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I've noticed lately that there are quite a few of us who are seeing a specialist and/or using fertility medications while TTC. I thought it might be nice to have a thread where we can talk about the treatments we are going through and to give each other support while we are going through these treatments.
We will be starting our third treatment as soon as AF gets here. We were going to start injectibles, but we talked to our RE a little more and have decided to try a different route. I was able to ovulate with Clomid, however my lining wasn't thick enough to support implantation. So this round we are going back to Clomid and adding estrogen supplements so hopefully my lining gets thicker.
Its been a rough road even though it has only been about 5 months. Right after our failed second treatment I found out my best friend is pregnant and it was an accident. I'm trying really hard to be happy for her but it is still a little rough.
Just remember that you aren't alone! So many couples have fertility issues, whether it be problems with the woman, the man or both. Infertility doesn't have to be a taboo subject. When I first started talking about it with a few friends I would always get asked if I was going to end up with 8 babies. Let me tell you, that is the exception and not the norm! The RE's and specialists take precautions and should monitor you closely so that doesn't happen.
So what are your experiences? What treatments have you done? Any advice for those of going through treatments?
Thanks for posting! I had and HSG on Wed and plan to start Clomid next month. I am scared but hopeful at the same time. Would love to hear how people felt taking Clomid and learn of any other options we may have. Good luck!
I am fascinated with this thread, and I hope more people post. I have an appointment with my doctor in two weeks, and I'll hopefully soon know what the problem is. We're on month six, but my periods are so erratic, the doctor wants to see what's up. I'd love to hear more stories from others!!!
Here is an update on us...
I just finished 5 days of 150mg of Clomid. I go back for blood and ultrasound Wednesday. So far, 50mg and 100mg doses seemed to get folicles going, but not quite big enough. And my estrogen rises then falls. All of this is in the same cycle. I have not had a "period" yet.
On 50 mg, I had one follicle measuring at 11, then it shrunk back down. On 100 mg, I had two follicles, a 10 and an 11. They stayed there, but my estrogen dropped. So we will see what we have on Wednesday.
If it looks like any follicle is big enough to drop, I may have to do an injection to get it going. It is sitting in my fridge giving me the creeps everytime I look at it!
I've had some ovary pain, so I am feeling optimistic about Wednesday. But I learned the hard way not to get my hopes up too high.
My sister is pregnant, and now my neighbor is pregnant. My neighbor really pissed me off as she was talking about what a shock it is and how surprised she was. She had this whole coy "oopsies!" act. I said "congratulations!" She says "HAHA, I think!!" Sorry, but that is just not the thing to say to someone you know is going through such a hard time conceiving.
Miss Green, I am glad your tubes were clear with your HSG! When I started Clomid, the 50 mg and the 100 mg did not have many side effects (except ovary pain, which they tell you is good!). But now that I am on 150mg, I notice headaches and an odd feeling in the roof of my mouth...I don't get that at all. Plus, I seem to wake up in the middle of the night to pee a lot.
Best of luck to everyone on this thread. If I can answer questions for anyone based on what I have done so far, feel free to ask.
I am so glad to see this board! I've also noticed that there are several of us having trouble with TTC.
I was finally diagnosed with PCOS this summer. My GYN thinks it's a mild case of it. She did bloodwork, but no ultrasound. I've never had painful periods or anything to make her think there could be cysts there. Just absent periods w/o the use of BCP.
She started me on Metformin a few months ago and a round of Provera to start a period (I hadn't had once since January!). After nothing happened with that, I went on my first round of Femara (an alternative to Chlomid) and a second round of Provera in September. I went in on day 23 (supposed to be day 21, but it was a weekend and I was out of town) to test my progesterone levels. They should be at a 10 or so. Mine was at a 0.9 - very discouraging to say the least.
I just finished my third round of Provera yesterday. AF should show up tomorrow. Once she does, I'll do Femara days 3-7. This month she doubled the dose. I'm hoping something will come of it this month - even if it just raises my progesterone so that we know we're on the right track.
Here's hoping ladies!
Hey everyone,
I'm not quite on meds yet, but expecting to be... I have PCOS (diagnosed at the age of 14/15,) and it's a bad case of it, from what I understand. Hormones are off the charts, and I have most of the yucky symptoms.
My husband and I are trying to take a relaxed (hah!) approach to TTC for the first year, and if nothing is happening by August next year we will start seeking medical assistance. Just bought Taking Charge of your Fertility, so hoping it will help me understand my cycle, (and lack of cycle!) much more.
Wishing you all baby dust!
