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.

i was told that i am only allowed 6 months worth of clomid in my lifetime due to the risk of ovarian cancer ???
rachee - why are they doing a laperoscopy after giving you clomid??? i had mine before to make sure my tubes were ok. are they doing any blood tests to see if you ovulate on that dose?

Hi Jodee,

First and foremost have you got a diagnosis?. Clomid is usually given where there are ovulation problems.

Clomid is usually given for a six month period after which time other treatments should be tried. Some women (particularly if PCO or PCOS are diagnosed) can become clomid resistant over time ao its not always effective. It also should not really be given for any longer than six months.

You should be monitored every month whilst on it, if you are not being monitored then there is no way of telling whether its doing what its supposed to be doing or not.

I would personally seek an earlier appointment than August. Generally speaking if you end up seeing different people each time this does nothing for continuity of care.

Unfortunately it is fair to say as well that some subfertility units (be it private or NHS) are far better than others. I would advise that you keep asking questions of them particularly if you are paying for your own treatment.

Rachee - I'm not being monitored and was reluctantly given 3 months of chlomid and my next appt not until August!

I'm already stressing about getting my hands on more pills in May/June, never mind waiting until August! I've been looking to buy on the net, anyone done this?

Anyway, hopefully I won't need any more. Lets look on the bright side!

P.S - No side effects yet!

Hi Naditude

Re your original posting:-
"Am 32 with DS, aged 13. Been with new partner for 7 years. Been ttc for about 3 years. Started using strips for ov about 2 years ago - spent a fortune! My cycles vary from 29 to 45 days! Referred to the hosp, had Hysterosalpinogram - tubes good; DH sperm tested - 5 star!; 21 days blood tested - good.

Well at least they did a HSG - useful test to have done. Did the day 21 show ovulation had occured?. Was the result fully explained to you?. With PCOS suspected it is unlikely to have happened. What are your LH and FSH levels like - these should have been tested earlier in the cycle.

"He suspects PCOS though. Hosp have labelled us as 'Unexplained infertility' and urged us to 'keep trying'!"

Both a useless and unhelpful attitude from hospital!!. Unexplained is no diagnosis at all - all this means is that to date they have failed to find out what is wrong. I would enquire further about their stance. I also cannot understand why "unexplained fertility" has been mentioned to you if PCOS is suspected. I can understand the cons saying to you clomid may not help - it does not always work for PCOS patients as some of them do become clomid resistant over time.

You should be monitored each month you are on it with blood tests (clomid can increase levels of LH) and internal ultrasounds (to check state of ovaries) - you should not be left without monitoring. I would put it to them that you should have been given details of side effects along with how to take the pills!.

Would also strongly suggest you see them again before August - cancellation appointments do crop up and I would try for one of those.

Do not buy clomid on line, this is not a good idea at all. There are a lot of counterfeits out there and it may actually do you more harm than good.

Well it looks like my 5th month of being on Clomid has not been successful....AF due tomorrow and the tell tale signs of spotting and pains have been with me for the last couple of days. Stupidly did a first response test yesterday, and of course it was a BFN.

I'm not due to see my specialist until I've finished my last month (I've got 2 left - I was supposed to be on 6 months worth but I don't think he can add up because I got 4 months worth on the first prescription and then another 3 on the second)

As I'm not being monitored whilst on Clomid (other than 21 day blood tests on months 2 and 3 which showed I didn't OV in month 2 but I did in month 3) I'm seriously considering contacting the clinic on Monday to ask if I can have follicle tracking during my last 2 months. How can they be sure the Clomid is working on the strength of one positive blood test? My biggest worry is that I'll go back in April and they'll say there's nothing more can be done for me....I already know I don't qualify for IVF on the NHS because I've got 2 children to a previous relationship, even though DH has none of his own.

What do you all think I should do? Do you think asking for follicle tracking is reasonable given my circumstances?

TIA

Loubie xx

hi, can I ask if everyone on clomid (clomiphene) is on it because they don't ovulate at all or only sometimes.

The reason I ask is because I have been reading up on it and it seems the above is the main reason it is given. A consultant I have never seen before has prescribed them for me and I'm worried that maybe he didn't look at my file properly and see that I do ovulate on a monthly basis. What would be the effect of clomid on women that do ovulate...multiple ovulation?

any advice would be appreciated

Hi meerkats, thanks for the reply. All they could confirm was I not ov'ing any more, or if I am, it's now very erratic. No further investigations done to see if there's PCOS - I had HSG and lap and dye when trying for over 2 years for ds (born March 2000), no sign of abnormalities then. I will try and get an appt for 3/4 months rather than wait til August.

