TTC - Clomid Thread

[MamaMaiasaura]

Hi just wondered if people ttc on Clomid wanted to join this thread unless i have been stupid and missed one.

We are due to fertility clinic on 22nd and expect to go on clomid again.

We have 2 dc. Ds1 is nearly 9 and was concieved without fertility help. THis was a big surprise as have PCOS and was told would never conceive naturally.

Ds2 was conceived after 1 course of clomid 50mg. My day 21 test was awful and still no period after 45ish day. Was put on progesterone to induce bleed. Didnt happen as was pregnant.

Was also on metformin but not currently, waiting for all clear next week. I have dodgy lft generally on medication and also bfing.

Ds2 is 1 now and still breastfeeding. Hoping this will not hinder any treatment as really want to continue this too. I am now 33 so fertility decreasing too.

I dont have a cd currently as all up the shoot so waiting to see what happens really.

Hi all...thank you soo soo soo much for the replies...now I DEFINATELy know they've been crappy with me. It's just SO frustrating and the longer it's taking to get a BFP, the more stressed out n tensed I'm getting. I just can't help it.
Although we have been ttc for 2yrs now I have never been one to get obsessed with it and live, breathe, eat n drink ttc!!! I think I've been quite chilled about it...until NOW! I've had enough and so feel I haven't been supported enough, and reading this thread i'm amazed how much most of you ARE monitored! ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!! Feeling and

Phew! Sorry everyone, just needed to vent...I have my appointment with my gyne on 18th, I can't wait for it because I really want to see what they are going to try and fob me off with next. By the sounds of it they will probably try and up my dose - which I REALLY upsetting, as it should have been done a few months ago and maybe I would be getting somewhere with ttc!!!
OK, sorry again, I will go and rant n rave at someone else now...goodluck Allfiemax - I hope you get a BFP!
My stats: I'm 30, ttc 2yrs for #1, Cycle7, CD14, Cycle length 28days ish!

Hi Alfiemax

I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you, I am due on either today or tomorrow but because of the pcos my period hasn't been regular for nearly a year but like you I feel a bit crampy so who knows

I am looking forward to the appointment but so nervous, DP might not be able to come which is a bit of a downer but my fab sis in law is going to come if he cant. I will come on when I get home to fill you all in.

Mensa Sorry you came on chick, hope your feeling ok.
Hello to everyone else, how are you all feeling? any news?

Baby Dust To Us All *

Hi tish

Don't worry about venting thats what we are here for, it makes it easier to do it on here than to talk to our nearest and dearest sometimes, I have found this thread and another one I am on really helpful and everyone is great at giving advice, I'm glad you have the consultant on the 18th, maybe then you can give him/her a kick up the arse about monitoring you more lol. I have been the same as you about ttc but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be all calm about it, probably as DP say I want it to be happening right now lol

Take care xxxx

You know, it's true what they say - here we go ,being a philosophical now - DH and I tried so hard NOT to become preggers for over 4 years and now that we want to, it's not happening!
I can't imagine what it would be like to be preggers, have ANY sort of pg symptoms, I just hope n pray that our time will come...n of course all of you on here too!
Hummmphhhh...all I gotta do now is wait!!!
Have a good evening all, check in tomorrow xx

hey girls.. how is every1 keepin?

Alfie - your not mad

Right.. ARGGHHH. Started spotting on Friday, then nothing. Saturday evening, spotting a little heavier then nothing. Same today... SOmetime i wipe and it is blood but not needed a pad. Dont some searcing and apparantly because lining thin so not much to go as not ovulated it didnt thicken.

So today could be cd3.. i've not started clomid but about to take 100mg as it says to take in evening.

Hope i havent cocked this all up as periods usually so heavy.

Right so this is Awen checking in and I am going to call it CD2 just to fit in with it all I think (as was LATE friday i had some spotting).

Hey Lauren
Fancy meeting you here lol, glad you decided to join us on here
xxx

Hey Awen
I was the same with the norethisterone took a few days for it to start properly but when it did it was quite heavy but it didnt last to long, have you started your clomid? Hows the side effects?
xxx

Hi everyone
Just thought I would pop on and let you know how I got on today. I saw the gynaecologist and she was very nice, asked a lot of questions but was very pleased with the way my gp has handled the situation. Basically checked all my info and I defo haven't ovulated this month but I'm not too bothered now as she explained this sometimes happens. So the long and short of it is that I have to start 100mg of clomid this month and as I dont have a menstral cycle I have to take the progesterone again.