@heathah: I know how you feel about pregnant people, I have a coworker that is pregnant and my best friend found out she was pregnant with an "oops" baby. I am happy for them but it is still hard to see and be around.
@candy_nee: how are your symptoms on provera? I get really bad cramps, so bad I just want to curl up on the couch with a heating pad all day.
AF showed up yesterday so tomorrow I start another round of clomid and then go in on CD 13 for an ultrasound. If I have any follicles that look ready they will give me an hCG shot to make me ovulate. And if my lining is still thin I will get an estrogen supplement.
I think if this round doesn't work I am going to ask for an HSG. I'm kind of suprised I haven't had one yet and we have been seeing the RE since July...
@sweetkate: I am really surpised you haven't had an HSG. That was the first step for me. Just curoius, did AF come on its own?
I go for bloodwork and ultrasound Wed. AM. It can't get here fast enough. And if it looks like I will ovulate then I will probably have an injection.
I am so glad we have this board. It helps to talk about what we are going through.
@sweetkate: My Provera side effects aren't too bad. The first month was kind of awful - I was a crazy b!*%h with the hormones and had pretty bad cramps (which I've never really had_. I chalked that up to not having had a period in 7 months and going through the stress of buying our first home. But, the second and third rounds have been pretty harmless.
I've never had a cycle on my own, it was always with birth control or now provera. I've always known I would have issues TTC because of that. My mom also struggled with infertility.
Before we started seeing the RE I was off birth control for over 2 years which means I didn't have a cycle for that long and oh boy, that one was a doozy. I spent 2 days in bed with horrible cramps and it was extremely heavy. This last couple ones haven't been that bad but the cramps, ugh, they are still kinda bad.
I'm really happy I have you ladies to talk to! I have tried some other infertility boards but I don't feel quite as comfortable there. A lot of those women are already on IVF and I feel like I can't complain or say how I feel about going through all this because I haven't been going through it as long as they have.
@sweetkate: That was excatly my symptoms - no period w/o help. I always knew I'd have trouble too. Did you see your GYN first or go straight to the RE? It seems like you and @heathaah are going through more advanced treatment than I am.
I saw my GYN when we were ready to TTC and she immediately referred me to an RE given my history. About a year before we were TTC I did go in and she did some blood tests to see how my hormone levels were and try and figure out why I didn't have a cycle but she didn't come up with anything.
We have been TTC for over a year now. I've been through all the tests and bloodwork and they really didn't find anything wrong. I was dx with PCOS due to absent periods, but I'm not insulin resistant. My periods are completely absent unless I use provera and I am also being monitored for elevated prolactin levels. I've done four clomid cycles (with TI) and got no response, and now my RE wants us to move on to IUI. We are on a forced break due to me losing my health insurance (and my job). Not that my insurance covered IF treatments, but it is nice to have coverage for some of the prescriptions, most of the office visits and some bloodwork. My new insurance will kick in soon, but I'm not sure if we can afford to move on to an IUI cycle at this time. I'm hoping we can start up again after the first of the year.
TTC gets more and more difficult with every passing month or every pregnancy announcement I see on facebook. :-( I think this thread is a great idea. It's good to know that we aren't alone.
Welcome to the board @deviledegg!
Ok, ladies. I have a question that I'm sure you'll all know. What is considered your first cycle day? Is it the day you first see blood (I feel gross just typing that. Sorry) or the day you would need more than a panty liner? Yesterday was a panty liner day and I counted that as my first day. Should I have? I already scheduled my day 21 bloodwork and wonder if I should push it back a day. Plus, I don't want to start Femara a day early.
Excellent news today!!!!!
I have two follicles...a 18 and an 15!!!! This is so great. Previously I hadn't had anything more than an 11!!!
I got teary on the ultrasound table!!
I still need to see what my hormone levels are at...I will update!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
@heathaah: Congrats!!!! I wish I knew what that meant, but since you're excited, I'm excited for you!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!!! Basically what it means is that I might actually ovulate! I don't normally on my own...the follicles (eggs) just do not get big enough to rupture and drop. So on 50mg and 100mg, nothing grew bigger than 11mm. They need to be like 18 or so to drop, but that varies by person.
Now we just need to see where my estrogen is...I am waiting for the call!
Yay heathah! Good luck! I know how exciting it is to have good follicles!
@candy_nee: The day you need more than a pantyliner is your first day.
@deviledegg: Welcome to the thread!
Ok everyone...
Estrogen is at 380, LH is at 8. Blood test again tommorow to see if LH goes up. Hopefully I will ovulate in a few days!!!!
