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 god science that is awful but so lucky you got it sorted before infection took over. You most definitely deserve a few days in bed...

flat sorry about AF, hope she either turns up quick or not at all!

I am cd32, only 4dpo (maybe) so a long wait ahead with my lame cycles and body.

Next week I will go to the hospital and pick up more clomid so next cycle can be on 100mg too.., I am wondering how many months... Sorry CYCLES more they will give me (this was cycle 3)

Oh science that sounds awful. I'm so sorry this just isn't ending. Are they sure you have it all out now? How long are you on the antibiotics for? Hoping for the best for you.

Best of luck with your appointment newleaf have you been on 50mg so far? Did you manage to dtd on some of the right days?

vap I was on 50mg first cycle and ovulated, but late. So they tried 100mg 2nd cycle and same story but more follicles, this cycle I took 50mg but ovulated really really late so next cycle will take 100 again. They don't seem to know what's going on

DTD lots this cycle but duff opks (or so I thought), unfortunately day of or after ovulation (I think) we didn't get to DTD as DH in Chad and I came to London, so neither of us "at home" let alone the same country!!

But of course I am still hopeful. Fingers crossed. Will test from next Thursday onwards. How are u doing?

NewLeaf something which they said to me, which seemed quite reassuring, is that as clomid obviously works for us they are more likely to give us more than the 6 standard clomid doses to avoid giving us free costly IVF. I'd like to think that was the case. X

science good news about clomid. And less harsh on your body if you can get by with clomid on its own.

newleaf I wouldn't worry about not dtd on the day of ov or the day after. We had our bfp and we dtd the days running up to but couldn't do it in the day of ov and had kind of given up after. I also had those duff opk's my lines were really lame! Barely there. Will post a pic of the duff ones.

Oh science you have had so so much to deal with, my heart aches for you. Really hope you’re physically on the mend soon, and that emotionally you can start to heal in time xxx

Vap so excited for you! Wonderful news - you must be absolutely thrilled. Keeping everything crossed for you

So, one week into down regging, no horrendous menopausal symptoms just yet. Although no period either, so not sure when I ovulated, given I’m now CD34, and my scan showed an 18mm follie on Day 13…and no I can’t be pregnant as there was no way I could have conceived given how thin my lining is. Hope it hurries up as I need to be fully down-regulated for my scan on 1st Dec!

My stims drugs are being delivered on Tues - the Gonal-F and the trigger have to be refrigerated, so as they’re being delivered to my work, Healthcare @ Home are sending them in their own little cool bag, so I can keep them under my desk chilling out until I take them home. Better that than have to put them all in the work fridge…!

Hi ladies!
Can I join?
I'm 33 and TTC #2 for the last 3 yrs! Im on 2nd cycle of clomid 100mg at CD12 no signs of +opk. waiting to start cyclogest suppositories at 3 dpo for 12 days and then hpt.

Has anyone else used progesterone supps with clomid?

blood tests sept 2014: high fsh (17) very low AMH (0.5) and irregular periods premature ovarian failure. So I came to terms with everything and stopped trying and stressing.....only to discover i was 3 weeks pregnant. Sadly, I miscarried at 14 wks.
Now I can't stop stressing knowing that it can happen even with the unfavourable no.s

Good luck to everyone here!!!!

Im also not being monitored via scans or blood tests as relocated to Kenya coz of DH's work. Haven't found a good clinic or one that responded yet
Tucktalking from your post in August you mentioned having private treatment in Kenya please if you don't mind and if your are still following this thread give me the details or suggest a clinic there.
It would be greatly appreciated!!

Please excuse my long first time post!! I'm completely new to posting on net/threads so still getting used to all the acronyms.

Fucking hell!
I've just had brown spotting.

I'm so scared I'm going to lose this one too

vap sorry about the worry you are going through!!
have you seen your Dr yet? What's your progesterone levels like? I was recommended progesterone suppositories by private fertility Dr. for up to 12 weeks (if I get a BFP)

I'm praying everything works out for you this time xxx

zuzy welcome!

I went to my dr last week when I had my bfp and asked for progesterone and she said that they don't prescribe it. She said it is something they did years ago and isn't practiced any more. I have however heard of so many people say that they have had it prescribed! I left accepting what she said. Stupid me. I wish I had booked a private appointment. I'm so cross with myself.

