Spotting & Clomid

[Chloe55]

Can I pick some Clomid users brains please?

I am on cycle 2 of clomid. I ovulated CD17 (according to charting temps and OPKs) I started spotting on CD23 and have continued to spot and am currently on CD30. My last cycle length was 32 days. I have taken 5 tests a test which was negative.

I am a little run down with a sore throat and full of cold but have been feeling sick for a few days now and had a glass of wine last night which tasted horrible to me (although I appreciate this could be due to the cold) I have been convinced AF will arrive as been very crampy for a few days and burst into tears on much more than one occassion yesterday. I have woken up this morning with sharp stabbing pains down the side of my groin which I don't remember having before.

I know Clomid can mess with your head, and I am sure that's whats happening but firstly, has anyone else been on Clomid, had a negative on 13dpo but still been pg or has anyone else had any experience in the prolonged spotting before AF? Thanks.

[LittleSquirt]

Hi Chloe. Several things you said reminded me of ectopic symptoms. I think you should go to your GP asap. That's what I would do. Ideally they should do a blood test (ectopic pregnancies can take much longer to show on an HPT) & a scan. Fingers crossed I am completely wrong though.

Good luck & let us know what happens xx

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Would speak to the people who prescribed the clomid asap to have your symptoms further checked. Spotting should be investigated anyway to ascertain the underlying cause.

You should be monitored whilst on clomid (with blood tests and ultrasounds preferably) because if you are not monitored you have no way of knowing whether its doing its job or not.

Would also refrain from using OPKs whilst taking clomid as clomid can increase LH levels markedly. As such kits measure LH levels the kit may well be just reading this increased level due to clomid.

[Chloe55]

Thanks for your replies. The stabbing was only first thing this morning and I felt it down both sides so would this rule out ectopic? God I hope it isn't that.

My consultant saw me for my first check up in 7 weeks on Monday just gone and has prescribed 6 more months of Clomid with a date to go back in July. It appears I am not being monitored at all

[Chloe55]

Have rung the hospital and it went to answer phone so have left a message and will give it til this aft to see if they reply. I hate this not knowing, my cycles are so frustrating

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Chloe,

Hope you hear from them soon. It is not good at all on the part of the hospital re an apparant lack of monitoring.

I would speak to PALS and the GP about the lack of monitoring and would consider asking the GP to refer you to another NHS unit. It is fair to say that some units are far better than others.

Usually women stay on clomid only for about six months; after that time other treatments should be tried.

BTW do you have a diagnosis?

[emmaloupolman]

Hi Chloe

I am also on my 2nd cycle of clomid CD 5 i only bleed for 2 days stopped and then bleed a bit last night. I had a blood test CD 21 last month but not been told to have one this month if Clomid doesn't work i have to go back to see my gp as they only gave me 2 months to start with.

Oh i have PCOS

[Chloe55]

I have PCOS, I do have a ds who is 5 and have had 2mcs though so have been able to ovulate in the past without help. Have just tried to ring them again but it's not just ringing out. When I rang my gp after my first cycle because I was having horrendous side effects he told me I needed to go back to the consultant. After a couple of days of trying to get hold of the consultant I finally managed to get a message through his secretary who can back to tell me that yes, I was having side effects, they would pass - I was bed bound for 3 days The level of care is crap, I can appreciate that since I have 'spoken' to other clomid users on here who all seem to have follow ups through the month.

[emmaloupolman]

I also have ds eho is 2 whom i feel naturaly after 3 months of trying.
I am not having any follow ups this month.

chloe55 have your periods been light?

[Chloe55]

Last month was lighter in that it wasn't for as many days as I am used to but since my MMC in Aug I have been having pretty horrific periods that generally consist of clots and lots of them, I can't even wear tampons anymore

[emmaloupolman]

Any news back from hospital yet?

[Chloe55]

Nope, have rung again and it's just ringing. Gonna have some lunch then see if I can get some joy from another department.

[emmaloupolman]

Which department are u trying?

