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.

[Marmite83]

@Eleonor15, will they increase your dosage next cycle if you don't ovulate this cycle? It's all so frustrating sitting around waiting for our bodies to do what they're supposed to isn't it!

[Eleonor15]

@Marmite83 i dont know, i was on 50mg (2 tablets once a day). But i just try to undestand if i will ovulate if the follicle was the right size or the egg might not go out at all. This is so confusing( and ttc should be easy, then there is 9 months of being pregnant and not knowing what might happen. And i am going through hell already at the beginning.
In May it will be 2 years we are ttc. How do you coop with all this? And i am 36, hubby is 41. Sometimes i ask myself if we need to go through this, it does not make us stronger. I mean he is very supportive but i become so angry of not ending up pregnant that it just ruins everything.

[Marmite83]

@Eleonor15, I'll be 36 in June and I'm very aware of my age creeping up, it definitely doesn't help with stress levels does it. I agree TTC is confusing, everyone's situation is different too which makes it harder to get answers. My hubby tries to be supportive and he does get frustrated too but he's not the one monitoring his body everyday, taking medications that can cause pain and effect his mood and checking for blood every time he goes to the toilet. I think he struggles to understand why it has such an impact on me. I find distraction is the best way to cope with it but it's easier said than done. We bought a new house last year so that helped distract me a little but it also increased my stress levels so not sure it was a good thing in the long run. I'm trying my best to stay positive but it gets harder with every cycle. I've decided that if I turn 36 and we're still not pregnant, we will have had 3 cycles of Clomid by then, we will go for IVF. I've been doing research into it and have figured out which type of IVF is best for us, which clinic to go with and how much it will cost us so I at least feel prepared now which has reduced my anxiety around IVF a little. Still really hoping we don't get that far though!

[Eleonor15]

@Marmite83 so sorry to hear this( But i fully agree that husbands dont entirely understand what we are going through. And i find it so unfair that i have to go through this and not him. At the end of the day I am the bitch and he is the nice guy)))
I try to distract myself by shopping but this is just buying and returning things i dont really need. Btw we are also looking for a house and i push my husband to put ours on the market while I am not pregnant, so we have 2 salaries and some spair time for the viewings. But this is also a stressfull task

[FrostedSnowdrops]

Progesterone test suggests I ovulated this cycle too (had follicular scans last time) with a level of 39.1 on CD22 ish. Spotting pretty badly though so reckon AF will rock up shortly. Four more cycles of clomid left.

Ho hum

[Chuktuk009]

Hi all.
32years old. TTC for 2years now. Started Clomid yesterday.
My doctor hasn't referred me for any scans or blood tests to check ovulation, should I be worried? Do I need to ask my doctor to refer me for this? He just gave me 4monthd prescription and arranged an appointment for 5months?

[Eleonor15]

@Chuktuk009 this sounds very weird. They need to monitor how your body reacts to clomid and tell you when to have sex. I got clomid only for one cycle and will get my next prescription if I dont concieve this month. And I will have scans every 8 cd to check how it isworking for me. I guess depends on the hospital.

[doomkittycleo]

Hi @chuktuk009, mine didn’t with DC1 and isn’t doing this time either. From my experience gynaecologists don’t do tests (in most instances), but reproductive endocrinologists do.

The form they gave me says pretty much that, they kind of trust you to get on with it and contact them if you have any problems.

Main risks of not monitoring are twins (although if started on a low dose its generally a fairly low risk still) and ovarian hyper-stimulation, which would likely cause symptoms such as sudden weight gain and pain/discomfort (in which case you’d be contacting them to discuss it).

I generally wouldn’t worry about not being monitored as you can always call if you have any worrying symptoms.

It would be helpful to have scans, but I guess it’s costly and if you’re gonna conceive on clomid the scans aren’t likely to make any difference (as long as you’re BDing a few times around ovulation). A decent opk should be sufficient to give you a clue on that.

I’m assuming they did the initial day 21 progesterone when you were first referred?

[Chuktuk009]

Hi thanks that is helpful! What is the 21 day progesterone? That hasn't been mentioned at all.

[doomkittycleo]

@ChukTuc009 lost GP’s will do this prior to referring you. It’s a blood test a week after ovulation. It gives a guide to whether or not you are actually ovulating on your own or not.

[doomkittycleo]

*most

[Eleonor15]

I did my progesterone on day 21 with GP before they referred me to fertility clinic. Mine was three times lower than supposed to be.

[Chuktuk009]

Oh OK! Yes I know what you mean now and yes I had blood tests to check ovulation (about a year ago now) and I do ovulate but irregular periods mean I dont know when/how frequently.
How are people coping with the side effects?

