Orientation

We went to orientation yesterday. It was 5 hours long and included training on mixing and injecting medications. We will get to that later. First the demographics:
There were about 15 sad, white upper, middle-class, heterosexual couples in it. All the ladies were over 30. We were all strangers. It was the perfect place to ask questions about ovarian follicles and male factor infertility. The only time the mood was slightly lightened was when one guy said, "We have to do the more intense cycle...I'm guessing that's because of advanced age? She's 42.." and his wife threw up her hands and looked exasperated. Everyone laughed at that.

The medications I am going to be taking are:
Lupron injection- prevents eggs from being released
FSH injection-encourages the development of eggs that are not being released
HMG injection- I honestly can't remember why I take this
HCG one injection -"trigger shot" taken exactly 30 hours before harvest
Medrol pill- steroid that will lower my immune system so it doesn't attack and dispose of the embryo
Antibiotic- one dose given right after harvest so my weakened immune system doesn't get infection from the surgical procedure
Aspirin- Prevents blood clots caused by constant fucking with of my hormones
Progesterone injection- Charlie has to administer these. Hormone that will help my body keep the lining of my uterus thick and sticky enough to maintain the pregnancy
The training made me feel better about the shots I'm giving myself- the needles are small and pretty thin. It made me feel worse, though, about the shots Charlie has to administer.
The progesterone is mixed with oil and has to be injected into the muscle of my hip or top of my thigh. The needle is about as long as my pinkie and is wide so that the oil can get through it. These also take time to give, because the oil has to be slowly plunged into my muscle for absorption. I have to take it daily for the first 8 weeks of the pregnancy. Three of the hormones have to be mixed with water right before they are given. If I mess up and forget a shot or mix it wrong, the whole cycle is blown and I have to start all over again from the beginning. All of the injections have to be given between 6 and 7 pm. Probably want to avoid calling my house during that time. Or anytime, really, during the cycle. Side effects mimick menopause and/or pregnancy.
I don't have my cycle scheduled yet, but I hope to get it scheduled by the end of next week.