Hows everyone else? xxx

Good luck Alfie!

Tish no one minds the ranting at all. We totally get it!

Awen I'm sure that the Clomid will be fine whether it was day 2 or 3. I had a similar situ a couple of months ago where I had a streak of blood, but then didn't come on till following day so did same as you and as far as scans could see, I reacted well to the drug just didn't get pg!

Stac14 sounds like your mind's been set at rest. Won't be long till your joining the rest of us on the Clomid march!

Clure - good for you on the night out - anything to keep your mind off of TTC and be in the real world is good I think!

I'm CD9 - scan on Fri and then probably injection so will def ov on Sat eve if that's the case. Valentine's Day - that's nice isn't it?

I can't bare the 2WW and am sure I'll be on here loads then. Am trying to be nice to myself at the moment: bodyscrubs, facemasks, new tops, also stocking up on chocolate for the 2WW. Me and DH are going away for a night on our own in a posh hotel too so lots of pampering to get rid of stress!

Clipper Green tea is 2 packs for £1.50 in Sainsbury's at the mo so I've stocked up and it's nice too!

Hi mummycat
Sounds like you have a fancy weekend planned, lucky you think we will be in the house with a bottle of plonk lol woud be lovely for you to conceive on Saturday. What mg of clomid are you on?

I'm just wondering if the side effects of clomid are worse when you go from 50mg to 100mg? I had mood swings and hot flushes so hoping not to be over moody this time lol, DP says I wasnt that bad it was just like PMT but I think he is just being kind. Get my prescriptions tomorrow so can start then yay

Had a wee bit of good news today have managed to loose another 5lbs so I'm on the right track to getting to a more normal weight.

Also meant to say my gp will now be doing my bloods on day 21, 28 and 35 to check my ovulation but no scans.

Alfie Any news?
Awen How you feeling on the clomid?

Hows everyone else?

hey stac
yea i seen that u had founf new thread so though im cum on and have a wee look... im still gettin used to this mumsnet thing... hope ur keepin ok... how did u get on at the hospital

Thanks mummycat...

Had a question for everyone/anyone...I'm into exercise...everyday, nothing too vigorous/strenuous. Was talking to my sister who has read somewhere that women that exercise a lot reduce their chances of conceiving...I do about half an hour exercise every morning and gym twice a week...treadmill, cross-trainer, weights etc...

Do you think I'm exercising too much? I'm not heavy at all I'm about 7.3stone, BMI 20ish...thanks to healthy eating and exercise...but was contemplating stopping gym...should I??

Any advice at all will be much appreciated!

PS..this has been the 1st month in ALLLLL 2years of ttc that I have been specific with DH about bding every night when the time is right...it feels so much like a chore - am worried we won't get back to 'doing it' coz we want to rather than coz we have to!

It was so not meant to happen like this!!!!!

Hiya Ladies,

Well I feel totally stooooopid to say it's CD1 for me I deffo had lines on those blasted tests on Saturday though and it's the first time DH hasn't had to struggle to see them Ladies I'm going to need you all to stop me testing this cycle before my af is late or would have been late.

I'm not upset that my period has come because I'm used to it but I'm fucking annoyed that I had even less of a luteal phase the pre clomid. Sorry about the language girls, but that has really annoyed me bacause I ov'd later and I thought period would at least come later.

Also I wasn't really looking forward to having to take clomid again as I felt so bad when I ov'd.

Ok now I need some advice. I only took 50mg despite cons telling me to take 100mg. I'm glad I didn't because I thought I would have suffered even more. But what do I do now? My plan was to take 50 for 2 cycles then up to 100 if no success. But as it didn't even lengthen my cycle I'm questioning what to do. AARGGGH!!!! Sorry ladies, this has been a miserable post from me, but honestly it's not because I'm not pg it's my damn cycle length. I'm convinced more than ever that my progesterone is too low.

Anyway enough about me. I hope you are all good. Are we still doing a list?