[Marmite83]

@Chuktuk009 I'm in my first cycle of Clomid, cd19. I took Clomid just before bed each day and the first morning after I had fairly painful cramps. The next day I felt like I was hungover all day but by the next day I just felt tired. How are you finding it?

[doomkittycleo]

I’m about to take my first Clomid tablet this evening (still nervous even though I conceived with it just over 2 years ago). That feels like an eternity ago now.

Today has been dragging whilst I wait to start, but I know that once I’ve taken the tablet, nothing is likely to change (at least not in the next few days).

Wish me luck everyone.

[Bear88]

Hey guys,

Just been reading through everyone. How are you all feeling? I went kinda quiet because I turned into a little bit of a monster - husband said so! Haha! Took my last clomid tablets on Saturday and hormones been all over the place - only thing I can put it down too! Did baby dance today and currently on CD9 - too early? I've never ovulated before (to my knowledge?) Do not sure how it feels but had lower back pain and few twinges on my left hand side so hoping it's good movements?! Booked in for 21 day blood test on April 1st.

Strange question but have your OH mentioned anything about it feeling different when doing the deed when taking clomid? This is going to sound so strange but hubby described it as feeling like a vacuum?! it's far too early to be ovulating but clomid did cause my normal 7 day AF to only be 4?

All very strange the things we ladies look into?!

[Chuktuk009]

The only side effect I've had was night sweats and strangely enough I am taking the tablet in the mornings. @bear88 we haven't dtd yet but I did read it can dry up your cm so maybe it's that? Try some sperm/fertility friendly lube!

[Eleonor15]

Hi all, i took my first cycle clomid during the day (dons ask why, have no idea). And i was a BITCH pretty much all the time. Headaches, tiredness, no mood for anything. Before clomid i took provera to trigger AF, and i have similar reaction to it, so it was a hard time for me.
OPK still shows high for the 4th day, and no peak smile. I am going to a private scan today to see if i have ovulated or not.

[Marmite83]

Hope the scan goes well @Eleonor15

[Kelly199]

Good luck for scan @Eleonor15

Is anyone familiar with the follicles etc. During the monitoring scans?
I'll be starting clomid when my af arrives. Depending on when it decides to, prob this weekend/beg of next.
My gyn has arranged for me to have 3 scans during the cycle. Just wondering if anyone has any idea of what they expect, how many follicles and how big etc. (If that's what the initial scan is about). I know my third scan is to check if I've actually ovulated.
I know it doesn't necessarily matter if I don't know beforehand as I'm sure they'll explain, but I find it all so much to take in at the time, id rather have some idea so I know a little of what they're talking about. Sorry for the essay!

[doomkittycleo]

@kelly199 I’ve never had scans during clomid cycles so only commenting from what I’ve read online, but from what I hear they usually like the follicle to be around 20mm +/- around the middle of your cycle.

If it isn’t that big you may ovulate late, but the egg quality might have reduced by the time.

I’m guessing the earlier scans are to check the number of eggs and make sure you’re not developing x2 large follicles or more as this is likely to lead to multiples e.g. twins.

The later one is probably to check if the egg was released when it was expected.

I took my first tablet last night, no obvious side effects yet, but I’m very aware of any little twinge in my ovaries (still got period pains and sore boobs even though now on CD 3/4 (depending on how you measure as my clomid leaflet counts af as CD 0 if it’s after 1pm).

[Kelly199]

@doomkittycleo
Thanks so much for replying!!
I just think it's all such a lot to take in, it's better to have little info than none at all!
Keep us updated with how you get on! I can't wait for my af so I can start!! You took yours on CD2 is it? That's when I need to take mine

[doomkittycleo]

@kelly199 it is a lot to take in, I’m just lucky that it’s my second time round so I have experience as reassurance.

I just have all these memories of last time when I felt like I had all the responsibility of initiating BD and sometimes DP would struggle to be in the mood on command.

I keep worrying it’ll be up to me again and seeing as I’m just recovering from a bout of thrush, AF is still here and I haven’t shaved for a couple of weeks (due to the thrush), BDing is the last thing on my mind.

I have spoken to DP about that and he says he will make the effort to initiate things this time. I just hope I’m more in the mood by the time the opk turns positive. 😞

[Kelly199]

@doomkittycleo sorry to hear about your recent experiences!
It is hard when it needs to be timed on specific days etc.
Hopefully it'll clear up soon and you'll be able to give yourself some tlc and feel better about yourself.
Sending hugs, hope you'll be ok ❤️

[Eleonor15]

Hi again, i have just been to a scan (cd 23). And its negative( they are saying there was no ovulation and the folicle just reduced, shrank, collapsed, if that makes sence. So a week ego (cd 16) my folicle was 23mm, but apparently its not working for me. What annoyes is that opk still showed high this morning. I am so upset, i cant describe how bad i feel now.
Hope it will work for everyone else though.