Friday 13 March 2009

Just a little prick

There she sat, jeans around her ankles as I steadied myself to stick it in.

"Oh just go ahead" sighed the nurse, "it won't hurt a bit"

I picked my spot, aimed, and with a fast jab, it was done. The nurse was right, it didn't hurt. Although, the dirty looks from the nurse at our embarrassing hesitations smarted quite a bit.

This morning we had our lesson on giving the trigger shot injection, or 'prik les' as it's called here. Never was there a more underhanded insult of a name for such a thing. Prick less indeed.

I thought it would be five minutes in and out and we'd be ready to move on, and in the way that mirrors the story so far, it was not to be.

We sat in the nurse's office for 45 minutes while she went through everything. What vials contained what, which needles were which, how to break open the vials, and a load of safety information.

There is a surprising amount of 'stuff' involved in giving one injection.

Three vials to mix, two needles, (one for the mixing, one for the shot) gadgets to snap open the glass vials and a chemical disposal box that looks like something from the props department of 'Outbreak'.

It was almost overwhelming to see all the paraphernalia laid out on the table, and the seconds just before you have to jab the needle are strangely paralysing, through anxiety of being too forceful, or not enough, and having to push it further.

We had a dry run with a saline solution and that really eased any worry. We're confident that we'll get it right.

That didn't stop ET from being convinced that I would miss her thigh and ram the needle into her cornea though for some reason. I reminded her that I have a 100% record of never blinding any semi-naked woman that I've stabbed in public.

There's always a first time I suppose.


39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Now that you're all involved with medical procedures and whatnot, are you going to insist that we call you Doctor?


Because I won't.

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's way easier to just start a heroin addiction! Lighter, spoon, needle, belt. Well, at least thats what I see in the movies.

With all this medical stuff, I think you should have some fun with photos and what not.

Momo Fali said...

It's all fun and games until someone gets stabbed in the cornea. Be careful!

MissyBoo said...

Wishing you the best of luck as drug addicts.

Ooops, I meant conceiving parents :)

Ms. Moon said...

Learning new skills is a good thing. And you made me smile for the first time today. Thank-you for that.

Lea said...

Can't say I blame her! We just did our first home injection last weekend and it was pretty scary (for me). I'm sure you'll do great though. :)

Sarah said...

Why doesn't she do the shot herself? I did all mine, they really don't hurt.

Putz said...

OH ME OH MY GIVE ME THE OLD FASHION WAY OR CONCEIVING....PLEASE

nh said...

Just don't get those needles mixed up!

I hated mixing, I was always sure I would spill something - probably after I'd mixed it! And we found that the gadget to break the vials was sometimes more effort than it was worth.

However, after all that - good luck. I really hope that you get your miracle.

Jenni said...

happy pricking!

Lorna said...

I found that it hurt less when I injected myself than when my husband administered the injection! Just a word of advice to ET - it might hurt less if she does it herself

Kori said...

Well. Photos, please?

WhatAboutNovember said...

Happy Stabbing!

James (SeattleDad) said...

When we went though the training, I had this fake butt cheek that I used to practice. The nurse gave one to me and also to the other guys in the room then told us to go ahead (with our wives watching). I slammed the syringe down so hard that I bent the needle in half.

Mrs. LIAYF about had a heart attack! But when it came time to do the real test on her, I redeemed myself and was very smooth.

AnnD said...

Oh my....the "prick less" thing made me laugh out loud in my parent's den. I'm sure you'll hit the right spot!

Anonymous said...

AHEM (loud throat clearing from wife). I would like to correct the "record" that my husband relates about our IVF meds.

Yes, he bent the needle in half on the trial run. However, I didn't have a heart attack. Instead, I soothed the poor slob so he wouldn't feel terrible about it. I then bravely bared my bum after that demonstration and continued to assure him, sans pants, that he would not hurt me.

I'm not saying its easy to give your loved-one an injection - it's especially hard knowing that your potential future family rides on your ability to do this well. But, it's just as difficult being the one baring the bum!! The trust involved is HUGE!

In the end (no pun intended), I think the injection process made us a stronger couple. I trusted him more, and he understood that I both trusted him and loved him enough to bare it all.

(Honey, you can make it up to me tonight).

Anonymous said...

So can we now add prik les to stumpy, Irish and braces?

Bet it was the best prick ET's had in a while. (guffaw snort guffaw)

sorry, I know, i know,.

unmitigated me said...