Progesterone levels are low. 27.1 on the 21 day test. They need to be 30 to confirm ovulation.

Im so incredibly sad. Why did I listen to her? She clearly doesn't specialise in pregnancy or fertility issues if she is telling me this is an archaic practice when so many ladies get it prescribed.

If bleeding hasn't started in full by Monday I'll try to get a private appointment. How do you get a private appointment? Who do you call? How do you find the clinics?

Some Dr's are so stuck in their ways i don't think they can be convinced, it's so frustrating!!! I mean if your progesterone is on the low side surely it can't do any harm to try it! Argh!
I gave up on NHS after waiting too long for referral.

I was living in London and see Dr Sabatini based in Harley street. He was highly recommended by close family members.
I don't know where you are based but I can give you his details if you wish.

Hi, that's too far to go but thanks for the info. I've been reading more about it and remember what she said now "nice guidelines say no". I've had contact with a fertility hospital recently who I out off due to the bfp so have emailed them asking for an appointment on Monday. Unless it's too late. Yet more spotting and lots if cramping.

Gosh a miscarriage at 14 weeks must have been awful for you. How sad. How long ago was that? Will they up your clomid to 150 if you don't ov this cycle?

My miscarriage was nov 2014. At the time I was adviced to take progesterone by an uncle who is a fertility Dr. In Italy but didn't.
At 14 wks I didn't have any symptoms, they just couldn't find a heartbeat during scan. I was devastated.

With clomid I was prescribed 100mg for 6 cycles. if nothing happens then will try IVF.
I must say I had more positive signs on 50mg than I am now on 100mg. I had +opk at CD 13 on 50mg but AF showed up at 9DPO.
At 100mg I'm getting more Headaches, no CM and not many ov signs

Good luck with everything, i really hope it goes well!!

Vap all the hugs in the world, keeping everything crossed that this scare passes over and that your bean is hanging on tight in there.

I would def explore getting a consult with a private Dr, if only for peace of mind. TBH given you’re not looking for comprehensive treatment, but just some reassurance and a script for progesterone,I’d say it really doesn’t matter too much who you see - if it were me, I’d just google clinics and private hospitals where there are private gynaes and ring around to find out who can see you soonest. Big hugs and remember that lots of women have light - and sometimes not so light - bleeding in early pregnancy, so whilst I can only imagine how terrifying it is, it may (hopefully, hopefully) be nothing sinister. Hugs xxx

Zuzy wow how interesting - I’m another high FSH/ low AMH-er. Well, according to my bloods - I was FSH 17.6 and AMH 1.5 in July (although my FSH bounced down to 9.5 the following month). I’m so so so sorry for your loss, can only imagine how devastating that must have been. Really hoping you have another lovely surprise with an even lovelier outcome. You mentioned that you’re TTC #2 - did you have problems conceiving your first child?

I’ve never used progesterone with Clomid BUT my sister in law had a very early loss earlier this year, and went to see my consultant, who gave her Cyclogest to use if and when she falls pregnant again. So I think it’s certainly established practice to take progesterone if you’ve had a miscarriage, just as a precaution. She wasn’t told to take it after ovulation, just if she gets a BFP, but I know ladies who did take it after ovulation when they were on Clomid, so don’t think there’s any right or wrong answer really!

I was devastated when I found out that I was in peri menopause with severely diminished reserves. It’s why we’ve rushed to IVF so quickly, as we were advised that it would be well worth pursuing pregnancy aggressively, as if we ended up in the situation where we hadn’t conceived and were considering IVF further down the line, our chances would be much much smaller.

With my FSH and AMH, I wasn’t expected to respond to stims at all, or if so, to be a very poor responder. Except that I did - and far exceeded my consultant’s expectations by getting 7 eggs (of which 6 were mature)

And my scan last week showed that my antral follicle count had increased quite significantly following stimulation - before my IVF cycle I had 5 follicles in total. We couldn’t see the left ovary properly because of a corpus luteum blocking the view, but my right ovary alone had 7 follicles. My consultant - who is one of the top fertility docs in London, and heads up the centre for reproductive medicine @ Barts in his NHS practice - said something doesn’t add up and ‘I’m stumped, and I’m not usually stumped’, What we’re seeing on the scan and my response to stims just don’t match up with my v v low AMH. I’m clearly some kind of medical freakshow marvel (got to keep these Harley St docs on their toes!) but bloods really don’t necessarily tell the whole story...

