Clomid thread 2019

[Bear88]

Hi all,

Am about to start my Clomid journey and reading through the 2018 Clomid thread this is what I'm looking for. It's extremely difficult to talk about the issues with people who don't actually understand them so if anyone wants to join in the more the merrier!

I'm 30
TTC #1
Cycle #?? Been trying for 5 years
Have mild Prolactinoma
Taking daily 1mg Bromocriptine for tumour
Just been given 3 months of Clomid
Am also slightly overweight but have never ovulated.

@fulanigirl - I'm so sorry to hear things haven't worked out for you, I hope the hospital can help you get some answers.
My consultant showed at me because I asked what preventive measures i could take against miscarriage in the future - I saw him 3 days after my miscarriage and wad very vulnerable so just let him shoot at me and didn't say anything back.

@doomkittycleo it sounds to me as though you need a break from TTC. Would that be an option?

My period has been and gone, the shortest and lightest one I've ever had. Has left me a bit worried/ confused but ice started my next set of tablets as instructed so we'll see what happens

@Pinktruffle thanks, still getting squinters, getting impatient for the bleeding to start. Then I can start the next cycle of Clomid.

That's really awful he treated you like that when you are so vulnerable. Of course you'd want to know if there is anything you could do.

@Pinktruffle I’m not keen to take a break as time is ticking on too much already.

DD is 19 months already and we only wanted a 1 year age gap. I gave up work to be a stay at home mum and as I let my nurses registration lapse there’s no way I can return to work without going back to uni for a bit.

The plan is to wait until DC2 is at school before returning to work.

Also DP said he wants us to have the next baby and get it sleeping through the night before we get married.

If we delay things it just means everything stops for even longer and life just gets put on hold. Every month that it doesn’t happen is time wasted.

Hi all, hope you’re well. I’m sorry about the pity party on Friday, but glad to report I’m feeling a lot better now. I blame the clomid crazies and a bit of emotional baggage from trying for DD for a long time.

DP came home drunk on Friday night and woke me up to initiate BD, I initially wasn’t for taking him on as I was still feeling a bit down, but after a bit I felt guilty as I remembered how rejected I felt when it was the other way around (when trying for DD and he wasn’t in the mood sometimes).

I gave in and reciprocated and actually that was the start of me feeling better. I think it took DP to chase me a little to get me back in the mood.

I started using opk’s on Sunday which was CD11 as last month I started on CD9 and it didn’t go positive until CD16.

Well to my surprise, it was almost positive yesterday and today I used the clear blue one as well and it went straight to a solid smiley (I’m using the LH only one so doesn’t do flashy one).

So after only getting positive opk on CD16 on clomid cycle 1, I have got it on CD12 this cycle. What a huge range. I’m hopeful about that as the cycle we conceived DD was the one I ovulated on CD12 too, so hopefully that’s a good sign.

We also BD’d last night as well as Friday, so if we do it again today and/or tomorrow we should have covered all of our bases.

I’m so relieved 😅. How is everyone else doing?

@doomkittycleo so glad to hear you're feeling more positive. Fingers crossed this is the cycle for you.

I decided to skip Clomid this month to give my body a bit of a break as last cycle really freaked me out with my suspected chemical pregnancy. Hope you don't mind me staying on this thread in the meantime. I'm on CD8, still bleeding slightly and having quite a lot of stabbing pains on my left side today and on Saturday. No idea what that's about! I'm planning to start OPKs on CD12 so a few days to go still. Feeling pretty hopeless atm, like it's just never going to happen. Hope everyone else is doing ok.

@marmite83 I think I'm in the same place as you. Had a very difficult weekend emotionally, I was feeling quite down and tearful. DH is wonderful in many ways but is not good at comforting me with this, particularly if I talk about the miscarriage and as my due date is approaching kitson my mind a lot. I think I may have PTSD.

I'm on CD8. I didnt really get a positive OPK last month - partly I think due to my crapiness at testing at the time so I started testing yesterday and will continue till I get a positive. We haven't BD'd since before my period so will probably start again tonight. It feels like an endless, hopeless circle, my hopes of getting pregnant diminish my the day

@Pinktruffle, it does sound like we're feeling quite similar. My DH also isn't the best at comforting me and he doesn't really talk about feelings at all which makes me feel very alone in this at times. He does try though and I know it's just who he is but it still doesn't help sometimes. Miscarriages are hard. My MMC was 4 years (and one week) ago and I still think about the baby we would have had. It does get easier with time but I was fortunate to be a few weeks pregnant with my DD by the time the due date came around and I definitely think it helped. Have you looked into counselling at all if you think you may have PTSD?

@marmite8e I've tried a few avenues for counselling including the Miscarriage Association and Cruise bereavement (I lost my grandma 2 weeks before the miscarriage) and got an email saying there was nothing available on my area from M.A and no one else even bothered to reply to my emails/return my calls. I've thought about going to my GP but my job involves a lot of mental health support and I know the chances of me getting any help are slim to none as I won't meet any of the criteria - my need is too low. I have thought about paying privately but because IVF may well be in our future, every penny is being saved towards that at the moment.
Our husbands sound very similar. I'm fairly sure my husband is still upset about the miscarriage but he just doesn't seem to want to talk about it. He's a very practical 'what cam we do about this?' type of person, he's also irritatingly optimistic so will say I'm being negative and swelling on the past that we can't change but I'm a person who needs to talk things through. I worry if I actually let anyone in on how I'm truly feeling, my miserableness will drive them away

@pinktruffle, what area do you live in? There are a lot of nhs counselling services that you can self refer to (I was a mental health nurse prior to having DD). I can see what’s available in your area if that’s helpful.

