Tamoxifen

[ChicaXS]

Hi all

I am about to venture into IVF in the next 2-3 months but want to try one final push at natural conception with ovulation induction. My clinic were happy to do so and prescribed me 40mg of tamoxifen to trial for one month. It’s not clomid (I wonder if this was due to my PCOS) but cannot find any stories on Mumsnet of anyone taking it? Any success stories first time round? I just wonder if it’s worth proceeding but I’d rather exhaust as much natural options before IVF.

Cheers

@ChicaXS I'm so sorry to hear AF hasn't arrived yet, you must be so frustrated. Are you still taking Agnus Castus?

I know I need to enjoy this time, but it's very tricky to not Google miscarriage rates! I've booked myself in for a blood test on Monday, to check my hormone levels and if everything is ok I'll book in a 7 week scan. Because of the issues we've had, I just want to know what's going on as often as possible!

As always, fingers and toes crossed for you, Tamoxifen buddy xx

@ChicaXS Hello! How are you doing? Any news on AF? 🙂

Hey @Tecalina how are you??? How’s the lovely pregnancy so far? Have you made a date for the midwife yet? Xxx

Nope, AF didn’t arrive to a point where I am now fed up and want to induce my period. I called Create and told them my situation in which they said to wait one more week then come in for a scan to monitor my lining and review the situation. Depending on next weeks I sat down with my OH and we may switch to go straight to IVF as I don’t want to wait for another long cycle after tamoxifen. I really want to try tamoxifen but I’ve just had enough now of waiting and I’m on CD 41 and NO SIGNS of AF at all, no cramps, no sore breast etc. My OPKs are still low and nothing has peaked and am definitely not pregnant as I’m testing everyday plus we never DTD in the last two weeks really. So not in a comfortable place at the moment 😝

How are you on better subjects?!? Xx

@ChicaXS How frustrating for you! Sending you lots of hugs 🤗 If AF doesn't arrive in the next few days it's definitely right to consider IVF. Like you said, you don't want to keep waiting 40+ days each cycle, you'll go crazy! I imagine you just want to get the ball properly rolling, so I say go for it 🙂 Is this a particularly long cycle for you? What's your usual length?

I'm ok, had a few pregnancy symptoms like dizziness and twinges but nothing major. I had a pregnancy blood test on Monday, which confirmed it's not a chemical pregnancy, so that was a relief and my hCG levels are nice and high. Just need to get through the next 7 weeks 🙄 No date with the midwife yet (I've self-referred though), but I've booked in an early scan with Create on the 8th. I just need to be kept updated on what's going on!xx

@Tecalina hey girl! So news! My period finally came very early this morning and she’s back with a vengeance lol! It’s crazy as I was pushing to skip tamoxifen and then boom! She arrives lol! I’m so happy - and it means I start tamoxifen tomorrow! Was there a particular time of day did you take it? I was thinking after lunch?? I’m excited now as I’m moving towards our journey but still not optimistic.i worked my dates of ovulation and we did DTD the day of ovulation. Unfortunately sperm evidently didn’t catch my egg! I do think it’s my blocked tube so ivf is leaning to be our only choice.
How are you doing?x

@ChicaXS Yaaaaay!!! I don't think I've ever been so happy for someone to have their period 🙈 have you stopped taking Agnus Castus now? With the Tamoxifen, I took it with my lunch every day. How many days do you have to take it for? Eeek I really hope this works out for you!!
I'm very well thank you - Although I did a pregnancy workout yesterday, which my body really didn't like! It was the lowest intensity workout (I'm used to hiit training!) but I had sharp pains in my abdomen for an hour afterwards! I checked with my best friend (who's a GP) and she said it was ligamentous pain due to the changes my body is going through. I was so panicked 🙈

@Tecalina you poor thing!! Honestly I would take it easy and exercise through a daily 45 min briskly walk with upper weights as an option. It’s not worth the panic . No rigorous exercise is a must as it can cause damage to placenta growth so be careful! Definitely avoid HIIT (I wish I could but I just started my 4 week challenge lol!)
Don’t worry you’ll be surprised how fast the next 7 weeks will surpass. You’ll be healthily into your second trimester and it won’t hit you until you get your first nhs 12 week scan! Try and enjoy the pregnancy and go out in the sun and relax! Your baby is happily growing :)

I quit agnus castus as I’m convinced it screw up my cycle but I’m taking my inofolic still. I also quit my coq-10 as I want to evaluate a clean and natural cycle with tamoxifen and see how it goes! I will start it today after lunch then!!! Very exciting. Hope it gives me no sides effects and fingers crossed sperm will meet the egg this time and I ovulate on my right side! I take 2 pills a day for 5 days. Was that the same for you? Xx