Same as you Loobie, no monitoring offered other than CD21 bloods, so I might push for follicle tracking if no joy after 3 cycles.

i am not being monitored, and cannot have the cd21 blood test, because i never get to day 21 of cycle !! That's what the clomid is for for me, to try and eak out my cycle to more than 18 days.... and it has .... i now have had a 19 day cycle !!

But, i am holding my breath, i am on day 21 today , but as i am on hols at the mo (typical) i'm away for a blood test, so still have no proof the tablets are working. Just know that i have had more pre period pains and really bad mood swings...

Just to ask everyone - the tablets start on day 2, what do you count as day 2 ? i come on in the afternoons, so i count that as day 1 ... what do others do ? This month i counted the next day as day1 so started the tablets a day later.... and with me being 3 days later this time, that seems to have worked better....

I am already building my hopes up, and i am only 3 dys late and only on day 21 , i know i shouldn't , but i have been trying for 18months, and DH & I really worked at it this month ( every night !! except 1) so fingers crossed...

It will be a hard fall if i come on !!!

Hi, I am not being offered anything other than day 21 blood in the first monrh of Clomid and that was last Monday. AF due today / tomorrow and know it is going to happen as have got pain and spotting too.

Rachee - fingers crossed for you and congrats on getting to day 21! Maybe the hols and relaxing has done the trick. We have also being trying for 18 months with 1 m/c so really hope it all works out for you.

I am going to push for Follicle tracking and scans - I have an apt on March 28 so will be having words then - I am also going to purchase one of those Isis scope thingies so I can track at home if I OV or not...

Hope everyone else ok

J

Update....

I rang my specialist's secretary and explained my concerns to her about not being monitored while on Clomid. She seemed to think that having two day 21 blood tests done was sufficient to prove Clomid is working (even though one was negative) and said there wasn't any other monitoring on offer!

I asked her about follicle tracking and after umming and aahing for a while she said that they're possibly having an extra fertility clinic next week (they only have them once a month at our hospital) and if they do, she'll put my name down for it and get back to me :)

So all in all I'm quite pleased with myself. I'm not sure what I'll do if she gets back to say I can't be seen next week....I'll cross that bridge when I come to it :):)

Loubie xx
CD2

An update from me: it's now day 28 of what will be a 32-34 day cycle. I have an out of breath feeling and metallic taste in mouth and didn't enjoy my coffee this morning AND can smell cat's breath from further away so decided to test. Ummm...very tentatively its a BFP!! The left hand line is lighter but I am testing early so am feeling positive although it is very early days. Can't quite believe it and will test towards the end of the week. For all you ttc'ing, I did a shoulder stand for 10 minutes after BD'ing, I wonder if that helped, along with the Clomid?

Fantastic news :o:O:O:O:O:O

You know what they say - a line is a line!!!!

Really pleased for you - it always gives me a bit more hope readng about other clomid chicks getting a BFP :)

How many cycles did you have on clomid?

Congratulations SKBF . Fingers crossed all goes well for you :) Iona x

Hi have just started my first Clomid cycle (50mg) and so would like to join your gang please! It's so nice to find somewhere where people understand what you're going through....
I have been TTC for 18 months (I am 34) after falling for my DD naturally and quickly. Apparently DD sperm is fine as are my hormones and although I don't get any OV symptoms I think I am OV (wee on sticks have always changed colour, regular 28 day cycle etc). My consultant did a scan on day 12 and 15 and was pretty certain I'd just OV on day 15 (the egg was gone, cm present and lots of free fluid sorry TMI). Nonetheless he has prescribed me Clomid for 3 cycles. Does anyone know if there is any point me taking this, am finding myself even more tired and irritable (+ light headed) than usual!

Thank you all! Still in a state of disbelief but feeling happy/relieved to even get preg at 41.5.
Loubie, this unbelievably is my first month.
Iamrelaxed, did your cons measure your follicles on day 12 and indeed did he see them? Mine were measured on day 11 and then 14 and I was given the follicle releasing hormone to shed them. You are much younger than me so you stand a better chance of getting pregnant. It's worth persevering.

Shouldknowbyfriday - Big congrats! There will prob be a lot of us doing shoulder stands, head stands and probably hand stands this month!!

I've taken all 5 pills and am on day 8 now. Haven't felt any of the side effects, which is good! Bought a thermometer today as I must be the only one that doesn't keep a chart.