[Chloe55]

Gynae which is where I have been having my consultations. I had my ds at the same hospital and they were amazing throughout my labour but trying to get anywhere with this TTC again lark with them has been a total nightmare

[emmaloupolman]

I had a blood test cd 21 last month but thats it and if it doesn't work this month i have 2 go bk and get double the dose but if af arrives then i have 1 day 2 c the gp as i take day 2 to 7

[Chloe55]

After being transferred on the phone form pillar to post as still no answer at gynae I have finally spoken to a lovely nurse on the maternity ward of all places! . She had a word with a doc on the ward who said this was commonplace with Clomid and if the pains are not really bad (which they aren't at all really) then it is probably just my body preparing for AF. Apparantly it is very common to have mid-cycle bleeding and hopefully after another cycle or two it might settle down. I also mentioned that I was a little concerned that most people I know on Clomid are getting mid cycle follow ups yet I am not back again til July. She said she wasn't sure how that department operated but it did seem a long time to wait and I was to call them back Monday morning, even if it's just to update them.

[emmaloupolman]

Thats good that you finally got 2 speak 2 someone.
I would contact your gp about follow ups i am going to on monday as i am not down for a blood test this month

[Blackkat]

Chloe so sorry you're having such an awful time on this cycle.
I can't help about the spotting, sorry love, but I do think you need to be monitored and that would put your mind at rest about o/v and also the spotting.

So my story, again, sorry!

I had similar non-monitoring issues during my six cycles.
I was also under gynae. After one month of monitoring they said they didn't need to see me for six months, I wasn't happy with that.

I asked my GP who is amazing (I think you said yours was too?) to test me in the next month, and it showed I hadn't o/v.
She then refered me to the sub-fertility clinic rather than gynae. This by month 3.
They would monitor me by blood tests (though the clinic does not offer routine fanjocam scans to see follicles, that was their policy - believing Clomid is stressful enough without scans). The specialist I saw upped the dose and you know the rest.

So in short - I think you need to be monitored, particularly given the spotting problems. If the gynae clinic won't do it for you pester your GP to do it. My line was "What is the point of me taking these drugs, (which play games with my head and can be dangerous) if you're not checking they are working"

HTH, and really hope that you get some resolution soon...see you back on t'other thread xx

[emmaloupolman]

Blackkat was clomid sucessfull for u?

[Blackkat]

emma yes, after six cycles, but sadly I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks.

[skitoo]

Chloe posted on other thread but just want to second what Blasckkat has said, you need to pester these people to give you the support with the treatment you are entitled to. It makes me how hit and miss it is all over the country.

I have been lucky that I was monitored during my cycles last year but just to emphasise how important it is, I never worked exactly the same during any cycle . My 6th cycle that I fell pg on we nearly gave up on as my follies didn't develop until day 20 but they had by day 12 the previous month - we wouldn't have known that without the monitoring though.

It really is an awful thing to have to go through, it's tough, time consuming with hospital appointments and the effects of clomid can be awful but at least you will know whats going on and that it'll be worth it.

I'm with Blackkat and hope you get some resolution soon xx

[Blackkat]

And just again to agree with Skitoo, I had different cycles on each of the six months, and had totally given up by six, which was of course the month I got bfp!

[Chloe55]

Thanks for your input ladies, I have def got AF now, am on day 2 of horrendous clots and cramps, oh the joy So have started my 3rd lot of Clomid today. My GP has bollocked the consultant for me in the past for not giving me any follow up since my MMC so I didn't know what the hell I was meant to be doing. The consultant actually made me feel bad about this by making some underhand comment about them giving me completely adequate care and that there had been a miscommunication and I shouldn't have gone to my GP about it I don't know whether to try and kick up a fuss at the hospital or see my GP, I have also asked my dh to look into our private health because I wondered whether I might be able to get referred to them? I really hope so but I know they have different rules about fertility.

[emmaloupolman]

I know they are not refering t hospitals in my area any more due t funding

[Francisd]

Hi I’ve on my 3rd cycle with clomid 1st one was successful ovulation on 50 mg but sadly was etopic pregnancy had surgery thankfully never removed my tube as it was on the little finger things on the end of the tube I waited 6 months after surgery to try 2 nd dose on clomid witch did not work at all so doubled dose to 100mg I’ve finished my period had a full clear day and today I’ve woke up with bloody discharge sore boobs and blurred vision can anyone tell me is this normal please