Donation #3

I received a call from my agency, and it looks I might be heading over to a state across the country for another donation! More updates later!

Donor Video

Found this video on another donor's blog.

Retrieval Day

Retrieval went well. Especially, now that I was "put under" with anesthetics. They retrieved 15 eggs. After the procedure, I was able to get dressed myself, and I left only being a little sore.

The next day: I felt something that felt like menstrual cramps begin.

2 days post-retrieval: My menstrual cramps begin to feel something like menstrual cramps on steroids. I called the clinic and asked if they would prescribe me pain killers. I had been so uncomfortable with the cramps, I didn't sleep the night before at all. My last clinic sent me home with a bottle of Vicadin, which helped immensely with the pain. I told the doctor that I had difficulty sleeping, and was extremely sore. She told me to just take Motrin. I was really angry, but I dealt with the pain.

3 to 4 days post retrieval: The pain is gone... finally!

Day Before Retrieval

Today is my "day off." Meaning, no injections! I didn't feel up to touring today (too uncomfortable), so we stayed in our hotel the whole day watching T.V. marathons. Okay, that sounds lame, but it really wasn't. Neither of us really like this city, and we never have time to watch some tele back at home, so it was ideal for us.

Tomorrow's agenda: Aspiration.

HCG Trigger Shot

Doc's Orders:

Tonight, take HCG trigger shot.. in the bum-bum :(

No more Repronex!! :)

Yesterday, my estradiol levels were evaluated and everything looks perfect. Surgery is planned for December 6th, with my HCG trigger shot taken today (12/4). Because everything is well with my estradiol levels, I do not have to take anymore Repronex injections in the bum-bum! Yesss!! This is good news people!!

We toured _____ the entire day. The city we visited is in the top 15 most populous cities in the United States, so it was kind of a big deal. Once again, parking was outrageous, so my husband and I parked miles away to avoid high costs. I realize we are scrooges when it comes to spending the least amount of money on these egg donation trips.

We must have walked a million miles (it felt like it!). I was shocked at how well I was doing, you know... with water balloons in my tummy and all. I definitely "felt" my ovaries moving with any jerky movements.

Summary of this City: I feel like people "talked up" this city so much, that I was expecting "fireworks and rainbows." We got neither...

Too busy...

Too Sinful....

Too costly...

Too much walking for the girl with growing ovaries!!

I'm exaggerating... kinda'. We did have fun, and did adventurous, expensive things... but, nothing to get too hyped about. It's fun to say that we've been there.

Our friends and family have their eyebrows raised at how we afford to take these long "vacations" in costly tourist areas. If they only knew it was all paid for by my wonderful intended parents. I feel very grateful to them for them being so generous by paying so much for me to be comfortable. The only way I can ever repay them, is to hope and pray, my eggs will be successful!

Doctor's Appointment

My husband and flew into _____. Today I felt heavier than usual, but I think it's because I had an appointment with the doctor today telling me how large my ovaries/follicles were. The doctor says I am stimulating just fine, and everything looks great!

I felt "large" after that statement. Despite my "large" feeling, I was still able to be adventurous with my husband and tour scenic areas of the city. We walked around for hours! I made sure this was a fun-filled day because I might feel "too large" the next day to do anything fun.

I didn't feel "fat" today. On my first cycle, I felt really bloated by now. But, I guess every cycle is a different experience. The best way to describe the way you feel, is that your ovaries feel like your abdomen is filled with multiple water-balloons. Walking around sightseeing with "water-balloons" in your tummy isn't always pleasurable, however, everyone has a different experience. For instance, a friend of mine who also donates tells me that she does not feel any different pre-aspiration. She feels bloated post-surgery. In my case, I feel like water-balloons are in my tummy before aspiration, and bloated a couple days post-surgery.

Anyways, until next time!

Day 6 Repronex/Follistim

Where I'm At:

Repronex/Follistim - Day 6

Lupron - Day 17

No Birth Control

Today, I jumped on the scale to see if I had gained weight, with growing ovaries and all. I gained a little less than 3 pounds. I wonder how much bigger my ovaries have grown since I began Follistim/Repronex?

My "bum shots" are getting better- in fact, my husband is quite a pro at it. I still don't look forward to it, and I wait until the last possible minute to have him administer it. The secret to less pain inflicted, was sticking the needle deeper in my flesh, and more into my muscle. Before, I warned my husband to not stick it in too deep, and a bubble on my butt was a result of my simple request. Plus, it stung more.

