Start clomid tomorrow. Just read leaflet and I'm scared

[summermagic]

Hello

This is my first post on Mumsnet although I've been reading the conception threads avidly.

I'm due to start Clomid tomorrow and I've just been reading the lengthy side effects and now I've gone from excited to really scared.

Are they really that bad? I'm having visions of myself in a darkened room with pencils up my nose!

Any reasurances would be greatly appreciated. Headaches and hot flushes I can cope with. Insanity I can't.

Don't worry - you will probably get dome side effects but I doubt they'll be as bad as the leaflet says - they have to tell you the most severe ones but they're very rare. I got headaches (like a dehydration headache) but in a way it was reassuring that something was happening if you know what I mean!

Welcome to MN by the way

er...some

hey Summermagic,

if you read the side effects of paracetomol you would feel just as scared!!

Clomid can be pretty tough to take, mainly for the DH/DP as man the moods can be vile.

A lot of woman find taking clomid last thing at night the best way to minimise the side effects, and I certainly found that helped.

My little clomid baby turned 2 the other day so I definetely think that it is worth it

Be kind to yourself on Clomid - chocolate and icecream ARE your friend!!

good luck and hope it brings you a BFP

I am on my first round of clomid, and whilst I was taking them I was fine, but after about 1 week, around the time (I think) of ovulation I had period type pains and felt a bit sick, but nothing major, hopefully you will be fine.

Let us knowhow you get on!! Post on here and I will find you.

Hello

Well I take the last one tonight and so far, apart from feeling a bit restless at night time and the fact that I'm slightly more emotional than usually, (proved when I read your kind messages and started to cry)I've been fine. Fingers crossed it's actually doing something.

Just a six days to have a scan and see if it's worked now.

A friend of a friend of mine took clomid twice and got pregnant in the first month on both. The first after two years of trying and the second after six months.

I'm not banking on the same amazing luck myself but it's nice to hear good news stories isn't it.

Thanks for all your help. Hope all your days are going well.

I took clomid for first time this month and was scared too, esp as was on holiday abroad at time, but no side effects at all. Took last thing at night, so that may have helped.

BTW, had two large follicles so it worked. Now just waiting for AF.

Hello

Had my 12 day scan on Monday and I have three 14mm follicles that should be ready to go by the weekend so fingers crossed one of them has a bit of ambition.

How are you getting on Issy42 nad Livvigirl? Any sign of AF yet? Have fingers crossed for you.

That sounds promising summermagic - let's hope a summer baby will follow. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks for your thoughts. Afraid my AF arrived on Saturday. I think one of my eggs did get fertilised but not implant though, so I almost got there. (I'm having hcg injections too and pregnancy tests stayed positive for three days longer than the other 3 times I've had the injection, then went negative but also had a sort of positive test on Friday night - the control line wasn't quite right, so I was waiting to confirm on Saturday.)

Saturday was a bit stop and start so decided to start the clomid again on Monday and again no side effects so far. Have headache tonight but think that's just dehyration. Am going for my first scan this cycle on Monday. Off to get a big glass of water to take to bed.

Good luck (and you too Livvigirl)!

Hi guys can i join, am on second month of clomid and just Ov have been bding for the last 3 days twice a day as had my +ive on the OPKs on tues just hoping it works.

have been trying for almost 5 years and have DD who is 6 am getting desperate. Summer magic your Af should be due about when mine is good luck to you and hope we both get BFPs.

Issy so sorry Af arrived its gutting isnt it theres always that hope that you will be that person it works first time for, i am never that person and expect you feel the same. Good luck this month and Look up the Sperm meets egg plan on google ive found it has given me something to focus on. The only thing i changed was BDing twice a day for the 3 days (you'll know what i mean whenyou read it) just though Bding twice a day would give it more of a chance to work. Heres hoping .

baby dust to all.

Hi ray81. Course you can. the more the merrier.

Started work on getting those eggs fertilised last night and going to go for it every day for a week to make sure I've got the best chance.

I've got a little boy who's three that we concieved naturally after four years of not trying but not using protection. I'd had some investigation in May 2004 and they said my tubes were fine but that my ovaries were polysistic. Thay said to come back when I wanted to take start clomid but we were going travelling anyway and decided to try properly as soon as we got back.

