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Clomid - worries and questions
Dear all,
I am 28 years old. My husband is 29. We have been trying to conceive since almost a year now. We have been married since 2005 and for two years I used the birth control pills. My OB/Gyn put me on clomid. My first round of clomid started in the last week of November. My doctor (OB/Gyn) prescribed 100 mg. She is a very caring doctor. She did my blood-test, ultra-sound and also checked if there was any fallopian tubes blockage. Everything was fine. The doctor recommended taking clomid from day 3-7. I ovulated after the first round of clomid but didn't get pregnant. She asked me to continue with the 100 mg dosage. I took it in late December. I did not ovulate in January as per the blood test. I also did not get my period on the regular date (32 day cycle). I went to see the doctor. The doctor did the ultra-sound and said that the ovary was fine and she even saw an egg. She told that there might be a possibility that I might have ovulated late (after the blood-test). After the ultra-sound she mentioned that I wasn't pregnant and she recommended to take provera for 5 days. She also bumped me up-to 150 mg of clomid to make sure I ovulate properly. On day 3 of provera, I saw one small light brown spot. On day 4 of provera there were some spots (and I counted this as day 1 of my period). On day 5 of provera, there were more spots. The 3rd day of the period, I got "regular flow" and I also took clomid (3 * 50 mg). I had lots of cramps and severe abdominal pain. Same on day 4 of period. Today is the 5th day. I have always taken clomid at night. With this 150 mg dose, I feel nauseated and feel like throwing up.
I am somewhat worried about the high dosage of clomid. I am just about 5' and petite. I hope all these medications don't have any adverse impact on my body or ability to conceive. Provera, clomid, estroidal - I have had it all in the last 3 months. What is the next step?
I don't want to doubt my doctor but would like to here some opinions here. Thanks.
I am 28 years old. My husband is 29. We have been trying to conceive since almost a year now. We have been married since 2005 and for two years I used the birth control pills. My OB/Gyn put me on clomid. My first round of clomid started in the last week of November. My doctor (OB/Gyn) prescribed 100 mg. She is a very caring doctor. She did my blood-test, ultra-sound and also checked if there was any fallopian tubes blockage. Everything was fine. The doctor recommended taking clomid from day 3-7. I ovulated after the first round of clomid but didn't get pregnant. She asked me to continue with the 100 mg dosage. I took it in late December. I did not ovulate in January as per the blood test. I also did not get my period on the regular date (32 day cycle). I went to see the doctor. The doctor did the ultra-sound and said that the ovary was fine and she even saw an egg. She told that there might be a possibility that I might have ovulated late (after the blood-test). After the ultra-sound she mentioned that I wasn't pregnant and she recommended to take provera for 5 days. She also bumped me up-to 150 mg of clomid to make sure I ovulate properly. On day 3 of provera, I saw one small light brown spot. On day 4 of provera there were some spots (and I counted this as day 1 of my period). On day 5 of provera, there were more spots. The 3rd day of the period, I got "regular flow" and I also took clomid (3 * 50 mg). I had lots of cramps and severe abdominal pain. Same on day 4 of period. Today is the 5th day. I have always taken clomid at night. With this 150 mg dose, I feel nauseated and feel like throwing up.
I am somewhat worried about the high dosage of clomid. I am just about 5' and petite. I hope all these medications don't have any adverse impact on my body or ability to conceive. Provera, clomid, estroidal - I have had it all in the last 3 months. What is the next step?
I don't want to doubt my doctor but would like to here some opinions here. Thanks.
I'm not really sure when to consider CD 1 for you because I'm not sure how the clomid will change it. I'd lean towards counting your day of full flow as CD1, but since you started the clomid on that day, it's difficult to say.
It's tough for me to answer based on my own experience, because I never ovulated (O'd) on my own before taking clomid. I also wasn't getting my period before it - so there was no comparison for me there either. But I DID O "late" by comparison of when they expect you to on clomid. I took it for 5 cycles and always O'd between CD 19 and CD 21, rather than CD14 when they expect you to. It can definitely mess with things, so I'm sure it has the ability to change when you get af and O. I think I've read other ladies saying they got af late on clomid. It's difficult to say when you'll O. When I started taking it, I did the BBT thing, and also did OPK's. I ended up peeing on sticks from CD 10 to CD 21 (much longer than most women do) just to be safe, until I determines approximately when O time was.
I'm surprised they put you on provera so quickly. I do think that it has the ability to delay af a bit. You may want to wait and see next time. I checked my records and my cycles were about 33-41 days long on clomid, and never the same.