@heathah: That is great news! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Also, how often are you going in for blood tests? The last couple cycles I feel like I have hardly gotten any done.
I'm so glad I found this board! I have been SO frustrated with doctors the past few months. I was finally dx with PCOS in September, after telling the doctor since Feb to do an ultrasound. One of my ovaries is Polycystic, the other one has a simple cyst. I haven't had AF on my own since March. I just went in on Monday and the dr prescribed me provera to enduce a period, then prometrium starting on cd 18 til i get menses, and she seems to think that this will get me to ovulate. I'm trying to find out right now if I can go straight to an RE or if I have to get a referral, because I just don't like or feel comfortable with the GYN my PCP referred me to. We aren't going to start ttc til Jan, but I wanted to have all my ducks in a row and be ovulating before that, although it doesn't appear that will happen. You ladies definitely aren't alone, and I'm looking forward to having some support!
@angela2011bride: I am so glad you found this board too!! :)
Can your GYN give you a referral? The only issue I see is that the RE will probably want to try things right away (at least the testing) but you may not need to start that this early if you are planning to try in January. I'm not sure if they would prescibe something like Clomid knowing you won't want to "go all the way" with it quite yet? I could be wrong though.
What are your reasons for waiting? It may be a good idea to start now anyways, knowing it could take a few months. But only if you are ok with it happening sooner!
We aren't getting married until March, so waiting until January would most likely ensure that the dress I already bought will still fit. Otherwise, I'd already be trying! We aren't worried about being pregnant at the wedding, because as we all know with having fertility issues, sooner ya start trying the better, and having a family is MUCH more important to both of us.
Actually it couldn't hurt to ask for the referral....it may take a while for the RE to be able to see you. We waited only a month for our first appointment, but I think we were lucky...so yea, I'd ask for it now.
I agree with heathah, see if you can get a referral now. It took a little over a month for us to get our first appointment. Plus, if they know you don't want to actively try they can still run the tests they will need and you can get that out of the way.
That's kinda what I was thinking. Good luck to you! Sending baby dust!!
Are you working? How are you finding the time to go to two appts a week? I'm also trying to figure that out and decide if I need to apply for FMLA or something similar.
No, I am actually not working, but even if I was, the appointments are at 7:30 AM and pretty quick. My husband comes with me, then goes to work after.
Oh ok, that makes sense. That's cool. Thank you so much for being so candid ladies! I appreciate your openness!
The last couple of cycles when I am getting close to ovulating, I will have to go in 3-4 times for an ultrasound. Luckily I am able to either get the appointment first thing in the morning or the last one of the day, it makes it a lot easier to get off work. And for blood tests, the lab I go to opens at 6:00am so I can go on my way to work. Depending on your job you should be able to make it work.
I should also note that I haven't told my boss about the treatments. I really don't want to tell him until we get pregnant but I have a feeling if we have to go to IUI I will need to let him know what is going on. Right now I just tell him I have an appointment I need to go to. I think he knows something is up but having a male boss while you are going through these treatments is tough!
Does anyone happen to know...(obviously I will ask the nurse when she calls, but just curious now)....If bloodtests show that despite the mature follicles, I don't have an LH surge...what do they do? Is that when I would do the injection? And how quickly does the LH number rise? I was at 8 yesterday. Thanks!
Hmm. I'm not sure. My guess is that if you don't have a surge that is when they would do the trigger shot to make you ovulate.
@sweetkate: When you ovulated on Clomid, were you simply exhausted right about that time? I am trying to figure out why I have no energy whatsoever.
The only time I ovulated on Clomid was when we were camping... so I wouldn't be able to say whether it was the Clomid or all the activities making me tired. I should be able to let you know in about 11 days if all goes well....
@sweetkate: I have the same issue. Not the frequency that you do, but the male boss thing. I usually get the first lab appointment of the day (9 am) and just tell my boss I'll be late. He's really easy going, so he doesn't ask questions. The most difficult part is I work at a bank, so I have concrete hours. I can't come in early to leave early for an appointment or anything.
@candy_nee: Yeah that would make it difficult. Luckily the office I work at is flexible, I can even work from home after my appointment if it happens to be earlier in the day. (My office is about 30 min from my home and doctor so it wouldn't make sense to drive back and forth after an appointment)
Do you plan on telling your boss that you are going through treatments?
Probably not. If it ever gets to a point that I have to miss more than an hour of work, maybe. But, even then I doubt it. I probably will wait till we're mid-second trimester if we do get pregnant to even tell him then!
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