Starting clomid - PCOS diagnosis

[LethargicButAwesome]

Hello all, am 30, DH and I have been ttc for DC2 for over 2.5 years years now. (After the longest referral ever) I was diagnosed with PCOS so have been given metformin 1500 to regulate my cycle, been taking this for a month now. The progesterone blood test shows I am not ovulating so they are sending out a clomid perscription in the post and I'm due to start on my next cycle. (Guessing some time in the nExt two weeks).

Any advice / experiences to share? Anything that I should do along side to increase my chances? Or someone going through the journey - a little nervous but equally excited too!

@LethargicButAwesome Thank you! Keeping my fingers crossed the Clomid will work - and fingers crossed for you too! Yes, a proactive GP definitely is a big bonus. I feel lucky that we have been allowed to get help so soon as I know some end up TTC for quite a bit longer than us.

@sc1995 Thank you! I've been told to take the next cycle of Clomid on day 30 if I have no bleed and no BFP. I just wonder if it's worth waiting a little longer just in case I ovulate late... but at the moment, no positive OPKs and not much EWCM to speak of so I think that's unlikely :( I'm finding it quite hard to be positive about it when I don't think it's working but also don't have tracking scans or blood tests to confirm for me! Keeping my fingers crossed for you too for your next cycle. The EWCM is like raw egg white by the way :) I did have it before my one and only ovulation back in November...!!

Not tried those vitamins - although I've literally just had a bottle of MyOva arrive which I'm going to give a go. Has anyone else heard of it or tried it? It seemed to have good reviews online. Willing to try anything at the moment to get ovulation!

@sc1995 I've got them! I found this cycle I had loads of ewcm when usually have barely any, but can't say if it's them or the metformin ?? Also they are really expensive! Don't think I could justify it all the time.

I rang the admissions at the hospital for an update regarding the ovarian drilling, was told not to expect it to happen this year 😔😔

Hope everyone is okay ❤️

@LethargicButAwesome thanks for that. i rang the surgery still waiting for someone to get back to me AF has arrived. today is the second day. Will be taking 100mg tonight. How have you been getting on?

@sittingwaitingwishing any luck with the opk kits? Tbh i found them a bit unreliable as it showed that i peaked twice but the digital opks showed nothing. I think this round im going to try not to test too much because i just felt stressed each time and i think that really messed my hormones. I've heard of those vitamins but not yet tried them.

@cosmo30 omg yes they are quite pricey, ive read loads of reviews, thought I'd give it a shot this month. Aw im really sorry to hear that. Everythings been put on hold because of this darn virus. Really looking forward to going back to normal. Im currently in Leicester and we're still in lockdown at the minute

Hows everyone getting on? what cycle day are you guys on?

anyone drinking raspberry leaf tea? any brand you can recommend?

Hi everyone, I hope you don’t mind me joining. It is so nice to see I am not the only one on this clomid journey. I am on my second round. I have PCOS. According to an OPK and CM I ovulated 16 days ago. No AF and a BFN today. I was so scared to test. This is so mentally draining. I now don’t know what to think was the OPK wrong? It’s such a nasty drug to take as well. I am covered in acne, so bloated and my gosh the hot flushes. It seems so unfair how people fall pregnant so quickly x

@sc1995 That’s interesting hearing what you say about the OPK tests. I think they make me more stressed too but without the tracking scans, I thought they were worth a go to see what was going on. I haven’t had any positives since I last posted - now I don’t get any line at all! So my strongest peak was CD12 I think, which was almost as dark as the control line. I’ve had fertile type CM on and off for about a week now so goodness knows what’s going on. I’m on CD27 today so plan to take a pregnancy test on Wednesday but I’m expecting a BFN. If a BFN, I’ll start my second cycle on the assumption that I haven’t ovulated - I’ve been told I don’t need to wait for a bleed. Contacted the hospital to ask if they are able to do tracking scans for my second cycle but haven’t heard back yet 😞 All this waiting drives me mad! Ohhh what’s raspberry leaf tea meant to be good for?