If I were you, I'd definitely go and get some clearblue easy ovulation predictor sticks (they are the most sensitive) and follow the instructions. I can answer any questions you have about those too! :o) Once you detect a surge, which would be approximately 24 hours BEFORE ovulation, you want to make sure that your doctor takes your progesterone levels exactly 7 days after you ovulate. They need to make sure the clomid worked. It sounds like they have in the past, but maybe they tested the wrong day. That's why you need to track it so you can be sure the test is done on the right day. My stupid doctor did not do this at first, so my second cycle on it I thought I O'd and everything and had them do the test and it turns out that I didn't and the clomid hadn't worked. I was so angry they didn't test me the first month! Who knows if it worked then! It is very important that they monitor you. Also, the bimbo nurse made me go in on CD 21, which would've been 7 days after MOST people O, but I told her that I didn't O til CD 19 (2 days before the test). My doctor said I was right, and needed to wait to do the test 7 days after O - no matter when it happens. So also MAKE SURE THEY ARE TESTING YOU SEVEN DAYS AFTER YOU O, not when they "expect" you to O!
Sorry I couldn't answer your questions more concretely, but I hope this helped a little. Oh and just so you know, I'm sure 150 mg feels awful and feels like a "really high dose" - but rest assured it's only mid way on the dosing. I was doing 5 pills (250mg) a day on my final cycle! I think that's the max. But honestly, I felt the worst at just 50mg - I think this stuff is AWFUL and any dose can mess you up big time!
Let me know if you need anymore info and GOOD LUCK!
It's tough for me to answer based on my own experience, because I never ovulated (O'd) on my own before taking clomid. I also wasn't getting my period before it - so there was no comparison for me there either. But I DID O "late" by comparison of when they expect you to on clomid. I took it for 5 cycles and always O'd between CD 19 and CD 21, rather than CD14 when they expect you to. It can definitely mess with things, so I'm sure it has the ability to change when you get af and O. I think I've read other ladies saying they got af late on clomid. It's difficult to say when you'll O. When I started taking it, I did the BBT thing, and also did OPK's. I ended up peeing on sticks from CD 10 to CD 21 (much longer than most women do) just to be safe, until I determines approximately when O time was.
I'm surprised they put you on provera so quickly. I do think that it has the ability to delay af a bit. You may want to wait and see next time. I checked my records and my cycles were about 33-41 days long on clomid, and never the same.
If I were you, I'd definitely go and get some clearblue easy ovulation predictor sticks (they are the most sensitive) and follow the instructions. I can answer any questions you have about those too! :o) Once you detect a surge, which would be approximately 24 hours BEFORE ovulation, you want to make sure that your doctor takes your progesterone levels exactly 7 days after you ovulate. They need to make sure the clomid worked. It sounds like they have in the past, but maybe they tested the wrong day. That's why you need to track it so you can be sure the test is done on the right day. My stupid doctor did not do this at first, so my second cycle on it I thought I O'd and everything and had them do the test and it turns out that I didn't and the clomid hadn't worked. I was so angry they didn't test me the first month! Who knows if it worked then! It is very important that they monitor you. Also, the bimbo nurse made me go in on CD 21, which would've been 7 days after MOST people O, but I told her that I didn't O til CD 19 (2 days before the test). My doctor said I was right, and needed to wait to do the test 7 days after O - no matter when it happens. So also MAKE SURE THEY ARE TESTING YOU SEVEN DAYS AFTER YOU O, not when they "expect" you to O!
Sorry I couldn't answer your questions more concretely, but I hope this helped a little. Oh and just so you know, I'm sure 150 mg feels awful and feels like a "really high dose" - but rest assured it's only mid way on the dosing. I was doing 5 pills (250mg) a day on my final cycle! I think that's the max. But honestly, I felt the worst at just 50mg - I think this stuff is AWFUL and any dose can mess you up big time!
Let me know if you need anymore info and GOOD LUCK!
Thank you ALT76 and all for your responses. I am done taking my clomid for this cycle and also estradiol. As mentioned above, I got my periods late this cycle and only after taking Provera. My period was approximately 8-9 days late and only happened after I started taking provera. Would I be ovulating as per my regular cycle this time or would it be late ovulation? Can clomid (or very high dose of it) cause you not to ovulate or mess-up your ovulation cycle? Has someone ever experienced this? Thanks again.
I am just finishing my first cycle with Clomid. Alt76 is correct when she says the dr should be checking for cysts as that can be a side effect. The other one I wanted to mention is that Clomid can also dry out your CM. Just so you are aware and you may want to try using pre-seed (a sperm friendly lubricant) to help the little swimmers on their way. Or their are other things you can do as well, but your dr should be able to guide you.
The Clomid wrecked havoc on my emotions too. It also made my bbs very sorry after O.
Best of luck to you and SSBD !
The Clomid wrecked havoc on my emotions too. It also made my bbs very sorry after O.
Best of luck to you and SSBD !
I too am taking clomid, estradiol but I am also taking Prochieve 8% (progesterone) and metformin.
My Dr also told me to never consider a day of spotting for CD1. CD1 should always be the first day of medium/heavy flow, fyi. Maybe you are taking your clomid too soon. Try what Amy said above and wait 'til you have a regular flow next time.
