Clomid Buddies (moved to LTTTC board)

[sarah2211]

I'm sorry Belle how unfair!

Nita, I'm sorry you're having to deal with that on top of TTC and feeling sick. Try to remember that they don't know the trouble you're having TTC and it's not aimed at hurting you.

Norelisa, I think if DH's swimmers aren't great then IUI would definitely be the next step. I can't see much point in you doing so much more to improve your chances if the real problem (now that you've got the right dose of Clomid) is the swimmers.

Buckeye, welcome. Good luck for this cycle.

MsAC, my doctor said to count CD 11-18 as fertile and that's when I started OPKs and BDing every day. After my last pill I got some hot flushes and night sweats. I also started getting pain in both ovaries about 4-5 days after my last pill. I ovulated on CD 16. I wouldn't wait for an OPK. I got a negative at 9am, positive at mid day, negative by 3pm and ovulated at 9.30pm. If you're not testing frequently you. Plus miss it and you could ovulate the day you get an OPK and you've missed three fertile days before that. Check your DH's swimmers, if his SA isn't good, every second day, otherwise it's probably ok to BD every day.

Babydust, general PcOS can cause rocky temps. Also while taking clomid you can get rocky temps. Aside from that it could be sleeping wth your mouth open, waking in the night and not taking your temp at the same time each morning. It could be your thermometer or the battery too. You could try temping vaginally but you'd need to start at the beginning of a new cycle (or disregard previous temps)

 

[BelleNuit]

Thanks Sarah. It didn't hurt as much this time. Must be getting used to it.

Baby dust, I noticed my temps would become a little erratic during times when I was feeling stressed, or emotional about something.

 

[Norelisa]

Still waiting for full AF to come.. with a little bit of "luck" she will stay away a little longer, so that I can do the hsg when back from Chiang Mai Just booked my tickets, will only be from 3-6 of Dec, so might be able to make it.

Hubby is not yet ready to fork out on iui I think. I need to find some kind of superfood for improving his swimmers, something NOT in a capsul!! I think I have to find a new plan:

How about:
No meds for me for the next few cycles, just temping, maybe no opks either as they are just showing up positive one after the other.. and of course me trying to thicken my lining just in case (if heavy AF this time then I won't worry so much, if still light af then it will need further investigation). I'll eat brazil nuts and pineapple cores + maybe something more..

If still not preggers after a few cycles, then hubby MUST understand that either HE has to do something MORE, OR IUI will be next step...

Sigh.. love this waiting, it's almost like when I was a child and Christmas was coming up... except it totally is not the same ((

 

[Rawan]

Belle-Thanks for the support! Sorry to hear that af arrived...keep positive and hope next one is your cycle!

Nita-Thanks for the support! It's stressful when ttc esp when family is involved...hope you will get your bfp soon!

Norelisa-I understand how stressful this waiting can be...wish you good luck! If you already ovulate on your own, I guess you can try on your own for awhile like you said? Since the meds don't increase the chance that much for someone who already ovulates.

I had a follow up appointment with my doctor today...so maybe they found the reason for my infertility...they are suspecting premature ovarian insufficiency based on the bloodwork and ultrasound. My doctor said my Amh is also low, which might mean that my time is running out, she said IVF would be the best option. Here where I live, there's waiting list for IVF(covered by our health card), but the wait is long...until 2018, unless we pay out of our own pocket. They gave me an estimate, 1 IVF cycle cost around almost 20,000 CDN. And it might not work the first cycle too. The doctor said I can try a cycle with letrozole/follistim injection/ovidrel before IVF. Any suggestions ladies? What would you do if you were in my position? The only thing I worry is that if I spend all that money for IVF, and if it didn't work...it would be such an expensive investment....I've been feeling so stressed after the appointment. Thank you!

 

[Norelisa]

Hello Af..

 

[sarah2211]

Belle, I don't know if I'll ever get use to it

Norelisa, do you ovulate on your own? Sorry, I can't remember. If you don't ovulate on your own then trying without Clomid or something to make you ovulate is only going to result in a BFN. I think making sure you ovulate is the biggest thing you can do. For improving sperm quality, there's only so much you can do, especially if your DH isn't willing to do anything to improve it. I'd say you'll need to get clever at making those changes for him. Like changing the foods you eat, including and cutting out foods, sneakily adding things to your food. I think the male conception vitamins I get for my DH are capsules and you could break them open and put them in his coffee or something. I think IUI with sperm washing would give you the best shot.

