What would you do?

[Lisa2701]

Hi ladies,

i am looking on your thoughts on my dilema. Its a bit long winded but i'll do my best to keep it as short as possible....

So just a quick bit of history.... I have been TTC for over 2 years now, despite ALL tests on both myself and DH coming back normal and trying all the weird and wonderful things us TTC'ers try we just can't seem to get our BFP (LOTS of false positives, but none real ones but thats another story). Due to my weight I can not get fertility help from the doctors and they want me to loose a huge amount of weight before they will help me . The FS did say though that despite my weight my hormones were all normal, which is unusual apparently for my weight and so she couldn't see any reason I haven't fallen pregnant..

My dilemma...

Last week I went away to Egypt for a holiday. I was due AF the day after I arrived so I took a pregnancy test the day I went and it was negative so I started taking medication to prevent my periods from coming during my holiday, but i took pregnancy tests with me. 2 days into my holiday I took one and got a BFP, however I was weary as I was worried the tablets I was taking to prevent AF was causing the BFP. After finding out what the best pharmacy in the area was I went and spoke to him (He was better than my local doctors!!). After talking it through with him I decided to stay on the medication as he said it wouldn't do baby any harm IF i was pregnant (which I am NOT according to the test done this morning), but having spoken to him about the pregtnancy test we got talking about how long I had been TTC for and how in the UK they won't help me due to my weight. He was dumbfounded by this and INSISTED that weight has no relation to fertility and that in egypt they have REALLY big ladies who have several children etc etc. He then offered me medication to help ovulation.....CLOMID!! Having read up on clomid several times I know the info he gave me was 100% accurate as to how and what to take. So I have to admit I bought 4 months worth (which was the maximum he would sell me).

So, here I am, sitting with 4 - 8 cycles worth of clomid (depending on what dose I take) , from a genuine pharmacist who I had recommended to me by the holiday reps, BUT I would be taking it without medical supervision which makes me frightened... what would you do?

And ladies.. please be nice, I KNOW buying clomid isn't the done thing, and I am a little fragile at the moment, so please, no harsh comments. Thanks

 

[Lisa2701]

Anyone? x

 

[Leafy]

I would be wary too hun because i'm pretty sure the doctors monitor you on it with blood tests, scans etc (even though i don't have first hand experience with clomid, never been prescribed it, i'm still waiting for an appointment with FS) what strength clomid did you get from the pharmacist? Did he give you a low dose? xx

 

[lovie]

I think what im going to say is a little controversial.... but id take them (myself im not advising you to do so). if you do have problems go to the doctor and tell them that you were perscribed them on holiday and you didnt know it was wrong... i understand the strong desire to have a baby, and if the desire is stronger than your fear of problems with clomid then maybe its worth it.

 

[Dodgegal]

Take them, I would. All my tests were normal too, but I am underweight. I have rad the being too heavy or too light can make your O not so strong, etc. Clomid will. There would be NO harm in taking it that I can see. You supposedly O anyways, this will make it happen stronger. Start with the low dose would be the only thing I would do.

 

[trying hard]

From somebody who has taken clomid for four cycles now (I am on my 5th now)

Start on 50mg on days 5-9 as apposed to 2-6 this will only make your eggs better as apposed to more eggs.

If you have any horrible side effect just go to the doctor. People are given clomid unmonitored all the time I don't see why this is any different.

I totally understand your desperation hun and good luck. I would take them if I were in your shoes. Just make sure you do lots of reading up on it before you do.


Good luck!!!

 

[phoenixrose]

I agree with trying hard 100%! I have taken 3 rounds of clomid, and 1 round of injections. I have 2 rounds left. If those are bfn's and I manage to get my hands on clomid again, I will definitely take it. The risk of OHSS is very rare. You just have to be willing to tell the truth to the doctors/hospital if something does happen. I feel that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. I would start with 50mg for a month or two and then possibly move up to 100mg. Best of luck!

