TTC after Methotrexate shot

[patiently]

From what i've read 4-6 weeks seems to be the average time it takes to get to 0. I'm just past week 4 and was at 860 last tuesday so I think I've still got a couple of weeks to go. I've also read that some people bleed and some don't, both seems to be accepted as normal. Personally i've been bleeding for almost 4 weeks (just mentioned above), but that seems to be stopping now. As for the sex i'm not sure, I haven't let DH near me since ~I found out I was pg, I think i'll ask at my next blood draw though. I'm really missing it, not so much the enjoyment part, just the closeness with DH iyswim!

Thanks a bunch x I haven't let oh near me either since I've been pg. I totally understand the desire to be close that is exactly how I'm feeling. Well your hcg is getting very low and is in the hundreds now so that is great!!! Hope this Tuesday brings us both good news. Thanks for asking about folic acid too I alsowanted to know how much to take. Wish you the best of luck

 

[baby_maybe]

You too hunni, i'm hoping in the next couple of weeks I'll be at 0. As I said previously I got offered another shot of mtx last week to get them down faster, but I'd rather wait the extra week or so and let my body take care of the rest on it's own xxx

 

[chig]

For you ladies who are more experienced in this area than me, what dose of folic acid would you recommend for getting the levels back up for ttc once my numbers hit 0??

My doctor didn't say what she recommend, but she prescribed a specific prenatal vitamin that has 1mg of folic acid. After reading some ladies are taking 3mg, it makes me nervous that I might not be getting enough. I try to eat healthy too! I look out for foods that are high in folic acid. I hope I am getting enough...

When is your next bloodwork? Good luck! Fx'ed for your numbers to be really low!

 

[chig]

I was taking 3 MG of folic acid after my levels hit 0 and continued throughout my pregnancy.

Were you taking an additional supplement, or is that what was in
your prenatal? What brand are you taking? My doctor prescribed a prenatal by the name of Select OB+ DHA.

Btw, when are you due?!

 

[PreshFest]

For you ladies who are more experienced in this area than me, what dose of folic acid would you recommend for getting the levels back up for ttc once my numbers hit 0??

My doctor didn't say what she recommend, but she prescribed a specific prenatal vitamin that has 1mg of folic acid. After reading some ladies are taking 3mg, it makes me nervous that I might not be getting enough. I try to eat healthy too! I look out for foods that are high in folic acid. I hope I am getting enough...

When is your next bloodwork? Good luck! Fx'ed for your numbers to be really low!

You can take 5mg which is 5000mcg I think. There probably isn't very much in your prenatal, so I would supplement and make sure you are taking more... All prenatals have folic acid, but a very small amounth.

 

[baby_maybe]

Thanks presh and chig. I think i've decided on 3mg plus whatever is in the prenatal i decide to take (probably an extra 400 or 800mcg).

Chig my next blood draw is tomorrow morning early, i'm hoping for low low numbers tomorrow, but i've come to terms with how long it's taking now and what will be, will be. I finally had *the* talk with DH about when to ttc again and we now have a plan which makes me feel much more at ease and just happier in the world iyswim I'm not sure if I wrote about our talk in this thread, but it's all in my journal (link in my siggy) if anyone fancies a read. Take care ladies, hope you all had a lovey easter weekend xx

 

[baby_maybe]

Ok so bloods again this morning and numbers came back at 500ish, a drop from 882 last week, but I was hoping it would be more. Ugh, this is taking so long

So I have another question about ttc. I will be 3 months clear of the mtx by the 5th June, but my numbers won't be hitting 0 (the way they're going!) until at least the end of April/beginning of May. So theoretically speaking, if I have a period in May and then one in June would that be enough time to be taking folic acid at a high dose before ttc again or would I be better waiting until after my period in July? All the numbers are confusing me (can you tell !!).

Thank ladies

 

[chig]

Baby_maybe, it really is up to you, but I just talked to one of my friends who's a pharmacist and she said that metho is a really serious drug that can really damage the quality of our eggs and to wait more like 4 months instead of the three that doctors recommend just be on the safe side. She also said to monitor my periods and make sure they are back to what they use to be before you got pregnant. I know the waiting thing is not easy, but I just really want to make sure that I give my body enough time to recover from being through so much.

I had my shot at the end of January, and my numbers hit 0 in early march. I started my prenatals right away and got my first period at the end of march into April. My DH and have decided to wait until I get my period at the end if June, which means trying in July. That will be my fourth period. It feels so far away, but I don't want to go through this again. You want to make sure you are on prenatals for 3 months and that you have given enough time for your body to heal.

