lookin' for some hope

glitterybelle · August 2013

Hey yall! I'm a lurker here and TTTC (and a former knottie) for several years... but don't post too often
I've been TTC for 3 years. The first 2 I attributed it to stress with work and such. The last year I finally admitted to myself it could be more got testing done. I have mild PCOS, insulin resistance but otherwise labs were unremarkable. DH is perfect. I have a very short natural luteal phase when I O at all... only 2-3 days.
I've done 5 months of Clomid and though I've O'ed on 100 and 150 at around day 18-20 (my cycles vary from 29-38 days) nothing else has happened and no explanation as to why...

I could really use some success stories to help me feel like I have a chance. I'm beginning to feel like it's never going to happen for me

. Especially because I feel like EVERYONE around me is prego (most without trying)So please, let me know what has worked for you:) TIA

Dragonfly1226 · August 2013

I am so sorry you are dealing with IF. I remember how hopeless I felt when I was TTC #1. It was a very dark time in my life.

When you say that you have done five rounds of Clomid, did you do them with an OB or an RE? I ask because it doesn't sound like you were monitored during these cycles since you weren't sure if or when you ovulated. Mose REs won't do more than six Clomid cycles total since Clomid can have lasting effects on your lining. Six cycles of any one treatment sounds like a whole lot to me. If you aren't working with an RE (reproductive endocrinologist - fertility specialist) then run, do to walk, to see one. OBs are great once you are pregnant but typically not so great at getting you pregnant. That's an RE's job.

When TTC #1 we did two Clomid cycles, three injectable IUI cycles, and two IVF cycles. IVF #2 brought us DS. When we TTC again we had success with a FET. My RE said that after three tries at any one treatment you reach a point of diminishing returns and it is usually time to move on. Sending tons of thoughts and prayers that you have success soon!

ELF4321 · August 2013

It sounds like it's time to move on from clomid. It doesn't work for a lot of people. Getting your body to ovulate is just one piece of the puzzle.

If you were not doing the clomid cycles with an RE, it's possible your lining could have been made too thin by the clomid, which is common and can prevent implantation. With such a short LP, you also need progesterone supplements after you O to make sure any resulting embryo has a chance to implant. I think IUI with injectible meds is the next logical step for you. It doesn't hurt lining the way clomid can, and the closer monitoring with an IUI will help make sure you're not just wasting time and money on something that isn't working for you. Good luck!

ELF4321 · August 2013

And I'm sorry you have to be here asking for advice. IF is stressful and heartbreaking.

TJ1979 · August 2013

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. IF is so unfair.

I agree with the 2 PP's. It really sounds like you need to get to an RE and move on from Clomid. If you aren't ready to puruse IUI yet, perhaps you could try Femara and timed intercourse. Under an RE's care, he can monitor your ovaries, figure out when and if you are ovulating, prescribe a trigger shot to induce ovulation if you aren't doing so on your own, then you and your SO can do the rest. I got pg with femara, ovidrel trigger, and IUI.

GL, and I hope you find success soon.

mnj05 · August 2013

I agree with everything said so far and that an IUI might be a good next step for you. For me, I do not ovulate and DH is severe MFI. We did clomid then went to the RE (not the steps we should've done). We went straight to IVF based on DH's numbers and were lucky enough to have success on the first round. We've decided to go back to the RE next December and DH wants to try one IUI before jumping back into IVF, so we'll see what happens there.

I'm sorry you're dealing with IF, it's not as easy thing. I hope you get in with an RE and find what works for you!

kmc84 · August 2013

Just chiming in to say I agree with all the pp's. Best of luck to you!

PennyLane26 · August 2013

Ditto to everything that has already been said. Time to scratch Clomid from the BTDT list, if you don't have an RE that's where I would start. Good luck and (((hugs)))!

glitterybelle · August 2013

I am working with both an ob and a re. My ob ordered all the testing because my insurance won't cover anything ordered by an re. The re said iui isn't a fruitful option for us because my uterus and lining is "ideal" and his sperm count is great. And felt it would be a misuse of our money. I tried femera first nothing happened there. On clomid I o based on ultrasound. The only thing I haven't had done is the lap. The re wanted he to try other things before we do that.

Im just so sad all the time. I don't understand why this happens to us ladies who just want to be a mommy... ya know?

TJ1979 · August 2013

Are you on metformin for your insulin resistance? I hope this doesn't come across as rude, but are you overweight? Sometimes with PCOS using metformin and dropping as little as 10 lbs can help.

glitterybelle · August 2013

I dont take it as rude and yes. To both. I am on metformin only 1000 mg per day which seems low to me in reading what my fellow tttc_ers are on. And yes I'm overweight I am trying to lose weight and have been for 2 years. Follow a low carb good fats diet and I walk 4 miles daily and the gym 3 times a week (because I have a hyperactive pup) however I work 12-16 hours shifts and days and overnights. Sometimes I'll swap from day night back to day in 4 days... I think that's why I haven't lost any weight.

oooCarrieB · August 2013

Have you tried acupuncture and TCM? I know some ladies have had success improving the length of their LP this way.

The book The Infertility Cure has some good advice on diet, etc.

Mrs.AmyDylan · August 2013

So sorry you find yourself in a sad IF place. Has your RE mapped out your options?

After we had our full work up (bloodwork, semen analysis, HSG to check my tubes) we sat down to discuss options. He spelled out each type of treatment and the success rates with our diagnosis (unexplained). After two "perfect" clomid rounds with no pregnancy, we moved to IVF.

