Would you be my Infertility/Clomid/Follicle tracking friend please?!

[scienceteachergeek]

Hi there ladies

I’m really looking for a ‘clomid friend’ or ‘infertility pal’!

I’m 30, DH is 38. I came off the pill July 2013 to regulate my cycles and ended 15yrs of antidepressants in March 2014 as I’d read that was the best plan if possible.

I’d been having regular 27/30day cycles since I came off the pill but after no positive tests, buying OPKs and the Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor, plus charting temps and monitoring my cervix and mucus it quickly became apparent that I wasn’t ovulating. After all the blood tests, sperm analysis, trans-vaginal scans and the HSG it showed that he was fine but I wasn’t ovulating, but there was not obvious reason why.

Fast forward to now, 2yrs since coming off the pill, I have been prescribed clomid and have taken my first 5 tablets. I’m day 12 today and have been having follicle tracking to check if the drugs have worked. My largest follicle was 16.4mm today and have to go back on Wednesday to check it again.

Do any of you know if that’s a good size? Or have any experiences of being further down the clomid path? Or are you in a similar position? I just feel like I’m going out of my mind and could really use a buddy!

Thanks for reading and hugs to you all. Interested in hearing from any of you xxx

Oh FFS. The first frape when we were 20 years old and someone did that was, at most, mildly amusing. MILDLY. Now we actually adults it's seriously unfunny. The same thing happened to my friend a few weeks ago. She'd only just got married (6 weeks before) and is the sort who would wait until she's married ("sort" makes it sound awful, I don't mean it like that at all!). I just thought "I can't believe she's announcing a pregnancy at only 6 weeks".

I'm sorry the fake pregnancy probably hurt quite a bit.

I can't believe how much diet coke you drank! That's insane! Miss Vap I'm giving you a right telling off! Honestly, you will start to feel so much better and your insides will be so much healthier now you've given up. How long has it been now? If you can give up such a strong habit perhaps I can give up my sugar addiction she says whilst sitting in Starbucks drinking a pumpkin latte and being highly hypocritical of Vap's addiction

From what I have read about progesterone, there's nothing you can specifically take (like a progesterone vitamin tablet) without a prescription. There are things which assist its production though, like getting plenty of Vit C, Vit B6, Zinc, Magnesium. The biggest thing for me will be reducing my stress. I'm going to make sure I get to the gym more, as work has precluded me from doing that, and I am even thinking of trying acupuncture. That's a sentence I never thought I would say .

Aha! You know I'm almost thinking of acupuncture too! Perhaps next month... Desperation does funny things to otherwise normal people

So, the final FB baby was born today! Thank god for that! Secretly hoping there are no other pregnancies lurking!

I know the coke was bad but i just loved it and needed it to function and don't have tea or coffee so was my only source of caffeine (apart from hidden caffeine like chocolate). I stopped the day I had my bfp!

So that's 6 weeks today.
Sorry posted before I'd finished.
Have you done much research into acupuncture? You do her people raving about it but I tend to take them with a pinch of salt like those people who believe mediums etc.

Ha ha ha! That made me laugh. That's exactly how I feel about it . I know a few people that do acupuncture and they're the same people that see mediums/go to seminars about finding inner-peace/spend their weekends doing yoga and sh*t. The type of people that would think the reason I'm not pregnant is because I don't love myself enough and my uterus is internalising my feelings of despair and rejection. I haven't arranged anything yet, but I thought it can't do any harm.

6 weeks is good going. Certainly long enough to kick the worst of the cravings! How are you finding it? Also how are things generally? Are you still having to spend a hundred hours a week driving (obviously not exaggerating in any way...)

