OK, so tell me why I shouldn't just buy Clomid off the internet ?

[MillyH]

Help, I need a sanity injection please please someone !?. Period arrived again yesterday the same day as girl in the office announced she is expecting twins.
Been using ovulation sticks for 3 months and no sign sign of ovulation, most I have managed is a faint faint line. I just know if I go to the doctors I will get told I just need time to relax and let things sort themselves out. Aaaaargh. Clomid off the internet seems such an easy answer.

Sorry for the rant

Message withdrawn

Clomid is only used if you are not oving - which you need to have blood tests done to determine, you can't self diagnose from OPKs. Even if you are not oving you will need to be monitored whilst on Clomid as you will need to find the right dose. Too lttle and it won't mae any difference, too much and you're at risk of overstimulation.

I know how you feel (2yrs of ttc no1, believe me I've been there)and that ordering it off the net seems the easy answer but there's a good reason these medicines are prescription only. Other people getting pg really kicks you in the gut, but remember (this is something I have to tell myself often ) it's not a case of only X number of babies get handed out each year, just because someone else is pg they're not taking anything away from you.

Why don't you go and talk to your gp about it? They can start the ball rolling with the blood tests (depending on how long you have been trying - however don't expect a negative answer from gp - when I went after a year of ttc they said they often start investigations sooner than 1yr)

Good luck

hi ya millyh i aslo think you should try to get it from your gp!!!!

i got it after 8 months of not ovulating !!
you need to go and see you doc on day 21 of cycle to get bloods taken and checked to see if you have ovulated!!!

tell them a few white lies that you have been trying for 6 months and that your using ovulation sticks and no sign of it!!!!

the other thing is to go private but it will be costly and i could not afford it!!!

i know exactly how you feel!!
my father in law passed away and made me promise that my ds would not be an only child!!!!
the pressure is on and after 7 negitive tests i went to pieces and also thought of buying it from the internet but i decided not to for the sake of my ds and dh !!!!

sorry about the length and i hope this helps!!!!!

How will you know it's Clomid?

You could well find yourself taking a course of chalk and glucose, which won't help.

There are some real horror stories about old or expired drugs being flogged from the third world. You could consider yourself lucky if you just got chalk & glucose.

I really wouldn't risk it.

Mmmmm, chalk and glucose. Sounds yummy

Thanks guys. It's just that I went to my GPs before Christmas as my body was doing wierd stuff, lots of spotting etc. And got the "you need time to let your body sort its self" talk. I had a termination at 22 weeks last year when I was told the baby would only live for minutes, or possibly hours. Now been trying for 5 months and getting nowhere. Just dreading going back and sounding like the neurotic nutter that I seem to have turned into. [sigh].

Think I might investigate private, to see what I could afford. Anyone got any clues as to the costs?

(((Milly)))
How sad about your LO

Very sad about your previous pregnancy.

But I think you're wise to avoid Internet Clomid. I live in China where (I'm told) you can buy it over the counter from dodgy pharmacists - it's known as "The Twin Drug" because it helps people to get around the one-child policy

There have been so many stories about fake drugs and things (even BA had to recall the miniature tubes of toothpaste in their amenities bags, because they contained anti-freeze) I'm sure you're too sensible to risk it, tempting as it may have sounded initially.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be up the stick shortly!

Milly

Please do not get clomid from the internet; for all the reasons that the other posters have stated. I will add a couple more. Clomid is powerful stuff and you should be monitored whilst on it ideally with blood tests and ultrasounds. If you're not monitored you have no way of knowing whether its doing the job its supposed to or not (making the ovaries work harder). Its certainly not suitable for everyone to take and clomid resistance is not unknown. Also if ovulation is happening regularly clomid can have a reverse effect.

If you get short shrift from the GP then I would look into changing GP practice. You should not be told to "relax" by these people; this is an unhelpful attitude at best. Any spotting between periods should be investigated further in any event to ascertain the cause. Do not assume that they will give you short shrift straight away - chances are they will not. A blood test can be done to see what your hormone levels are like - this particular test is done early in the cycle (day 2). This test measures LH and FSH levels; the GP must compare both these against each other. Both of you as a couple should be tested further.

Thanks everyone. I know in my head that Clomid off the internet is a really dumb idea . Just after everything that's happened my sensible head isn't getting much of a look in.

Attila - or anyone else in the know - is not getting a single even half positive OPK test for 3 months something to be concerned about?

I'm so sorry to hear about your last pregnancy.
I agree with everyone else that you should nag your GP. It's really hard when you're feeling so low, but I knew that there was something wrong and it took me ages to get the tests (and I had private health care!).

Hi Tittle. Yes, I know I'm going to have to face the GP again. Just dreading it. So thanks for the moral support.

It's funny when you have a gut feeling that something is wrong. How soon did you get that feeling, as soon as you started trying? I hope your problem is sorted now.

