Clomid...Hoping 3rd Times a Charm

[beaglemom]

Erin, your mom is probably just nervous in general. My mom doesn't know, but she probably wouldn't understand needing assistance. She never did. So to our moms who always want to protect us, it is just an unknown med that makes them nervous.

Allison, those are the same reasons I need more info. I never wanted it to be like this & even though I get negatives every month, I feel that is way easier than a failed IVF. Probably because of the money & because the doctors seem so sure of it...and I am unsure of the process. The place I am looking at offers partial refunds. But they don't spell out all the numbers online. I read somewhere today that if you have mild male factor infertility (which seems to classify my husband) & no other issues, than 3 rounds of IUI is not unreasonable. I just feel like with my history, it would be highly likely an egg would catch...my husband's boys just need help through the hostile area.

 

[MissStacy]

I don't know what's going on but I have been pretty bummed out/emotional this cycle. I feel like my body is all over the place. I started temping again this month and my temps seem to be just all over the place. I started OPKs CD10, twice a day, that first day I had medium lines, same on CD 11 and since then they have just gotten fainter. Today I barely had a 2nd line both times I tested.

Yesterday I did have a lot of EWCM (TMI but I think the robitussin has really helped, I've had EWCM in the past but this was like WOAH lol) so I expected today my OPK would be close to positive and it was far from it. With my temps though it looks like I haven't O'd yet. Maybe it will just be late this month.

 

[ERosePW]

Beaglemom, I agree, maybe that's all you need is to give the boys a little help getting through the hostile area. For months, I've felt like maybe my DH's sperm are having trouble getting through. But his SA came back good, so then I think, ok since I know I'm O'ing, and I know his sperm is fine, there has to be a reason why egg/sperm aren't having their rendezvous. Either my cm isn't helpful enough, or my tube is blocked. (Or, as my dr said, I was just O'ing too early for the egg to be viable, and maybe the clomid is going to help?). So I'm scheduling an HSG for Jan. if that comes back normal, and clomid hasn't worked by then (that'll be 4th cycle), I have a feeling we'll be on to IUI in Feb.

MissStacy, keep using the O tests! I suppose it's possible you O'd early (I used to O on cd10), but if your temp didn't go up and you're now getting EWCM, I would think O is still to come. And I've heard of many who's sticks got lighter, only to turn around and get darker. Either way, keep BDing just in case! Keep us updated!

 

[ERosePW]

Oh, btw girls, update on my dr appt yesterday.... I won't get the blood results back until Mon, but I had the u/s, and although the purpose was to see if my fibroids had returned, she was also able to show me the follicle that I O'd from! It's the little things that make me excited, lol! She said there was a post-ovulatory cyst, which was a good thing, and she could see the little bit of fluid from it. She showed me all this, and she said when they see this, they know a woman has O'd sometime in the 48hrs prior. I was wishing technology was better, so she could tell me if there appeared to be a fertilized egg making its way into my uterine wall, ha! Anyway, I just got a kick out of that...it was cool to see that and know that my temps were aligned w/ what she was telling me too. Despite the fact that I'm scheduling an HSG and already thinking about next steps, this cycle really does have me feeling good. The other stuff is just my mind being proactive. But I'm hoping I'll be canceling the HSG appt. I feel very hopeful and excited. And not just for me.... I really feel like there are going to be a few BFPs from this thread.

 

[beaglemom]

Erin I definitely hope you are right. I woke up early in the AM feeling weird cramps. But I am not really going to think about it. I do plan to start testing Monday & we will see what happens. I hope I am finished with this journey, but I am prepared if the journey continues.

Also, I know you are anxious, but I have also heard of people getting pregnant within 3 months of the HSG. My doctor was even telling me this hoping it would work for me. So if the HSG is clear, I would try to give it a couple more months before moving on. Or if you have minor blocks, the dye will clear the path. But of course this is your journey & you know what is best for you. Just something to consider. There was even a thread on here talking about the success rates & they were quite high.