Rawan, I'm sorry. To put it bluntly, that's probably the news you least want to hear from a fertility specialist. Will you be able to afford IVF? Will your family be able to help? In my country you can get 2 free rounds of IVF but the wait is about as long but you can pay and do it privately but also wait on the public list.

 

[Nita2806]

Belle - no fair that AF started.

Rawan - I would definitely first try the letrozole/follistim injection/ovidrel before IVF.

Babydust - I started to temp, but my temps didnt make sense and my thermo was crazy(My chart looked like yours), so I stopped and it was the best decision I made. I wont be able to pinpoint exactly when I Ovulate and if I do but I will just leave that for the Blood test, and hope for the best.

MsAC - My doctor said not to BD on CD9 - 12 and then everyday from CD13-15 (Assuming that I will Ovulate on CD14) P.S. I am not following this though, We try and BD every other day (but since I got sick that didnt happen)

Norelisa - It's so funny you get so many positive OPK's and I have never seen a positive OPK Any way, to get pregnant both you and DH will need to be in tip top shape. If you do everything from your side to get your lining right and keep healthy but DH don't then you wont really have a good chance? I think you need to talk to DH and tell him just how important it is for his swimmers to be of good quality. If you Ovulate on your own I don't think Clomid is necessary as it will just thin your lining..or thats what I read When DH and I started Clomid I had to be the bad wife and tell him to do / not to do certain things to increase our chances, sometimes he gets grumpy but then I remind him of what we are working for and then he is OK.

Sarah - how is the AF pains? Is it better now?

 

[Rawan]

Sarah- IVF cycle is a bit expensive for us...especially if it didn't work the first cycle, and with my condition, I don't think I can wait until 2018.
So I am thinking whether to try the follistim injection/letrozole/ovidrel first, the injection is still expensive, but much more affordable than IVF.

Nita-Yeah, I am thinking I might try that first before IVF...

I never thought that I would have premature ovarian insufficiency, my period is always regular, and I don't have any menopausal symptoms...
feeling hopeless...

 

[sarah2211]

Rawan, if it was me (we want 3-4 little ones) I'd be jumping in the deep end asap and doing everything to get a BFP. But I understand that IVF is very expensive. We have been saving with that as a back up and could currently do 1-2 cycles on our own without having to ask family/remortgage etc. I'd go with what your doctor suggests.

Norelisa, I'm sorry hopefully AF isn't too bad. Will you still be able to do the HSG?

Nita, yup AF pains are all gone and it's gotten much lighter. Almost spotting. So weird. Except now I just feel grumpy about everything. I dropped my new phone and smashed the screen, it's so so so windy here and I hate the wind and have been outside all day, DH has just been grumpy too and we start fights over nothing. I just wanted to come home and blob but now I have to go out to a work thing and I've got stuff almost every night for the next 3 weeks. Blah.

 

[Norelisa]

Belle, I don't know if I'll ever get use to it

Norelisa, do you ovulate on your own? Sorry, I can't remember. If you don't ovulate on your own then trying without Clomid or something to make you ovulate is only going to result in a BFN. I think making sure you ovulate is the biggest thing you can do. For improving sperm quality, there's only so much you can do, especially if your DH isn't willing to do anything to improve it. I'd say you'll need to get clever at making those changes for him. Like changing the foods you eat, including and cutting out foods, sneakily adding things to your food. I think the male conception vitamins I get for my DH are capsules and you could break them open and put them in his coffee or something. I think IUI with sperm washing would give you the best shot.

Rawan, I'm sorry. To put it bluntly, that's probably the news you least want to hear from a fertility specialist. Will you be able to afford IVF? Will your family be able to help? In my country you can get 2 free rounds of IVF but the wait is about as long but you can pay and do it privately but also wait on the public list.

I have ovulated on my own, but not every month.. Not going back to clomid though, maybe try something else to avoid the sinus infections...



I am not sure yet if I'll have time for the hsg, will email the hospital and check if I can go in next Tuesday afternoon when I've landed..


