Feel like the new kid in school!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Feel like the new kid in school!
4
Sat, 11-17-2007 - 4:43pm

Well, this is my first time on a board and you'll have to forgive me because I'm not completely clear on etiquette and all the abbreviations.


I have always known I would have fertility issues-I rarely ever have a period.  After much bloodwork and a hysteroscopy, my doctor assured me she would prescribe clomid when I wanted to start TTC (the one abbreviation I've learned so far).  Well, the time is here and I'm scheduled to see her in a few weeks and begin the clomid roller coaster.  She has always been so reassuring and made clomid sound so foolproof but I'm not naive-I know this could drag out for a loooong time.  So I thought I'd see if I could make some online friends since my real life friends have no problems getting pregnant and seem to be having showers, picking out baby names, and decorating nurseries all the time!  I've read some of the posts and it's so nice to read about the frustration and unanswered questions and sadness that others have been experiencing-to know that I'm not alone in this..


Anyway, does anyone have any advice to give a first time clomid user?  Should I be taking my temps or a certain vitamin or doing a secret fertility dance or something ;)? 


Also, not a big deal, but if anyone has time to explain some of the abbreviations it would be much appreciated!


I look forward to chatting with you all-have a great weekend!


 




Edited 11/17/2007 4:46 pm ET by rb1313
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2006
Sun, 11-18-2007 - 2:24pm

welcomebear.gif picture by karlaking


Hello and Welcome!


I just first have to say, if you figure out that special baby dance, you had better get your hiney back here and tell us what it is, because I don't know about the rest of them, but I've been trying to figure that out for 7.5 years!!! lol.


I'm Karla, 32, married to Brent 35 for 11 years.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Sun, 11-18-2007 - 4:10pm

Hello

I am new here too but unfortunately, I have been riding the infertility roller-coaster for a little while.

I am Kim and I am 36 YO. I have no history of problems and my husband and I both have great numbers on everything. Aditionally, my RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) has told me that I have the eggs of someone in their 20's. With that said, I did three unsuccessful rounds of IUI (intrauterine Insemination) w/ Clomid. These were done with my regular gyn. I wish someone had told me to consult the RE earlier on because I feel like I wasted time and subjected myself to a lot of despair as a result of my gyn's well intentioned lack of skill in the area of infertility.

I know that many, many people have had great success with Clomid. It is particularly helpful if you have irregular or problematic O (ovulation). I did not, so for me, the Clomid was thrown at me for a generic attack against the infertility. I don't know what your infertility benefits are. If they are limited, Clomid w/ IUI is the least expensive option. I am extremely fortunate and my insurance covers all drugs and procedures up until IVF 100%. I only have a $5 co-pay for injections, IUI's etc. I am blessed and believe me, If and when I am able to conceive with IUI's and injectables....I am going to donate all my meds to women who don't have the insurance. I am also blessed because my husband and I are able to afford IVF if needed. My insurance will not pay one single penny for anything once I see the IVF doctor so my current RE is going to let me stockpile drugs if needed.

I could so relate to the friend thing. You may have read in one of my other posts that I am going through a really painful situation with an ex best friend. She is pregnant and has told everyone else in our small office but me She is telling them that she does not know how I am going to deal with it. All the while she keeps asking me probing questions about my fertility treatment. Ugh!!!

If you are interested, I would love to keep in touch with you and share support. I have the experience of trying the Clomid (I should let you know that it made me extremely moody and emotional. Clomid actually tricks your hypothalamus (center that controls mood) into forcing ovulation). Some people have no issues with this, but I did. I am thinking that it might help to know about this in case you start to experience it. It goes away and is the worse right around ovulation.

I am on day seven of the dreaded 2WW (Two week wait to find out if I am pregnant). This last cycle was a long one for me. The RE put me on BCP (birth control pills) for 21 days. I then started injecting myself with Lupron (prevents ovulation). I was told to call in when my AF (Aunt Flow or menstrual cycle) started. It was so frustrating because I waited 14 days and it never came (when I pray for it not to come it arrives just on time!). After 14 days the RE brought me in for a baseline US (ultra sound). When you are doing a cycle with injections you go in for vaginal US every 2-4 days so they can measure your lining and your follicles. At my baseline US, my lining was thin (it looked like it should have if I had had AF). I also had 15 follicles in each Ovary. They were worried about OVHS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) because of the large # of eggs so they put me on a very low dose. After about 20 days of injecting Lupron, Menopur and taking Estradiol, only two of the follicles grew large enough to release eggs. Bummer! They sent me home and had me do a HCG trigger shot have lots of sex and come back 36 hours later for the IUI.

Now I am waiting and playing all the desperate mental mind games. I am imagining pregnancy symptoms and then remembering it is too early. I am looking for signs and feeling positive and then remembering all the BFN's (Big fat negative pregnancy tests) and feeling bummed.

Anyway,

Have a happy Sunday and hope we can help each other out!

Kim B

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2007
Mon, 11-19-2007 - 2:39pm

Hi and welcome to the Clomid roller coaster! :)

This was my first cycle taking Clomid too and I did not know what to expect either. I had no side effects whatsoever while I was actually taking the pills. I took it from CD (cycle days) 5-9 and ovulated on CD 11 or 12, I think. Still no side effects then! Finally right after my IUI (intra-uterine insemination) some side effects started to kick in. I was super bloated...I had to wear my drawstring pants with the string untied! And I had awful pains and cramps in my ovaries and uterus. I got a little constipated...that wasn't fun! My boobs hurt...ow. And the most awful mood swings ever. I never yell or argue with people and I had three huge screaming fights with my husband and sister! I feel like I'm not myself.

The Clomid can also make your uterine lining thin...that happened to me. Just something to watch out for! if it's too thin, the embryo can have a problem implanting.

So here's why we're trying Clomid...I have a short luteal phase and Clomid can help lengthen it. I'm also taking progesterone suppositories to help lengthen it as well. And my hubby's sperm aren't good...they're mostly all shaped funny (which is called low morphology). So we try to make me produce more eggs so his sperm have more targets to aim for. This is our first month trying it, so we'll see how well it works, I guess.

Good luck to you and I hope your experience with Clomid is a good one!
Reba


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Remembering o

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Tue, 11-20-2007 - 12:19pm

Wow, you've had a hell of a few weeks.