Thanks @doomkittycleo, my trust is Sandwell and Birmingham.

@pinktruffle this appears to be the equivalent service to what I am familiar with in my area www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/what-we-do/talking-therapies/

It appears that you need a GP referral in this area, although there is a phone number. In my area they do accept self referrals.

You could also see if your area is subscribed to the big white wall. This is an online counselling/peer support service that is manned by mental health workers, so is moderated. You usually would need a referral to this as well. (I’ve used both of the equivalent services in my area myself in the past for anxiety issues).

I've used Kaleidoscope for some of my kids at school before, I didnt realise they had an adult service.

My GP was the one who signposted me to Cruise Bereavement and the Miscarriage Association but I'll think about going to speak to her for a referral.

Thanks for your help @doomkittycleo, I appreciate it

@pinktruffle it’s no problem, honestly. I’ve had counselling and CBT several times before.

Most recently when DD was breastfeeding and I was losing my marbles at the lack of sleep and social isolation.

You’d think finally having a baby after years of trying will be the end of all your anxieties, but it is just the beginning.

We all need a little help sometimes.

@doomkittycleo I'm a huge advocate of accessing mental health support, I'm a trained mental health first aider and have had CBT and Talking Therapy in the past which have helped me immensely. I'm not sure why I cant seem to bring myself to talk to my GP about how I'm feeling now.... I know it wont go away on it's own but I think I almost feel unworthy of talking to someone as there are many many other people with real, serious mental health needs and I just need to get a grip or something

@pinktruffle one of my former colleagues and best friends is a mental health first aid trainer (I’ve actually been out for the day with her today). If you have done that training you of all people need to understand that catching it whilst it’s manageable is much more cost effective for the NHS than waiting for it to get much worse and needing even more intensive treatment.

The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” comes to mind. Get yourself seen now before it gets worse.

@doomkittycleo the rational side of me does understand, it's the other bit that wont listen that doesn't.

Saying that, I had a good 'talk' (via text) with my husband about how I've been feeling this morning and I have made a GP appointment for next week

@pinktruffle I’m glad to hear that DP has been understanding and that you have made a GP appointment.

Now just focus on taking some time out for you in the mean time. Could you book a spa day or arrange a weekend away or something?

It’s my birthday in 2 weeks and I’ve put both of those things on my wish list 😉

@doomkittycleo that's so strange, it's my birthday in 2 weeks too! Money is a bit tight this month as we've just bought a new car so no spa or weekend away but I'll try to get out and about on the weekend - visit some parks or go on a day trip or something

@pinktruffle; yeah do whatever you can realistically manage. Just make sure you make some “you time”.

How is everyone else feeling? I am fairly confident I am past my ovulatory window now. This is my opk’s for this month, the clearblue one went straight to positive the first day of taking it which was CD12.

I think that’s probably accurate because the darkest internet cheapie one was that day too, I’m now on CD14 and it’s been gradually fading over the past 24 hours.

It was a big surprise to ovulate so early when I don’t usually get my positive opk until CD15 and last month it was CD16. I would definitely recommend testing for a broader date range on clomid as it can change your cycle lengths so much.

Is anyone else now in the TWW? We really need some BFP’s on this thread now 😊

Can I join please?

I'm trying for dc2. I have a nearly 3 year old.
Been trying for 18 months. I recently learnt I have a blocked Fallopian tube. Cycles are a bit erratic so I've been given three months of clomid to try before a laparoscopy to try and unblock my tube.

This evening I've been given 100mg, no idea if that's a low dose or high because I haven't read this thread yet - I will! Luckily my appointment happen to fall on cycle day 2 so I don't have to wait to start it.

@seven201 welcome, of course you can join.

100mg is a moderate dose. Most people start on 50mg, but it can be increased to 150 or occasionally more depending on the person and the Dr prescribing.

It’s disappointing to have a blocked tube, but hopefully the clomid will give you more good follicles to have a go at using the other tube.

Good luck with your clomid journey, I hope you don’t get too many side effects.

Thank you @doomkittycleo. I've just read all the posts from March (saving April for tomorrow) and am now having a little freak out that 100mg is to much to start on. I'm not having any scans or blood tests for monitoring. I can't afford twins or more! I'm totally getting ahead of myself now I know. I've already taken the 100mg so I guess I'll have to carry on at that dose for this cycle at least.

@seven201 don’t panic yourself about it. Your Dr obviously believes that it’s what is likely to be needed.

I’m unmonitored too and was when I used clomid to concieve DD. I have the opposite concern. When I conceived DD it was when my dose increased from 50mg to 100mg, but the Dr I’m seeing this time has just prescribed 50mg for 6 months and I won’t be seeing him again between now and the end of the 6 months.

I think if nothing happens by month 3 I will phone them up and ask about increasing it.

The Dr won’t put you at increased risk of twins without weighing up the pros and cons. Multiple pregnancies are more risky and cost more money, and although it can happen it is still a relatively low risk.

Welcome @seven201, try not to panic, as @doomkittycleo said, your doctor will have prescribed what they feel is required for your individual case. From what I've read, plenty of people get put on 100mg and have no issues. I hope it works for you.

@pinktruffle, glad to hear you've taken the first step to try to get some help from your gp. I actually went for a counselling session for the first time this week. I've been feeling really upset and anxious lately for multiple reasons and I felt it was worth a try. One session in and I have no idea if it will help but there's no harm or shame in giving it a try. I hope your gp is able to help.

Thank you @doomkittycleo and @Marmite83 you've made me feel less worried.

Marmite, great idea to try counselling. Always worth a try and it's important to look after your mental health.