[nr1022]

I know that when I was about to start my first egg donor cycle last month, I was a little nervous and looked high and low for what to expect. Everyone's experience can be different, but if any other women are curious what it's like, I figured I'd type out a little piece in the hopes that it will help someone along the way!

Basically, I started birth control to align myself with the recipients cycle. No weird side effects, but I had been on BC before in my life so I kinda knew what to expect -- my boobs got bigger and sometimes I had a headache.

I was only on the pill for about 19 days. Some of those days overlapped with my Lupron shots. I took 10 units at first, every morning. The shot doesn't really hurt at all, except after a few days if you stick yourself in the same spot (what can I say, I'm a creature of habit!) it does begin to bruise and sometimes hurts initially. Nothing to worry about, nothing a little cursing out couldn't cure.

When it was time to start the stimulation drugs, my nurse advised me to do 150 units of GOnal F and mix it with one vial of Menopur (I believe its 75 units). This shot I administered at night. It too did not hurt. The needles are so small and really there were some times when I did not feel anything at all. Otherwise just a tiny pinch. Once, I messed up mixing the two vials, but rather than risk a fouled-up injection, I simply discarded the mix and started with new fresh vials. I don't know what other clinics are like, but with mine, replacing "mistakes" is not a problem. They didn't give me a hard time; in fact they put me at ease by telling me I did the right thing-- not sticking myself with a inaccurate mixture.

Most of the time I felt fine, however a few times I was nauseous and very very tired. It wasn't too much of a problem, though, and I persevered just fine. Eventually they dropped my Lupron to 5 units a day and my Gonal F to 113. When I went in for ultrasounds (i had to go nearly every day-- I didn't really ask why because I am quite grateful that they monitored me so closely) I was shown the follicles on the screen. They developed nicely over time and as of today (about 3 or 4 days from retrieval) I have 22. Some are mature, but most are ALMOST there. Hopefully they'll be good to go tomorrow, so I can do the trigger shot and get this show on the road!

I feel a little heavy in the lower abdomen, but otherwise it's nothing too inconvenient. I did get a migraine yesterday, but it passed in about 3 hours. Not pleasant, but really I prepared myself for MUCH worse. I thought I was going to be crazy and crying all the time and super-bloated. Maybe I am very lucky, but I have been relatively FINE. I didn't stop my running/working out until this past thursday, when I could feel the "weight" of my ovaries increasing.

Tonight they have me only taking Menopur, not the Gonal-F. I'm guessing this is because I have a "good" amount of follicles, but they just need a lil' bit of maturing before they can be retrieved.

I can't say enough about the wonderful people at my clinic. They monitor me very closely, and even though I know it's not true, I always feel like the ONLY woman who's cycling at that moment. It's nice. I think my compensation is on the "lower end" of what is going around nationally, but I would sacrifice a small amount of payment for what I see to be superior care.

I'm excited about the retrieval (because i am DYING to start running again, and get rid of these bruises!) and I'm sure the recipient is too. Of course it's not over yet!

I hope it's a success for us both. If someone asked me today if I would do egg donation again, I would say emphatically YES. Sure, it hasn't been without little speedbumps but for the most part, it's a small price to pay to help a happy parent(s) out and help myself out too.

Thats my experience so far-- I'll update with the final results in a few days!

[nr1022]

Update: Trigger shot last night (i felt really weird for about 10 minutes afterwards, but eventually i just fell asleep)... now just sore at the injection site.

Retrieval tomorrow! woohoo! Not nervous in the least... I feel pretty darn good so I'm confident I won't struggle too much with problems afterwards. Looking forward to it.

[Kathelen]

I want to let you know, I am following your posts. I think what you are doing is great.

Holding baby- so can't type much.

[nr1022]

aw thanks kathleen! just trying to help out anyone who is considering donating... i had such a great experience!

RETRIEVAL TODAY! went off without a hitch. seriously, i had everyone in the room cracking up. you see, my dog pooped all over the carpet in the wee hours of the morning (scared of thunderstorms) so it was a hectic AM just to GET to the clinic. So the actual retrieval was sort of the least of my worries.

Had some time to talk to the doc and the anesthesiologist, and the nurse was also very helpful. I was starving at this point, so those crackers in the recovery room looked SO TEMPTING. But I waited... went in to the exam room, and it was NIGHT NIGHT time with some sedation. Let me tell you, that was pleasant.

They said I wouldn't remember much, and they were right. I kinda recall them walking me to the recovery room, covering me with a blanket... then BOOM i was up and I felt like a million bucks.

Prior to the retrieval the doctor explained that with my estrogen levels, i am at a slightly higher risk for OHSS. They piggybacked some albumen (protein, i guess?) on my IV to try and prevent some of the complications. So far, so good. I don't even have cramps.

I still look like a bloated little whale but it's cool. TWENTY TWO retrieved . That seems like a good amount, although I am not so sure what average is.

I totally broke with the nurses guidelines, and devoured some Wendy's after the short procedure (I was out in 2.5 hours, but was delayed slightly)... now I am eating some more protein and drinking water.

Not bad at all, all in all. I do know that there could be crappy days ahead if I bloat and estrogen doesn't decrease, but they have me on Lupron for a few more days to help lower the level faster.

