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!!
If you read my post, I asked for POSITIVE responses. I understand that I am early in my journey and a "newbie", but that does not mean that you need to jump down my throat with negative comments, or provide medical advice.
Please keep your comments to yourself if they are negative!
Hi @wentzbc. I know it is exciting to be TTC and also a little scary to have to be taking medication. Like the previous poster said, TTGP sounds like the right group for you. Please just understand where we're at. All of us here are extremely far into journeys of infertility. I have personally been TTC since 2006 and first used clomid in 2007. After treatment after treatment after treatment, including surgery, many IUIs, and an unsuccessful IVF procedure, I am now on my last attempt at IVF and facing the very real possibility of never having bio children. So someone using clomid for the first time is in my mind similar to someone with a headache and taking aspirin relating to someone getting treatment for a terminal illness. I'm sorry that is how it feels. I do hope you find people to relate to on that other board and wish you luck.
Me: 32 DH: 33 Married: March 2004
July 2006: started TTC 2008: HSG (normal), couple rounds of clomid through gyno 2008 - 2010:dragging my feet out of fear and procrastination October 2010: first consultation with RE, dx PCOS and fibroids (DH slightly low count/motility) Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2012: In DENIAL! avoided the issuebecause I was scared of surgery January 2013: returned to RE, fibroids grew significantly February 2013: second HSG, fibroids pushed on tubes which blocked them somewhat March 2013: MRI to determine what type of surgery may be necessary July 29, 2013: fibroids (5) removed via robotic laparascopy August 2013 - Nov 2013 : benched due to recent surgery
IUI #1, Dec. 24, 2013, BFN
IUI #2, Jan. 25, 2014, BFN IUI #3, Feb. 25, 2014BFN IUI #4 canceled due to lack of response to letrozole IUI #4.1April 28, 2014, BFN May 16, 2014:wtf consult, start prepping for IVF in June and add injects for one last IUI in the meantime IUI #5 started letrozole and bravelle but canceled after HSG led to new diagnosis May 21, 2014: third HSG, tubes blocked, one at the beginning, one hydrosalpinx??
June 11, 2014: consult, approved to move on to IVF because the hydro is not completely blockedtherefore allowing fluid to move through slowly rather than backwards IVF #1 August 8, 2014 - 3dt of 2 embryos, BFN September 17, 2014 - 4th HSG, the right tube is very patent (open!!) dye went straight through this time. Weird! October 2, 2014 - started metformin treatment November 14, 2014 - blood work, brought A1C down from 5.8 to 5.5 November 26, 2014 - RE finally back from vaca and reviewed my chart, no more IVFs for rest of calendar year December 1, 2014 - Right after Thanksgiving, I called a new clinic and got in right away! Plan for IVF December 17, 2014 - ER! 29 retrieved (!!), 16 mature, all 16 fertilized (ICSI) IVF #2 December 20, 2014 - 3dt of 3 embryos, BFN
Agree with PPs. We're all way past clomid and onto IVF. The READ ME FIRST posts on each board will give you guidance to which board is the best fit for you.
I'd be looking for a new OB/GYN if I were you-- you've been off BCP for 4 months-- you don't need to jump to clomid. ESPECIALLY unmonitored. Have you done the proper testing? Impatience =/= infertility.
Finally, no one is being negative. You're getting good, honest feedback and solid advice. You're on a public forum. Unfortunately, we can't dictate what kind of responses we get when posting.
***SIGGY WARNING***
Our Story
Me- 35, mild hypothyroidism
DH- 29, low count due to a chromosomal abnormality, only option is IVF/ICSI with PGD.
Married 5/13
TTC since 8/13
IVF/ICSI #1 ER 9/14 - 14R, 6M, 6F, 5 blasts off to PGD- 1 normal female, 2 balanced males
FET 12/8 of 2 frosties - 1 male/1 female - stick babies stick!
Obviously, I unknowingly made a HUGE mistake by posting on here and I apologize to everyone. I have reposted it on the New to the Bump discussion board and I will stay away from this discussion board from now on.
If you read my post, I asked for POSITIVE responses. I understand that I am early in my journey and a "newbie", but that does not mean that you need to jump down my throat with negative comments, or provide medical advice.
Please keep your comments to yourself if they are negative!
Yeah, not how it works. You can't come to a board and tell people how to respond.
The info these women gave is good. Clomid can have serious side effects and most OBGYNs are not trained in how to properly monitor you when you are on these drugs. Clomid is not a "magic get pregnat quick" pill, it is a fertility med and you should have an infertility diagnosis before taking it. You have no indications of infertility at this point. Yes 45-50 day cycles are long, but unless your cycles last longer than 60 days or are annovulatory, then there is no need to start down the infertility road yet. Get a BBT and start charting.
DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA
October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos
November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues. Converted to freeze all due to lining issues. 2 blasts frozen on day 6!
January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues
DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA
October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos
November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues. Converted to freeze all due to lining issues. 2 blasts frozen on day 6!
January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues
OP: time to find a new doc. Give your body more time to regulate itself, chart your cycles, and if you haven't conceived by next August, then start the process by getting the proper testing done THEN take any medication your RE prescribes. GL on your journey and do not take the clomid now.