Welcome @BEESY90! Sorry to hear you’re having such nasty side effects on Clomid - what dose are you on? I haven’t had much luck on OPKs so not the best person to comment, but I have read with Clomid and PCOS sometimes they can give false positives 😞 But you’re not out until AF arrives! 🤞

Hi everyone how are you all?

welcome to @BEESY90 😊 Sorry that you’re in this situation as well. Clomifene is horrible isn’t it. I’ve been having hot flushes, acne and bloating as well. I’m dreading having to double the dosage. 😬

So sorry to hear about your ovarian drilling @cosmo30. Have they said that they’re going to do anything else or do you just have to wait now?

@sittingwaitingwishing I’ve been on the same dosage for 4 cycles but I don’t think it worked for the 3rd and 4th cycle so I had a blood test last week on day 21 and am just waiting for the results of that to find out what dosage I need for the 5th cycle.

@sc1995 sorry to hear you’re stuck in lockdown again 😞 I was told not to bother with OPKs as PCOS hormones can be so out of whack anyway. I think they are probably just too much extra stress.

So nice to hear I am not the only one in this. I am on 100mg. My OPK said I peaked (when I should have!) but I have had no period and 2 negative tests. I’m devastated I really thought this was it. Going to leave the OPKs alone from now on. But with the side effects of my spotty face and huuuuge bloated belly I can’t believe my partner wants to come near me. I am like humpty dumpty x

How's everyone doing this week?

I heard back from the consultants and they have said I won't be offered any tracking scans while on Clomid, and that it's something that would only be offered at private hospitals. I know this isn't true but don't have the energy to fight that battle at the moment! So I'm on CD30 today with no bleed, no BFP and no signs that I ovulated on my first cycle of Clomid :( I will start taking the tablets for my second cycle tomorrow, still at 50mg, and will resign myself that there's nothing else that can be done for me until I have my next appointment with the consultants in September. It's hard not to get down about it but I'll try and stay positive that maybe the Clomid will do the trick next cycle 🤞

@BEESY90 - any sign of AF yet? Or, even better, a BFP that was later than you expected it to be?

@Leodot Did you get your blood test results back yet?

No AF or BFP wish It would start so I could start a new cycle. I feel in limbo. @sittingwaitingwishing I hope the next round something happens for you. Will you not be trying an increase in dose? I so desperately want a baby. I keep imagining holding my newborn against my skin . Seems such a distant dream right now!

That’s so annoying @BEESY90 - do you feel AF is near? It’s all this waiting that drives me crazy. I’m notoriously not a very patient person at the best of times 😂
No, I won’t up the dose without the consultants say so - I’ve been prescribed three cycles on 50mg and have been told to just keep taking them each 30 days if AF/BFP doesn’t appear. At least I don’t have to take Provera ahead of my second cycle.
How long have you been TTC? I thought things might get easier as time goes on but I actually find it harder. I’d just be grateful to ovulate at this stage, let alone a BFP 😂

@sittingwaitingwishing no I don’t feel a thing! Sometimes I keep convincing myself I do. I’m very snappy but I think it’s the stress of all this. I have been trying since February. I always knew it was going to be difficult because I don’t ovulate at all alone. This time was extra cruel because of the positive OPK. Don’t think I will use them again. X

@sittingwaitingwishing how are you getting on. apparently the raspberry leaf tea helps thicken the uterus lining or so ive read.

Welcome @BEESY90 . im on 100mg this round too. any sign of AF?

i just had my last tablets last night. Was a bit worried as i spent the whole morning today throwing up. This round of clomid has suppressed my appetite and the nausea has been quite bad.

@Leodot@LethargicButAwesome how are yoy guys getting on?

Hey everyone, hope your all okay, the notifications I usually receive seemed to have stopped so I didn't really check in! I'm on cycle day 29 today so another 3 days to go before I can test! Feeling very hopeful, I know it's way way too early so technically this is not a sign, but felt so nauseous last week and today after some orange squash I had the same metallic taste in my mouth that I had in my last pregnancy....maybe just hopeful as was keenly symptom spotting last cycle too and that resulted in nothing 👎🏽😩 I must however admit that I'm awful with my metformin, some days I forget to take it completely! WhT helps as a reminder for you?