And if you are ovulating, there is most definitely hope, and remember, it only takes one!! xx

That's a nice post banana and it's so true it only takes one.

vap we are thinking of you, crossing fingers and toes that it's nothing sinister and like banana said many women have spotting \ flow and still go on to have babies. I hope, hope, hope this is the case for you.

I don't know anything about this progesterone after OV/conception ... I'll have to do a bit of research!

cd36 here, fertility friend says 8dpo, BFN

Will read back later properly but just updating
Test was fainter this morning. Brown spotting all day yesterday and Saturday and loads of cramping. Exactly the same as happened last time but with more pain and spotting. It is the beginning of the end

Hi everyone. Sorry for being absent for the past week.

Vap OMG I am SO sorry. You must be so scared. I really really really hope this isn't the end . Are you able to get to a Dr? I know there's nothing they can do, but they may be able to run some tests and give you an answer about what is happening. I know it doesn't help, but I'll be thinking of you.

I think some doctors are reluctant to prescribe progesterone because it thins the lining. When I had my laparoscopy I asked the gynae about this because my luteal phase was 6 days. She said she would consider it if I hadn't gotten pregnant in the next 9 months (this was back in July) or if I repeatedly miscarried, because her view was it should be avoided if at all possible because of the damage it does to your lining. It's certainly something I will ask about when I have my fertility clinic appointment on Friday.

NewLeaf - Good luck with this cycle and testing on Thursday.

Banana - How is the down-regging going? Are you still feeling ok? It sounds as though things are going well, even if you are a medical freakshow (joking!). Good luck with the stimms. That did make me laugh about your cool bag of drugs sat under your desk!

Zuzy - Welcome to the thread. I am so sorry about your miscarriage. That's heartbreaking. I really hope you get some answers (and pregnant!) soon.

Flat that’s really interesting that you say progesterone thins the lining…certainly in all my IVF journey, it’s been impressed upon us that progesterone is to keep the lining thick, as it’s dropping levels of progesterone that cause the lining to break down (and hence what happens when you get your period). I have to take progesterone pessaries after transfer and if I get a BFP for the first trimester - if you’re having a FET you have to take super extra strength progesterone injections in the bum. So I’m confused by the idea that it could thin the lining - certainly never heard that before. After ovulation, the corpus luteum releases progesterone to maintain the lining: if an embryo implants, the HcG then ‘rescues’ the corpus luteum so that it keeps on producing progesterone to keep the lining thick. If no embryo implants, it stops producing progesterone, and the lining breaks down and you get your period. So if your progesterone is low, it’s designed to do the exact opposite of thin your lining. Never ever heard that before, so very confused by what the Dr said. May be worth asking her more about that?

So far all fine - no menopausal symptoms just yet - though I’m on knicker watch waiting for AF to turn up. Dr Google suggests it’s normal for it to be delayed by buserelin, just hope it arrives before the baseline scan so I can start stimming and don’t have to downreg much longer…don’t want to delay too much in case we don’t get in before the clinic shuts for Xmas!! And yes, I might take a photo of my little bag of meds, haha. For £1800 for 10 days worth I shan’t be letting it out of my sight!!!

Vap everything crossed for you - thinking of you lovely

Newleaf tonnes of luck for this cycle

xxx

Saw the Dr
She thinks it's another mc

Been signed off for the week so I don't have to put on a brave face again at work
Sat waiting for a blood test which she was reluctant to give me.
I just wish this would all be over.
Although how can you ever get excited about a pregnancy ever again after 2 miscarriages? 1 I agree can be bad luck and I accepted that. 2 less so.

I am so sorry Vap. The waiting must be total agony. I REALLY hope this is just a (very scary) blip and you're ok.

Two miscarriages would still be very bad luck. It does not mean you CAN'T have a successful pregnancy, but I understand just how deflated you must feel. I know you are sick to death of waiting and not having answers (we all are!) but when you eventually get your fertility clinic appointment they may have a better idea about why this has happened. In the mean time, just do whatever you can to stay calm. I appreciate this is a lot easier said than done.

