schedule change

I got this email today:

One of your cultures came back with a bacterium (it's very common and not something to be worried about). But both you and your partner need to take an antibiotic to treat the bacteria. Also, please call the clinic because we need to inform you of a change in your cycle plan.

:(

I'm totally unphased by the bacteria problem, having health care is awesome! I was all worried that I threw off the cycle but apparently something is up with the IM (Intended Mother) and her birth control pills, so they have to wait on her to start her period naturally before trying with the BC again.

Then they told me that the cycle will have to be pushed back by "about 2-3 weeks" and I just about started crying. I asked if there is any way they know for sure what dates, and of course they don't, which I understand. But I just finally got that whole week off from camp and dealt with that issue, and now I need to tell them to scratch that, and I might need a different week off but I don't know when. UGH!!!

So I sent this email to the clinic:

I wasn't sure which one of you to email so I figured I'd send it to both of you! I've been having some slight pain, it almost feels like cramps, but not quite. It comes and goes very quickly. Actually, it almost feels like gas, but it isn't. Not sure if its a side effect of the BC pill. I'd say it's been going on for about a week, and it's not bad, but I thought I should mention it!

Also, I'm concerned about the timing of the cycle now that its going to be pushed back. I'm worried that it will have a negative impact on my summer camp job. I need to have energy and be able to run around with the kids, because I'm the Outdoors Leader and it's a very active position. When I requested time off I was unexpectedly met with some resistance, and it was really a tough time for me. I love my camp job! (It's a day camp, not a sleep away camp.)

But we got it smoothed out, and they found someone to cover me for a full week. And now I'm not sure what to say since I don't know the actual dates I'll need off now. My commitment to FPNC and the Intended Parents comes first. I am so excited to be a part of this process!! But I'm really worried about how taking hormones and needing to "take it easy" as it gets closer to the egg retrieval date will effect my performance. My last day of camp is August 1st, and then I have pretty much the entire month of August off. So if there is any way to push back the date to coincide with that it would be really great. I know this whole thing is so much bigger than just my schedule, and I'm really disappointed that my job is being difficult!

It's the uncertainty of timing and the fact that I won't be able to give 110% at camp for a few days and also that camp is only 7 weeks long so missing any time is a real bummer. Something I'm totally willing to do, the cycle is the number 1 thing on my mind and most important thing. But I thought I'd ask if maybe we could schedule it to happen in mid or late August. When I signed up to be a donor I assumed it would happen during the year at my normal job, where I get paid days off, not when I'm contracted to work the full duration of camp and required to bring all the energy I can muster up!

I'm terribly afraid to disappoint anyone, but I feel like my position at camp is in jeopardy and if I can't be the best I can be at camp then it makes it a challenge for me to work there, and that devastates me! When I realized the 2nd week of camp was when I was scheduled for the retrieval, I thought it would be fine because then I'd have the last 5 weeks of camp to be back to normal. But now that's changed and I just don't know how to go about this.

Please let me know if there is anything we can do. If not, it's fine, I will find a way to make it work. What it all boils down to is the Intended Parents- I fully understand that this is all about them!!

I'm so bummed out about all of this. I know this is a serious commitment, and I know things can change at any time, but it's really unfortunate that it's going to interupt my camp job. I don't know if there is any flexibility for me to request a date change, but hopefully so.

Then again, it pains me to think of the IM and how heartbreaking it would be to hear that the donor needs the date changed!! I want so badly for her to be happy and comfortable with this already so daunting process.

I guess I'll just have see what they say.