@BEESY90
Welcome not the best club to be a part of, but hopefully we can support you until you get your BFP.

@sittingwaitingwishing I read above about tracking scans, not something I was aware you could get on the Nhs I certainly was not offered them however the day 21 bloods should confirm whether you ovulated or not, maybe request them instead?

@sc1995
Sucks to hear your side effects are getting worse...mine certainly have been too dreading having to go through it again but equally dreading the thought of what happens if I use up all 6 cycles and still nothing praying this does not happen!

@Leodot what CD are you on now? Sorry to hear you had a wasted cycle where you don't think you ovulated, as if the hoping / praying / anticipation doesn't kill you every month only to learn that it was for nothing would have been hard to get over send you love ❤️

@cosmo30 can see you haven't posted in a while, hope all is well xx

@LethargicButAwesome Hello! Ohh I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you for a BFP. Not long until you can test now. Sending baby dust your way!! 🤞

That’s interesting what you say about the scans - perhaps it differs from NHS clinic to clinic. I was told on a call and also in writing that they usually do them where I am but couldn’t do them at the moment because of coronavirus, so that’s why I found it annoying when I was told they don’t do them at all the other day. I was thinking about asking for blood tests but I only have two more cycles of this to take before I have my next call with the consultant so have decided to try my best to be patient until then now. I’m on my second cycle now, one more Clomid tablet to take. The first cycle resulted in no period and no BFP, so sadly I know it didn’t work in making me ovulate 😞

@sittingwaitingwishing that sounds like a very bad experience! Taking clomid with out ovulation is almost pointless! I would definitely ring for a day 22 blood test even if it means your cycle is only upped for 2 rounds, 2 rounds with greater probability، worth the try?

I mentioned mum metalic taste to the DH and was told he also felt it !!!! So maybe there was something in the way it was made, totes dashed my hopes oh well 4 days to go - this tww has felt like forever

@LethargicButAwesome all good here thanks, been really busy which is why I've been quiet! Brilliant news about the positive signs I really hope you get your bfp ❤️

Hi I hope it's ok to join! I'm 24 and been ttc for the last 2 and a half years. I have PCOS, endometriosis and irregular periods. I was seen last year in fertility clinic and made some lifestyle changes and lost weight and just had my follow up appointment on Thursday and been told I can start Clomid 100mg! I'm so excited but nervous! I have to induce my period first and I'm waiting for my prescription to arrive in the post so hoping to start this week!

How is everyone doing this week? I got no AF or bfp last month so on another round of meds! Have attached a pic of todays OPK’s (I swore I wouldn’t use them again but I just don’t want to BD all the time when it is hot !) I am hoping my line gets a bit darker so I know I have been in with a shot! X

@LethargicButAwesome did you test then?

welcome @Bec18x, ive also got irregular periods and had to induce my periods with provera. Best of luck!!

@BEESY90 what cd are you on? im currently on cd16 and no sign 9f ovulation yet. Caved in yesterday too and used an opk because i thought i had some slight cramping.

Nothing to report here started period yesterday 🙁

@LethargicButAwesome sorry af came! I'm currently waiting too, cycle day 32 should of been here a few days ago, think I ovulated late, so fed up of guessing!

I finally got my prescription in the post and then went to get it yesterday but no pharmacy I went to had the clomid in stock so they ordered it in and I'm going to collect it today! I'll be inducing my period and then hopefully if that works I'll be able to start clomid 100mg day 2-6. I've heard that the side effects of clomid can be bad, what side effects have people experienced?

@Bec18x mine to start with wasn't that bad. First month though I had lightening flashes in my eyes and they said if that continues then to stop but didn't get it again! After that I just got terrible hot flushes, worse at night and so had disturbed sleep. I also found myself full of rage on them I was pretty awful to be around. Everyone is different though you might sail through it without hardly any side effects

@Bec18x I only had 50mg though