You might look into doing a consult with a few other clinics. I'm a bit concerned that your OB/RE combo let you do five rounds of clomid and RE doesn't think IUI is a good option (which sounds odd when they keep doing clomid).

And brace yourself, IF is expensive. We had some insurance coverage and our IVF cycle cost around $7-8k. We just weren't willing to settle for childless without trying ART.

glitterybelle · August 2013

Yeah. I know it's costly. In our area for ivf with no donor eggs and such it runs 12-18k. Unfortunately we don't have that option right now. The next course is injectables and if that fails ivf. Thisnis the 3rd re I've been to. I didnt like the first 2. My re feels that because im young (25) I have a good chance of getting preg without ivf. He tells me I have to relax a bit and be patient... I'm no good at either

glitterybelle · August 2013

And all the latest data says clomid is not harmful until after 12 cycles so long as those cycles aren't concurrent (which mine weren't). My re told me that and I didn't believe him I tend to ask a lot of questions. I'm n.p.(I do critical care neuro and trauma surgery so I know very little about reproductive medicine) I did research last night on all of the treatments and saw failure rates for everything. I think that's what got me so down.

ELF4321 · August 2013

Chiming in again to add another vote for acupuncture and also fertility yoga. There is a great DVD set called Restoring Fertility that you can do at home, since it sounds like your schedule might make yoga classes a challenge. While it doesn't help everyone, if you're not in a position to pursue agressive treatment like IUI and IVF, these might help and can't hurt.

I'm trying to remember some of the dietary changes I made too, like switching to organic eggs and dairy (this would apply to meat also), to make sure the growth hormones they give to farm animals weren't affecting me. I was also eating way too much soy since I don't eat meat. There is a lot of increasing evidence that soy can mimic estrogen and potentially screw up your cycles.

Just a few suggestions you might want to think about that wouldn't involve too much added expense. They are rarely enough on their own, but may offer some benefit (and in my case, we got lucky and had a surprise pregnancy a few months after I made these changes).

glitterybelle · August 2013

Yeah I've read suggestion about organic before. We are switching to organic foods where we can. Milk eggs etc. We grow most of our veggies so thats a bonus too. Ive heard of the fertility yoga before. I love yoga how is it different from normal yoga?? I'm very interested in acupuncture I think I may look into that. If nothing else it would provide great stress relief

mcgeeva · August 2013

ELF4321 said:

It sounds like it's time to move on from clomid. It doesn't work for a lot of people. Getting your body to ovulate is just one piece of the puzzle. If you were not doing the clomid cycles with an RE, it's possible your lining could have been made too thin by the clomid, which is common and can prevent implantation. With such a short LP, you also need progesterone supplements after you O to make sure any resulting embryo has a chance to implant. I think IUI with injectible meds is the next logical step for you. It doesn't hurt lining the way clomid can, and the closer monitoring with an IUI will help make sure you're not just wasting time and money on something that isn't working for you. Good luck!

I agree with this exactly. I did two rounds of clomid and it didn't work for me and thinned my lining big time. I would be nervous about the amount of times using clomid and like others said I wouldn't use it anymore. Definitely stop using you OB and move to an RE where you can be monitored. Good luck to you! Just sounds like you haven't been monitored well and with the effects of clomid that could of prevented pregnancy. Good luck to you. I hope you find a good RE and get pregnant your next cycle.

mcgeeva · August 2013

VUNCare said:

I dont take it as rude and yes. To both. I am on metformin only 1000 mg per day which seems low to me in reading what my fellow tttc_ers are on. And yes I'm overweight I am trying to lose weight and have been for 2 years. Follow a low carb good fats diet and I walk 4 miles daily and the gym 3 times a week (because I have a hyperactive pup) however I work 12-16 hours shifts and days and overnights. Sometimes I'll swap from day night back to day in 4 days... I think that's why I haven't lost any weight.

I just want to say something in regards to this. I was also on metformin at the same time as the clomid - I also have PCOS and am insulin resistant (not overweight) but again neither of those drugs worked for me. The metformin just made me really sick. And when I went to Shady Grove they took me off both drugs and we went straight to injects which worked for us.

itsmevkb · August 2013

That you work overnights sticks out at me. My husband used to work overnights and it was horrible on him, and I believe it affected his sperm. If there's something you can do to change that I would but I know it's not like you can just quite your job.

Have you talked about using a higher dose of Femara to see if you'd ovulate on that since it doesn't seem to thin the lining the same way Clomid does? Also, if you did ovulate but still didn't get pregnant what about doing a hybrid cycle of using either clomid or femara and then adding in just a little bit of injectables?

I wouldn't say that IUI would be a waste of your money. Even if your doctor feels like everything is "perfect" as it is, putting the sperm closer to where they need to be certainly can't hurt, right? I had a RE tell me that allowing me to do IUI at age 39 would be stealing my money but I got pregnant on our second one so yea, I showed her!

I hope you find something that works for you real soon.

ELF4321 · August 2013

VUNCare said:
Yeah I've read suggestion about organic before. We are switching to organic foods where we can. Milk eggs etc. We grow most of our veggies so thats a bonus too. Ive heard of the fertility yoga before. I love yoga how is it different from normal yoga?? I'm very interested in acupuncture I think I may look into that. If nothing else it would provide great stress relief

Fertility yoga is really targeted at specific stages of your cycle, like developing your lining at the right time, encouraging ovulation and implantation, etc. The DVD set that I mentioned actually has four different routines that you do at specific times of your cycle. The best part is that it's only 15 minutes a day since you only do one at a time.

ccam · August 2013

Good luck to you!! Sounds like you've received some good advice from the ladies. Hope that you can find what will work for you.

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