TTC after Methotrexate shot

[loeylo]

I had terrible gas pains two days after methotrexate. My belly was so swollen I looked about 5 months pregnant. Are you taking any pain relief? I found that co codomol relieved pain but have me a sore stomach and gas, so it was a double edged sword. Try using a heat pad or a hot water bottle.

The pain truly is unbearable. Your story sounds so like mines!
I had pain at 5+2 (really intense pain at that!) and was scanned, they saw a mass in my right tube exactly where the pain was. My hcg was at over 3000. I had methotrexate there and then. On day 4 my hcg had dropped to 480. Had a meeting at the recurrent miscarriage clinic who agreed that I had miscarried prior to the shot.

I ha the shot on 1st sept and have just finished my first period since.

 

[mirandala]

Hi Alikat- I didn't experience any pains after, but I did have cramping and bleeding for a month. People process it in different ways. Have you spoken to your doctor about this at all?

 

[alikat27]

Thanks for replying, Loeylo and Mirandala! I ended up having to go back to the ER late Saturday night because of the pains--I was so worried about my tubes having ruptured. Another ultrasound confirmed no rupture (thank goodness); I think the pain was just from the methotrexate not having kicked in yet (the ectopic was still quite large in my tube). Sunday afternoon I started to bleed, and the pain's gone down a LOT since then. I think I just needed a bit of time for the drug to start working and dissolve my little clot that was causing me so much pain! Fingers crossed that everything's now working as it's supposed to.

 

[Hatethewait85]

Savs- Just saw your chart updated to a new cycle. Sorry it didn't work but I hope this next IUI is THE one!!

alikat- Sorry about your loss and that you are having pains. I'm glad you went to the ER to get the pains checked out. I had similar issues (except the pain was actually pretty mild) and it turned out my tube HAD ruptured. Anyway, I hope everything is working as it should and your hcg gets down to zero in no time. Are you getting things monitored frequently?

AFM- AF is nearly gone!!! I can't believe I'm gearing up to actually try and make a baby again. Please send happy, growing vibes to my left ovary. I need it to work over time the next few months so I can get my BFP!

 

[Savasanna]

Thanks, hate. I really thought this cycle was looking good too. I think I'm going to throw temping out the window. I've always said that I temp because it gives me warning that the cycle didn't take so I'm not surprised by AF. Well, this time it was looking *perfect* and didn't look like ANY of my other charts. And still nothing.. so, now I feel like temping is officially telling me nothing. I MIGHT temp until I see the spike so I know that ovulation has occurred - or I might officially put down the thermometer. I'm not sure yet.

YAY for AF being almost done! So, are you trying a natural cycle at home? IUI? Fx you have a super speedy turnaround!

 

[loeylo]

Really hoping someone can help me here!

I had my methotrexate shot on 2/9. I am currently 8dpo and we had unprotected sex last night! I know it is unlikely, but I'm freaking out about birth defects

 

[Savasanna]

If you're 8dpo you can't get pregnant. No worries, hun!

 

[loeylo]

Didn't mean 8dpo, I meant cd8. I usually ovulate cd12-14 so it is possible, but slim!

 

[Savasanna]

Ah - I totally understand your concern, but you're likely going to be fine. That's pretty early to conceive still. Think about it from the reverse, if you were actively trying and you only got to bd on cd8 you'd feel like you wouldn't have a shot!

But, at the same time worrying is what we ttc ladies do best. So I'll also tell you that I've been people on these boards fall pregnant immediately after mtx and had healthy babies.

But I really think you'll be fine.

 

[loeylo]

Thanks - that is true!

 

[Hatethewait85]

Savs- I hate temping. I keep meaning to but I just can't bring myself to start up this cycle (CD8 today). I say get rid of it! If you are doing opk's to check for O, that's enough. Temping is just one more stressor to worry about it. Have you thought about adding u/s monitoring to your IUIs? (not sure if you are doing that already, but thought maybe not) THat would be another way to help make sure you're timing the IUI well. I'm just trying naturally for now - surprisingly that's how I got pregnant this summer (that + herbs + acupuncture). We did not get pregnant with drugs, IUI, IVF at all (not even a hint of a BFP). So I'm hoping we will get lucky again soon as long as I ovulate one of these times form my left ovary. If nothing by the end of the year I think I'll contact my fs again and take some letrozole at higher doses to make it more likely I will ovulate from my left side. I guess time will tell

Loeylo- I agree with everything Savs has said. I did read a few stories about BFP right after MTX and the babies were healthy, but I'm not sure I would risk it. Hope it all turns out just fine!

 

[loeylo]

It was a total accident - we were away at a hotel for an overnight, we over indulged in alcohol and got carried away :/ we are only one cycle before being able to try again, so I definitely wouldn't risk it, especially due to our history.

Is everyone lighting their candles tonight?

 

[Savasanna]

My ob doesn't monitor and that's actually starting to become a bit of a frustration for me. I just called today to ask about whether I should only be taking 50mg of clomid instead of 100mg. I ovulate on my own and since we don't monitor there's no way to know how my body is responding to the meds. I'm concerned I may be taking too much. They just called me back and bascially said "nope. stick with 100mg". No explanation. No reasoning. Just a simple "because I said so". Frustrating.

So I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that. Follow suit and continue with 100mg or drop myself down to 50. I'm sure whatever I do I'll wish I had done the opposite.