Stac14 Sorry you didn't ov hun, but I'm glad it went well at the docs.

Take care ladies and I'll speak to you soon.

XX

alfiemax,

Have blood tests been done recently on progesterone, LH and FSH to name but three?.

I ask this as progesterone is only part of the story. What they need to look at closely (and more than once, hormone tests done over several months are more helpful) are your LH and FSH levels. Those two hormones are vitally important as they kickstart the ovulation process. With PCOS there is often too much LH and not enough FSH.

Clomid is designed to make the ovaries work harder (not designed to lengthen cycle), it is not always suitable for all PCOS patients to take as it can encourage a marked rise in LH levels.

Would not stress out too much re the luteal phase - some gynaes do not actually think that such a problem exists whilst others do. It is very much a controversial area.

When are you due to see the cons again?. It is vitally important that you can freely communicate with each other otherwise you'd be better off working with someone else. The three of you need to work as a team.

HTH a bit

Attila

Hi stac14,

well done re the weight loss.

re your comment:-

"Also meant to say my gp will now be doing my bloods on day 21, 28 and 35 to check my ovulation but no scans".

Gynae dept should be doing the bloods rather than the GP. Such problems are also often outside a GPs general remit of understanding.

No scans is not good either - they need to check to see if an egg is leaving the ovary. Day 21 test is standard, the other two blood tests are not standard.

Clomid side effects have been reported regardless of dosage. Side effects include breast and bowel discomfort to name but two.

Hi Attila,

I haven't got PCO, I have 'unexplained infertility'. I know clomid doesn't lengthen the cycle as in actually lengthen it but it's meant to get everything going at the right times and the right amounts thus creating the 'perfect' ground for pregnancy. All I have had is 1 CD21 blood test back in August 2007 (yeah that's how long it's took to get this far). I have had no early cycle bloods and when I asked for them I was told they are not needed as the day 21 was fine?

I'm a bit bemused by the cons and that really. My next appt is meant to be around cycle 3 of clomid, I am not having any monitoring with bloods or scans while on it.

I don't know maybe I'm asking too much but I'm sure as sure the problem is the second half of my cyc;e and I already knew that I ov. It's the fact that I start bleeding too soon after ov. Surely this isn't good for getting pg as it must barely get to the impantation bit before my period is here.

I hope I haven't come accross rude or ungrateful for your advice as it's not meant that way. I just get really frustrated with myself, the hospital, the GP and even DH at times because it feels like I'm alone and no one listens to me. We all know our bodies better than anyone and I know there's something else they could be looking at but will they listen to me? Nope they bloody wont.
Phew got that off my chest.

XX

Hi ladies, would you mind awfully if i joined you ?????? we're TTC #2 we have unexplained infertility and been on/off trying for 14 years...DH is taking clomid and im unsure whether to take it or not, i seem to have same problem as you Alfiemax My cycle lasts roughly 25 days....this month i ov'd on CD17 then before my body had chance to do anything i started to bleed CD25, its so frustrating....Im now CD4 of cycle 6 this time of trying, i have read up about clomid and i can start it tomorrow for 5 days !!! Just not sure yet, im nervous about side effects as ive not got them personally from the doctor

Any advice and can i stay ?????

D xx

Hi Alfiemax,

Would like to reassure you that you don't come across to me as either rude or ungrateful.

Think you know as well as I do that "unexplained infertility" is infact no diagnosis at all - all this means is that the docs have failed to date to find out what is wrong.

Sometimes as well it is a diagnosis also given because the couple have not been adequately investigated to establish the cause of the subfertility. I see very little evidence of adequate tests on yourself let alone your man (has he been tested at all?).

I think you've been both fobbed off and mucked about to date - one blood test done over a year ago certainly does not count for anything now. Any result over six months old should be discounted. You need up to date test results for both of you.

It is also fair to say that some NHS units are far better than others when it comes to subfertility. I would actively seek a second opinion in your case and insist on another referral. You are certainly not being seen often enough either and with no monitoring to boot that is also a no-no. Without monitoring as well there is no way of knowing whether clomid is doing what its supposed to or not.

I would add that you cannot assume that you are ovulating without firm evidence like blood tests. My guess is that if say your progesterone level (for example) is out of whack then your other hormones are out of sync as well. If no-one has ever looked at LH and FSH (to name but two) how can they assume your progesterone was okay.

