SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS!

Cycle 2!

I got the green light today after my FDA panel results came back great! Had my first ultrasound to check on the O's... looking good ladies. I've been taking 10 units of Lupron for two weeks now, and will continue for a couple more days at 5 units. Tomorrow begins Day 1 of taking the "real" shots: 225 units of Gonal F and one vial of Menopur. I'll be taking these dosages for 3 days, and have my first monitoring appointment on Monday :)

Shot Count: 14

Side Effects: Loss of appetite, bloating (no donor bump yet!)

Lupron and Antibiotics

I have been taking 10 units of Lupron in the morning for about 7 days now, mostly side-effect free! The only change I have noticed has been mild nausea in the morning on occasion. I am using insulin needles which are so tiny I barely feel them... No bruises at my injection site (stomach!) or donor bump in site - yet. Now at day 8, I'll take my last birth control pill and continue Lupron shots once in the morning. Lupron is a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), and basically prevents your brain from sending signals to your ovaries to tell them to make estrogen. The result is a significantly lower level of estrogen in the body, suppressing the natural menstrual cycle. From what I can understand from my own research, it allows the Dr's to better control and sync donor/recipient cycles. It also helps to prevent premature ovulation, which would be a MAJOR catastrophe!

Next week I have my FDA panel again, and then the Menopur and Gonal F shots will be added to the loop. Reminder: The FDA Panel is required by law for all egg donors prior to donation to test for STD's, AIDS/HIV, Hepatitis, and drug use. I think it also involves another ultrasound just to check on the O's.

I was a little concerned the other day when I got a bad case of tonsillitis, and had to start taking antibiotics. (Side note: I LOVE the CVS Minute Clinic... in and out in 15 minutes with Rx in hand. I'll never go back to Patient First if I can help it!) Because antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of The Pill, I nervous that they might also affect my hormones & cycle as a donor. I would feel so guilty if getting sick meant that I would have to restart my cycle so early in the process. Thankfully my doctor assured me that the amoxicillin would NOT affect my Lupron or my cycle!