Banana - How odd! Unless I misunderstood her? Or maybe it was something else she was talking about which thins the lining and I'm confusing it with progesterone. Either way, I'm going to ask about it at my FC appointment so I'll let you know what I'm told. I think the gynae that operated on me was good at her job, but I felt a little 'pushed out of the door' so I lost a bit of confidence in her. Basically when it was found I didn't have anything visibly wrong, she told me it was all down to stress and if I stopped being stressed it would happen and to come back in 9 months if it hadn't. I had wanted her to run some blood tests and a SA back in July, but she said there was no need and they'd do that 9 months' later if it came to it. We then ultimately had the tests around October and they all came back with various problems. I know it's not much, but that's set us back 3 months which is quite frustrating.

Oh Vap so so sorry. I’m really hoping it’s a blip, we’re all rooting for you and here for you. Love, hugs and strength

Flat could she have meant Clomid? That absolutely does thin the lining, and sometimes can be used to help lengthen luteal phases - but the lining thinning problem is a significant one. Wonder if that's what she was getting at? xxx

Banana - There is every possibility that's what she said and I've misremembered it! Next time Dr Flatwhite gives medical advice ladies tell her to shut up .

Omg I actually want to scream and cry and punch something. The Fertility Clinic have just called and cancelled my appointment on Friday. I can't believe it! It's a private appointment and we had to wait 7 weeks to get it! After getting cross they said that I can go and see a different doctor on Wednesday lunchtime (a more junior doctor, which ordinarily I'd be more than happy with but for this I want someone with as much experience as possible, hence why we went privately so we could have more of a say over who we see). I'm going to take the appointment, otherwise I'd have to wait until 30th December! It means DH can't come with me though as there's no way he'd be able to get the day off at such short notice. I just feel so sad as I want him to be there as 1) he'll be able to comfort me if it's bad news; and 2) he's much smarter and better at sciencey stuff than me so he'll understand it more.

The irony is, I cancelled our NHS appointment this morning! I don't know if you'll remember as this was 2 months+ ago, but the GP sent my referral to the wrong place and with the wrong address for me so it got "lost" and supposedly "couldn't be tracked down" (bullshit). Due to this cock-up, we decided to go privately so we wouldn't have such a long wait (ha - 7 weeks later...). Anyway, on Friday I got a text saying "Please remember to come to your appointment at [hospital] at [same date and time as my private appointment in a totally different town]". How freaky that the appointments were supposed to be at exactly the same time, when one was NHS and one was private and the hospitals are nowhere near each other! Anyway, I cancelled the NHS one this morning as we'd decided to go privately as you apparently get longer appointments and don't get pushed out the door so quickly. Arghhhhhhh. I feel like I am never going to actually be seen by anyone who wants to help sort me and DH out .

I'm sorry but what the actual fuck? I'm saying this to all of you. Why can't any of us catch a fucking break? I'm so annoyed for you all (which I guess is a break from the crippling sadness and emptiness I've felt over the last three weeks).

Vap0, no idea of what to say to you as I have found nothing of any help in the last three weeks. The only things I have are, 'I'm so sorry' and 'I understand how you might be feeling'.

Let's hope for a better 2016. I'm having ovulation pain but also having what looks like a period.....go figure!!!

flat OMG how frustrating with the appointments. URGH!!

vap I am so so sorry for what you are going through right now. Don't really know what to say I'm just hoping for the best for you.

Banana Thank you for the lovely post earlier, I wish I was also pursuing pregnancy aggressively at the moment considering my extremely diminished reserve but, being away from home has made this a bit difficult. My Dr also told me in a year's time it could be too late, so the plan is to try IVF in 5 months time when hubby can take the necessary time off work.

So my second cycle of clomid, still no signs of ovulation, and DH travelling to New York for work next week, knowing my luck that would most likely be the week i get +opk so I've decided to tag along.

My DS is 4yrs (the right age for the painful 'when's the sibling coming?" question from everyone!) He was conceived as soon as i TTC, so i took my fertility for granted and waited until he was about 14 months to try again not realising my pre-menopausal state.

I am so pleased for you that you are responding well, just shows these numbers are just numbers and I really really really pray that you get your BFP by xmas.

In fact for all of you i really hope you get your break!!