 

[moni77]

Hey ladies~

So I opted for the IUI first because it is much less invasive and much cheaper (also covered by the insurance.) Since our main issue is male infertility, the IUI brings us up to natural percentages for people with no issues. They "wash" the sperm sample and only insert the good stuff - so you know that if an egg is fertilized it is fertilized with a good one and so will be more likely to stick. It is really a simple process compared to the IVF. My doctor said when you are done - you could run a marathon if you wanted to the same day (not that I would).
Knowing the IUI only brings me up to the 20% odds - helps me cope with it not working the first time. After the 3rd I'll prob start to get upset. If we do end up having to go the IVF route - the doctor has said it is almost guaranteed to work.

The clomid is used to increase the follicles - thus increases the chances of conception occurring. Don't let people get you down - if the doctor has prescribed it they have a reason to do so.

Good luck with the testing next week! FXed for you all.

AFM - just playing the waiting game. Since chances are low, I am going to wait until next Thursday to test if AF hasn't shown - I dont want to waste tests earlier. (I didnt have those coupons!!)

 

[ERosePW]

Actually, yes, my dr did mention that too... he's hopeful that this cycle will be successful with the increased clomid, but he did say that often times there are minor blockages that can prevent egg meeting sperm, but that can often be unblocked while the dye is being pushed through. He said often times, it ends up being the solution for many women, and he's seen it happen a lot. So yea, I probably will give it a little more time. Maybe 2-3 more cycles after HSG. If I were younger, I would probably just keep trying for a while. I'd get the normal tests to make sure we weren't trying in vain. But I'd continue trying for a while before IUI. But since I'm 37, I dont want to waste too much more time, especially if I want to have a second child too.

Here's to hoping for a BFP this month so I don't have think about this stuff anymore!

 

[ERosePW]

moni, I think it's exciting that you're going to do IUI (that is, if you dont get a BFP this cycle!). I mean, sure, none of us expected to have difficulty conceiving, and we never imagined it having to go that way. But once it HAS gone this way, I feel like making that final decision to just do it, would be relieving and exciting at the same time. I'm at a point right now that of course I hope to get prego before going on to IUI. But I know that if that time comes, once I make the decision and we're on that road, I'll be happy I made the decision, and I'll be really excited about it. Nobody wants to be in our shoes... we dont even want to be in our own shoes! But once we are, each decision we make to move on to the next step, gets us closer and closer to having a baby.

 

[beaglemom]

Hey ladies~

So I opted for the IUI first because it is much less invasive and much cheaper (also covered by the insurance.) Since our main issue is male infertility, the IUI brings us up to natural percentages for people with no issues. They "wash" the sperm sample and only insert the good stuff - so you know that if an egg is fertilized it is fertilized with a good one and so will be more likely to stick. It is really a simple process compared to the IVF. My doctor said when you are done - you could run a marathon if you wanted to the same day (not that I would).
Knowing the IUI only brings me up to the 20% odds - helps me cope with it not working the first time. After the 3rd I'll prob start to get upset. If we do end up having to go the IVF route - the doctor has said it is almost guaranteed to work.

The clomid is used to increase the follicles - thus increases the chances of conception occurring. Don't let people get you down - if the doctor has prescribed it they have a reason to do so.

Good luck with the testing next week! FXed for you all.

AFM - just playing the waiting game. Since chances are low, I am going to wait until next Thursday to test if AF hasn't shown - I dont want to waste tests earlier. (I didnt have those coupons!!)

Thanks. That is exacty my thought process. I do not have insurance for IUI exactly...I have a $5,000 cap for any infertility treatment. But I know my insurance will cover a lot of the meds. Like my clomid was only $10 a month.

So I just went to the bathroom & when I wiped I had very faint pink/brown like cm. Again, not getting my hopes up...just reporting. But around now would be about right to start seeing the implantation spotting. But I have had mid cycle spotting before. I started eating brazil nuts on Wednesday. It is supposed to help with implantation, but I was already in my TWW, so who knows. I kind of like them, so it doesn't feel like a chore.