Anyway, one month in to travelling I got pregnant! I did notice that I was ovulating from the change in my mucus and we did it every night for a week after that (We weren't officially "trying" - in fact I don't think I mentioned the ovulation thing to my partner).

I then totally forgot about it to the extent that when I started feeling horrifically sick four weeks later I thought it was everything but morning sickness.

Words can not describe the shock I had when the test came up potitive. Honestly - I even took it back and showed it to the lady in the chemist that I bought if off for a second opinion AND rang the Clearblue helpline to make sure.

I wouldn't let myself believe that it was actually going to happen until I was at least 20 weeks and even then I was still in shock but despite it all my beautiful boy was born a huge and healthy 10.9lb in October 2005.

I'm really sorry if that bored you but I just wrote it really to remind us all that although it seems almost like a dream now - it WILL happen because I honestly never thought it would ever happen to me (and don't think at the moment that it will again)

God - I'd better do some work.

Hope you're ok Issy42.

Forgot to ask - did you concieve your DD naturally Ray81?

Summer magic,

Oh yes DD was all natural and first month (am i being paid back now ) i just assumed it would happen again like that.

Must do some work also leaving soon will log on again tonite.

Thanks ray and summermagic. I have a headache again today, so maybe it is the Clomid.

Thanks for the suggestion ray, but I'm having DI so get just the one shot at conception each month. Although last cycle was my first attempt with Clomid it was my 6th at DI. I thought I was one of those people for whom it worked first time (the DI that is), but had mc at nearly 5 weeks.

Good luck to you both. I'm not too far behind you with my cycle as I should have my treatment in about a week.

Hey Issy,

whats DI ???? am i being dumb but cant work out what that is i take it its some kind of treatment.

Summer magic you never bored me with your story, it gives me hope that it will happen for me one day its just when. I think if i knew when it was going to happen i could just forget it and get on with my life but the worst thing is the not knowing i hate that. How are you getting on with the 'everyday' bit i must say am totally shattered after bding twice a day for 3 days, having a break today and then will bd again tomorrow just to cover all bases. If it doesnt work this month i will be at a loss what to do as have now pretty much tried everything. I may go for another IUI as being made redundant and will get some money so may just give it one more shot. If that doesnt work will have to accept its just not going to happen ever.

Ray - Sorry I should know better as it often takes me a while to understand the acronyms. DI is IUI with donor sperm.

I was probably being subconciously vague as I do worry about the disapproval out there by some at women who become SMBC (single mothers by choice) - a stupid acronym really because it's not really by choice. I'm just single, 37 and neither want to give up any chance of having children by waiting too long for Mr Right nor have one with Mr Wrong. To me it seems the only choice I have. Sorry if I sound defensive, just a little apprehensive at possible reactions.

At least I don't get exhausted by the BDing (felt the need to inject a little humour).

You say you might try IUI again, how many times have you tried before? My clinic says if it's going to work it will work in 4 - 6 attempts and are preparing me to give up, but with only a 10% success rate it seems logical to me to keep trying.

Good luck!

Good on you Issy. Definately better than trying to have a baby with the wrond person. As much as it is the most wonderful thing in the world to have a baby with the man you love it isn't always easy so being with the wrong person would make it harder I'm sure.

Ray I know exactly what you mean about being able to relax if you just knew that it would happen.

We've been BDing since Wendesday but have only managed every other day. I'm a bit confused because when I went for the scan on Monday the lady said that the follicles were 14mm and as they grow a mm a day should be ready by the weekend. I did a ovulation test yesterday though and it was negative. I noticed a lot of the right type of mucus on Thursday though but that would be too early wouldn't it? I don't get when you get the mucus change. Is it in the days before you ovulate or as you ovulate?

Also - I usually start getting PMT symptoms for two weeks before my period. If you were pregnant would you not get those? I know PMT and early prengnancy symptoms are similar but I can't rember having any symptoms until at least four weeks when I was preg with my son.