I just saw your post on the other board. Thanks for bashing us over there, you got some great advice from those who have been in this journey for a long time. If you are expecting only positive results, then message boards are not for you.
op I agree with the other ladies. I have been ttc for a few years now and only now just went to an Re and did my first round of clomid. Had two good follies and iui was a fail but now I have a cyst on my left ovary from the clomid. Thing is I can't even feel it. It was only detectable through an ultrasound. I would not take this drug unless you're being monitored through and RE. You will have no idea what's growing in there. Good luck!
Me 42, DH 33, TTC for about a year naturally (but no protection for 4 yrs). Together 6 yrs, married June 2014. CD 3, FSH of 15, E2 67, AMH 0.43, LH 6.2, normal HSG test DH good count but low volume, 87% motility, 1% morphology IUI#1 - Nov 2014, 100 mg clomid and HCG, 2 large follies 20 & 16mm (7 follies total). BFN IVF# 1 Jan 2014, 225 Gonal F, 225 Menopur, Ganirelix, 4R/3M/1F w/ICSI - PUPO!
I'll just say if you are only looking for 'positive' responses, TB is not really the place for you. Good luck with your TTC journey though.
**Warning: Losses and living child mentioned** BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy. BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you. BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13Myrainbowbaby!
Re: "C" is for Clomid. The beginning of a TTC Journey!
2008: HSG (normal), couple rounds of clomid through gyno
2008 - 2010: dragging my feet out of fear and procrastination
October 2010: first consultation with RE, dx PCOS and fibroids (DH slightly low count/motility)
Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2012: In DENIAL! avoided the issue because I was scared of surgery
January 2013: returned to RE, fibroids grew significantly
February 2013: second HSG, fibroids pushed on tubes which blocked them somewhat
March 2013: MRI to determine what type of surgery may be necessary
July 29, 2013: fibroids (5) removed via robotic laparascopy
August 2013 - Nov 2013 : benched due to recent surgery
IUI #3, Feb. 25, 2014 BFN
IUI #4 canceled due to lack of response to letrozole
IUI #4.1 April 28, 2014, BFN
May 16, 2014: wtf consult, start prepping for IVF in June and add injects for one last IUI in the meantime
IUI #5 started letrozole and bravelle but canceled after HSG led to new diagnosis
May 21, 2014: third HSG, tubes blocked, one at the beginning, one hydrosalpinx??
IVF #1 August 8, 2014 - 3dt of 2 embryos, BFN
September 17, 2014 - 4th HSG, the right tube is very patent (open!!) dye went straight through this time. Weird!
October 2, 2014 - started metformin treatment
November 14, 2014 - blood work, brought A1C down from 5.8 to 5.5
November 26, 2014 - RE finally back from vaca and reviewed my chart, no more IVFs for rest of calendar year
December 1, 2014 - Right after Thanksgiving, I called a new clinic and got in right away! Plan for IVF
December 17, 2014 - ER! 29 retrieved (!!), 16 mature, all 16 fertilized (ICSI)
IVF #2 December 20, 2014 - 3dt of 3 embryos, BFN
We are done with treatment unsuccessfully.
I'd be looking for a new OB/GYN if I were you-- you've been off BCP for 4 months-- you don't need to jump to clomid. ESPECIALLY unmonitored. Have you done the proper testing? Impatience =/= infertility.
Finally, no one is being negative. You're getting good, honest feedback and solid advice. You're on a public forum. Unfortunately, we can't dictate what kind of responses we get when posting.
***SIGGY WARNING***
Our Story
Me- 35, mild hypothyroidism
DH- 29, low count due to a chromosomal abnormality, only option is IVF/ICSI with PGD.
Married 5/13
TTC since 8/13
IVF/ICSI #1 ER 9/14 - 14R, 6M, 6F, 5 blasts off to PGD- 1 normal female, 2 balanced males
FET 12/8 of 2 frosties - 1 male/1 female - stick babies stick!
Beta #1 10dp5dt 444! Beta #2 14dp5dt 2,340! U/S 1/5-- TWINS!!! EDD 8/26/15
"You'll never see the rainbow if you can't survive the storm"
Yeah, not how it works. You can't come to a board and tell people how to respond.
The info these women gave is good. Clomid can have serious side effects and most OBGYNs are not trained in how to properly monitor you when you are on these drugs. Clomid is not a "magic get pregnat quick" pill, it is a fertility med and you should have an infertility diagnosis before taking it. You have no indications of infertility at this point. Yes 45-50 day cycles are long, but unless your cycles last longer than 60 days or are annovulatory, then there is no need to start down the infertility road yet. Get a BBT and start charting.
TTC #1 since August 2011
My Blog
September 2012: Start IF testing
DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA
October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos
November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues. Converted to freeze all due to lining issues. 2 blasts frozen on day 6!
January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues
April 2015: FET #2.1
PAIF/SAIF Welcome!
TTC #1 since August 2011
My Blog
September 2012: Start IF testing
DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA
October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos
November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues. Converted to freeze all due to lining issues. 2 blasts frozen on day 6!
January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues
April 2015: FET #2.1
PAIF/SAIF Welcome!
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CD 3, FSH of 15, E2 67, AMH 0.43, LH 6.2, normal HSG test
DH good count but low volume, 87% motility, 1% morphology
IUI#1 - Nov 2014, 100 mg clomid and HCG, 2 large follies 20 & 16mm (7 follies total). BFN
IVF# 1 Jan 2014, 225 Gonal F, 225 Menopur, Ganirelix, 4R/3M/1F w/ICSI - PUPO!
BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy.
BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you.
BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13 My rainbow baby!
January PAL Siggy Challenge: Good Advice