New here, gearing up for 1st Clomid/IUI cycle

[Beau Geste]

We are also in northern IL (very north). My Dr is in Hoffman Estates (and 3 other locations). But I am in Naperville all the time to visit fam! So glad you really like your dr, it is sooo important! it also makes me really glad to see the same advice from different offices.

Glad your first day of Clomid went well. I am getting mine tomorrow (a miracle in itself) and am starting on Thursday. Hoping 3rd times a charm. I spoke with my dr today and if this doesn't work, sounds like we have to accept moving on to IVF. Again, really reallly really hoping 3rd time is a charm!!!

Good luck to all the ladies on here! Hope very one handles the 'clomid crazies' well through the holidays!

Oh yes, you are up there!

After my 2nd dose of clomid, I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. Finally dozed off around 1am but had to get up at 6:30am today. Ugh.

I've noticed a headache too both yesterday and today, but we've also had some major weather changes and my sinuses are seriously sensitive to barometric pressure changes, so I don't know what's hormonal or not.

I do feel a few twinges in my side, kind of like having an annoying corpus luteum cyst. I'm guessing those are my follicles - I took an OPK yesterday and stark negative.

FWIW - Hope, my doc also said to start OPK's on day 10. I'm hoping I don't O too late b/c of the clomid, either. I usually O on CD 13 or 14, but last month it was delayed to CD21 - I think b/c I had my HSG that cycle and perhaps the stress messed with me a little.

Clomid day 3 today!

 

[hollyw79]

Are you taking the Clomid in the morning or before bed??? I'm trying to decide what time of day works ... I got AF today I KNEW it was coming... glad it's not late though~ because that SUCKS when you know you're not preggers yet AF doesn't show! Soo~ AF came about 1/2 way through the day.. doc said to start on day 3~ Christmas day... not too enthused about starting that on a holiday :\ thinking about taking it @ night~ but fearful it might interfere with my rest too.

What day of your cycle did you start Clomid?? I wonder why doc's prescribe it to start of different cycle days too... and he didn't tell ME when to start using OPK's either~ although reading here and some other places~ day 10 maybe to start?? I Just don't want to miss it. Are you using the OPK's once or twice a day? I am FOR SURE testing twice a day after this last month. Last month I got a negative on Sunday morning- positive Monday morning- did another @ night for the heck of it (1st time doing it twice) and it was already GONE! I couldn't believe how quickly it passed- we didn't BD the night before too bad- makes me wish I HAD checked it twice ... and that's why now that we are doing the whole IUI~ I am going to be SO on top of it!

What kind of OPK are you using out of curiosity??

I hope you get a good night's rest tonight!!!

 

[Beau Geste]

Are you taking the Clomid in the morning or before bed??? I'm trying to decide what time of day works ... I got AF today I KNEW it was coming... glad it's not late though~ because that SUCKS when you know you're not preggers yet AF doesn't show! Soo~ AF came about 1/2 way through the day.. doc said to start on day 3~ Christmas day... not too enthused about starting that on a holiday :\ thinking about taking it @ night~ but fearful it might interfere with my rest too.

I was told to take it before bed. Probably to minimize the side effects.

What day of your cycle did you start Clomid?? I wonder why doc's prescribe it to start of different cycle days too... and he didn't tell ME when to start using OPK's either~ although reading here and some other places~ day 10 maybe to start?? I Just don't want to miss it. Are you using the OPK's once or twice a day? I am FOR SURE testing twice a day after this last month. Last month I got a negative on Sunday morning- positive Monday morning- did another @ night for the heck of it (1st time doing it twice) and it was already GONE! I couldn't believe how quickly it passed- we didn't BD the night before too bad- makes me wish I HAD checked it twice ... and that's why now that we are doing the whole IUI~ I am going to be SO on top of it!

My protocol was to take clomid days 5-9. Some docs do days 2-6 or 3-7, but research hasn't really shown much benefit to any particular start date between them.

I usually do my OPKs 2x per day for the same reason you mention. My RE also said to test 2x starting CD10.

What kind of OPK are you using out of curiosity??

I hope you get a good night's rest tonight!!!

Normally I have been using some IC OPKs but my RE wanted me to spring for the digital ones this cycle to be absolutely sure I'm O'ing. It was more expensive but I understand.

Thanks, I did finally get some sleep!!!

