CD1 - Joey's account

Well after much coercing from my wife I have finally agreed to write this post. I wouldn't ordinarily put down my thoughts and feelings so publicly but my nearest and dearest insists it will help both of us. We shall see.... Since the drugs arrived a couple of days back Nala and I have both been filled with a pure mix of dread and excitement, all at the same time. Quite a cocktail of emotions but certainly ones that leave you unable to think of anything else. After exchanging texts all day from work I was eager to return home and experience what could become a significant milestone in our quest to becoming parents. I arrived home around 19:00 after collecting my daughter from her mothers. After feeding and watering her I packed her off to bed with a couple of "little miss...." stories (my daughter, not Nala ;) ). Right. This was it. The time had come to start the treatment. I suddenly felt a wave of guilt knowing what Nala was going to have to endure and the recurrent realisation that this was in essence down to me. I swallowed the self pity and joined her downstairs. She was reading through the leaflet that came with the PROSTAP pre-filled syringe. Nala looked concerned and strongly suggested I also read through. On digesting details and potential side effects I felt yet more guilt. Again, I swallowed it and asked Nala if she was sure she wanted to go through with this. She gave me that look and assured me she did and that she was in fact excited about our journey. She is one in a million. I tell her all the time. Nala drew out the pre-filled syringe and began to mix the liquid with the powder (separated in the syringe by a plastic sheath). She looked confident and assured me she wanted to do it herself. Then when faced with what was (even by my standards) a scary looking needle she conceded and asked me to do it. I took the needle and prepared Nala for the needle. She was very brave and it was over within seconds. Now we wait, trying to not to allow the power of suggestion take over, having read all those side effects..... First scan booked for 27-Mar. And breathe........

CD1 - Day One of Down Regulation

17:45 - My cycle started today, around lunchtime, and although the Nurse advised us (at the Nurse Consultation appointment) that if your cycle starts anytime post 12pm on a particular day, to start the down regulation phase the day after, However, today, our private patient administration lady advised me that taking the Prostap injection tonight would be fine, as she tends to use 2pm as general-ish cut off rule. So, tonight we shall start our down regulation phase... :)
21:00 - Joey and I are stood in the kitchen preparing ourselves for the 22:00 jab. We're swatting up on the instructions and marvelling at the size of this blooming needle. It's a serious one! I'm going to take a picture and post it on here, so that you guys can see it:

What do you think?
I've read the official side effects for long-term use of Prostap and I'm not liking them; hot flushes, mood swings, decrease in bone density, hair loss, depression, headaches... Thankfully, this is a one off injection for IVF.
21:50 - I whimped out of injecting myself so Joey was happy to step in, being used to daily injections himself. He was very good, steady and calm. I think he'll be doing them all when it comes to the stimulation phase! Now we just wait and see how the drug has worked its magic at our down regulation scan in 11 days. I shall report any side effects as and when they occur.