We will be traveling to ____ here soon. I am hoping for an early retrieval than what they have planned, so my husband and I can come back home. Both of us are missing lots of work, so we are anxious to get back. I get reimbursed for lost wages, however, my husband does not.

Other than travel plans, two of my friends have signed up with my agency! I am really excited to share/talk about similar experiences with friends. I tend to keep all this a "big secret," in fear that others will judge me for my decisions to help another family.

Follistim/Repronex - Day 3

Where I'm at:

Lupron AM - Day 14

Follistim/Repronex (Mixed) PM - Day 3

No Birth Control

My first time injecting the mix, I "cheated the system" by switching the needle to a smaller one. This injection is meant to be intramuscular, and using a smaller needle did not allow the medication to reach the muscle, therefore, causing a small bubble on my upper right quadrant of my buttox. The bubble went away after a few minutes, but I learned to face my fear of the larger needle. On the second day of Repronex and Follistim, my husband injected me as gently as he could. I was surprised that it did not hurt as I'd imagined it out to be. I owe a lot to this blog post I found. She talked a lot about how it looks worse than it actually felt. The injection itself did not really hurt, however, Follistim seems to have a slight after-stinging feel (remember this post during my 1st cycle?) To be honest, the upper right quadrant of my bum is still a little sore from yesterday. For tonight's injection, I might consider inviting my left bum side to the "Follistim/Repronex party" to avoid an extra sore right side.

Tomorrow morning, I have an appointment with my monitoring clinic to check my estradiol levels. I have been religiously doing all the necessary injections and other requirements, so I am confident, that levels should be good.

Day 1: Repronex/Follistim

Where I'm at:

Lupron AM - Day 12

Follistim PM - Day 1

Repronex PM- Day 1

No Birth Control

Tonight, I began Follistim and Repronex (i.e. Menopure). The doctor ordered me to take 10 units of Lupron in the morning, 250 units of Follistim, and one vial of Repronex in the evening. In addition, I was instructed to combine Repronex and Follistim into one vial and inject it

into... my... rear...

I about died when I read the instructions from the nurse via email. I died a second time when I saw the needle!

I cheated on the needle part though... At least for tonight. I took one of my smaller needle overstock from my last cycle, and replaced the needle. I guess that was a bad idea because I ended up with a small bubble on my butt that looked something like this woman's bump on her stomach:

I asked my husband to shoot me in the butt, but I freaked out, and shot myself. It takes a lot of talent to inject yourself in the rear... Just sayin'... I feel a lot better inflicting the pain rather than having someone inflict pain on me. Weird, I know...

Tomorrow, I will have to allow my husband to have some face time with my rear tomorrow (aka: needle in the bum).

We are aiming to retrieve by the second week of December. I am not excited to feel the "water-balloon" feeling in my stomach right before the aspiration. I am also not excited to work with this clinic in ______. They are not as friendly as my last clinic... and the doctor has zero bedside manners. I am told, however, that this doctor is one of the best in their state. In contrast to some of my not-so-excited feelings, I am, however, very excited to see how many eggs they will retrieve this time, and if my recipients will get pregnant like my first couple did!

This cycle, they are doing many things different than the first (see above), to see if they can increase my egg count.

Off topic, I talked with my agency director and asked if anyone had been looking at me lately to do another cycle. One family had been looking at me because of my ethnicity, but still no word about a future cycle. I asked my agency to please send a portfolio out to New York. My husband and I are dying to visit such an exciting place for our next cycle!

Until next time!

Food craving and Stomach pains

Where I'm @:

Lupron Day 6 injections

No more birth control

Aiming to retrieve the mid-December.

I began taking 10 units Lupron via injection on Monday. I was ordered to stop taking my birth control on Friday (yesterday). On Tuesday, I started having painful stomach pains. On my first cycle, I did not experience any painful pains in my abdomen, so I was slightly concerned. The pain repeated itself Friday and today (Saturday). The pain only lasts an hour or so, but it is definitely noticeable. I see my monitoring clinic on Monday morning, so I figured I'd ask the R.E. (Reproductive Endocrinologist) then.

I called my agency to ask about the pain. My agency owners are so kind, and are great about returning calls. They told me that if the pains continued, to make a call to the "on-call" nurse at the I.P.'s (intended parent) clinic. The pain is not severe enough to worry me, however, I like to keep everyone updated.

Like my first cycle, my appetite has increased. It stinks gaining weight, but I am willing to gain the few pounds for a couple more weeks.

If you are an interested, potential donor, please email me! I'd love to share with you my agency!

Eggciteddonor@gmail.com