PBL- Yes, it's my first Clomid cycle. Only 50mg, so I was a bit skeptical I was going to respond. I have done a lot of reading, and PCOS women who do respond to Clomid usually only respond to doses at 100-150mg. BUT I did get ahold of my OBGYN's office last Friday and spoke with a DIFFERENT nurse than the usual one that misinforms me on everything! Found out I was right, I don't come in on day 22 for my progesterone test if I never ovulated! That is just for women with normal cycles, but since I have longer cycles I need to come in 7 days after my positive OPK.
I am soooooo over that other nurse, this is like the 4th or 5th time now she has misinformed me! I DID get a flashy smiley face today on my Clearblue Advanced Digital OPK. I decided to take one since my cheapie wondfo seemed to be darker. On the Advanced Digital, a flashy smiley means in the next 3-4 days. A solid smile is 'peak'. I posted a picture in my journal. LOL I never post pictures of my tests, so I thought what the heck!
Anyhow, I should be right on target to ovulated in my 'normal window' of between day 25 & day 28. So at least Clomid did not delay things.
Sis- I don't know much about the 'numbers' at this point. I never seem to get to see any of mine! Well, I guess I should say hubby's. I never got to see his numbers for his sperm test. I haven't really had any blood work done yet with my OBGYN. I did have a TSH, Blood Glucose, and Lipids Panel done at my general practitioner in January. My TSH was within normal range, but I don't remember the numbers off the top of my head. My Blood Glucose was right near borderline, but since I have insuline resistance/PCOS that just means we have our 'cocktail' of meds about perfect! So, that number was good technically. My lipids panel basically showed that my cholesterol levels are normal. Again, the numbers all escape me. I just know it was a sigh of relief to know the cholesterol levels were good! PCOS can lead to insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity... and a host of other issues besides just infertility. It was nice to hear at least my cholesterol was good!
As far as progesterone goes, my understanding is it may come back as part of that 'early' blood work... but the REAL progesterone numbers you want to see are post ovulation. 7 days past ovulation to be exact. That's when you see how the corpus luteum is doing in terms of creating the progesterone you need to support a pregnancy until the baby takes over. The corpus luteum is what's left of the follicle sac after the egg has been released. This is why a progesterone test 7 days after ovulation will also help to confirm whether or not you actually did ovulate. Sometimes your body gears up to ovulate and you get a positive OPK, but the egg never releases. At least with PCOS women. The egg actually never releases and turns into a cyst on the ovary. It can happen with non-PCOS women too, but not nearly as often as it does with traditional PCOS. I am non-traditional PCOS, so to my knowledge I have never had a problem with cysts on my ovaries. Of course, I suspect I used to when I was younger, because my cycles were very annovulatory back then.
I am not sure about TSH causing your pre-AF spotting, but I suppose it could. Hypothyroidism is a lot of times associated with women who have PCOS. So it would make sense that both could effect the progesterone levels in your body. The pre-AF spotting usually has to do with progesterone levels. It can indicate a luteal phase defect. If your progesterone levels are low post-ovulation, your uterine lining can begin to tear down early and that is what is causing the spotting usually. (Not always, it could be something else, so don't take my word as actual medical advice. LOL) Women with 'normal' luteal phases typically don't spot, or if they do it is only the day before AF arrives. I used to spot for 3-4 days prior to AF before I started taking my metformin regularly again. Then when I added the supplement pregnitude, I pretty much stopped spotting. Sometimes I will spot the day before, but not for 3-4 days prior like I did before. So I think my meds are helping my progesterone levels, but since my luteal phase is still on the short side (11-12 days) I might still have an issue. I will have a 7 days past ovulation blood test to check my progesterone levels this cycle, so it will be good to know!
If you want to know for sure if your progesterone is a problem, you should probably ask for it to be checked 7 days after you get a positive OPK.
Okay... THAT was a long post! lol
so let's see another one 
comes. 
homework this month! 
Ugh. Your docs?!!?!?!?!?!?!? 
What do you think?
OH and I actually talked about sitting this cycle out, just to take a bit of a break before the Femara. We also need to sort some stuff out between us, but that's a long story. If I get inspired I might put it in my journal. Meh. We're fine, but almost a year of TTC, the m/c, stressful jobs, and OH struggling to find his niche in this city I made him move to for my job...well, all that can take its toll. 
to anyone else I've missed. I'm doing this on the fly!