The feeling grew gradually, but by 5 months I felt very strongly that there was something wrong. I went to my GP for a referral for (private) tests and was told that I was silly to worry, and that at 33 I had nothing to worry about as his wife was 42 and had just had their 6th child. He also told me that if DH had problems that he shouldn't be tested as he might not be able to cope psychologically with the results.
I should have complained, but you know what it's like, you really aren't in the best state to get into an arguement. In the end we did have male factor infertility (possibly female too, but never confirmed) and were told that our chances of conceiving naturally were 0%.
Actually, that's another reason to get things checked out properly, I was told of one case in the USA where the wife was prep'd for IVF due to unexplained infertility, the husband went to give the sperm..... and the unexplained infertility was suddenly explained. So it's always good for both of you to be tested.
Sorry, have waffled on here. Anyway, there is a happy ending for us as after 8 rounds of fertility treatment, we have a DD. I'm pysching myself up now for another go, but the chances aren't good to be honest. We're very lucky to have DD though, so I'm hoping that it won't be as emotionally difficult this time.

god no. don't buy anything drug-wise of the net. really risky. talk to your GP and explain your frustrations (you could even tell him you were tempted to buy clomid off the net, that might convince him that you really are having problems ttc)

Milly, so sorry to hear about your last pregnancy. The thing is, tho, you know you can get pg. I went to the gp after only 4 months of ttc#2. Because I had conceived naturally already (after 3 1/3 years) he was happy to test me straight away. I know that I was very lucky (it was just over 3 months from my first visit to being given Clomid) but that also goes to show that it can happen. Keep pressuring your gp and, if you get no joy, then ask to see a different one.
Really hope you get some positive progress soon

Milly - very sorry to hear about your loss. I am not surprised you are desperate to get PG.

Have you had a look at the Zita West website? Or you can get the book from Amazon. She has lots of helpful suggestions for maximising your fertility naturally. May be worth a look.

Tigerschick - that is so how I feel! Got pregnant 3 times now, it has taken 1 or 2 months at the most everytime. So why 5 months this time? It just feels wrong and very disappointing, especially after losing my little boy last time. Feels like a bit of a kick in the teeth.

I am so glad your GP was good. It has given me a bit of heart. I'll ring and try and get an appointment for next week. Perhaps if I go on about getting nothing on the Ov sticks for 3 months they'll pay attention.

Tittle - here's fingers and toes double crossed for your next go.

Anyone - Is not getting any positive result on OPK for 3 months a real problem?

Hi there, I've just come across this website as i've been searching for clomid on the internet, which i know is a really stupid idea. I've been trying for a baby for 26 months, i have polycystic ovaries and have been referred to the fertility clinic but haven't had another appointment since June 2007, as i'm waiting for them to start me on clomid, but the waiting lists are so long i seem to be waiting forever.

Hi MillyH

Have just seen your message.

I would have a blood test done to see what your hormone levels are like. This will give an accurate picture, this would be far more useful anyway than using OPK's.

HTH

Milly - I don't think OPKs are the wonder they are meant to be (don't get me wrong though - I've been using them for the last 18 months ). I think you can still ovulate and not get a positive. IN fact, I know of people who have got pg the one month they didn't get a positive.

Have you tried the digital ones ? I never got a strong positive on the line ones but do on a digital (and in fact on occasions have done both to find a smiley face on the digital but a faint line on a line one, if that makes sense).

The only way you can be sure is to go to your gp and get a blood test as others have said. I would have thought a good gp would test you for this, particularly with your history. I conceived dd in 2or 3 months and then got pg a second time having tried once (literally once !). I m/c that pregnancy and was therefore desperate to get pg quickly. I went to my gp after about 6 months and they happily ran 21 and day 2 tests (and did the day 21 test twice to check it was'nt a one off).

I think the whole time scale is quite flexible. I went to get the results of the blood tests when I was at a real low point about it all and blubbed all over the doctor. She said she would refer me after slightly under a year - and I think my mental state meant she was willing to refer me earlier. As it was, a combination of us wanting to give it a bit longer naturally and dh dragging his heels on his part of the tests meant we have only just asked to be referred at 18 months post m/c.

Good luck - please see your gp and not buy it from the internet !

Thanks Atila. Sorry are those the 2 LH/FSH tests or the 21 day progesterone test that I should be asking for? Or both?

Don't have huge amount of faith in my GP so would like to go in there with a plan.

Cazza, that's awful! You must be utterly hacked off. Can you complain to your local health trust or someone?

Milly

Re the blood tests I'd ask for both the day 3 (LH and FSH) and the day 21 (progesterone) done if they can do this.

I've tried that and they don,t want to know milly, and they also told me that if i had to have ivf i would have to pay because my partner has got a child even though i haven't, how unfair is that?!

Thanks Attila. That's great