You need a proper diagnosis first and foremost.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Do not give up, I don't think you will but it is all too easy to become disheartened by the whole thing. Not very MN I know but here's a hug (((((((((alfiemax)))))))))).

Attila x

Welcome Dawni

Of course you can stay!!.

May I ask why your DH is taking clomid?. (Some men are prescribed this for male factor problems). Was this prescribed by the gynae to him?. Are you currently under the care of a gynae at a subfertility unit?.

Aa noted in my message to Alfiemax unexplained infertility is infact no diagnosis at all - all this means is that the docs have failed to date to find out what is wrong.

What tests on both of you have been done to date and how recent are these results?. Would say that any test results done over six months ago should now be discounted - you need up to date test results.

Would not actually go by any other indicators other than blood tests to confirm ovulation - it is all too easy to get the date wrong. Ovulation is not an exact science and it can occur earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle.

Would not take any medication that has not been directly prescribed for you. Clomid is actually quite powerful stuff and it is certainly not suitable for all to take, it should be given under a gynae's supervision. You should also be monitored whilst on it otherwise there's no way of determining whether its working or not.

Attila

Hello

tried to post earlier but bloody computer browser packed up.

Stac glad you got on ok. Have you begun the clomid?

Alfie you sound totally peed off, its so frustrating this waiting game

Tish I know where you are coming from. I too am doing a lot of exercise. 4-5 hard sessions a week (half marathon and triathlon coming up) GP said sensible levels of exercise shouldnt affect periods or fertility. don't know whats sensible then!! Going to speak to gynae about this next week and keep you posted. Think if you eat sensibly and have healthy BMI shouldn't make too much difference?!

Atilla I'll try and keep this short, going way back, we were both seeing a gynae at the hospital, after a year of lots of blood tests, seminal tests and a laparoscopy we were both told we were fine and there was no reason why we shouldnt conceive naturally,
we were'nt elligable for IVF as we conceived our DS no problem and we didnt have the cash, i was prescribed clomid for 3 months but by then our sex life had gone off and the clomid was threw out.
We have tried many times over the years to no availe.....we decided 7 month ago to try again, only this time we didnt want the pressure of hospitals and tests,i went to my doctor with a calendar of my cycles over 3 months and she said everything looks fine, i also had an internal which the doc said looked very healthy, but thats as much as i want from the doc,
so i chart my temp and do ov tests, i get +OPKs between 12 + 18 days as my cycle is 25 - 33 days long, more often 25 days.
My DH is a body builder and has been prescribed clomid to boost his sperm as the small amount of steroids he uses on 12 week patterns slows them down.
I have this mad idea of taking his clomid for a 3 month cycle just to see if it will work !!! Every month i get my period i feel so low and empty, but i really dont want poked and prodded by docs again, it made it all so much harder over the years, and i dont want to go back to that iykwim
We are both 36 years old and i feel i will do anything to help without going back to the hospital.

D xx

Stac14 I'm on 50mg and I have been having hot flushes in the middle of the night and mood swings in the day. Been pretty weepy too. I would guess that 100mg must be worse? Just ask your gynae. This is the first time I've had the hot flushes and I think it's from susutained use - 3 months in a row.

Dawni - I think you have to be brave and go back to the hospital. Clomid is not a miracle drug and you need to be monitored whilst you are on it. I ov'd naturally on my first cycle in 2005 and got pg, but this time around my eggs were large when scanned and I needed an extra injection to release them - I wouldn't have known this without the monitoring. Things may have changed since you last tried

Alfie think positive - you can start the drugs again tomorrow. Don't beat yourself up about this. It sounds like the hospital are letting you down by not scanning and monitoring you. Not sure what you can do about that except ask. Chin up

Clure Well done on the weight loss. Wish I could lose 5lbs! Have no willpower at the moment and I love chocolate!

mummycat1

Thanks for the advice hun, just been chatting to DH and i think maybe i should bite the bullet and go back the docs, she did say just to go back if and when we wanted any help. We were trying not to get our hopes up and just give it a try again and not take it too serious, but when i got my period again we were megga dissapointed and basically we are both hooked again on getting pregnant

D xx