 

[1hopefull]

hi beau and holly-

beau- i kinda assumed this but what is your diagnosis? is it unexplained? i think the protocols for clomid (ie 3 trys and your out) is different for unexplained vs say PCOS.

headaches are a common side effect, I also had them during my first cycle although my second cycle I didn't have many side effects at all (go figure). i hope that they are tolerable! also, there is something with clomid that makes me not sleep as well too. my dr's protocol is to take the pills (i am on 150mg) between 8-9pm (the same time every night) for cd5-9. then cd10 i start opk with first morning urine. the first sign of any color change (ie not a positive just a line) I am to go in that morning for bloods and scan. they use the E2 levels and follie size to determine which day to have me do the hCG trigger shot. then 36 hrs later we go in for iui.

btw- i have a color change on my opk's as early as cd8 (haven't tested earlier). i had always had a positive OPK but the one time i had my P4 tested on cd21 (7dpo) it was low so they don't know if i really O or not or if the quality of the eggs are low (but it is inconclusive because P4 levels are made in 4 hrs spurts so i could have caught it low).....
with cycle 1 clomid/iui- the O day was cd13, for cycle 2 cd14.

for this cycle: DH can't get off work on cd13 (next friday) so i think i will wait for my bloods and scan until cd12 and hope that it is not too late. if it is the same timing as last cycle, i would be fine. i am also hoping for 3 or 4 follies this time, that is what my dr wants after the two failures with 2 follies.

haha, sorry for the long winded post!

 

[1hopefull]

oh and i like the clear blue digital OPKs, i was using IC and they were not as sensitive and i was never sure if the line was dark enough or not.........

 

[Beau Geste]

hi beau and holly-

beau- i kinda assumed this but what is your diagnosis? is it unexplained? i think the protocols for clomid (ie 3 trys and your out) is different for unexplained vs say PCOS.

headaches are a common side effect, I also had them during my first cycle although my second cycle I didn't have many side effects at all (go figure). i hope that they are tolerable! also, there is something with clomid that makes me not sleep as well too. my dr's protocol is to take the pills (i am on 150mg) between 8-9pm (the same time every night) for cd5-9. then cd10 i start opk with first morning urine. the first sign of any color change (ie not a positive just a line) I am to go in that morning for bloods and scan. they use the E2 levels and follie size to determine which day to have me do the hCG trigger shot. then 36 hrs later we go in for iui.

No diagnosis. Every test I've had is perfectly normal. HSG with clear tubes, multiple U/S with great looking ovaries and nice uterine cavity, FSH, LH, E2, Progesterone, AMH, blah blah blah. I am overweight (working on it!), but it's not affecting my ovulation.

I often get PMS migraines when my estrogen drops, so it makes sense I would get headaches with clomid (since it's an estrogen receptor antagonist).

I've seen that insomnia is a side effect of clomid, but my schedule is ridiculous anyway - it could be any number of things keeping me awake!

 

[hollyw79]

SUCH informative posts! Thanks for all your words of wisdom ladies and sharing!!!

I actually read today some of the reasoning behind WHY Clomid is prescribed @ different times... cycle day 3-7 has the higher increase of multiples and increases amount released whereas on 5-9 basically improves the overall quality.. not sure how accurate that is... but it would make sense in my situation with it being prescribed 3-7 as the doc wants to increase the odds... not to get me to just ovulate. Who knows! So much info out there!

I went out yesterday and bought better OPK's too~ SUCKS spending so much money on them but since like you say~ we're going through these procedures~ definitely important to be accurate!

I know this isn't IVF yet- but I was curious what you all thought about activity level after the fact??? Do you plan on/have you taken it easy after the IUI?

 

[queenlavera]

Ladies, if you have IVF coverage then I would say go for it, but also do not let your doc lock you into three cycles, I know tons of women on another board I frequent who got their BFPs on IUI cycles 4, 5, 6 so it may be that additional one that might do it. Personally I just did IUI #4 with injectables, so I am hoping this is the one. The main fail with IUI is timing so sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get it just right. GL to all.
Also I do rest and lay with a pillow under my butt that evening, but after that I am back to normal.

 

[1hopefull]

well, i am very happy to say i just got my meds (about 2 hrs ago) so i am able to do the 3rd and last clomid/iui cycle! woohoo! i wasn't sure if they would make it in time (they were supposed to be delivered yesterday...). WOOHOO AGAIN!

