2nd Time Around ...Part 3

So I was ready yet again to go through this process.  My husband, not so much.  I think that he remembered the crabby me and was not looking forward to her return! 
I began my injections just after my 30th Birthday and within 48 hours, was quickly feeling the effects.  Now last time I didn't feel bloated or crappy till nearing the end so this was new for me.  By the 3rd day when I went it for my first round of blood work and ultra sound there they were big and black on the screen (the eggs I mean).  You see when you have your ultra sound you can see your little tiny eggs like black circles outlined in white on the screen and each and everyday they get larger and larger (truly amazing to see).  Last time it was further along until they were that big, but every time is different! 
Like clock work, the nurse called that evening to relay my results...estrogen levels were high so I would be heading in again the next morning.  In most circumstances you'll go every other day unless they see reason to monitor you more closely then everyday it is...I was on my way to being one of the everyday donors!

2nd Time Around Part 2

So there I was feeling selfish and at the same time completely justified in my decision.  The wedding planning quickly swept me away again and within a few days I had long forgotten about the phone call from FCI.  As the wedding inched closer and closer the stress of "how the hell am I gonna pay for this" really became almost overwhelming...(this might have been part of why I donated a 2nd time : ). 
I think it was about a month before the big day that I received another phone call from the donor coordinator, Melissa Bradon, from FCI...I must say that we had a very good relationship my first go around and that's probably why she felt that she could call me and plead the case of the patient.  It was in this phone conversation that I found out the previous phone calls were for this same patient and my heart fluttered a little.  I felt like this was my chance to make this right since I had been feeling so crappy about saying no the previous two times.  She mentioned that the patient said she "had to have me"...talk about flattering...There are literally hundreds of girls out there willing to donate their eggs and she wanted MINE, it really is a great feeling!  I am not gonna lie, by the time we hung up the phone my mind was made up, I was doing this, but said "Let me check with Kevin and I'll get back to you."  Kevin, my fiance, took a little more convincing, but gave into my wishes and we were ready to get married, honeymoon, and start the hormone injections again!!!

2nd Time Around...part 1

So in case you missed it I have been a donor two times and loved them both.  I previously blogged about my 1st experience and am now moving on to round two.

Let me set the stage for you.  I finished my first cycle in January (just in time for new years resolutions, mine being to workout and fit in my wedding dress) and my wedding was only 6 short months away. 
As a side note you cannot workout while in cycle...only walking or swimming, which normally wouldn't have been an issue at all because I, like most woman, hate to workout!
So, like I planned, I started my workout routine and 2 months later was well on my way to fitting into my dream dress for my big day and that's when I got the call.  Now if I was ready to donate again this would have been a happy call but I was not since cycling again would mean that I would have to stop workingout and it would really set me back.  I politely declined and sadly hung up the phone.  I remember not sleeping well that night...rolling around thinking about the woman that also received a call saying "sorry the donor that you really want would rather workout then help you start a family" LOL ...I know that's not what they told her but I couldn't help feeling like crap!  I mean how selfish was I?
Again about a month later I received another phone call just to double check that I would not be donating again.  I reassured them that I was interested in donating in the future but was working on my wedding and then wanted to expand my own family right away.  I just didn't see anytime in there to cycle again and really didn't want to push my own dreams of another baby back for someone I did not know.  Again...lost some sleep over my decision and even now as I type this hate how selfish I was being. 

The F Word...Fertility?

I guess in most cultures Fertility is still a taboo topic, but the idea of running at the sound of the word is so foreign to me.  I have been walking around various events downtown and stopping at local spots near the various FCI locations sometimes before I finish the word Fertility people have already turned the other way.  I guess to some it's still a dirty word!  Don't get me wrong some conversations of reproduction will still make me blush at 30, but all I'm trying to say is "Hi I'm from the Fertility Centers of Illinois...let me share this great opportunity with you."...but oh no it's like I am trying to give them the plague through my words.  I end up just handing them the information or whatever we have to give away and just letting them figure it out on their own, in private.  This is disappointing since I have a lot to say and feel as though if they would just hear me out they would see the great experience that I see!  Don't get me wrong, not everyone that I've met has been this way...in fact more have welcomed my words, asked questions and show strong interest, but still I can't understand why the simple word Fertility turns so many way.  Please help me understand and any suggestions about starting such a conversation are welcome.

