CLOMID GANG - the new thread

[Roobedoo]

This should be clomid and IUI (for Katierocket) thread. Hoping this one will be luckier than the last - can't be any worse, don't think we had a single BFP did we?

Lots and lots and lots of luck to us all.

[katierocket]

Hi Roobee -

this is going to be it, I'm sure.

[milesysgirl]

hi all its great to see a new thread going ,lets all have some good news just before xmas!!

[milesysgirl]

also ive got my appointment with the consultent tomorrow ive been on clomid for 4 months and this is my second appointment with him what shall i expect???? will he do blood tests? scans? up my dose? shoot me!!!

[Coathanger]

Hello! I hope you don't mind me crashing, but I have just spotted your new thread and wanted to wish you all lots of luck

I conceived my first child on clomid so it can be done. I then went on to have 2 more children without it. SO, it does work and will work for you ladies too, I'm sure!

Good luck to you all and lots of babydust too xxx

[milesysgirl]

thanks so much coathanger hopefully we will be as lucky as you !

[hunkermunker]

I can echo what Coathanger's said - DS was a Clomid baby and conceived after probs with endometriosis and PCOS. Am now pregnant naturally - fell pregnant immediately this time round.

Good luck, ladies! Hope this thread's a lucky one for you all

[jane313]

Can I ask were any of you prescribed clomid for low progesterone? I have just a gp blood test that showed I have this and have to have it retested before any other tests or referals done.

Thanks and good luck. My friend had a still birth and 3 miscarriages and then took clomid and had healthy twins. Then 5 years later another one as a compete accident,

[Roobedoo]

Jane, my prescription was due to PCOS - can't remember what my progesterone levels were.

[jane313]

thanks. How is Pcos generally diagnosed? I remember a school friends having it and she had very irregular periods.

[Roobedoo]

Diagnosed through blood tests and a pelvic scan which looks at the ovaries and you can actually see all the cysts round the edge. Ovaries look like a bunch of grapes (in my case).

[jane313]

thanks again and good luck to everyone on this thread

[MeerkatsUnite]

Roobedoo,

That description of yours sounds all too familiar.
Would have thought your progesterone level was below 30 and your LH/FSH levels are out of sync in that LH is higher than FSH.

If the clomid does not work will they consider ovarian diathermy surgery?. I ask this as this surgery can have good results with some PCOS patients with regards to conceiving.

I was not given clomid when I was diagnosed with PCOS as was considered unsuitable to have it due to my very high LH levels.

[Coathanger]

Jane - I'm not sure about the exact medical wording of my need for Clomid was, I was too upset to listen to the science bit after being told I would probably never have kids with my DH (he had a low count too). But I do know I had to take it because I wasn't OVing due to a hormone imbalance. I hadn't had a period for 2 of the 3 years I had been trying to conceive. Would this have been low progersterone?

[runtus]

Hello just wanted to add my sincere best wishes to you all.............I'm now 12 weeks pg and fell the month after a Lap & Dye (along with my 3rd course of clomid).

I have PCOS and at times thought I was fighting a losing battle but stick to your guns girls, cos it can work!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck

[milesysgirl]

thats brill ,cani ask how long did you wait before you lap and dye??? thanks. x

[katierocket]

thanks runtus, I remember you from earlier TTC threads.
Milesy - let us know how you get on at the consultant - what tests have you had already?

I'm just waiting for CD1 now (next Monday) so can start IUI.

[milesysgirl]

well he put me on clomid in august and i havnt had a blood test /scan or anything ,wondering what he will do today really ?

[runtus]

We started ttc in May 04 and luckily got diagnosed really quick, so was on 1st round of Clomid within 4 months. I did a further 2 rounds of clomid unsuccessfully and then 1 of Metformin before having the L&D in July this year. Had a course of Clomid the month after (to maximise the chances of oving) and fell that month.

I think I was very lucky to have been diagnosed so fast and then being refered to an excellent Consultant (who is now on my birthing team too, which I am really pleased about).

Obviously the same treatment won't be right for everyone (in the same way everyone else's treatment wasn't right for me) but it is just a case of fining the right trigger for you. Keep plugging away at it, it'll come good in the end.

[LunarSea]

Don't know what they'll do milesysgirl, but mine are upping the dose because it's not working. However they know (think?) it's not working because I've had blood tests (twice), and scans (have lost count - but about 8 I think).

Actually I'm not sure that it's actually the case as scans have shown follicles developing, but then day 22 bloods show low progesterone. As 23 or 24 days is a long cycle for me , day 22 is very close to the end of the cycle - not mid luteul phase which is when they should really be doing the blood test (21 or 22 days is assuming a 28 days cycle and a 14 day luteul phase), I rather suspect that what they're actually seeing could be ov but then a post-ovulatory progesterone deficiency (luteul phase defect). Am going to discuss this with consultant next time, and hopefully will be able to persuade them to do blood tests earlier in the cycle at some point to check this (which basically means doing the blood test 7 days after a +ve opk result). My consultant has suggested trying progesterone supplements to counteract this if it does turn out to be the problem, which should help to lengthen the cycle.

[MeerkatsUnite]

Lunarsea,

Think its a good idea for you to be asking for earlier tests for the reasons you give but also to check your LH and FSH levels. What may be happening is that there could be muliple follicles with no egg actually being able to mature fully due to such an imbalance. Progesterone is only part of the story.

Progesterone supplements if given are often in the form of pessaries which are taken for a number of weeks.

Do you have a firm diagnosis of the problem from the consultant?.

Wishing you the very best of luck at your next appointment.

[LunarSea]

Meerkats - when in the cycle should they be checking for LH and FSH levels? Is this the ones they do on day 3? Or is that just a base level and do they need to do it again later?

[LunarSea]

Oh - meant to say, no definate diagnosis yet

[MeerkatsUnite]

Hi Lunarsea,

Day 3 is a standard test to be looking at LH and FSH but it can be done later in the cycle as well (around day 10). The main thing is that these two hormone levels should be compared against each other regardless of when the test is done.

I hope you get a diagnosis soon from the consultant.

I've had progesterone pessaries and I had no ill effects from them but they can be a bit messy.

[milesysgirl]

hi all been to hospital got to have scans next month and a lap and dye thingy???? keep my dose the same for now . what other doses can you be put on?

[MeerkatsUnite]

Milesygirl,

The minimum normal dosage for clomid is 50mg (though I know of someone who was given less; the maximum is 150mg.

Was wondering why he suggested the laparoscopy and dye procedure; presumably he will look at the ovaries at the same time to see how they appear. A lap is keyhole surgery so there is no scarring. (The worst thing I found about this was the pain post op caused by the carbon dioxide gas that travels upwards however, painkillers took the edge off it. CO2 is used to give the surgeon a better view of your organs).

Do you have a diagnosis?.