Has anyone tried accupuncture because if not I would really recommend it. I've been going for various different reasons over the last four years and I really believe in it. It has some really good outcomes with fertility issues and there's some research about it being proven to work with IVF isn't there.

Hope you'veall had a lovely weekend.

Thanks summermagic.

I've had real variations from one cycle to another in how quickly the follicles grow, but sometimes I think they just don't see all the follicles on the different scans. I had 1 month where the sonographer nearly missed the biggest one and two other times where see 3 on first scan and only two on second, so it looks as though nothing growing and third receded, but then get surge and temp rise. Also sometimes get surge at 1.7 and other times well over 2 so it can vary. They look for 1.8 when giving hcg injection. If you were 1.7 on Thursday then that would be about right for EWCM. Are you temping?

What time did you take ov test? Sometimes can be negative first thing but positive at lunchtime. Also, just a personal observation (and have a friend who says same) sometimes I don't get an obvious positive OPK just something with a similar, slightly fainter, but not darker line - we think it could be because we both drink lots of water so urine always fairly diluted.

Hi Issy, Again good on you, i think you're right its better to have a baby on your own terms then with the wrong man or just through a one night stand. I envy you the no Bding, he he i'm shattered now. I worked out that last month Bd 5 times over Ov this month have bd 17 times if that doesnt do it i dont know what will.!!!!

We have had the IUI only once and that was in may, i had 3 eggs and 50 Million sperm all was looking good and it just didnt happen, i was devasted when it didnt work and found that i cried constantly for 3 days, it was almost similar feelings to the Mc ive had. anyway as we have DD we have to pay as i'm sure you do issy but we realy can afford it, i am being made redundant at the end of this month and am going to get a nice bit of money so will try and put some by for either one attempt at IVF or 2 at IUI, problem is half our soffets on the roof have fallen off and we need to get that done now so looking les and less likely, i want to take DD to florida and whatever happens i will do that i dont want her to miss out coz i want another baby.

Summer Magic,

Im slighty confused with the old OPKs, Ov an Cm also. I had +ive on OPKs last Tues and we BD twice Tues Weds Thurs and Sat and Sun, but i never saw a change in CM at all until yesterday, now if i had +ive on Tues then i think should have Ov weds or thurs so realy not getting it. Change in CM at the mo is alittle more and quite watery ( sorry TMI) but i seem to get that every month since TTC after OV.
I'm the same with the PMT symptoms also i get Sore BB and back and period pains at least 10 days before Af Arrives and i never had any symptoms with DD at all didnt even know i was PG, I remember thinking ' i havent got any Af symptoms thats night right better do a test and it was BFP obvoiusly and a very strong one too and that was the day AF was due, so if i get any Af symptoms now i just assume it hasnt worked although try to remind myself that no 2 Pgs are the same.

OMG this TTC thing is so complicated its doing my head in think i may go alittle mental if it doesnt happen soon.

Again TMI but I sometimes notice fertile looking CM after BDing when I'm outside of ovulation times so could just be that and that you did ovulate when you thought you did and just didn't notice CM on days you should have done because it didn't come down far enough. Probably because something was making it travel in the opposite direction!!!! Plus I'd say with all that BDing you've pretty much got all your bases covered for this month.

I've just made myself sea sick by rolling through other threads trying to work out whether sore boobs at this point means I'm def not pregnant. My friend (who is the font of all knowledge on these things) thinks that your body would just carry on as it normally would at this stage of cycle until something actually implants. Makes sense I suppose.

Haven't tried the temping yet - mainly because I don't know how to do it but also don't want to admit to myself that I've become that obsessed with it. Hmm. Think I may have gone past the point of no return on that one.

Thanks Ray. I do have to pay for the IUI and I'm almost out of money, especially as the price just leaped from £650 to £800 a time. Many of my friends think I'm mad to waste my money and should trick my ex into it and keep quiet, but whilst my morals may not be too high for the occasional lapse of judgement where my ex is concerned (it was him who ended the relationship - I wouldn't go there if it were the other way around), they are too high to mislead him - also these are friends who have never ttc'd and have no idea that it's not as simple as they think .

Agree with summermagic that your confusion could be all the bding as sperm and arousal fluid both can be confused with EWCM.

