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

Aw Vap sorry to hear the witch arrived full force.

I remember the days I use to feel so relieved when she arrived and now its the worst day of the month!

Nope he said that because I have such varying cycles that some cycles I may not be ovulating. This cycle is going to be 25 days (probably if my lf stays the same) and my longest is 39 days. However he did say that we would only try 3 months of clomid and then look at tubes. He said he wanted to try clomid first as it was non surgical and an easy thing to do. So I am happy to give it a try.

Vap why are they waiting another 9 months (i think thats what you said) before sending you for IVF? Did you doctor jump straight to that step?

Hi
Yes, 6 months of waiting to hope things happen naturally and then they will put me on the currently 3 month waiting list for ivf. They want us to do what we can ourselves 1st. As I have ovulated only 5 times they want me to have ovulated for a full year before helping. No matter that I was in the system for 12 months before this sudden ovulation. I can understand it but it is all so frustrating when you just don't think you can do it yourself! The 1st thing they did with me was check my tubes (hycosy). So strange that they treat you so differently depending on where you are.
I think I was supposed to give in a letter for another appointment when I left last time but didn't as the desk was closed and I was in no fit state to look at anyone or do anything after being told to wait for another 9 months. I have it in my car so will call today and book an appointment for December to hopefully then go on the waiting list for March / April?
It is crap waiting so long. Especially when it all seems to depend on who your Dr is as to whether they help or not!

Good luck for starting your clomid birch. Will it be in the next couple of weeks?
Fingers crossed for you!
I wish I hadn't started ovulating myself and they would have done more to help!

It really is a postcode lottery as to what you get. I only get one shot at IVF where I am so I am terrified of using it and then thats the end of the line!

It is rubbish that they have changed your management as you have started ovulating but that is also a good thing as you might not need to go down IVF line!

I have had a super short cycle this time - I normally ovulate day 16-18 (according to opk and temps) this month i didnt use opk but temp shows I ovulated day 12! so far I have always had a LP of 12 days as well so I expect af on 5th Aug and then I will start clomid.

The dr never mentioned hycosy to me - he only talked about laproscopy (is that the right one.. key hole surgery?

Birchy...I'd have thought he meant HSG, look it up, there are a few words for it. They really should do that before they prescribe clomid. It's madness it's so different everywhere. HSG/hycosy should check for fallopian tube blockages before you get clomid or else if there is a blockage and you release more eggs than normal you can end up with more than one baby growing in your tubes! Madness they're not checking for that first.

Vap0...sorry about AF. We'll try next month. You're two days behind me. The more I read about chemical pregnancies the more I'm certain that's what happened. Going to keep myself really healthy this month. Sticking to my Slimming World diet whilst I'm here, being ever so good!

Going back to the clomid...i took my first cycle just before bed just in case I hot some awful side effects. This month I'm taking it in the morning. I'll see if i get the dryness again. The preseed helped though

nope he definitely mentioned a GA - which is why he wanted to do clomid first. I dont think they do GA for hycosy...?

I have chlamydia antibodies - From a previous bf over 11 years ago and he is also aware of this. So there is a chance my tubes are blocked :-0 however he did seem reassured that I didnt have any symptoms at the time.

I guess I just have to trust he knows what he is doing ...

I did see the top consultant and he seen me as an extra as I work closely with their team (but not him) but I dont know anything professionally about fertility treatment.

I have a scan between day 12-14 (i think thats right) to look at follicules so hopefully they will be able to pick up anything disasterous then ...maybe not though!

He did also say chance of twins is now 1 in 20 compared to normal population risk of 1 in 80 which has dh freaked out lol

just came home to a letter from him and it says laparoscopy in 3 months if not pregnant - just ripped open clomid box to have a read of side affects as well! 8 days until i start them

Hi!
I'm sure he is right with what he is doing. They all do things differently and i suppose we have to just trust their judgement.
Is the op you are going for the one where they go in through your belly button?
Good luck with your clomid!
I'm really down in the dumps today! Not my normal chirpy self!
I don't think it's af arriving I think it's the knowledge that I'll have to wait so long to get help from the dr's.