As for activity levels.... Not to scare you but my first IUI was not pleasant. My second was cake (this is the way it is suppose to be) like a pap. I took a half day off for each. Definitly needed it for the first and really should have taken the whole day. Was fine for the second with a half (could have gone straight to work). I took it very easy so i wouldn't screw anything up. My dr says no running (or very active activities) for a few days after and no bathes. The no bath part suck because I love hot baths in the winter. I am assuming it is just a core temp thing but never asked.

 

[1hopefull]

Ladies, if you have IVF coverage then I would say go for it, but also do not let your doc lock you into three cycles, I know tons of women on another board I frequent who got their BFPs on IUI cycles 4, 5, 6 so it may be that additional one that might do it. Personally I just did IUI #4 with injectables, so I am hoping this is the one. The main fail with IUI is timing so sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get it just right. GL to all.
Also I do rest and lay with a pillow under my butt that evening, but after that I am back to normal.

hi queen, i have been seeing the 4+ successes a lot too (like cheerios on #4 this week). i have been telling myself these are mostly male factor or PCOS couples. i think for these diagnosis the treatments vary a lot from the unexplained. do you happen to have an feel for this? i am very curious.... i know our dr says the rates drop to almost the same as no help but still want to know what other FS are saying.

FX for the injectables with IUI!!!!!

 

[hollyw79]

I read the same thing yesterday that after 3 tries of IUI- the odds are pretty slim of it working. I think for me- I will try IUI 3 times- then IVF twice- that is about all my insurance will cover ... and if that doesn't work- I may try IUI again just because it's no where near as expensive and I can swing the cost of that on my own without insurance. Let's just hope we all can just get a BFP in January! I think that sounds pretty good to me!!

 

[Hope_12]

How are you ladies doing on your first clomid cycle? I'm now 8dpo, and have had AF like cramps for the past 4 days, plus my bb's are unusually sore since 1dpo. that's really it for symptoms, except when I was going to bed last night I started to feel nauseous...do you know if nausea is also a side effect of clomid?

Hope you're all enjoying the holiday season.

 

[hollyw79]

I am doing okay with it- last night was my last dose and I DID have nausea off and on the first 2 days- but not after that. I am only on cycle day 8 so you're definitely ahead of me. I think the only real side effect was headaches- ugh! But not too bad!!

 

[Beau Geste]

STILL waiting to O.

CD14 here.

 

[hollyw79]

is cd14 a little late for you to O or when do you typically? I am on cd8 now and last month I o'd on cd15.. but who knows with Clomid for this month..

 

[hollyw79]

One thing I DID want to ask- i know IUI is no where near as complex as IVF and such~ but did you rest at all or take it easy or do you plan to with your next IUI? Do you think it matters?

 

[Hope_12]

holly, i typically O on cd12 or 13, and with clomid i didn't until cd16 so you may O later than usual on clomid. My FS said to carry on after the IUI as per usual - she said that nothing will "fall out" ha ha. So I didn't stay in bed or anything but also didn't exercise that day either. is this your first iui as well?

 

[hollyw79]

well, that is good to know- I've read so many women O later.. we will see for me! Yes, this is my first IUI which is a little nerve racking.. I am trying not to put TOO much hope into it so I am not disappointed but I am trying to remain optimistic at the same time.

I worry about the activity level because I run about 5-6 miles EVERY day and I don't want to jeopardize anything- I definitely don't want to miss working out bc I feel crappy when I don't BUT its definitely not worth creating an issue with the IUI either.

So this was your first IUI?

 

[Hope_12]

yeah my very first one too. I feel I'm in the same place. The fact that we've taken this extra step is giving me more hope that we may be lucky this month, but don't want to get overly hopeful - the emotional "thump" if AF comes would be really hard.

good for you for running 5-6 miles EVERY day?!? so impressive. I'd personally hold off running on the IUI day - juuuuust in case. At my clinic, we were scheduled to go in, in the early afternoon, so if it's the same for you, maybe you run in the morning?

 

[hollyw79]

Yeah.. I do think it will be harder if AF comes after having an IUI. I know it's important to be relaxed about it- so making an effort to do so! I'll keep my FX'd for you!

Yes, I am a big runner.. I lost A LOT of weight about 6 years ago and I am soooo nervous about gaining it back that I am like paranoid about it and pretty much never miss a day- and that is why with the IUI- I'm thinking I don't WANT to NOT go - but its not worth me messing anything up with it. My doc actually told me to ease up on the running for now- even though I seem to be ovulating fine. That's a good idea to go in the morning- I know taking a break will probably be good for my body anyway... so we'll see. Anything for a BFP!