 

[wannabemummyb]

Where in egypt did you go? Lol all joking aside, if you can check somehow the validity of the medication and you are 100% sure the if it was me i would consider it.

My only concern would be that fs' seem to suggest you canonly take it or 6 months - now is this a budget thing or can it effect you?

 

[jessandaj]

If it would me i would, now im not telling you to im just saying if it was me in the situation i would take them. People often get non prescribed clomid and are fine, though im not saying i have any expierence with clomid cause ive never took it but from what ive read about it. Good luck

 

[_Nell]

I wouldn't take them, not without sorting some monitoring, private if needed.

If they didn't work i'd hate not knowing what was going on. Plus if they thin your lining or cause cysts they can make things worse rather than better.

I'd find a way around it though. I've heard of women not being offered injectibles/ivf due to weight (as weight does affect those) but not clomid......have you pushed your FS hard for clomid? could you ask for cycle monitoring and then take the clomid you have?

good luck

 

[Lisa2701]

Thanks for all the replies ladies,

First off - Nell, my FS made it perfectly clear that she would not be helping me in anyway until I lost a huge amount of weight. She didn't even bother booking me to come back and see her, she just discharged me saying that I would probably fall naturally a lot quicker than I could loose the weight she'd need me to loose. My husband and I have considered going private, but this is not something we could do any time soon as I we have a little boy with special needs and so I don't work, thus, finances don't allow us to go private easily, we would probably have to save for a good while first, but I do hear what your saying.

I obviously don't need to tell anyone in here about desperation as I am sure everyone knows all too well how it feels. I think I AM going to take them. I am fully prepared to tell my doctor the truth if something didn't seem right, lets face it, if they would help people they wouldn't be pushed into doing things without medical supervision and I won't be shy is telling them that! Many other countries help plus size women with fertility. At the end of the day they are telling me that I am reproductively healthy despite my weight and I have successfully carried a child before despite being heavy then too so I don't buy into the rubbish about me being at any higher risk of miscarriages, c-sections etc.... and at this point, I feel that those risks should be MY decision to make, who should have the right to make that decision other than me? I just don't get the way this country works the health care system at times.

I have 50mg tablets. The pharmacist gave me enough to do 4 cycles at 100mg (which is what he told me to do), but that means if it works at 50mg I have 8 cycles worth, obviously I would have to take a good old break in the middle. I was thinking of doing 4 cycles at 50mg (assuming 50mg works), having 4 months off and then trying another 4 cycles if I have to. If 50mg doesn't work then i'll up it to 100mg, but I wouldn't go any higher than that without medical supervision. Does that makes sense do you think?

Maybe I should speak to my doctor and ask her if she'd run the appropriate bloods. Maybe if I told her I was gonna take them with or without her help she'd at very least do some bloods for me? I mean, they aren't an illegal substance or anything so she can't legally have them removed from me can she? .

I don 't think there is anyway of verifying them, but I actually do trust they are what they say they are. We used the pharmacy at first due to my sister having an ear infection and he gave her an examination before prescribing her antibiotics etc which really helped, and his pharmacy seem legit (had it recommended as well by a British rep) and he seemed very well educated about medications etc. Plus he refused to sell me more than 4 months worth, which says a lot to me cause I would have bought more had he allowed me to.

for those who genuinely are curious, I was at sharm el sheik, and 1 cycles worth cost me.... 35 Egyptian pounds....£3.50!!!! Not that I am suggesting anyone should buy it from there, I am just a naturally nosey person and so I would be curious if I were you.

At the end of the day this has got to be safer than some of the other options I have considered (about a 6 months ago I considered buying it off internet, decided against it based on not knowing what you were being sent). I am at a point where nothing else has worked, I am desperate and I can't get help from the NHS, so what else can I do? I am well read up on clomid, and the risks so its an educated decision i suppose.

 

[trying hard]

On any dose it is not recommended to take more than 6 cycles in your life time so maybe 4 cycles at 50 then last two months at 100

 

[Lisa2701]

On phone so will keep it brief...

ok I didn't realise that. I wont do any more than 6 cycles worth in that case. To be fair as I said to hubby if it doesn't work in 4 goes I doubt it will anyway. Does clomid effect the accuracy of a cbfm?