I have a shopping day with my best friend tomorrow. I think I may tell her what's going on. She knows we have fertility issues, but does not know we started trying again. I just know she won't judge me or be negative & it would be easier not to have to worry about things slipping out that I haven't been telling. She also knows how private I can be, so will not be offended I had not told her already. I have also thought about telling my mom. But I just don't know. I consider us close, but not where we share everything. And my mom can have immediate reactions to things in a negative way & then think it over & then come to my side. She did that when I got engaged. She just reacts to change in general. Not sure I could handle any negative thoughts right now.

 

[beaglemom]

Actually, yes, my dr did mention that too... he's hopeful that this cycle will be successful with the increased clomid, but he did say that often times there are minor blockages that can prevent egg meeting sperm, but that can often be unblocked while the dye is being pushed through. He said often times, it ends up being the solution for many women, and he's seen it happen a lot. So yea, I probably will give it a little more time. Maybe 2-3 more cycles after HSG. If I were younger, I would probably just keep trying for a while. I'd get the normal tests to make sure we weren't trying in vain. But I'd continue trying for a while before IUI. But since I'm 37, I dont want to waste too much more time, especially if I want to have a second child too.

Here's to hoping for a BFP this month so I don't have think about this stuff anymore!

Erin, yes with your age (and believe me I DO NOT say that to say you are old) I would not wait very long either. But they put a clock on us at 35. I will be 32 in April, so I am not far off. But with my past, I am def not wasting time...but I also want to be cautious. If it took me another year, I would be ok with that time line.

 

[savvysaver]

I have very good feelings about this month for everyone here. Erin, that is awesome about your appointment. Beaglemom, fxd that those are some positive symptoms.
Missstacy, I am sorry tthings have been tough lately. Hoping the Ewcm is here at a good time.

Scheduled two appointments with two difficult doctors but 2 weeks from now was the first available appointment. Not sure which one I want to keep since they are both different hospitals.

Okay I know most of you tried robitussin this cycle. ..did anyone use mucinex? I can't take robitussin because of the ingredients but I haven't checked out mucinex either. I would probably have to take pill form since liquid has artificial sweeteners which I can't have.

 

[beaglemom]

I have very good feelings about this month for everyone here. Erin, that is awesome about your appointment. Beaglemom, fxd that those are some positive symptoms.
Missstacy, I am sorry tthings have been tough lately. Hoping the Ewcm is here at a good time.

Scheduled two appointments with two difficult doctors but 2 weeks from now was the first available appointment. Not sure which one I want to keep since they are both different hospitals.

Okay I know most of you tried robitussin this cycle. ..did anyone use mucinex? I can't take robitussin because of the ingredients but I haven't checked out mucinex either. I would probably have to take pill form since liquid has artificial sweeteners which I can't have.

Savvy,

Yes mucinex will work. Most people say to take it, but I opted for robitussin because of the price. Just make sure the only active ingredient is guaifenesin. As far as pill form, it did not do well for me. So I would suggest taking it hours before you plan to dtd...and you can take it however many times a day the bottle says. The issue with pill form is it getting in your system as fast as liquid. Maybe take it a couple of times a day leading up to O day.

 

[allisonmh]

Savvy, I'm taking mucinex now. I just looked at the ingredients and mine does have sucralose so yeah, you're right. You'd probably have to do the pill. But I'm sure it'll be just as effective. The liquid stuff is nasty anyways. Lol.

Erin, so glad you're u/s came back normal. It is really cool that you can see everything. At my dr, they have tv screens on the ceiling above you so you can see everything they do. It's really neat when they monitor you throughout the clomid and you can actually see the progression of the follicle. Granted, I always got stressed out bc apparently my follicles mature slower than usual but it was still neat. Lol. And yeah, as beaglemom said, sometimes the hsg will do the trick, so I'd wait a couple months before doing IUI. Even if it takes you a little longer, once you have the first kid, just immediately start trying for the 2nd. That's what I plan to do. I want to homeschool so it'd be so much easier if my kids were close in age and grade. I think it'll be easier the 2nd time around anyways!