Even if you blind her, you'll still be batting .500, so, you know. there are pros who don't do as well.

Kevin McKeever said...

Dirty on so many levels. Excellent!

Karen MEG said...

Very impressed that ET is letting you jab her ... this is bonding at its finest.

I wouldn't let the hubby near me with the needle...nor did he want to. For the sake of our marriage, I did the injections myself.

This is exciting, X! Good luck with this cycle...

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

My husband wants you to take pics of your wife's bare ass/thighs.

Classic.

Anonymous said...

Prickless, how freakin' apt. *giggles lots*

I Am Emily... said...

It's fantastic to read that things are actually happening, that you are actively travelling along different paths.

..al said...

You handle everything with humour, don't you? Love the blog ending...

I got my shots from a nurse...no sir, dh never touched me like that! :)

And I am scared shitless of pricks, but IVF made a sadist out of me.

Go prick!

Anonymous said...

David could give you a few tips on how to miss anything that does not resemble an intramuscular site.

Wishing you all the luck that you hit the mark.

River said...

Perhaps ET should wear a face mask. Just in case.....

Veronica Foale said...

Just so long as her ankles aren't behind her ears when you give the shot, I think her eyes will be safe.

No contortionist tricks though...

Anonymous said...

Just a little prick....*snort*, what the hell, if it works, it can be a teeny tiny prick...heheheheheheheeeeee

Liz said...

And I thought having acupuncture was brave. At least this way ET can still make the 'that's what got me into this position in the first place' joke in the delivery room when the doctor offers a pain killer reassuring her it 'is just a little prick'.

Martin said...

@prayingtodarwin - Insist, no? Demand.

@Hockeyman - Sure, Movies...yeah. ;-)

@Momo Fali - As the old saying goes!

@M+B - we suck at both.

@Ms. Moon - I think that was wind..

@Lea - A bit freky isn't it?
SHould be fine now though, we've done the practice.

@Sarah - I think she could if she needed to, but she needs someone to moan about!

@Putz - One last chance Putz...

@nh - The big mixing one is BIG.... mix ups wouldn't be good!

@Jenni - filth...

@Lorna - I can imagine, a lot of it is mental though.

@Kori - you know, I can't see that happening...

@WhatAboutNovember - How delightfully sadist.

@James & @Mrs James- You two have given us a good laugh there....
But seriously, I want to do it, it's mostly her from here on in so I want to have some 'small' part.

@AnnD - It should be okay!

@Tismee2 - Filth, utter filth.

@Middle Aged Woman - Hahahaha, a good average either way.

@Always Home and Uncool - Hee hee, thanks.

@Karen MEG - Funny how some say no way and others don't even think twice.

@Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] - I'd have words with him if I were you.

@Anja - You couldnt make this stuff up.

@Tanya - Rolling on indeed.

@WiseGuy - If I didnt try and laugh about it, i'd be finished!

@tiff - I'm sure we will.

@River - Dont give her ideas!

@Veronica - too many jokes...

@hotmamamia - if it works, it can be anything at all!

@womb for improvement - it's really not that bad, now we've done a practice.
First sight of all the stuff is daunting though.

Anonymous said...

Even after Veronica's comment, I can't see how you're going to get ET in the eye! Good luck with all of this.

IrishNYC said...

Happy Trigger! I couldn't do it myself. I went to the RE's office with it because I had an appointment that day anyway, and cried.

Anonymous said...

You have a habit of stabbing semi naked women in public? lmao

B said...

I bet someone here in these comments has a lower percentage of success than that.

Heather said...

My nurse told me about a patient who did administer the shot with the mixing needle. I can't even imagine.

Anonymous said...

You have to mix the vials? Kind of like superglue...? Do you have to quickly jab it in before it starts bubbling over?
Huge congrats on the article BTW :)

Martin said...

@bsouth - heh, I'm sure I could do SOME damage...

@IrishNYC - It's really a mental thing. but like EVERY part of the whole drame, it's never as bad as we imagine it will be.

@Mistress B - WE all have our quirks...

@B - Me too...not looking at anyone in particular...(James)

@Heather - Simply...O U C H

@Amy - Thanks, I'm delighted with how it's gone.

Missives From Suburbia said...

Just read the comments by the LIAYF family and totally ruined my train of thought. She's very, very brave.

Martin said...

@Missives from suburbia - a bit of a domestic there I think...

;-)