Sorry for rambling...

 

[baby_maybe]

Thats ok chig, thanks for your reply. I've been trying to read up on metho and from what I gather most of the advice about metho and how it affects your system is taken from research done when people have been on a set dose a week for an extended amount of time, say for arthritis, psorisis and that kind of thing, plus of course those who had it given in very high doses as a cancer drug. Those same people are advised the same 3-6 month wait even though they have been exposed to it for a period of time rather than a one off dose. So what I'm wondering is, if you take a high dose of folic acid once at 0 and you are 3 months clear of the shot, it can't take you very long to build up the folic acid again, especially if you carry on taking it for the remainder of pregnancy like jparr suggested.

I of course wouldn't want to put myself or a baby at risk of anything untoward, but I think waiting until July would be fine for me. I will be 4 months post shot and at least 8 weeks into a high dose of folic acid by then.

 

[baby_maybe]

In fact i've just checked a calendar and provided I get to 0 by 1st May, i'll have 11-12 weeks folic acid under my belt, which I believe is the recommended time to take it before ttc after metho. Yay, now numbers get. a. move. on. So there numbers!!

 

[Mrs.Stinski]

Well the bleeding finally started yesterday, a week and a half after my shots. Had my blood checked on Monday, still at 600. The way it looks is that its dropping about 50% each week....this whole process just seems to take soooo long!!

 

[baby_maybe]

I hear ya there Mrs S! I will be 6 weeks since mtx next week when I have my next bloods. All we can all hope for is a nice surprise of low numbers when we next get them done. It is so frustrating though!

 

[patiently]

Babymaybe i have also read that the recommended 3-6 month wait is usually for people who have the drug over a period of time rather than in one dose. I havent been through this before so im not given medical advice but Hun i think you should do what you think is best. What is right for one woman may not work for another so go with your gut instinct i'd say. I think you will have quite a drop by next week and like you said you will still have weeks and weeks weeks of folic acid build up before then. I will not be waiting. I know some may think that i am being careless but in my heart i dont feel that way. i think what will be will be. I will be waiting for the recommended three months and then i will go back to ttc. It may not even happen for a month or more and I dont have time on our side. Good luck hun hope your numbers drop fast in the next few days and before you know it back on the ttc wagon. x

 

[resque07]

So i got bloods yesterday and they are down i am so happy. they went down way down im so relieved. they were 246 last week and thet are 74 this week i go back next week and im
Hoping for a big fat zero.....also i feel really good today no side pain or discormfort. god is great.

 

[alleysm]

So i got bloods yesterday and they are down i am so happy. they went down way down im so relieved. they were 246 last week and thet are 74 this week i go back next week and im
Hoping for a big fat zero.....also i feel really good today no side pain or discormfort. god is great.

Yay!! Great news!! Have i already asked you what your tube lengths are after tr?

 

[baby_maybe]

Thats great news resque, fx for 0 next week xx

 

[resque07]

Thanks. i dont know my lenths dr didnt say when i asked he just said they are as long as they use to be.lol he told me not to worry because i was the best tr he had ever done he said i had no scar tissue and that they are veryuch open and clear he did the hsg test right after my surgery. i told him i was terrified i would kust keep having ectopics everytime i get pregnant. but he just replied that it doeant always happen twice he told me to keep trying and he didnt aee me having that problem.

 

[alleysm]

Thats great resq! Do you bbt chart? I started last july and you would be amazed at how well you learn you cycles by doing so. Neither of my ectopics were confirmed in the tubes. In fact both were suspected as nothing was ever seen on the scan. Baby dust!!

 

[Renzalxx]

Ladies, the majority of advice given by doctors and specialists to women on this board was to wait at least 3 months after your HCG reaches zero before TTC - not matter how many shots you had. During these three months you should take folic acid every day to replenish your body as the MTX strips you off it forcing you to natuarally abort.

It explains and answers all of your quesitons here: https://www.ectopic.org.uk/index.php/patients/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

Good luck ladies and sending you babydust!!

 

[patiently]

It contradicts itself though because whilst it says you should wait a recommended three months it also says
"Once your blood hCG levels have dropped, if you wish to become pregnant again, you should recommence your folic acid supplements several weeks or months before you conceive." For me this seems to indicate that its 3 months from the shot. This is also what my dr suggested.