daunting task.
Over the next two weeks, I continued my injections across several states and multiple hotel rooms, attended monitoring appointments at different clinic locations, and was grateful for the flexibility of my medical team. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
Traveling with medication posed its own challenges, especially since some needed refrigeration. I brought a small diabetic cool pack on a nine-hour flight, which worked okay but could have been colder. I learned that asking the flight attendant for ice would have been a better solution.
Upon arrival in New York, I encountered a hotel without a mini-fridge. After many calls to the front desk, they reluctantly provided me with an ancient fridge from another room. It was so old that I worried it wouldn’t keep my meds cold enough, so I impulsively bought a new one to ensure my medication was safe. I later donated it to the hotel, as I couldn’t take it back home.
Although I faced unexpected reactions to the injections, I learned to adapt. My bruising from the shots was exacerbated by a genetic condition, making my stomach look like a patchwork quilt. I also experienced localized itching and redness after one of my medications, which prompted a quick online search for advice.
If you’re interested in more tips about home insemination, check out our other blog post here. For those seeking reliable resources on pregnancy, you can visit the CDC’s website, which provides excellent information on home insemination.
In summary, my IVF injection journey was filled with ups and downs, but each step taught me resilience and the importance of support. I hope my story can lend a hand to others navigating similar paths.