@ChicaXS I am definitely going to take it very easy from now on. Sod the weight gain, if it encourages a healthy pregnancy I'll forgo working out for a while. I'm aiming for 6-7 miles of walking a day though, just to get the heart pumping! You really have a calming way with words, when you describe pregnancy. I don't suppose you're a teacher or therapist are you?! 🙈

I've never heard of Coq-10, what does that do? With regards to Tamoxifen, I took one tablet a day for 5 days. Maybe you're on a higher dose because of the PCOS?!xx

@Tecalina haha nope not a teacher or therapist - just an annoying sales person lol haha!
6-7 miles a day?!? Are you training to wall to the moon girl?! Ha, you trooper but try and relax. Are you just worried about weight gain? Your still very young so I promise you will lose it fast after post partum phase ! When you do your booking appt they will tell you to chill on the exercise and but do exercise to keep the blood flow.

Wow how interesting I’m on 40mg and you were on 20mg?! That’s a very low dose! But amazingly it worked for you. I thought my dose was too low !

Coq-10 is a supplement that improves cell quality so in theory it’s great for egg quality (men can use it too for sperm quality!)

@ChicaXS not annoying at all 😁. To be honest I’m very worried about gaining weight. In my defence, it's not my fault, it's my head! I suffered from bulimia for ten years and still struggle with serious body dysmorphia, so not being able to workout is very tough. I have to keep telling myself "you've wanted this for years, it's more important than being skinny!" Which works most of the time 🙂

40mg is a high dose, but I'm guessing it’s because of your PCOS/tubes. They want to give your body enough of a kick to work properly for you! I'm glad you've stopped taking the other supplements though, your body might feel a little stressed with it all

Any fun plans for this miserable Saturday? Xx

Hey @Tecalina how was your Saturday? Mine was good went shopping in the limited shopping space that we could do at the moment. So sorry to hear about your kalaemia I can understand it will be a struggle right now with body dysmorphia but the best thing to remember is that you’re in an amazing place you’re blessed to be pregnant and you need to look after yourself and the 👶🏼. I know you are beautiful and try and set goals for weight loss after you had your baby ❤️. A healthy weight to put on is around 30-35 pounds during the next 9 months. Please speak to your midwife as they will definitely help!!!

Did you hear from your self referral? Xx

Sorry I meant bulimia! *

@ChicaXS My Saturday was good thank you 🙂 Went for a walk in the morning then indulged in a little retail therapy to keep my mind occupied! I'm trying to be as healthy as possible (except for Saturdays when I allow myself a tub of pick n mix 🙊) so hopefully the weight won't pile on! I think it's mainly bloating at the moment! But thank you again for your kind words ☺️

I haven't heard back from the midwife yet, so I'll give them a ring some time next week, just to nudge them!

Have you had any Tamoxifen side effects yet? How are you feeling??xx

@Tecalina glad your having a great weekend! And yes indulge when you can! I’m losing weight before what I’m sure will be ivf in the next couple of months because I want to be in the most fit state possible but I literally cannot help watch tasty desert videos hahaha! 1st week of keto is always so hard :(

How are you feeling today? Your approaching 6 weeks right? Has the nausea kicked in yet ?

I do have side effects which are random - 1st one is my bladder is in overdrive, got up 3 times last night to pee! I have been drinking a lot more water due to keto but not a massive difference. Definitely started irritating me since taking tamoxifen and the second side effect is tiredness - struggling to wake up on time the last couple of nights. So tired during the day and falling asleep early. Not sure if it’s keto or the tamoxifen though!! But I’ve done keto before and I always felt energetic!
That’s it so far but I’m only 3 days in! Did you have any side effects? Xx

@ChicaXS interesting...What’s a keto diet? Is it safe/suitable for someone trying to conceive? Apologies for the ignorance!

I’m actually feeling ok still, if a bit bloated with really sore boobs! I’m 5+2 according to my app, but no nausea yet, and the cramps have subsided the last few days.

With the Tamoxifen I was extremely bloated and gassy for few days (I’m sensing a theme here!), but it didn’t affect my peeing schedule 😂 What date have you rebooked your scan for?xx

@Tecalina happy Monday! :-)

Keto is basically a no-carb (or low carb) diet that focuses on macros such as good fats and protein. Essentially no carb in take means the body will dig into your fats stored in your body but it’s important to do it short term and whilst your working out. I’m only sticking to it for 1 month but by week 3 or 4 I can include some more carbs in my diet. So right now it’s lots of eggs, green veggies and chicken or fish for me! I do love the diet but it’s not for everyone and most people give up too quickly due to cravings! TBH I don’t know if it’s safe for someone to conceive but as I have PCOS and my BMI is on the upper end of healthy, it does help me with my insulin resistance! The previous pregnancy I had I was on keto.

I called create today and I have a nurse calling me tomorrow for my consultation- they realised they never gave me one for tamoxifen in which I should have had it before taking it! They never told me. I do find their organisation extremely scatty and misaligned at times. So I’m pushing a late scan (like CD 12-15) but we shall see what they say lol.