Anyway, feeling positive after hearing a success tonight.

Oh wow, ShouldKnowBF!!! Handstands all the way then, in this house.

How many months of clomid did you take?

Thank you natitude and Jodee. This was my first month!! Keep going and yes do a shoulder stand. A friend of mine did one for each DS and got preg on first try both times. That convinced me. She read that tip in a Dr Stanway book.

brilliant news SKBF Congratulations .
I think it will be headstands all round then .....dont think ive done one since i was at school:)

I am on cd 8 today have finished the clomid for this month and have got a scan booked for next week . so its just a case of having some fun for a bit IYKWIM. Good luck to everyone this month lets hope 'should know by fridays' news is one of many xxx

Thank you relax. I forgot to say that i also take 500mg x3 of evening prim oil as for me it produces cm so that I know when I am ov and also it is supposed to help create a better enviroment for sperm to swim, although there is less swimming to do if doing a shoulder stand! I did it for 10 mins which wasn't easy so start practising now! I did have trouble staying up but managed to hook feet behind headboard and thought to myself "if this doesn't do it nothing will" while luckily DP was in the bath and totally oblivious to my absurd position. As I lay there on my shoulders, I did think about IUI and how the sperm are just put into the neck of the uterus and there is no gravity used to get them higher. I know that the strongest sperm will get there but if they need help why not give IUI then shoulder stand?
Good luck to you all this month!

Can anyone help?

Am on day 9 and have taken first cycle of clomid. Not being monitored and have irregular or long cycles. Shortest one being 29 days last year, longest 45.

Will the clomid regulate them and make me ov around the 14th? Or will I be waiting (for example) until the 26th day (like last month).

I'm going to start my test strips anyway like I always do, on the 13th day. Some months I can get through a lot of test strips waiting! Just wondered if anyone had experienced irregular cycles before they went on clomid and if anything changed.

Thanks!

Naditude,

Irregular cycles are often caused by hormonal imbalances and in this regard polycystic ovaries or its related syndrome are common culprits.

Do you have an actual diagnosis?.

TBH it is no point using the test strips if you have such a hormonal imbalance and particularly if these measure levels of LH. If PCO is an issue then the test strip will end up reading the excess levels of LH being produced (many women with PCO do produce an excessive amount of LH compared to that of FSH).

You should be monitored whilst on clomid (ideally with blood tests and ultrasounds or at the very least blood tests); there is no way of determining whether its doing what it should or not otherwise!.

Clomid encourages the ovaries to work harder. It may well shorten your cycle but whether you will ovulate or not whilst on it is another matter entirely and not guaranteed (hence the need for monitoring).

Natitude during the summer of 2004 I was getting long cycles of 46 to 50 something days and of course got excited thinking that this month could be it. I knew that the test I took on day 35 would be accurate so when it was always neg I would then wait for af. I read about cm and eve prim oil and started to take 500mg in the morning and 500mg at night as I didn't know what the max dose was which is actually 1500mg per day. Anyway, by taking the epo I got my cycle down to 32 - 43 days which is what is was before. I did stop the epo for a couple of months thinking it was all in the mind and sure enough the cycles were then 40 something days which I had never had. My consultant told me when I presented him a list of cycles since April 2004 that I probably didn't ovulate during those cycles as they were too long. It wasn't something that I wanted to hear in my first consultation with him but he was prob right. I also did the test sticks for 3-4 months and never got a pos result on them so gave up and became confused but then did get preg after 4months of epo at the end of Sept 2004 only to miscarry in Nov 2004 at 7 weeks. So I think the epo kick started my system and sorted out the long cycles. Obviously that wasn't enough to sustain a preg but it was a start. Was told by the cons about my miscarriage that it prob happended because at my age the eggs are weaker and by taking Clomid it strengthens and matures the egg/follicles (not sure but it does improve quality there) so poss a more sustainalbe preg.
Sorry to waffle, don't give up and seriously consider epo.

Natitude, who prescribed the Clomid and why aren't you being monitored?

Thanks Meerkatsunite,

Cons 'suspects' pcos but is always very vague about it. Have had 21 day blood tests last 2 cycles and he seemed pleased with the result. (I presume he would have told me if I wasn't releasing an egg! If this is what is being tested!) ?

But still, unsure of the outcome myself. '50 and 58' were the results. To be honest, my cons always makes me feel like his time is precious and I hate to be a pain! I always come out of there feeling like I am no further forward.

Anyway, I'm being positive now and looking forward to my head stands! Thanks again.