Good Luck and SSBD!!! Keep us posted on your progress...
My Dr also told me to never consider a day of spotting for CD1. CD1 should always be the first day of medium/heavy flow, fyi. Maybe you are taking your clomid too soon. Try what Amy said above and wait 'til you have a regular flow next time.
Good Luck and SSBD!!! Keep us posted on your progress...
I completely understand and I'm so sorry for all you are going through (believe me! I know what it's like!!!!).... clomid is extremely tough on the body. It causes all kinds of physical and emotional changes. It is different for everyone, believe it or not, I've had some women tell me that had absolutely NO symptoms!!! I was like - WHAT!!???!! But rest assured it could certainly make you nauseous. I did it for 7 months (5 cycles - my cycles were long), and by the end I was taking the maximum dosage of 250mg. It actually got easier for me as I went along, strangely enough, since I had started at only 50mg. My first couple of months on clomid I had cramps EVERY day. I was also an emotional wreck and got bad headaches. When I finally stopped taking it, I was so far gone from who I used to be that it was like... oh yeah, THIS is who I am! I don't actually cry everyday for no reason, etc...
I don't want to alarm you, because I'm sure it's fine, but so you know for the future - generally when you have full flow, that is considered cycle day one. I know it's a difficult game to play, and I remember them telling me that on provera spotting can be considered your period, but that's generally meant if spotting is all you have. I usually had a sense when something more than spotting was coming and I was usually right. So in the future if you get your period heavy the day you intended to treat as CD3 and start your clomid, I'd hold off another couple of days and actually treat that as CD1 instead. Also, with provera, you usually don't get your period until after you stop it. This is because you are taking progesterone, and what happens naturally is that if the egg is not fertilized your body stops producing progesterone, and it is the end of production and the drop of your prog. level that triggers your period. So as a rule I wouldn't expect your period until at least a day or two after you stop taking it (once it actually took a week for me and I was freaking out!)
The thing that does concern me about your post is that you said your doctor did an u/s and said they "saw an egg" - generally that means they saw a follicle. But after ovulation, that is more commonly known as a cyst and can keep going. Usually on clomid (I didn't find this out til months into it and my doctor still refused to do it), many doctors will do an u/s at the start of your next cycle, BEFORE you start the clomid, to make sure there are no left over cysts from the previous cycle. This is because the stimulation from clomid may only make them bigger. I'm not too clear on when that u/s was done, so I'm not sure if any of this applies to you, but I wanted to let you know. I mention it because if it was a cyst, the severe abdominal pain you experience could've been a cyst rupture. I had 2 of them when I was on clomid, but I also have PCOS, and am prone to getting cysts (I've had 8 or 9?? maybe even 10? cyst ruptures - I can't remember the last time I counted)
Generally cysts clear up on their own, but I wanted to mention it because I was concerned. Please feel free to send me a message if you have ANY questions or concerns. I've "been there, done that" and could probably help.
Best of luck to you!
-amy
I don't want to alarm you, because I'm sure it's fine, but so you know for the future - generally when you have full flow, that is considered cycle day one. I know it's a difficult game to play, and I remember them telling me that on provera spotting can be considered your period, but that's generally meant if spotting is all you have. I usually had a sense when something more than spotting was coming and I was usually right. So in the future if you get your period heavy the day you intended to treat as CD3 and start your clomid, I'd hold off another couple of days and actually treat that as CD1 instead. Also, with provera, you usually don't get your period until after you stop it. This is because you are taking progesterone, and what happens naturally is that if the egg is not fertilized your body stops producing progesterone, and it is the end of production and the drop of your prog. level that triggers your period. So as a rule I wouldn't expect your period until at least a day or two after you stop taking it (once it actually took a week for me and I was freaking out!)
The thing that does concern me about your post is that you said your doctor did an u/s and said they "saw an egg" - generally that means they saw a follicle. But after ovulation, that is more commonly known as a cyst and can keep going. Usually on clomid (I didn't find this out til months into it and my doctor still refused to do it), many doctors will do an u/s at the start of your next cycle, BEFORE you start the clomid, to make sure there are no left over cysts from the previous cycle. This is because the stimulation from clomid may only make them bigger. I'm not too clear on when that u/s was done, so I'm not sure if any of this applies to you, but I wanted to let you know. I mention it because if it was a cyst, the severe abdominal pain you experience could've been a cyst rupture. I had 2 of them when I was on clomid, but I also have PCOS, and am prone to getting cysts (I've had 8 or 9?? maybe even 10? cyst ruptures - I can't remember the last time I counted)
Generally cysts clear up on their own, but I wanted to mention it because I was concerned. Please feel free to send me a message if you have ANY questions or concerns. I've "been there, done that" and could probably help.
Best of luck to you!
-amy
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