Crazy on Clomid, Injectables Next?

jerseymack23

Last cycle I started with 50 mg Clomid, and no follicles were mature. I stair stepped to 100 mg and eventually ended up with 1 mature follicle. I triggered with Ovidrel and we BD'ed but ended up with a BFN.

This cycle I started with 150 mg, and after 5 days, no follicles were mature. My worst side effect was hot flashes up until this point. However, I repeated 5 days at 150 and lost my mind.

On top of the insane hot flashes, I was dizzy, sobbing uncontrollably, paranoid, completely out of it, etc. When I went in for an ultrasound yesterday, I had 1 follicle around 10 mm. I'm going back Monday to see where that follicle is.

My RE isnt thrilled with my ovaries' response to Clomid, and with the terrible reaction this past week, he said if I don't get pregnant this cycle, we have to come in for a consult. He said probably Injectables. Anyone have experience with Injectables? I am still praying this cycle miraculously ends in our favor.

rosiemead

No experience with injectables yet. We are on our 2ww after Clomid and back to back IUI's. However, my RE told us from the start that if my body didn't react well to Clomid he would change it to another drug called Femara. Not sure how many months of Clomid you have been on, but maybe ask yor RE about Femara? Hope this helps. And good luck.

MagicMikki

I have not had experience with Clomid, so I have nothing to compare my injectable experience to. However, I have had *some* success with injectables (Bravelle because my insurance covered it). My first IUI I had one nice follicle. My second, I had two-three, but I ended up only ovulating two and the third turned into a cyst. My third and most recent one, I started with several and ended up with one good follicle and one potential. I ended up stimming for one more day and the second potential did get bigger, and I'm certain I felt ovulation on both sides, so I believe the second one worked out, as well.

Anyway, everyone's experiences with Clomid and injectables is different, so you might grow well from injectables or you might not! You never know until you give it a try!

Good luck!

jerseymack23

Thanks. I've only done Clomid for 2 cycles. However, both times I stairstepped (50 to 100 and 150 to 150 again). Both cycles- even with the stairstepping- resulted in 1 follicle big enough to trigger.

FeliciaandMiguel

Hi Jerseymack23,

I had 3 unsuccessful clomid cycles before I had to see a fertility specialist. Then he put me back on clomid combined with dexamethsone and my sono showed no progress so he quickly put me on 3 bravelle injections and it worked! We tried naturally but still had a BFN. The next month I did clomid+bravelle again (follies 21mm) and did my first IUI but still had a BFN. He told me it may be bc the clomid was starting to have it's common side effect of thinning the uterus. Next month I was put on Fermara instead of clomid, but bc ferama has a much much smaller dosage, it didn't work for me and my 2nd IUI was cancelled at the last minute

As far as the bravelle injections, they were pretty easy and didn't leave me any side effects. My DH injected me in the stomach with no problem. Just left my stomach tender for a few weeks. I will be takinh them again for my first IVF that is coming up in a couple of weeks.

I'm not sure if your insurance covers fertility meds. Mine doesn't and the bravelle here in Dallas are about $85 each.

I hope to hear some good news from you in a couple of weeks!!

jerseymack23

Thanks @FeliciaandMiguel‌. My Ovidrel shots aren't covered, and they're $120 each. Clomid is covered. Not sure if Injectables are.

We have 1 mature follicle, so we will probably trigger tomorrow night for IUI Thursday.

FeliciaandMiguel

Good luck! All it takes is 1!!

xgirl23x

Hi! I am at the end of my first IVF cycle and I was on injectins for 10 days. Bravelle and Menopur. After 6 days, I only had 3 follicles on my initial does of 75 Bravelle and one of them was huge compared to the others. They increased me to 300 Bravelle and I ended up with 4 follicles and they took 3 mature eggs yesterday.

The injections were really easy and painless. The only side affect I noticed was fatigue (I felt like I was coming down with a cold for 10 days) and gas (I bought a lot of Gas X). I thought I'd be really emotional and I wasn't. If you can do the injections go for it! Good luck .

babeRN101

Try Femara! Has less side effects than clomid and the latest research shows it's more effective (it was a PCOS study tho). Also, it would be cheaper than injectables for sure.
I wasn't responding to Clomid, so I was "stair-stepped" the same cycle with Femara and I had a huge follicle on my last U/S, so Femara it is for me. Good luck!