Part 4: Move Like Jagger

Merry belated Xmas, and a Happy Hogmanay!
-or not?

21 days since I started the nasal sprays, I rack my tiny little brain for some exciting stories to tell...........
....still searching....
I am very pleased to inform that during this spell, I've not been at all hormonal. No hot flushes, nothing. Ok, I had a few tetchy moments but nothing worth reporting.  I set 4 alarms on my phone to tell me when I should spray. I sprayed, it often ran right back out my nose again and I wandered if it would work. Over Xmas I had a crappy cold which meant having to blow my snotty nose followed by trying to breathe through one nostril which was blocked. God knows whether or not the spray was actually getting into my system or not. I'd waited a while for the whole process to actually kick off, so having to delay it by spraying or hanging off any longer didn't seem so appealing.

Yippeeeee- Xmas and New Year. I've been relieved of my mothering duties, so it's been the perfect opportunity to party my butt off. But I also spared a thought for some couples out there, who would happily struggle to stay awake for the bells, tired out from parenting.

I returned from a wee trip up north in time for the baseline scan. As mentioned earlier in my blog, this is to determine whether or not my womb is ready to start with the injections. So, breeks off, legs in the stirrups and Bob's yer uncle. It wasn't unpleasant. It wasn't pleasant either. The nurse was a lovely lady, and didn't even talk about what she intended to do in that room, or wave the bloomin thing in my face to freak me out. Instead, she just got on with the job. It was inserted internally, as opposed to the thingumy they rub over the belly. The nurse pointed out on the screen my ovaries and also the follicles where the eggs would be produced. She then looked at the womb and could see that the lining was very thin, which was the plan. Hooray.
So, that meant I was allowed to commence with injections. Hooray again.

Following the instructions, I primed the injector, grabbed a chubby bit, and stabbed myself in the belly. Easy as pie. Felt ok. Not at all sore. It wasn't such a frightening experience.
I do have to remain on the sprays for the next week or so, because while the injections are stimulating my ovaries to produce a shitload of eggs, the spray is stopping them from being released. which also means in the strictest of manner, safe sex.

This has to continue for a full week, after which I return for another scan to see how well my eggies are doing. If all is progressing well,  one day the following week I'll have the eggs sooked oot and whisked off to their new oven. And normality resumes for me.

So, I'm off to preen for my Hogmanay celebrations, and wish you all a happy new year's eve.x

Part 3- Squirtin up my nose

So, here we are again.

I started taking my nasal spray yesterday. One scoot up my (huge) nostril 4 times per day. Easy as that. No nasty taste dripping down my throat either, leaving me retching and eayes streaming.

If you remember, this is to make my system calm right down.

I’ve been reading about side effects of this spray and wow, I could be in for a real treat (and so could you out there)

A few symptoms to mention-Bloating, weight gain, moodiness and irritability…..(not unlike my usual self)

and if that’s not bad enough….

There is a risk of a rare condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (or OHS for short) that can cause life-threatening complications, blood clots and kidney failure...

It’s all becoming more appealing by the moment.

All of this, I’m well aware of but hey, life is full of complications anyway. What IS so easy to do these days?

More reading up on the subject, there was an interesting article in some newspaper from the US of A which stated, “And since egg donors go through much the same process as women trying to conceive in vitro, there are concerns that they may be prone to the higher rates of certain cancers that some studies have found among infertility patients.” Jesus wept.

You can possibly tell I’m a bit apprehensive. What "normal" human wouldn’t be? I’m spraying hormones up my nose 4 times per day to make me menopausal, followed by an internal scan just before Hogmanay, then onto the daily injections which could to turn me into a psycho bitch from hell.(no comments here, thanks!) And then to endure the retrieval.
At this point, I should also give my bf a big mention, as he so kindly said he would look after me! Let's see if he will be true to his word when he is at the receiveing end of my multiple personality disorders. Poor shit. 

I think I might have mentioned before that any child born from my eggs is not able to trace me. That's how the law stood as I knew.

A few people have approached me since reading my blog, asking how I would feel about being contacted by said child/ren. I’ve heard that since a change in the law last year, it means that, at the age of 18, a child born from donated eggs can be told who their biological mother is. What I have been personally informed at the hospital however, is that the unit completely protect my identity, and information given to the recipient is generally limited to my physical characteristics, occupation and interests. Whatever else I would like her/him to know, or be willing to tell her/him, is my decision and choice.

I retire from today’s entry and shall continue when I’ve got anything worth adding to my journey!

Over and out

J x

Part 2. The Injections Begin....

Part2

Hiya! Back again!
Well, today I was due to begin my injections. I was really quite excited and nervous….’til I called the ward and was advised I’m not to start today after all! BOOOOO! WTF?!

As the NHS has limited funding available for IVF, many couples with fertility problems cannot afford to pay for the treatment they need. You get two shots at IVF funded by the NHS then it’s self-funded. (I’ll try and get a ballpark figure for the next installment)

There are a number of reasons why some women are unable to produce eggs of their own. This may be because they have gone through the menopause early –even as young as 20. Some have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer which has left them infertile, some may have a genetic disorder which may be passed on.

