IUI #2: Sweet cuppin cakes

Well, the IUI went better than last time, though not without it's share of hiccups and entertainments. Since I got a positive OPK the evening prior, the IUI was set up for yesterday afternoon. The Boy works a bit away from the RE's office, so he had to leave work for a "long lunch and doctor's appointment."

First bit of hilarity: In the collection room, they have the typical magazines shut inside a drawer. On top of this drawer?


Yup. Nothing gets a guy turned on like cupcakes and thank you note how-to's! I don't quite know if they were trying to make the room seem more innocent, but I find it rather disturbing that right beneath this adorable girl is a stack of porn to rival any 14 year old's stash. Good thing you can get things started up with yummy homemade soups! Awesome.

Now for the first hiccup. Last time they said it would take about 2 hours and they would call me when they were ready for me. Call me crazy, but I assumed that is what was expected of me this time as well. After hanging out in the neighborhood for a couple hours I get a phone call from a rather peeved girl who says, "Uh, yeah...we're just wondering if you are going to be coming in at all." Wow...well no, I just like paying hundreds of dollars for a handjob in a room decked out like a La Quinta lobby.

See, apparently they "never call" because they have far too many patients to call everyone. Whatever. They were just worried because I got there about 20 minutes before they were going home for the day. I went back into the room and stripped from the waist down. I made it a point to leave my underwear sitting on top of my jeans ala CancerBaby* and waited. The nurse who came in was nice enough, but made it clear that in no uncertain terms she was going to be leaving as soon as she was done with me. I guess I could have harnessed my inner insecure freshman girl and been all, "But wait...don't you want to spoon a little afterward? Will you call me tomorrow?"but she had a meeting she had to wake up early for, so I understand.**

The IUI itself was ok. They are certainly less painful than an HSG, but I still won't be singing up for one just for the fun of it. The nurse was brusque enough with the whole thing that, while painful, it was over quickly. After all, it wasn't my first time, so why be gentle? She told me to lay there for 10 minutes and then go home and do some jumping jacks or whatever I wanted to. Basically, just go about your day as if this never happened. As she left, she dimmed the lights (I kid you not, she said she would leave me with some "mood lighting." Yeah, thanks lady...I know I'm an infertile whore...but no need for pity humor) and told me that I could tell my husband it was "good for me, how was it for you?" Gah. I think she is related to my pharmacist.

It seems that, for me at least, about 4 hours after my IUI's I get a ton of cramping and abdominal pain. I had to take it easy and made all sorts of old man noises while trying to get in a comfortable position. At least it's over with. Now to find something to keep me entertained for 2 weeks.


*For those who don't know, CancerBaby was a blogger who was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer and died back in 2006. She was snarky an honest in her blog and pointed out how silly it was that we'll put our legs in the stirrups and show are bits to whoever, but for some reason we have to hid our underwear inside our pants, since it would be scandalous to show them.

**I have a good friend who, after getting an ultrasound, the tech tossed a towel on her belly and said, "Here...clean yourself up and go home."