Haha, maybe I'll get some capuls and blend into his food


I'll test with temping this month - i would be able to use temping to check for ovulation with a blood test on day 21 right
?

Rawan: do let me know if you want me to check prices for Ivf here in Thailand?! They truly have good health care here!

 

[Nita2806]

Norelisa - if you don't mind waiting for your result the 21 day blood test is definitely a good idea - and here in South Africa it cost much less than OPKs and my medical aid covers it, so thats definitely the way i will be going. If your temps are reliable i would use them pin point the exact day of Ovulation, and the 21day blood test.

I have a question regarding my breats (TMI again - sorry) its not like they are sore they are just annoying, just reminding me every now and then that they are there and I feel a little discomfort. Is this something that happens after Ovulation? I haven't Ovulated in a long time so I am not sure. Also I feel the same when I am taking Provera..

 

[2much]

Belle/Norelisa- Bummer AF got you, I'm sorry! Ugh.

Nita- I'm not sure, I never had breast pain before. I think everyone is different whether they get it for O and/or for AF.

I have my blood draw tomorrow morning. I definitely "feel" pregnant, hoping it's the case. I've had odd cramp twinges here and there, so I'm hoping it's not AF lurking and this little bean sticks. I'm out of tests so I can't obsess if the line is getting darker or not, lol. Probably for the best.

 

[Babydust28]

I'm sorry Belle how unfair!

Nita, I'm sorry you're having to deal with that on top of TTC and feeling sick. Try to remember that they don't know the trouble you're having TTC and it's not aimed at hurting you.

Norelisa, I think if DH's swimmers aren't great then IUI would definitely be the next step. I can't see much point in you doing so much more to improve your chances if the real problem (now that you've got the right dose of Clomid) is the swimmers.

Buckeye, welcome. Good luck for this cycle.

MsAC, my doctor said to count CD 11-18 as fertile and that's when I started OPKs and BDing every day. After my last pill I got some hot flushes and night sweats. I also started getting pain in both ovaries about 4-5 days after my last pill. I ovulated on CD 16. I wouldn't wait for an OPK. I got a negative at 9am, positive at mid day, negative by 3pm and ovulated at 9.30pm. If you're not testing frequently you. Plus miss it and you could ovulate the day you get an OPK and you've missed three fertile days before that. Check your DH's swimmers, if his SA isn't good, every second day, otherwise it's probably ok to BD every day.

Babydust, general PcOS can cause rocky temps. Also while taking clomid you can get rocky temps. Aside from that it could be sleeping wth your mouth open, waking in the night and not taking your temp at the same time each morning. It could be your thermometer or the battery too. You could try temping vaginally but you'd need to start at the beginning of a new cycle (or disregard previous temps)

I have just bought this new thermometer as I guessed that the problem with my last one but it shows I was wrong.
My last cycle was pretty rocky but there evened out a little, I don't use opk's so I really rely on bbt charting so I can pinpoint O

Thanks Sarah. It didn't hurt as much this time. Must be getting used to it.

Baby dust, I noticed my temps would become a little erratic during times when I was feeling stressed, or emotional about something.

I don't feel stressed or emotional, that has crossed my mind that that can affect it but I feel really ok

Belle - no fair that AF started.

Rawan - I would definitely first try the letrozole/follistim injection/ovidrel before IVF.

Babydust - I started to temp, but my temps didnt make sense and my thermo was crazy(My chart looked like yours), so I stopped and it was the best decision I made. I wont be able to pinpoint exactly when I Ovulate and if I do but I will just leave that for the Blood test, and hope for the best.

MsAC - My doctor said not to BD on CD9 - 12 and then everyday from CD13-15 (Assuming that I will Ovulate on CD14) P.S. I am not following this though, We try and BD every other day (but since I got sick that didnt happen)

Norelisa - It's so funny you get so many positive OPK's and I have never seen a positive OPK Any way, to get pregnant both you and DH will need to be in tip top shape. If you do everything from your side to get your lining right and keep healthy but DH don't then you wont really have a good chance? I think you need to talk to DH and tell him just how important it is for his swimmers to be of good quality. If you Ovulate on your own I don't think Clomid is necessary as it will just thin your lining..or thats what I read When DH and I started Clomid I had to be the bad wife and tell him to do / not to do certain things to increase our chances, sometimes he gets grumpy but then I remind him of what we are working for and then he is OK.