 

[wannabemummyb]

Trying hard, i thought i had read that somewhere.

Lisa i have had a similar experience with fs, although she still keeps seeing me every six months. According to her it is 'unacceptable for anyone to weigh over(i think she said) 150lbs' i had to stop oh for taking a swing at her!

I can only tell you what i would do and that is i would take them. This is one of the very rare situations i would actually break the "rules". However, i can not tell you what to do either way..it's you life and health. My only advise would be to research the side effects.

I bet if you went private the same fs would prescribe you the drugs! Its all to do with guidelines by the pct!

Good luck whatever you decide x

 

[_Nell]

I hear you about not having the cash for private scans, I do think speaking to your GP about wangling some bloods or an ultrasound would be a good idea though, they can only refuse - like you say they can't take the meds off you!

It's no ideal, but I would at the very least pee on a CBFM stick on day 1-3 of the cycle after taking them......tihs would give you a clue if you have some unresolved functional cysts from the previous cycle (as your estrogen line would be high). Really not ideal, but better than being completely in the dark?

I would also consider doing 3 cycle and then a good 2 cycle break before the last 3 - that way IF you have developed thin lining issues your body has a little time to recover.

It sounds like they're from a reliable source so i wouldn't worry about that side of things (these meds are cheap enough to make without a pharmacy faking them!).
I have no issues with self medicating tbh if you're not getting nhs help, just frustrating you can't get monitored to know it's working/dose adjustment.

Good Luck

 

[Lisa2701]

thanks ladies, I have decided that I am definitely going to take them. AF got me today. I feel rubbish, so sick and mega cramps, its not like me to feel so bad when AF is here.

Do I class today as CD1 ( I am full flow but didn't start until evening time) or is tomorrow classed as day 1?

Anyone have any ideas what days give better success on clomid? I have read that taking it cd2-6 produces more eggs but taking it cd5-9 produces maturer eggs? Whats your thoughts on what is best?

Also read that larger women may not respond to clomid as much and so should take 100mg instead of 50mg, whats your thoughts and experiences with that? I was planning on starting with 50mg, but if I can only have 6 go's at this, I want to have the best shot possible.

thanks again ladies, xx

 

[trying hard]

if AF starts after mid day then count the next day as CD1

Personally I think you should start with days 5-9 and definitely only at 50mg. Taking a bigger dose than you need is actually doing more harm than good as you will just thin your lining. I think 50mg first 4 cycles and 100mg last two will give you the best results given how much clomid you were given. And considering you are Oing naturally all you want to do is make your eggs a bit better not to produce more eggs. Have you looked into some natural thing to take to better your lining and also some pre-seed lube will help too as the clomid will make your CM dryer and not as healthy for sperm to swim through.

 

[Lisa2701]

Thanks honey,

I have pre seed on its way as I am aware about clomid effecting your CM. Have used pre seed before while trying softcups and loved it (as far as lube goes). I haven't looked into anything to improve the quality of my linning, what kind of things help?

I totally hear what you are saying regarding starting at 50mg and agree with you! Makes sense.

AF started about 5pm so will class tomorrow as CD1.

Thanks

 

[trying hard]

https://www.natural-health-for-fertility.com/fertile-mucus.html

Your welcome and good luck!

 

[omuk]

I definitely would. I finally got pregnant after 39 months of ttc and on and off clomid. It has its side effects and one of them is to have an enlarged ovary and an ovarian cyst which can be very painful. I developed this on my first cycle but it did not discourage me. Later on i started Evening Primrose oil on cd1 then clomid on 3-7 and 2 cycles later i got pregnant after so many cycles ttc. I believe that EPO does wonders! Plus taking it easy.

Just be in tune with your body and whenever you feel pain that you should not have please go to the doctor.

Good luck to you and throwing your way.