What herbs were you taking? I started acupuncture half way through last cycle so this will be my first full cycle using it. I believe last month she said she'd give me some herbs for this cycle - I'm curious if we'll be taking the same?

I think I'm with you on the temping. I'm over it. I already deleted the ff app from my phone.

Loeylo - what are we lighting candles for?

 

[loeylo]

15th October is a Memorial Day for miscarriage/stillbirth - people light candles at 7pm to make a "wave of light" around the world.

 

[mirandala]

Hi All!

Any thoughts on folic acid sups? I hadn't been planning to try this month, so I haven't been taking my vitamins regularly (bad me!). Now that I'm going to try, I'm maybe over vitamining. I've been taking a multivitamin with 400mg folic and an additional 800mg folic. Do you think that's good? I know they say 400mg is enough, but as I had the methotrexate I feel like I should take more?

 

[loeylo]

I'm taking 800mg as well. I'm taking Pregnacare complete, then individual 400mg folic acid, omega 3, vitamin d and then from bfp I am taking low dose aspirin. Then again, I'm dealing with a triple whammy - a higher risk of miscarriage, higher risk of ectopic plus higher risk of birth defects because of the methotrexate.

I don't think you can overdose on most vitamins - I think it is vitamin a you should avoid in high doses, so be careful if you take omega 3.

I'm also increasing my dietary intake by eating a bowl of fortified cereal in the morning, and lots of dark leafy greens!

 

[Savasanna]

You can't overdose, no - but I do remember reading that at a certain point your body can't absorb any more of some vitamins, folic acid being one of them. If I'm remembering correctly I believe that was somewhere around 800mg so that's why they say it doesn't make sense to take more than that. I know we're all concerned about ntds caused by the mtx but I think as long as you've waited at least one month and are taking sups now that you should be ok.

 

[jammers77]

Hi All!

Any thoughts on folic acid sups? I hadn't been planning to try this month, so I haven't been taking my vitamins regularly (bad me!). Now that I'm going to try, I'm maybe over vitamining. I've been taking a multivitamin with 400mg folic and an additional 800mg folic. Do you think that's good? I know they say 400mg is enough, but as I had the methotrexate I feel like I should take more?

I took 800mg after my 2 mtx jabs. My OB said that supplementing with extra folate wasn't necessary--just that a prenatal with it was enough, but I wanted to err on the side of caution especially since you can't OD on it.

 

[Hatethewait85]

It was a total accident - we were away at a hotel for an overnight, we over indulged in alcohol and got carried away :/ we are only one cycle before being able to try again, so I definitely wouldn't risk it, especially due to our history.

Is everyone lighting their candles tonight?

I know how that goes. No worries, I'm sure it will be just fine!

My ob doesn't monitor and that's actually starting to become a bit of a frustration for me. I just called today to ask about whether I should only be taking 50mg of clomid instead of 100mg. I ovulate on my own and since we don't monitor there's no way to know how my body is responding to the meds. I'm concerned I may be taking too much. They just called me back and bascially said "nope. stick with 100mg". No explanation. No reasoning. Just a simple "because I said so". Frustrating.

So I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that. Follow suit and continue with 100mg or drop myself down to 50. I'm sure whatever I do I'll wish I had done the opposite.

What herbs were you taking? I started acupuncture half way through last cycle so this will be my first full cycle using it. I believe last month she said she'd give me some herbs for this cycle - I'm curious if we'll be taking the same?

I think I'm with you on the temping. I'm over it. I already deleted the ff app from my phone.

Loeylo - what are we lighting candles for?

Ugh. Sorry your ob isn't giving much info out. I know my ob had me taking 100mg of clomid too without monitoring even though I seemed to ovulate on my own. Not sure if that makes you feel any better though. Do you have an RE nearby tht you can see for monitoring instead? It certainly ups the cost but definitely makes you feel better about getting the timing right.

I'm on a laundry list of herbs- you would not believe it! The specific chinese herbs I'm taking are to help with my excessive heat/yin deficiency and blood stagnation. One is a custom herb mix that I get from a compounding pharmacy (I take 5 of those twice a day), I take something called 8 immortals (8 of those twice a day), then I usually take another herb (we change this one around). In addition to that I take prenatal, fish oil, coQ10, magnesium, vitamin d, baby aspirin. I get full taking all of these every day! But am happy to do so if it means a baby in the end. Did you get started on the herbs? I'd be curious to her what she put you on!

Hi All!

Any thoughts on folic acid sups? I hadn't been planning to try this month, so I haven't been taking my vitamins regularly (bad me!). Now that I'm going to try, I'm maybe over vitamining. I've been taking a multivitamin with 400mg folic and an additional 800mg folic. Do you think that's good? I know they say 400mg is enough, but as I had the methotrexate I feel like I should take more?

I agree with what others have said. I took extra folic acid for awhile but mostly for peace of mind. It won't hurt you.

 

[Hatethewait85]

Just gearing up for O. Got the flashy, smiling OPK for high fertility yesterday afternoon and this morning. Just waiting for the solid smiley for peak and hoping it's here in the next few days! CD12 today so it looks like I will not O as late as last month (I wasn't tracking that cycle but last cycle was 34-35 days!) Fx for a nice, pretty egg from the LEFT ovary!