That's bout it! I will happily deposit my check and hopefully someone will be VERY PLEASED with the 22 chances they've got!

[Kathelen]

22 is amazing! I hope you avoid the ohss. Will you hear the results of the transfer and beta? We let our donor know (passed along through the agency coodinator).

[Ladybuglee]

just wanted to thank you for what you've done for a blessed couple. it is an amazing thing that you did! hope you avoid the ohss. you are amazing!

[colsxjack]

Hi there. Great thing that you have done.
My wife went through IVF and had quite a few eggs retrieved (also 22) and high estrogen too.
Make sure you drink LOTS and LOTS of gatorade. The RE told us to make sure it was gatorade too and not other energy drinks as gatorade has specific stuf in it that the others do not. We bought the powdered stuff from the store and mixed it ourselves...much cheaper that way. You do have to drink ALOT...like a litre a day. And eat salty foods, like soy sauce, chinese food, McD's french fries, etc. It is really, really important to help you not get OHSS. Even with all of this she still got mild OHSS, which was a little hellish...so I'd hate to see what severe OHSS is like.

Anyways, Im sure that you have made a couple very very very happy. 22 eggs gives a great chance at having several blasts and a veryt excellent chance of a couple having one or more children.

[amandabrown23]

Thanks for sharing what it is like because I hopefully will be going through it soon. I am still waiting for a couple to choose me.

[nr1022]

amanda: i think i read a post of yours elsewhere, have you been waiting about one month? that is not too long, but i know it's hard to be patient. you'll definitely be a good fit for someone out there, you just gotta hang on till they find you

[Jen403]

I think what you are doing is wonderful and just wanted to send out a big thank you to all of those who have donated or are considering it. This may be my only chance and I would love to have a baby with my husband's DNA. You are fantastic!

[Igloochic]

wow this post is the first ever to make me cry In a good way. Our donor starts stims tomorrow. She's a previous donor with a very high success rate on both frozen and fresh cycles. While I know what she's going through somewhat (I've done nine IUI cycles with the meds) it's nice to read the upbeat feelings of a donor.

You probably have a general idea what you're doing for a couple...but I guarantee that none of us can possibly explain how very much you're doing for us. It's not just what you do now, the hassle, the drugs, etc., but the gift you give us that lasts a lifetime. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart Really, thank you so much!

[anondonor]

Originally Posted by nr1022

amanda: i think i read a post of yours elsewhere, have you been waiting about one month? that is not too long, but i know it's hard to be patient. you'll definitely be a good fit for someone out there, you just gotta hang on till they find you

amanda and nr1022, I think I must know both of you on that other board then too...

[anondonor]

igloochic - I have a confession to make. As a donor, I sporadically come over here to these boards to read about you amazing women. Understanding and listening to your stories and all that you've gone through have made my choice to be a donor so much more fulfilling and meaningful.

Just as we will never fully understand all that you've had to go through and how much this means to you, you probably will never fully understand how much we (or I'm speaking for myself, but imagine that many other donors share this as well) feel blessed beyond belief to be able to give this gift to you.

You are such incredible, strong women and I know that the decision to choose donor eggs in the first place was probably not easy. Believe it or not, I sometimes wish I could scoop you all up and hug you. I always wish you the absolute best, and keep my fingers crossed from afar. Know that this anonymous donor (as do probably many others) keeps you ladies in my thoughts.

[nr1022]

Igloochic: how sweet. It's a great experience all around, isn't it?

Generally-- post-retrieval has been a little yucky for me, as I am so bloated below the belly button that i can't see my hip bones anymore, nor can I see my "parts"... heh heh... it kinda sucks, but I've not reached out to the folks at the clinic (even though they encouraged me to do so if I felt necessary) because I don't have any shortness of breath or vomiting or anything like that. Just a LOT of pressure in that area. Not sure if this would qualify as OHSS or what, but it doesn't feel like any great emergency... I'm sure it will dissipate in a few days (at the office they said 4 days to a week to feel back to normal). I guess if a week goes by and I'm still as big as a whale down there, I'll give them a ring.

Ive never been so excited to get my period (as they say that brings relief from the swelling)!! Hahaha, ohhhh, but I'd still recommend donating. It's not that bad!

[Igloochic]

Hey you lovely donor ladies...can I ask you a question if you're still around?

I'm shopping for a donor gift this week and will be getting a piece of beaded art most likely made by an Alaskan Native. I want to give her something that she might treasure, and something that somehow shares our love of our life here and how we will share that with the baby/babies. (If that makes sense).

Would you "get this" or would it mean anything to you? Or would it be a bad thing??? I'd rather do a beautiful Ivory carving (eskimo) or my favorite gift, eskimo yoyo's, but they both can be controversial so I want to avoid that, hence the beed work.

Ok so that's question one...would the above have meaning to you in a positive way?

And the second. Our donor normally produces enough quality eggs to freeze over 15 each cycle. We only are going to have one child (or twins I guess) and probably do two cycles at most (one fresh which they are fairly sure will be successful). That then leaves us with embryo's, quite a few of them actually. We are planning on donating them to someone who needs them verses giving them to medical study or destroying them. How do you feel about this? I'd just like your perspective as we make our choices...they really do help!!