 

[ERosePW]

Yea, savvy, you may have been looking at the wrong robitussin... there are a ton of different ones... most of them aren't just for chest congestion, but also cough, cold, aches, etc. I had the hardest time finding the one with JUST guafenesin, but I eventually (like beaglemom) found a generic Robitussin that was ONLY for chest congestion and only had Guaifenesin in it. I saw the Mucinex pills with only Guaif. But I really wanted a liquid. I think the bottle I found was literally the only liquid there that only had Guaif in it.

 

[allisonmh]

The one I found only has one other active ingredient and it's low does of whatever it is. The making babies book said another ingredient was fine, just not the whole loaded up ones with everything. Have y'all taken it all thru your cycle? I read to start it 5 days before O but I have no idea when that'll be so I just started taking it already. Lol

 

[beaglemom]

The one I found only has one other active ingredient and it's low does of whatever it is. The making babies book said another ingredient was fine, just not the whole loaded up ones with everything. Have y'all taken it all thru your cycle? I read to start it 5 days before O but I have no idea when that'll be so I just started taking it already. Lol

I don't think it can hurt. Oh & in case you haven't thought of it, please make sure it is non drowsy !

 

[moni77]

Yeah - I'll be 36 in 9 days and I am hoping for 2 as well. I don't want them too close in age and they recommend letting your body rest a year before trying again. Once I started the testing everything happened pretty quickly - my first appointment with the RE was on day 2 of my cycle so I was able to start the clomid for that cycle the next day. I was hoping that the lucky timing of the appointment would work out for me - but it didnt. Personally I think they did the IUI too late and I had already ovulated. So the next time, I am going to insist on going in for an earlier scan.

 

[ERosePW]

Yeah - I'll be 36 in 9 days and I am hoping for 2 as well. I don't want them too close in age and they recommend letting your body rest a year before trying again. Once I started the testing everything happened pretty quickly - my first appointment with the RE was on day 2 of my cycle so I was able to start the clomid for that cycle the next day. I was hoping that the lucky timing of the appointment would work out for me - but it didnt. Personally I think they did the IUI too late and I had already ovulated. So the next time, I am going to insist on going in for an earlier scan.

Oh, you already did IUI, gotcha! I must've missed a post or something, I thought you had just made the decision to do it next cycle. Well, I'm so so sorry it didnt work this time around. But you might be right, maybe they did the IUI too late. Are they having you use OPKs or anything? Sorry if you've already been over this, I think I missed a lot of posts from being absent on a few days, and this thread was moving fast for a while!

 

[ERosePW]

The one I found only has one other active ingredient and it's low does of whatever it is. The making babies book said another ingredient was fine, just not the whole loaded up ones with everything. Have y'all taken it all thru your cycle? I read to start it 5 days before O but I have no idea when that'll be so I just started taking it already. Lol

I believe sucralose is the artificial sweetener that savvy can't have because of her IBS. But yes, if that's the only other ingredient, that would be fine for someone without IBS. The ingredients they say to watch out for are some of the other ingredients for symptoms, because those can dry you up. Like, something in there for runny nose is probably not a good one since it dries you out. Just like Benadryl isnt recommended, as it can dry out CM too! Amazing the things we've learned on this journey, huh? The thing that kills me, is that the really fertile girls out there probably don't have to worry about any of this, ha!

 

[ERosePW]

The one I found only has one other active ingredient and it's low does of whatever it is. The making babies book said another ingredient was fine, just not the whole loaded up ones with everything. Have y'all taken it all thru your cycle? I read to start it 5 days before O but I have no idea when that'll be so I just started taking it already. Lol

Oh, and i started taking it around cd7 I think... since I take the clomid between days 5-9, I figured I'd start counter-acting its effects sooner. I took it through cd11 because I ran out. I should've bought more, but I had already seen an improvement, so I didnt. But if I have to try again next cycle, I will take it through to the day of O. Imagine if I saw such improvement after quitting on cd 11, then it might be even better if I keep taking it all the way until O!