Egg Donor Child

Saw this tonight and it really made me feel good.  Just wanted to share it with all my donor friends out there.  Thought it was just so cool to hear about egg donation from this side of the fence.  I hope it brings a small to your face as it did to mine!

Part 4 of My Donor Story...How do you feel?

How do you feel...?  This is a questions we hear many times throughout our life, and even more while you're donating.  Why is it that whenever we are asked this question we never give an honest answer?  During a typical cycle you'll be seen about 5 or so times for ultrasound and blood work before you go in for your retrieval.  At each appointment you'll be ask by at least 3 people "How are you feeling today?" 
Everyone at FCI is super friendly and always smiling so you know that they genuinely care how you are feeling.  My response was always along the lines of "great, good, sun is out so can't complain..."  When what I should have been saying, and what I want to tell you, is the truth... "Bloated, uncomfortable, crabby, irritable...basically all the joys of PMS without your period." 
Don't get me wrong it's a very small price to pay for $7,000 and giving an amazing gift to someone, but I feel that you should hear what it's like from someone who's been there. 
So basically this is how I felt for about 10 days and then it was over.  I went in for my retrieval, my husband by my side, and walked out a few hours later with a badge of honor that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  That first day was filled with sleep, sleep and more sleep.  By the next morning I was back on my feet, taking it easy of course. 
This first cycle they retrieved 14 eggs and afterwards I needed no additional pain medicine other then some Tylenol.  I had some crapping and bloating but no more then a bad menstrual cycle.  My next time was a little different...more on that to come.

If you are a donor and would like to share you're story I would love to blog about you...send me an email at danielle.swanson@integramed.com. 

Part 3 of My Donor Story...

So like I said I was ready...but not sure for what! 
I knew that I had to give myself shots, well I was told this from the nurse handling my cycle and all of my friends that had donated in the past, but wasn't really ready to do it.  The first night came and shaking, I got ready to inject myself, got scared, tried again, got scared again...!  Decided to wait until my husband got home and would just have him do it.  Then changed my mind again, grabbed some belly fat (I'm not fat but we all have a little extra around the middle) and jammed it in.  Really I have to be honest I was worked up for nothing...hurt less then a bee sting...really, honest! 
So the next night came and I reminisced about the previous night with my husband and his eyes lit up, "really you were going to let me do that...awesome."  Trying to get it off his mind was clearly not going to happen so I thought, what the hell, I'll let him do it!  I can tell you it wasn't as smooth as my closed eye stab from the night before and actually hurt a little.  Moral of the story is truly if you want something done right (and not hurt) just do it yourself! 
For those of you with a needle fear this might not be the best thing for you to undertake or at least make sure you have a husband, boyfriend, close friend or family member that would love to jab you with a needle full of hormones : )

Part 2 of my Donor Story...

So after weighing out all of my irrational fears...ie what if their is a baby (girl) born and my son marries her?...like that would ever really happen, I mean what are the chances, sounds like a made for TV movie if you ask me! - but still the same this was something that ran through my mind! 
Also, you know how they say "no question is a dumb question."...well I had one that I am sure every potential donor has asked in the history of egg donation!... "Will donating my eggs make me infertile?"
To this question I now laugh, the idea of a fertility clinic, whose sole purpose is to help people with infertility issues have babies would take that away from it's donors is just out of the question...but like I said no question is a dumb question and I would say about 99% of donors have this fear.  I will post a response from one of our physicians regarding this topic in the near future. 

Anyways...after I got my questions answer and all the irrational fears ruled out I was ready, not really sure for what, but I was ready!