Sarah - how is the AF pains? Is it better now?

Do you use opk's? I really don't want to use them as I've heard so many confusing things so if I do stop temping I'll not be able to pinpoint O at all.
I think next cycle I'll try vaginally temping and if there's no improvement I'll leave the temping out and just bd every other day and then maybe as of cd12 to cd20 every day so that we can be sure to catch that eggy

Do you think ff has got it right that I've Od?

 

[Nita2806]

Babydust - I do use OPKs, however i have never seen a positive. I think my problem is my over active bladder, i need to run to the loo once every hour at the least and for opks they said you need to keep in for 4 hours before testing. So i am not going to use them further or temo for that matter. We will just BD once every other day from CD 13 - CD 20 once my blood tests confirm that i am ovulating.

 

[MsAC]

Thank you everyone for the advice, my mister and I BD on CD8, and plan on tonight CD 11, and every other day.

I don't think it'll work to do it every night because he's usually spent for at least 24 hours after we do it.

I'm hoping to O on CD 14.

Negative O on my opk this fine morning. I checked my CM and cervix, my CM is super slippery, watery, and slightly white. My cervix is closed shut.

 

[Rawan]

Sarah-thanks for the advice! We could afford one cycle of IVF, but my worry is what if it doesn't work on first cycle? I know I should be positive, but even the doctor said they can't guarantee first cycle will work...but i know time is not on my side...so I need to get my bfp asap...

Norelisa-Thanks! I wish IVF was cheaper here...

 

[BelleNuit]

Rawan, there are medical loans that you can get for situations like that. We can't even afford 1 cycle of IVF (DH and I are both recent university graduates and have student loans). So while we have time on our side, we certainly don't have $$ on our side. My dad and step-mom have offered to help if we need IVF (but I wouldn't assume they would cover the full cost), so we'll be taking out a loan if that's the route that we need to go. We could afford 2 IUIs on our own and could save up for a 3rd. If you don't mind me asking are you over 35? If not you do still have time, and there are plenty of ladies over 35 who don't have any troubles TTC either

 

[sarah2211]

Babydust, opks are often not reliable for pcos either. However on clomid they should be better. I got my first positive OPK last cycle. My only suggestion would to be is to temp vaginally and go off your CM.

MrsAC, sorry is this your first cycle? I took Clomid 3-7 and O'd on CD 16 last cycle. My doctor said to BD from CD 11-19, at least 3 times a week.

Rawan, from what I've read, IVF has a really good chance of working, better than anything else. But they obviously can't guarantee that you'll end up with a baby at the end of 1 round or at all. No one can guarantee that unfortunately. You could ask your doctor what their clinic's success rate is in terms of live births. I'd definitely be looking into the loans that Belle is suggesting.

 

[Rawan]

Belle-Thanks for the suggestion! I haven't thought about medical loan, will look into that. I am 33, but based on the bloodwork, it seems that my ovary is not responding well, and I might have less time compared to other women who are 33.

Sarah-yeah the clinic also told me IVF is the best option for me. I will ask them about the success rate next time during follow up. They told me IVF is less likely to produce triplet compared to the letrozole/follitism/ovidrel option.

I have always wanted to be a mom...can't imagine a life without kids...anyways I guess I have to try to remain positive and try everything. At least the doctor didn't say it's impossible for me to have kids, they just told me I need to do it asap.

 

[Norelisa]

Belle-Thanks for the suggestion! I haven't thought about medical loan, will look into that. I am 33, but based on the bloodwork, it seems that my ovary is not responding well, and I might have less time compared to other women who are 33.

Sarah-yeah the clinic also told me IVF is the best option for me. I will ask them about the success rate next time during follow up. They told me IVF is less likely to produce triplet compared to the letrozole/follitism/ovidrel option.

I have always wanted to be a mom...can't imagine a life without kids...anyways I guess I have to try to remain positive and try everything. At least the doctor didn't say it's impossible for me to have kids, they just told me I need to do it asap.

You are from Canada? Or somewhere else? (sorry, can't remember), and you said one cycle of IVF is 100 000 Canadian Dollar?