I didn't want to rewrite every detail about this 2nd retrieval since I feel I was pretty detailed about the first one and nothing really changed. Just go back to the months of May-July 2008 to read all my posts about the first donation. I'm just going to recap in this one how things have gone so far.

I started taking my injections last week. Since I had stimulated so quickly to the hormones last time, they decided to start me at a lower dose. I guess that was a much better dosage for me because it was never changed for the duration of my injections. Today is day 10 since I started my injections and the nurse told me today to take my ovulation trigger shot and my egg retrieval is on Thursday (day 12).

At my ultrasound this morning, they reported I have 10 measurable follicles in my right ovary, and 6 in my left. At my last cycle, they reported they could only count 13, but then came out of the retrieval and the doctor told me he got 22. I discussed this with the ultrasound technician and she said in the time between my last ultrasound and the retrieval (2 days), there can still be more follicles that develop in that time, so you can't only depend on that number they give you. I always hope that I'll have enough for them - I do want them to have enough to freeze so the couple can try those again later for a second chance at pregnancy if their first time failed, or to try for a future sibling.

As far as side effects, I haven't had any issues. My breasts got tender again, but I didn't feel my ovaries swell as much as I noticed last time. I can definitely feel pressure around my ovaries, but they are not bloated. Hopefully this means I won't suffer from OHSS again.

Oh, and since this might possibly be the last time I'm in Boston for an egg donation, I just wanted to end this post with a mention on how great Boston IVF is. Their main clinic in Waltham, MA is such a nice facility. Even my Case Manager at AED tells me how much she likes them - the nurses are organized and she reports they are very easy to work with. They have always been very responsive to my e-mails, and were able to manipulate our cycles so I arrived and departed on the weekends so I only missed one week of work.

Below is a picture of the reception desk that will greet you when you first walk through the doors. Behind the glass to the left is the hallway you'll go down when you're called for your blood work and ultrasounds. When you are ready for the retrieval, you'll be led through the hall behind the frosted glass on the right toward the surgery center.

In this next picture is the waiting area (I'm standing in the same spot as where I took the pic above, just turned 90 degrees to the left). The area near the windows continues to the right with some flatscreen tvs. On the left side edge of the picture is where they have a coffee/tea bar. When I come in, I just sit along the wall to the right since it's closest to that hall where they'll call you back for the blood work/ultrasound. I usually see couples who are here for treatment waiting in that back area together.

I also purchased a good luck card today to bring with me to the retrieval. I got this idea from another egg donor's blog and I think it's such a cute idea. I give it to one of the nurses and she makes sure the recipients receive it when they come in for the transfer of embryos about 3-5 days later for their attempt to get pregnant. It's just a nice good luck card with a personal message thanking them for trusting me to help them and wishing them luck.