"C" is for Clomid. The beginning of a TTC Journey!

wentzbc

This is my very first post on the discussion boards. I was apprehensive to join into the world of discussion boards, but I decided I needed some support. Someone out there has to be similar to me! This post will be set up as the beginning of my story (it may be lengthy, but I want to provide as much information as possible to create conversation...and I want to welcome any and all positive responses)! So, let's start with a little bit of background…

I am a 28 year old teacher (elementary reading specialist) who just got married in July. We have an adorable little Yorkie mix dog named Sydney. We built a new house, moved in and feel that it is the right time to TTC and fill up this beautiful home. Easy, right? We will be able to look at each other and get pregnant, like so many of my friends and relatives. That is not in the cards for me.

Let's start at the beginning. I did not decide to ditch the birth control pack like so many of you. In August 2014, I was taken off of it for medical reasons. I had been on the pill for 8 years (before going on the pill my periods were slightly irregular and heavy), and I began having optical migraines with visual disturbances. Many doctor appointments later, my OBGYN took me off of the pill. Forever. He was so serious, I had to discontinue it that day. I didn't have a choice. The combination of migraines with visual disturbances and BC can cause a very serious, devastating stroke. This sent my husband and I into a panic, being very careful and using the pull out method.

Fast forward a few months. My first period took 45 days to get. My second period took 51 days to get. At first, I chalked it up to my body regulating itself after being on the pill. After my second period took longer to come, I decided to make an appointment with my OBGYN just to get checked out before we really started to TTC. All of my family, friends and coworkers said everything would be fine, and it was just my body adjusting. So, I my doctor sent me for bloodwork and scheduled an ultrasound.

This week, I had my OBGYN appointment and my TTC journey immediately took a different path than I expected. My ultrasound and bloodwork looked normal, besides my testosterone levels. I had slightly elevated testosterone levels. My doctor thinks I am not ovulating at all. So, I had 2 options. I could wait it out a few months and see if my body regulates itself, or I could try a fertility drug called Clomid.

So, there it was. It is an overwhelming feeling knowing that my body isn't doing what it is made to do. The elevated testosterone levels are preventing me from something that I have wanted so badly for as long as I can remember. I have to wait to get a period, and then I will attempt my first round of Clomid. I could be fortunate and it could work for me, or this could be the start of a longer journey. I will keep everyone updated as my journey continues!

Is there anyone out there with a similar story to mine? Please leave comments and questions!!

**I posted this on Infertility and already got a rude comment, so please…if you have negative comments, keep them to yourself!!

tlc35

This is my advice.  Fire your OB and stop taking clomid.  Buy a basal body thermometer (they sell them at walmart and amazon) read the Newbie blog on trying to get pregnant, and sign up for Fertility friend and read the tutorial emails. Also consider buying the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility.  Also you should apologize to the ladies on the Infertility board.

Dr.Loretta

Take your doctor's initial advice and wait it out. In the meantime, sign up for FertilityFriend, take the tutorial, and start charting your cycles. Then when you've done that for a few months, you can go to your doctor with actual information to see what's going on.

There could be a lot of things at play here. You might just be coming off of BCP. You may have underlying issues (since you had to go off BCP ASAP) that need to resolve. You may have PCOS, or endometriosis. Or a host of other things.

The point is, until you know what you're dealing with, randomly throwing medication at it isn't going to figure things out. Take a breath, start charting, and go from there. If things don't look normal, get testing. There are a host of tests other than the basic bloodwork that can help sort out what's going on. And there are a host of medications that are not Clomid that may help your body get back on track.

This really isn't an active board, so take the IFers' advice and to go TTGP. Lurk first, and read any rules of the road. It will make things easier. And have a thick skin. We've all been flamed at one point or another and lived to tell the tale.