Glad your symptoms are good. At week 6 it hit me like a bus ! Enjoy while you can xx 😝

@ChicaXS Helloooo! Ah yes, I have heard of that diet! I have a cousin who was on it and he used to put litmus paper in his urine to check he was following the diet correctly 😂😂 Used to make me giggle!

That is very scatty I'd Create, and very unlike what I thought they'd be! So did you have your initial consultation and then go straight onto Tamoxifen? I had my scan on day 11, but I never knew my typical cycle length so it was all guess work!

I'm counting myself as lucky with my lack of symptoms, but I'm preparing myself for an onslaught later on this week 🙈 8 days until my early scan and I'll see if anything has stuck 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 xx

*of Create

@Tecalina did create say day 11 to you or did you just impose it??

I’m so excited for you!! 6 weeks and a bit you will see your bubba for the first time!!so exciting!

My pee symptoms have still not gone away! It’s defo the tamoxifen as it gets worse when I take it lol! I even switched to decaff coffee this month to not give my bladder more of an excuse 😂

@ChicaXS I was told to come in for a scan on day 10, but as that was a Sunday I went in on day 11 instead. I'm guessing, had my cycles not been anovulatory, they would have been around 28 days as there was a follicle ready to pop by day 11. If you have really long or irregular cycles it would be worth going in around day 11/12 then they'll tell you if you're good to go or if you need to come for another scan!

Hahahaha I'm glad the peeing mystery has been solved! Is this your last day of Tamoxifen?xx

Hey @Tecalina !
Yes, yesterday was my last day of tamoxifen! Spoke to my nurse and she wants me in on CD9 even though pushed back. She said I could miss my Window on 10/11 and they want the early scan to ensure my follicle are not going into overdrive, she said she will ask the doctor if it’s ok to come in on day 12 instead. I honestly don’t mind having two scans even though it’s cost but I’ll probably be annoyed if I am really early in the game. Nice thing about this cycle, create will trigger ovulation (like yourself) with ovitrelle as my last cycle was 41 days. So it’s great news as I don’t have to wait and wait and wait!

Pee symptoms are still there haha but much better today! I knew it was the tamoxifen- so odd!

How are you doing?
I’m hoping to get back into the office in a couple of weeks- actually really sick of WFH! Xx

@ChicaXS Maybe the Tamoxifen will shorten your cycles? Did they say anything about that? If you can afford it, have two scans, that way you can make sure you don't miss ovulation if a follicle is ready early! Plus it's so fascinating watching the nurse conduct the scans and talk your through everything! So are you off for a scan this Friday?? 😁

I'm still feeling absolutely fine. Apart from my super slow digestive system, which leaves me feeling uncomfortably full hours after eating, and my excessive gas (🙊) I feel normal! I'm on another thread with ladies who have got their bpfs and I seem to spend most of my time trying to calm people down, and then I wonder if I'm being too blasé about it all?! I mean, I'm anxious as hell, but I'm really trying to adopt the 'what will be, will be' attitude and keep my mind occupied with other things!
Being back in the office has really helped. I hate working from home, as I like to be able to separate the two, and not go from table to sofa at the end of the day!xx

Not that other people shouldn't be worried, of course, I'm just wondering if I should be more worried 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Tecalina I absolutely love your attitude! Blasé and carefree is what you need to be mentally to get through a pregnancy! As long as your staying healthy and looking after your bump it’s a great mentality! I never did find much comfort in threads with BFPs and it just made me more paranoid when little symptoms arise - anxiety kicks in. Because of my history, if I do fall pregnant we decided to go through fertility counselling as our previous pregnancy was traumatic for me and how it ended. Not thinking about that right now! But I’m so glad you do find comfort and that’s great - keep up with the attitude!

Yep going in tomorrow for my first scan- took a LH test this morning and it was low! So I know tomorrow’s scan will be a waste but I’m seeing my doctor so I am going to speak to him about ivf for my next cycle which is great! We decided not to proceed with tamoxifen for another two months over the last week as I believe my success will be higher with IVF because of my blocked tube.

Honestly your so lucky your in the office, still waiting for the green light for mine! Agreed WFH is horrible after 3 months, really makes me me hate the flat I'm in (we’re moving soon so we don’t care lol!)

@ChicaXS I'm so glad you've made a decision which is the best route for you 🙂 And so exciting! What's the mental health support like where you are? Because of my bulimia I opted for a midwife with cbt training, but I don't know if I'll get one 🤷🏼‍♀️

Tomorrow's scan definitely won't be a waste, as you'll get a good idea of the speed your body is working at. But my fingers are so tightly crossed there's an nice big follicle almost ready for you!

Moving house too? Double excitement! Where are you moving to, may I ask?xx