I’m one of a number of women who are so fortunate to possess a perfectly-functioning body system. (Probably best not mention my horrible hooves at this point!) There is a process of screening required to undergo in order to determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate for becoming an egg donor. For example, donors must be between the ages of 20 and 35, and must not have any genetic or hereditary medical conditions. When all tests are complete and satisfactory, the coordinators then try to match as closely as possible the following characteristics of the donor and recipient:

• Ethnicity, skin tone, eye colour, hair colour, hair colour, height, build.

When you have been matched, the department then work out a schedule for which type of treatment is best for the donor and the recipient.

I was advised today that the recipient's and my body are not in “sync”, therefore I’m not to commence the injections. WHAAAAAT!!?? So instead, it'll all start in about 4 weeks’ time! As if I’ve not already built myself up enough for this day. They explained that I will be sent some hormone sprays to skoosh up my nose 4 times per day, for two weeks. This spray contains synthetic hormones which work to temporarily suppress the pituitary gland so that the ovaries can be completely controlled. In other words, my ovulation will be shut down, and I’ll be put in a short-term menopausal condition. Jeeeeez.  Hot flushes, headaches and fatigue!!!However, everyone reacts differently and I may not suffer any of these side-effects at all.  At the end of these 2 weeks, I will be sent for a “baseline scan”

The purpose of this baseline scan after 2 weeks is to exclude the presence of ovarian cysts and to verify that the womb lining is thin. If you have ovarian cysts or your lining is thick, your treatment with the nasal sprays may be continued for another week. If, however, your baseline scan is normal then then I will be started on the injections to induce ovulation!

At this point, I’ll sign off until I’m due to start the nasal sprays, and once again anticipate what awaits me!!

cheerio xx

Part 1: My Egg Donating Experience

My Eggy Bloggy by Jill

So, I'm about to embark on something pretty adventurous and exciting in the next few days -No, I'm not going to shave all my hair off, or buy a Porsche. Waaaay too common.

I decided some time last year that I wanted to do something for other people out there who are missing a particular element in their lives. Something they yearn for but can't achieve themselves, something they desire so desperately but haven't been blessed with the vital ingredients to satisfy their wish.

I am going to donate my eggs. Free range, organic Jilly-eggs. Something like that.

Looking at my own life, I have a job, a car, a house, 2 cats, 2 fish, a shedload of worldly experiences good and bad, and a daughter. Many people take being a mother/parent for granted. Some would simply never ever want to have kids, some prefer to have a career. Some people can't help but pop them out like peas every year. 
And then some would simply love to have that opportunity of choice to have a baby. But they can't.

I've heard and read about childless couples at their wits end, desperate for a child of their own to complete their family. I often look at my own situation and think about how times been really tough, bringing up a child on my own, with very little and often no support. For example, I've been unable to progress onto uni and get that nursing degree I've wanted to study for aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages, I can't just get up and do what I want, go where I want, please myself, as there's a wee person I have to consider first. But having another think, I realise I've done bloody well to get where I am, and managed to raise a top-notch bairn who wants for nothing, she's not spoiled, she appreciates everything, and she's intelligent. I'm adding that last part, as I’m totally expecting her to do well for herself and support her mama when she’s auld and decrepit.

So anyway, bla bla bla.

I suppose I just have a heart and really do feel for people at times who, in some ways are less fortunate than myself. I don't want money for it, and I don't want the praise and recognition for it. I just want to let you in on what I’m up to and raise a bit of awareness for something that’s so highly in demand, but not enough support for the cause..

I can't even remember how I got the notion to do this. I think I was reading an article online which covered the topics of IVF and egg donating, which caught my interest.  I work in a hospital and so approached one of the gynaecologists with a few questions. It just so happens, that she is one of the consultants in the Assisted Conception Unit in Ninewells Hospital, so was able to provide me with all the information needed to make some decisions. During a couple of appointments in the department, I was swabbed and pricked and tested for all sorts of diseases and conditions,  filled in a load of forms and then I was counselled, to answer all my questions, make me aware of what could happen and what to expect.

I suppose a few of the things which played on my mind were, will the kid who is born as a result of my eggs come knocking on my door when they fall out with their mum, looking for money, or a bed to sleep in?  Will I be financially responsible in any way for him/her? How would I feel if their parent/s died when they were young? Who would look after them? Would it have to be me??

And so the decision I have made, is to remain completely anonymous- to have no connection whatsoever with anyone who is born from my jilly-eggys. I only want to know if and when there's a child born. I feel that by then, I'll have done my part and it's been a success. That's all. They will have a mum and dad.

Shit!  Imagine- there could be loads of wee Jilly’s roaming round the country soon. OOOOOF

When I get my visit from "Mother Nature" in the next couple of days, that is when I begin the daily injections of a FSH.  Follical Stimulating Hormone. The idea is to produce quantity. Lots of eggs. It's administered with one of these pen-type injectors, the same kind you'd see diabetics use. You twist it to the required dose, pull the end out, then stab the needle into either my thigh or my belly and press the top to release. It should be pretty easy, as I've got plenty chubbs there which don’t contain too many nerve endings. Plus, having had a couple of tattoos, needles don't particularly scare me.

I should then have a scan on around day 6 to see how well my body's responding to the drugs, then a further scan or 2.... Should all be going well, I would anticipate the egg retrieval to happen about 2 weeks from the start of the injections.

It's all a bit vague, but I'll give you a detailed report of my journey as it happens. 

Wish me luck!

XX