I had a fairly painful procedure where they inserted a dye to check that my tubes weren't blocked. Is this similar to what you'll have Birchy?

I can imagine how you feel Vap. I know af is imminent for me and you'd think that after seven years I'd be used to the disappointment by now. My dh is usually so optimistic but today he's looking gutted for the first time. He had tears in his eyes and it made me feel a million times worse.

oh vap0 I'm sorry you are feeling so down - you to finding.
I think we just need to take one month at a time and I have begun to plan life as normal again. I started of cutting everything as though I was already pregnant.

the one that I am being sent for is through the belly button as described by vapo. I'm terrified which I think I'm so happy with clomid for 3 months. am really hoping I won't need it.

finding 7 years you have been trying ... I bow to you you must have so much inner strength!! have you already had clomid etc..? are you on any treatment now?

Try not to get down ladies...we'll get our BFPs next month!

Finding..the dye thing is the HSG, mine was painful too.

Birchy, I'm sure you'll be fine on clomid. Ive just had my third tablet this cycle. Feeling fine. There are loads of side effects it can cause but I just seem to have the decrease in CM. I'm also noticing an increased sex drive...although that might just be all the semi-nakedness on this holiday...need this period to be over!!!

Do you all have helpful and understanding partners?

We've only really sought medical help in the last few months. I never really felt any urgency until I hit 35. I thought it was odd that I'd never gotten pregnant but didn't feel the need to get checked over.

My dh is incredibly understanding. He's never voiced any disappointment and always rushes out to get any meds, tests, etc that I need.

I'm not on any meds now as my last cycle of clomid has finished. The doctor did indicate to us that IVF would be the next step and that he didn't want to delay too much.

Hi all lovely ladies, phew this thread started moving quick.

I am still waiting for ov… i use internet cheapie OPKs and today i’d say second line was at around 80% darkness of the control line so i hope tomorrow I’ll get a stronger OPK.

DH under a lot of stress with work so not great for DTD, we managed today but skipped yesterday seeming a bit of a chore… got to be done I guess with being on clomid we can’t waste any opportunity.

birchy i am on my second clomid cycle, this time on 100mg and had nausea, on 50mg i had no side affects albeit a bit emotional while taking the tablets but that may just be AF symptoms!

like science said I also get dryness so also use pre-seed which is a bit clinical but i sneak off to the bathroom to do that bit alone if DTD is ‘planned' ha ha!!

science my period was also a lot heavier than normal but I take that as a good sign, a more plush lining for future egg to implant in!! good luck for cycle two for you!! onwards!

Vap i am soooo sorry to hear AF has come… :-( wallow for a couple days and move on… it will happen, its just a case of when, just believe that and it makes it better (for me anyway).

finding … 7 years! Wow you really deserve to get that BFP. its great that your doc is willing to push onwards to IVF now without delay…

luckily I have a super supportive DH, but men being men are sometimes too logical and i think us women need to wallow sometimes and feel sorry for ourselves (for a bit) rather than be too positive and logical all the time!!

No sign of af yet despite having had symptoms from two days ago. The wait continues...