Hah, pleased to have made you laugh! Yep my job is driving so that's what I do.... Away with work colleagues tonight and tomorrow with a photo shoot on Wednesday so it will be a boozy session this week! I'm quite looking forward to having some fun and not thinking about ttc for maybe a couple of hours (if I can manage that).
All this yoga bollocks too! My mum goes and loves it. I've been a couple of times with her after years of encouragement and I couldn't be bothered, a load of people stretching in a room?? Wtf? And the odd fart along the way. I'm not one to just sit quietly ever so it was far too much for me. Apologies to any yoga people out there! I know it's great for a lot of people, perhaps just not for me.
Giving up coke was easy because I knew it was bad for the baby and then after mc it didn't really bother me so must have missed out on the cravings. I couldn't have done it without the bfp though. I never had any desire to give it up until I knew I had to! Just like not drinking, really hard to do when ttc but the second that bfp was there it was so easy.
Hoping like hell i ovulate this month! I was reading about acupuncture and they suggest up to 3 times a week? I don't even go home 3 nights a week how the hell would I do that? Others say 1 per week or 1 per month but they say the more you do the better it is. Our local place charges £44 for a session. May try to get booked in this weekend before ovulation... Just had a quick read and that should be a good time to go maybe?

Hello everyone hope you all had nice weekends!

Ooooo ha ha I tried acupuncture! I also tried this special form of Physio for your insides!!!!

I haven't done it this month as just can't afford it!

Before ovulation is good as it apparently helps your eggs be strong!

Does anyone on clomid get angry? Someone parked really close to my car at Asda tonight and I struggled to get in so I wrote a note on a napkin saying don't park like a dick next time and left it on their window! This is not me at all I am usually incredibly placid and laid back!

I have a friend who is pregnant and we are getting regular updates about how big the baby is and we are only at 12 weeks!!! It's going to be a long one!

I love that: "giving up coke was easy". Makes it sound much worse! You'll definitely be better off for it.

Oh no! Never mind the fact your mum sends rude/annoying Facebook messages...it's unforgivable that she's a Yogi . Only joking...and I hope I haven't offended any Yogis on this thread. We welcome all sorts!

Just had a minor fall out with my mum. To cut a very long story short, I'm making a massive effort to travel across the country to go to a family christening. I REALLY don't want to go because of everything, but am sucking it up because it means a lot to my family. Anyway, the plan was we'd all go out on the Saturday night (not the couple or their baby) then make our way to the christening on the Sunday. Somehow this has now changed and it's been arranged that we'll all stay in and have an evening "fighting over [baby]" so the parents can go out. I have refused to go to this evening thing because I literally cannot take it. I tried explaining this to my mum who was less than sympathetic and actually said "I thought you'd want to spend time with [baby] so you get some baby hormones". WTAF. How can nobody outside the exclusive infertility club understand just how excruciating this all is?

Aww flat I'm sorry that baby night sounds difficult.

Some days I can't take being around babies and others it's not so bad,

Cringe ladies! I would like to be a yogi but I don't have time/commitment/patience. Instead I do other exercise so I do have time I guess it's patience. I wish I was a yogi. With the right instructor it's so relaxing!

And cringe again I have visited a (locally) well known medium 2 or 3 times in my life.

And lastly... I tried acupuncture for about three months last year. I went 1-2 times a week every week to a super traditional place (I lived in Asia at the time) where I had an old woman look at my tongue and feel my pulse and tell me it was because I was cold inside that's why I wasn't pregnant.

FYI that was around the time I was having 70 day cycles so u could say it helped to regulate my cycles but it was also the time I was running a shipload which totally f**ked my cycles. So I don't believe it so much.

I don't know what it would be like in the uk I'm guessing it would be more medical and symptom based rather than Chinese herbs and energy chi Mumbo jumbo. ....

Potential ov day +1 here... Let the symptom spotting begin!!

Oh and vap super well done on giving up Diet Coke like that!!!! I wonder how it's affecting your body (positively obviously)..

Unfortunately and I am totally regretting it I have just got those invisible braces yesterday that u can put in and out.

