Long cycles and Clomid?

[Lindsey322]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum, it's my first TTC forum.

My AF has always been erratic and very painful. I was diagnosed with endomitriosis, stage 1, when I was 26. It was more in my intestines than anything, but severely affects pain in my right side. It's blinding pain. I started seeing and infertility specialist, who has been monitoring the endomitrosis. I've had two surgeries (the first one was when I was 25 by another doctor, who failed to find it). I've been on the pill continuously since.

My husband and I decided it was time to start our family in June! SO excited! I've been on the pill since I was young (to control symptoms prior to diagnosis, but was not only them continuously until 26). I expected to stop the pill, get my period in a few days, BAM!

Not so much. It took over 40 days for AF to find me w/o ovulation. I've had one cycle since then and blood tests confirmed ovulation, but the cycle was 44 days long. I'm now on day 45 with bloodwork confirming ovulation (I think I'm on day 11 or 12 DPO), but with a negative pregnancy test. AF came a solid 10 days after last month. I'm in a ton of pain. It seems the endomitriosis is coming back a bit- the first two cycles were pretty normal. My doctor said the first two cycles can be normal and then things return to being hay-wire.

So, my question for everyone TTC is, when did you decide to move forward with Clomid? My doctor recommends it, because my cycles are so long and have a history of being painful and erratic. I wanted to TTC naturally, and I know it takes time, but with two cycles in nearly 5 months, I think it's a bit ridiculous. I'm also concerned with the endo coming back. I cringe when people say it takes time because I think to myself, yes, if you have a 25 day cycle, awesome. I've been waiting nearly 50 days for a BFN and a huge disappointment! I could handle every 30 days or so.

My doctor and I are on the same page, but I am actually ovulating. She did say I run the risk of eventually have cycles w/o ovulation based on my history. So, when did you decided to use Clomid to regulate cycles?

 

[drjo718]

Lindsey, I totally understand what you are going through. You can see some of my history in my signature. I haven't officially been diagnosed with endometriosis, but with my symptoms and very strong family history, they presume I have it. I was on birth control to manage symptoms, too. I have only had a normal length cycle once in my life, and it was anovulatory and right after my miscarriage. The cycle after that was 74 days. My longest cycle ever was 150 days.

Anyway, I'm 30 years old, and even though I've only been off the pill for 6 months, my midwives started me on Clomid this month. I took it CD 4-8. I'm now on CD 17 and haven't ovulated yet (according to opks). I have progesterone blood work on Friday to see if I ovulated.

People always complain about having to wait forever to ovulate because they have 'long' 35 day cycles...I just have to smile because they don't know what long is. I know I didn't want to wait forever and only have 3 to 5 chances in a year to conceive due to long cycles, so I'm glad I'm trying the clomid. Plus it may not even work with this dosage or even at all, and that takes more time to figure out.

I hope this helps a little. Please share what you decide to do!

 

[Lindsey322]

Thanks so much for the reply! I am nearing day 50 of this cycle..sheesh. I got blood work done last Friday because I was concerned I did not ovulate... my temps were all over the place as was my CM. To my surprise, I did. I called the doctor today to see because I am guessing I ovulated on day 33 (day 47 here), and they said they cannot do blood work until this coming Friday. They said they can't tell me when I ovulated, just that I did, so they have to go by the blood work date.

I've decided that if I am not pregnant, I will try Clomid. I might have to wait another cycle just go get the tests done so I can proceed... but I feel its the way to go for my husband and me. I actually feel very blessed to be in with a reproductive specialist who can get things moving. I know there is a higher risk for multiples...but I tease my husband that I am a twin and have twin cousins, so, what will be will be

So for now, I'm just on hyper-lookout for AF with fingers crossed. I can't let myself think anything yet. This two week wait is crushing.

 

[drjo718]

Wh are you expecting AF? Im on CD 20 over here with no ovulation. Thinking I might need 100 mg of clomid since the 50 isn't seeming to work.

 

[drjo718]

That should say WHEN are you expecting AF?

 

[Lindsey322]

They took bloodwork on the 3rd, so they said it should come by the 16th. It came on the 14th and was so awful, the worst pain I've been in to date. I start Clomid Monday, this cycle was 49 days long. I've had three cycles since June...40 days (no ovulation), 43 days, 49 days...not liking the trend! I'm really concerned about the endomitriosis coming back and needing another surgery...I'm hoping to have success with the Clomid and shorter cycles, hence more of a chance! Fingers crossed!

 

[drjo718]

I ovulated! My blood work from CD 21 confirmed ovulation! I'm not sure when, but my best guess would be around CD 18 or 19. Guess I'll find out in another week if we were successful, but at least the clomid worked!