side effects

Today is day 6 of taking the Lupron Injection. The injection itself is not bad at all...in fact, I don't mind it at all and there is no discomfort and no irritation at the injection site. However, I was not prepared for the side effects of the Lupron. For one, the initial handouts that explained the possible side effects gave a very minor picture of what that might feel like. I also have never really had any side effects to medications, so I assumed this would be the same.

So what do these side effects look like, you ask? It started out as headaches on Day 1 and Day 2....but not like any headache I have ever had. These are different. By Day 3 I was getting very nauseous along with the headaches. I am still not sure if the nausea is yet another side effect of the Lupron or if it is a side effect of the headache. Either way it feels terrible. In addition I am experiencing insomnia and with all of that comes a little crankiness.

I think I have my timing down as to when to take some Tylenol so that I can stop the headache before it comes on and I actually was able to get a fairly good night of sleep last night. I am thinking that the sleeplessness and nausea are directly related to the headaches rather than an additional side effect.

I took my last birth control pill yesterday and I spoke with ORM today regarding my blood test that I have scheduled on Thursday. At this appointment, they will confirm that the Lupron has indeed done its job and essentially "shut down" my ovaries. If the blood test confirms that, I will start an additional injection of Delestrogen starting Monday as well as decrease the amount of Lupron I take. The Nurse told me that I will feel much better once I start the Delestrogen!!! That made me a happy girl!

With all of this said, I know that 'S' would take on all of these side effects and discomforts tend fold, to be able to carry and grow her own baby if she could. This is part of the journey and I am happy to be a part of it!

pill popper and pin cushion

I started the first of many daily injections today. Along with this much anticipated date, came many days of anxiety about giving myself injections, and lots of thoughts sleepless nights wondering, What if this doesn't work? How will my body react to the medications? And fear of letting this amazing family down that has put so much hope and trust in me, that this will all work out. But with all of that fear and anxiety, I can smile with gratitude to have this incredible opportunity....to make another families dream come true and be along with them on their journey to happiness.

I started my morning with 6 different meds; Prenatal Vitamin, Omega-3, Vitamin D, Birth Control, Antibiotic and Children's Aspirin.

 

And then this evening I take my second antibiotic as well as my Lupron injection.

 

 

This will be my daily regimen for the next 10 days and then I will my blood drawn so they can see how my body is reacting to the Lupron and then I will start the inter muscular injections of Delestrogen and then eventually add the Progesterone injections. I will be doing the injections for a total of 12 weeks assuming the embryo takes and I end up with a pregnancy. Below is a picture of the box of goodies from the pharmacy. 

 

After my first injections, I feel much better and wish that I didn't spend the last few days worried and filled with anxiety. It wasn't bad at all! :)

 

hurry up and wait

It has been awhile since I have written a post. Throughout this journey there have been so many deadlines and items to check off on my to-do list. It was go, go, go and then it seemed to go to a halting stop where we "hurry up and wait." Most of the waiting came with the wait for my cycle to start, which of course was late for the first time in over a year. I would get calls from the clinic checking in with me to make sure everything was okay and I was getting nervous as were they, that we would have to make changes to our original calendar and push out the embryo transfer date. The last thing I wanted to do is make S and R wait any more than they already have to.

On day 3 of my cycle I started birth control and then yesterday I went to ORM to have a few different procedures done. All of which went perfectly and we are on course with the original timeline. After the procedures, I went in to have a training to start my injections. I will start Lupron, an injection in my abdomen, next Wednesday. I will do this each night at the same time. I will then start Delegesterone and Progesterone, two different injections in the muscle of my upper buttocks. This is done with quite a large needle and Jake will be doing this injection for me. I will be receiving a large box of all of my medications, needles, syringes, prenatals, baby aspirin, antibiotics, alcohol swabs...who knows what else! I hear it can be a bit overwhelming as first.

All of this medication prep will lead to blood tests and ultrasounds to ensure my body is baby ready and then eventually the embryo transfer date of NOVEMBER 1ST!!!!! We will want lots of sticky thoughts on that day that one or hopefully both of the embryos stick!!

I am very hopeful that this will work the first time! I woke up this morning from a heart warming e-mail from S where she said "Had to share with you how lucky I am to have met you." and then shared with me what ORM has sent them.....


"The staff at ORM including Dr. Bankowski and myself are very impressed with Stacie, you are lucky to have such a wonderful Gestational Carrier and I feel that she is going to do a wonderful job."



I feel like I am the lucky one to have been chosen to be such an amazing part of their life and their journey to happiness!