Ooh finding could this be a good sign??
birchy I've missed more events and nights out over the past 2 years which has made me feel so cut off and so a couple of months ago I decided to live like I'm not pregnant, or even trying until I get they 2nd line. I've tried healthy living, giving up booze etc but that didn't help so now just trying to relax more and get on with life and say yes to nights out etc and it is making the prospect of waiting another 9 months slightly more bareable.
As for understanding partner, in a word NO. I had threatened to leave if he didn't do his sample. It took me months to get him to do it. I think he was scared about it being his fault not being able to get pregnant. He has improved. Now I send him the dates each month so the onus isn't entirely on me and he takes some responsibility for dtd at the right times. He was shocked when they said ivf was the next option. He thinks that will happen on go 1 as well which I know is often not the case. I've started warming him up to the idea that if it doesn't work on the nhs we will be going privately very soon after.
So I have 1 friend on FB who is 4 days overdue and another friend who is having a C Section today and another 3 who could be any day now. Thinking I should stay away from FB for a while...
science glad to hear holiday is good! Any side effects with clomid cycle 2? Any more side effects from your folic acid? AF is over for me now. I would think I was lucky it only lasting for a day and a half to 2 days if we weren't ttc but can't help think it's not a good sign...
birchy perhaps ask your Dr (if you need this op) if you could have a hycosy or hcg instead? They may offer you one of these instead and anything is better than a GA. I nearly jumped off the bed on mine when he shot the dye in but would have it again tomorrow if I could as they say you have increased fertility for 3 months after having it (I missed the increased fertility as wasn't ovulating at the time of having mine).
Good luck all!

Had to stop the folic acid and not started my double dose either. Couldn't have coped with the shits on this holiday. I'll start taking them when we're home.

AF is over!

Good luck finding...keep us posted!

I'm still feeling like af will appear at any moment. It doesn't help that my dh keeps asking whether it's arrived yet...!

I had no idea about the increased fertility after the HSG. I wish I didn't know that. I think I wasted my opportunity and I'll keep kicking myself now.

Some women have found it helped, although i guess you'd never know if it was genuinely down to the HSG or not. There's no concrete scientfic proof...don't worry I think it just makes sense to lots of women that things might have a better chance because it's all been kind of cleaned out down there!

The dr said it is because they cause you a bit of damage and it is when it is healing you are more fertile. I have also read of ladies having a "scatch" before implantation of a fertilised egg with Ivf as it can help although as you say it isn't scientifically proven although if anything has any chance of helping I'd have it done!

I think the HSG improves fertility as its a bit of a wash out/spring clean in there...

OV day here at CD20... Positive OPK and very painful ovulation pains all day but yippee clomid seems to be working although my cycle is still looong...

Now just wondering... From positive OPK does it mean tomorrow is OV day or today? Fertility friend seems to think it's tomorrow. But my cramps are bloody painful so I think it's today.

Newleaf, they recommend dtd just before you ovulate as well as on the day but I'm not sure about how to interpret the OPK results.

I've had mild cramping all night but still no af. I wish it would just get on with it so I can focus on the next cycle.

Have you tested again recently finding? FX still for u...

I think yesterday was OV day for me since I have no cramps or anything today... The reason I asked is coz DH has had massive tests at work this week, DTD has been such a chore and sometimes not so successful it's such shit timing that finally I am ovulating and I feel it was a wasted go as stress has trumped it all.

Who knows maybe we did enough but I doubt it

I am away next cycle for work so the next fertile period we will have a go is in November, due to my long cycles, and then next will be January. That seems so bleak to have to wait until then if this one didn't work. I can't believe it seems another Year passed by. I know I'm skipping ahead but ggrrrrr FFS it's so annoying and has got me really down. The pressure to TTC and all this crap we have to go though it's just not fair sometimes...

I have 15 clomid tabs left so if I go back down to 50mg that's three goes more...

Sorry for the pity party, I know it's crazy, I have a TWW ahead of me but sometimes it just gets you down.

But we will get there, all us ladies will get there eventually... Just takes time. Our individual special perfect children and babies are waiting ...

I've not tested again. I've had cramping on and off all day but whilst my boobs have felt much bigger during the tww they are now noticeably smaller again (I'm sure you wanted to know that).

I might poas tomorrow if af still isn't here. It feels as though I'm constantly on the brink of af showing up but it's been like that for about 3 days now.

finding I'm quietly hopeful for you. all body parts crossed for the morning

Good luck finding!!

And birchy best you uncross those legs ????????.