Sorry to hear you're being made redundant. If it makes you feel any better my soffits were on the list of repairs needed when I bought my house over 3 years ago and I still haven't done them yet. Partly in case I need the money I've set aside for fertility treatment instead.

summermagic - I think sore boobs can be either Af or early pg symptom. I had them when I was pg, but I also occasionally get them before AF too.

Had scan this morning (only day 9) and already have four follicles over 1mm (2.3, 1.7, 1.6 and 1.2). Quite a shock to be so many so big already and apparently I had one of the sonographers who tends to measure small, so they are probably bigger. OPKs first thing and at lunchtime both negative though so have to use the Ovitrelle tonight for treatment Wednesday. Womb lining only 6mm so hope it thickens. Maybe having side effects with Clomid is a good sign afterall.

Best go now as am still at work - just on here killing time as I have to be in town in 20 minutes and wasn't worth going home first.

Good luck all.

Really good news about you follicles Issy. Maybe you'll end up with quads!!!

Not feeling very positive about this month. It would actually make sense that I ovulated on Thureday because I started to notice sore boobs on Saturday which is generally what happens with my cycle. I know you can get symptoms before AF due but not that early surely???

Anyway, must stay positive and excited to find out whether any of you are lucky this time around.

Livvygirl any news from you?

Quads!!! Haha. It's taken them 5 months to persuade me to risk twins! I'm torn between wanting to feel positive and not wanting to get disappointed and can't decide how to feel.

I know it's easier said than done, but I wouldn't read too much into things yet summermagic, it's very early days for symptoms of either kind.

Hey Issy,

Where are you? we are down south and it cost us £1600.00 for IUI including the drugs i may have to move to where you live.
I'm hedging my bets on the quads, how great would that be your whole family done in one go !!!

Had a dream last night that i was PG and it was so real the feeling is still with me, i felt so sad when i woke up and realised it wasnt true. How bad is that. Lifes a bitch

Ray,

Wow, that's expensive. I knew there was a reason I moved back north!

I get treated at the NHS fertility unit at my local hospital in the midlands, so exactly the same as if I were having treatment on NHS except have to pay. The good thing is that I only have to pay when I actually have the treatment, if it's cancelled for any reason I don't pay for all the scans etc. Also didn't have to pay for any of the preliminary appointments, including the HyCosy (fertility tube check) which they do as standard before starting IUI, which the private clinics here don't. Rather not say the exact hospital on here but I think I'm setup to accept messages, so if you want to know just message me. That price is for natural DI or DI with Clomid - it used to be about £950 if you need other drugs, so presume that's probably around £1200 now. It's cheaper if you don't need donor sperm though.

The private clinics round here cost a lot more. You have to pay for every little thing and when I inquired (about a year and a half ago) it was £600 for IUI + £600 for the donor sperm. That was Care - I think they have clinics all over.

Regarding the quads, I'm afraid I have to be honest and say I'd really rather just have one - mainly because of the coping as a single mum thing. Have relented on possible twins as at least the extra tax credit covers the additional nursery fees, but once you get to three I simply couldn't afford it. My clinic has never had twins with DI because the freezing process means sperm quality not so good, though with fresh sperm they have had twins when the woman only had a 1.8 and a 1.3.

Sorry you had that dream, it must have been really hard when you woke up. Let's hope it was a premonition.

I'm obsessing over ov signs at the moment. I always hate that 36 hour wait between hcg and treatment - how do they know you're not going to ov naturally during that time? And why don't they treat earlier given that sperm survives for 2 to 7 days in the womb, but eggs only last 12-24 hours? Doesn't seem logical to me.

Hi all

I am on month 4 of Clomid I don't have scans and tests throughout these 6 months though.

As for side effects I am noticing my hormones are really up and down a lot, I am far more emotional through the month. I have a lot of pessimistic periods recently too - I am assuming a lot of it is the tablets. I also suffer from nausea in a morning (like morning sickness) esp in the two middle weeks.

I have been TTC for about 4 and half years now. My DD is 6yo. I suffered from Asherman's Syndrome after the birth of my DD and have had treatment for this last year. I hoping this will help matters eventually.

Good luck to all those TTC.