Omfg wtf ffs and all that .. the pain is unbearable it hurts to have them in and it hurts to take them out and when they are out it hurts to eat and when they go back in it hurts too. Do u understand that it hurts? .

Feeling regret.... Anyway hopefully at the end of it I'll have my Hollywood smile.

Anyway my point is I feel I'm going to give up a lot of stuff the next 6 months of its this shit. The pain is unreal I don't want to eat or snack or drink I would be happy having some sort of meal replacement milkshake which is super unlike me!!! Apparently it gets better after the first few days of a new tray... I sooooo hope so!!!

I've just replaced the diet coke with the caffeine free variety, costs more but means I don't miss it.

Cold inside? Newleaf that's a new one on me! I did consider acupuncture as my SIL does it. Never got round to it.

Flat sorry about the fight with your Mum. Why are people so unhelpful sometimes? Had a bit of a go at my mum just now as she told me she thinks DH is weak. I was furious.

Vap0, I didn't get headaches from the caffeine withdrawal this time but I certainly have before!

Appointment went well today but they just asked SO many questions! She's put me at 'high risk' because I was born with dislocating hips and apparently it's genetic and likely any child of mine would have the same problem

Hope you all avoided the rain...I had to take the pupils who smoke out for their nicotine fix at lunch and got drenched!

Thanks guys. Seriously, FFS! Sometimes people's comments are as if I'd said "I saw a dress I like but the shop sold out and they're not getting any more so I'll never have it".

Science - Why would she say that to you? How rude! Is your DH ok? You mentioned he's not happy with his new job. How long has he been there? Is it the job itself or the environment or what? When you're unhappy it's a difficult balance between giving something a proper go and knowing when something isn't right and you should leave. Yes - perhaps suggest you go and see the doctor. I think you've suffered from depression too? As you'll know, you don't just wake up with depression; it can be a gradual slide in and you don't even realise it's happening until you're too low and everything feels insurmountable. I really hope things improve for you both soon.

So how was the midwife appointment generally? What the hell are dislocating hips?! Is that bad for you?

NewLeaf - We'll take a vote on whether you're allowed to stay on this thread ;) how many hemp products do you own? :p

NewLeaf and Badleg - What did you make of acupuncture? Is it relaxing/enjoyable? I do want to try it, it's just finding the bloody time to go! Vap - it costs £36 where I live. Bargain! The joy of living in a cheapo area .

Badleg - Your friend's a dick. Why can't people have a filter?!

2 days down...phew. I don't want to wish my life away, but I'm desperate for this year to end. It's been a shocker (death of grandparent, illness and operation, infertility etc) and we've been so busy with things on every weekend (usually involving travelling across the country)! Hopefully 2016 will be slightly more relaxed. Also...we've booked a holiday for February! I'm so excited and am so pleased to have something to look forward to .

Flat - holiday sounds great! I could do with one. We have been invited away next year but with the way things are with me and if and when I conceive we can't commit.

Acupuncture. I am not the type of person who relaxes easily. Always on go and so I was rushing to acupuncture the. Rushing somewhere after. Prob not the right idea. It didn't make me feel chilled if I am honest. I paid £40 each time.

I have a horse and a massive vet bill so the acupuncture has stopped.

Hahaha, NO hemp products so glad I can stay!!

Pleased to hear your appointment went well today science.

Badleg - You should just go! We put our lives on hold for TTC purposes. I'm trying to relax a little on that front but it's so hard.

Ooooo that's exciting that you've got a horse! I would love to ride. I bet it's really relaxing!

I forgot to say - the clinic we're looking at does IVF for £3800 (all in). That said, we would hopefully qualify for at least 2 NHS attempts (although we haven't had all our tests done and I know sometimes these results preclude you from NHS IVF).

Vap - when did you say your appointment at the fertility clinic is?

NewLeaf - phew! I'm so pleased you're allowed to stay on this thread . Maybe by the time we have reached 40 pages of posts we'll have all converted to Yoga?! Ha ha.

