another clomid question

Jellyfish42

Okay, I think I have a problem.

I finally got in to see the new OB yesterday. I thought the meeting went well, but now I am completely unsure and I don?t know what actions to take next.  We discussed my charting and he reviewed my most recent cycles and decided I was most likely annovulatory. ( I figured that since my temps were everywhere and showed no obvious shift whatsoever.) He suggested we try to get me ovulating. I initally thought we would have some testing of some sort. He suggested I take clomid. I asked if he monitored with b/w and u/s and he said he did the cd 3 b/w and wanted  me to call if I either started AF or made it to cd35. He said I would need to continue charting to confirm ?O? and that the u/s would just be a waste of money. When I asked about an hsg, he said he liked to see how I responded to 3 rounds of the meds first. I left with the script and went ahead and filled it, knowing I would do more research on my own. ( I am just that type of person.) I read all the info I could about the drug itself, its side-effects and all. I am now second-guessing what I was told.

The good news, I have not taken any of the meds. The dilemma, I want to go back and insist more upon and hsg and the u/s monitoring. I thought what he offered was the monitoring that was necessary. I thought it sounded pretty clear cut. Should I call back to the office and ask for the additional testing? How would I go about that? Any advice?

katib77

:::Sigh:::

Most REs believe you should not take clomid more than six times in your life.  If you do three cycles before looking to see if your tubes are clear - it doesn't matter how great you respond to the clomid if the sperm can't get to the egg because of blocked tubes.  So yes, you should have an HSG first.  

Also you NEED mid cycle monitoring.  The U/S around cd12 tells you if you are responding or not to that mg of the drug.  If you are not responding, what's the point of doing that same thing again?  If you are responding - are you responding too well (aka having too many follies - Hello Kate Plus Eight!).  You don't know if it's thinned your lining so much you can't impant an embryo even if the sperm met the egg (BTW this is the most common side effect of clomid - thin linning).  You wouldn't know if you develop a cyst.  

Without p4 test at 7dpo you don't know if you have enough progesterone is in your system, this can cause miscarriage.  

Tell your doctor you changed your mind.  You do not feel comfortable moving forward with clomid without HSG and proper monitoring.  Or simply say you feel it's time you go to an RE and leave it at that. 

sueann911

Yes you need the HSG first. If your tubes are blocked then you're just wasting three cycles. Did he order SA for DH? Again, if DH has a problem too then it's stupid to take Clomid.

If I were you I would run away from this doctor. He's ignorant and not monitoring you is dangerous to you.

katib77

I forgot to mention OHSS.  If you do not know what that is...google that sucker. 

A past member of our board Genmalone had this and had seven liters drained from her abdomain while she had to stay in the hospital.  (Not from clomid but from IVF cycle, but you hopefully get my point).  Can you imagine three and a half 2 liter pop bottles of fluid in your body?  And the cost of that two week hospital stay?     

Keep yourself safe.  Be an advocate for better care.  You deserve better. 

megs3084

Katib hit it on the head. Im glad you didnt start the meds w out more research!

Jellyfish42

I had read your responses to other similar questions before, katib. I know you get tired of repeating yourself, so I am sorry for that. (And no, I didn't expect a different answer, I appreciate that you are knowledgeable for women who just don't know.) I just needed reassurance that I should back up and figure out if I just needed to call back and request the tests/ request referral. I liked the doctor and he was pretty thorough, but when I left I realized a few red-flags that I missed. Thanks for your response. I won't be taking this med...atleast not now without the proper monitoring.

YouMe&Bax

Have you considered seeing an RE?

katib77

Just glad to see the time I take to write it all out is not for nothing and get deleted.  I was just still upset I spent that time and effort to try and get through to someone only to have it DD'd.  I hold grudges.  Not against you.   

But good for you for seeing the warning signs of a bad idea. 

scbedi

katib77:

Just glad to see the time I take to write it all out is not for nothing and get deleted.  I was just still upset I spent that time and effort to try and get through to someone only to have it DD'd.  I hold grudges.  Not against you.   

But good for you for seeing the warning signs of a bad idea. 

katib you are awesome! Just wanted to tell you! = )

Jellyfish42

YouMe&Bax:

Have you considered seeing an RE?

That was the logical next step. However, I think that I have to have a referral from an OB. I am going to call back and demand the necessary testing be done or referral to an RE, or I will find a different OB to tango with.

Katib, I always value anyone that has more knowledge than I. I hate that it has been a rough road for you, but I really really listen to your advice. I know you really know what you're talking about, and I can learn from that. I just can't believe I fell for the whole clomid shenanigan. I had read up on it a little, but I'm glad I came back and made sure before I moved forward with it. Thank you.

Edit: clarification