If a friend puts up a photo of a pregnant woman with the caption "Labour is the only blind date where you know you will meet the love of your life", what are the chances I am being (or am about to be) baby bombed?!

Thanks Flat, lovely of you to offer your words of wisdom. He's only been doing it a few weeks but he's finding the 6pm-4am shifts dreadful and all his shifts are 10hrs long. He thinks that's a long time to be under high pressure as a 999 call handler. We've both suffered with depression, yes. I'm going to ring for him to have an appointment tomorrow I think.

Midwife appointment was great, apart from all the imposing questions! We were both very honest. Think they think we're crazy but hey ho! Not had shit in 5 days so weighed a massive 6.5pounds extra than what my Slimming World says..ouch!

Dislocating hips meant that my hip sockets weren't strong enough to hold my legs in! I spent the first 6months of my life in a huge splint with restricted movement....I didn't walk until I was 2 and a half!

A holiday sounds fab...enjoy! I downloaded a countdown app for my last holiday, it was very helpful.

Glad Newleaf can stay on the thread! Maybe you guys should be taking a vote to see if I'm allowed to stay though I've not joined any others!

Oh Flat I think a baby bomb is coming! Bet they've been trying like 3 days!

Of course you're staying, you numpty! You're part of the furniture.

Oh wow - what a stressful job. That must be horrible at times. I imagine the nights are the worst as well. Bless him. He definitely needs to find a way to switch off (easier said than done!).

Yikes - sounds nasty. I hope your baby is ok! It's amazing what they can do these days, so don't let them scare you!

Yep. They got married at the start of summer. Classic.

P.S. Hope you manage to, erm, "evacuate your bowels"!

I hope I can poo before Slimming World weigh-in!

My horse is my relaxing time I love being outside and at the stables and made life long friends. A lot of horse friends don't have kids as they prefer the horses! So it a nice relief. To be honest that is why I left having a baby till now as I was enjoying it all too much.

That is great you get 2 goes on NHS. The NHS weren't very helpful to me as my oh has a child already from previous relationship plus I struggle with my weight - no matter that I am fit and healthy never ill I just can't get my bmi to magic number! The all in price is very good too. I hope what I found is an inclusive price.

I really should go back to slimming world it good plus you can stick on it whilst pregnant I believe? Science is that right?

I bought some pee sticks to use on the clear blue fertility monitor (older version) but I didn't switch it on on day 1 of cycle. I am thinking I can still use it this month but it won't be completely right on the days but will still say if I am about to ovulate.

Yeah Badleg that's right. You can carry on with Slimming World through the pregnancy. Plus, yes you can still use your monitor this month. It'll still work out ovulation but it might not predict your next cycle accurately if you're lying to it.

DH has sorted out his work and now looks like he'll be getting Christmas off...bonus!

Scan tomorrow....nervous! So bloated today, I look upduffed!

Science - scan exciting! Glad you oh has sorted out work and he is off for Xmas must be a relief.

Back to slimming world I go!

good luck for your scan tomorrow science it will be fine and super exciting i bet. and glad you got DH's job problems all sorted.

flat and vap I would suggest you try the acupuncture. as mumbo jumbo as it is/seems it is the only available alternative therapy on NHS I believe (for pain?) so it must be doing something i guess!!

For me I would say it didnt work, but for sure for some people it does. Maybe just try off once or twice a month and see how it goes for you???

if nothing else you get to lie down for 30 minutes dead still and can't quite move much. in my acupuncture the lady used to stab me up with around 25-30 needles at a time. i know that in england most people were getting jabbed with only around 10 needles or something!? weird feeling. mild panic at my first session as i stared down at my tummy with a million pins in, plus my arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, feet!! mild panic that actually i couldn't move without causing pain or injury haha!!

enjoy your boozing vap I am a few days past O so not drinking too much although I did have a G&T tonight watching the rugby... be rude not to have something!!!

BUT DOES IT HURT????