Clomid, no follicles and feeling sad :( - and new to Mumsnet

[FeatherFeather11]

Hello all,

Totally new to the site and hoping to hear what your thoughts/experiences are on Clomid.

Bit about me: 34, lost a Fallopian tube five years ago and I have pcos. After over a year of trying and all sorts of tests, I got put on 50mg three months ago - I didn't have any follies big enough and my progesterone was v low (3!) so they upped my dose to 100mg the second month - worked a charm - had three big follies and the fertility nurse decided to trigger with an injection. I didn't get pregnant but my progesterone was 83!

Thrilled to bits that it had worked, I recently went into round three thinking it would be fine, but I went to the hosp for my scan on Friday (CD12) and there was nothing there! Not a follicle in sight. The nurse said I may have ovulated on my own early or maybe it didn't work this month, but they won't know until after my progesterone blood test this Friday.

I feel so flat and sad and like its never going to happen. Trying to keep strong and not obsess too much, but I couldn't face going to work today and called in sick. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone have any advice or clomid experiences they could share to give me a bit of hope?

[birdie80]

It?s worked once, so it could happen again! Join the Clomid thread, just down the page. You?ll see there are lots of us in the same boat, which is reassuring. There are also plenty of success stories on there. I don?t really have any advice, just to keep soldiering on with it. I find the waiting in tests and treatments really difficult, it all seems to take such a long time to sort out. I am sure we will get there in the end though!

I am on my first month of Clomid ? AF due in 2 days. I keep getting twinges, but still trying to hold onto a bit of hope that it could still happen. I don't know if I got any follicles as they don't scan where I am and my blood tests results aren't in yet. Good luck and welcome to Mumsnet, I joined a couple of years ago thinking I would be a ?Mum? in no time at all, little did I know then?..

[FeatherFeather11]

Thanks Birdie! Wishing you all the baby dust in the world. This infertility business is so difficult! x

[marzipanned]

Don't lose heart Feather! I've been through 6 (I think?!) rounds of clomid. Follicles some months and not others...ovulation some months and not others. It's been a complete rollercoaster for me but I finally got a BFP this month. Terrified because it's really early days, but it goes to show that it can work even if it doesn't seem like it will at first!

The fact that you had such a great progesterone score is really, really positive; even when I ov'ed it was always in the 30s. Hold on in there.

[FeatherFeather11]

Congratulations Marzipanned! I have everything crossed for you! Thanks so much for your sound advice and kind words. x

[FeatherFeather11]

Just thought to add: today, CD17, and I feel bloated and my ovaries are aching like mad. Feel like I'm ovulating, although I'm clearly not as I had no follicles. Anyone have any idea what that's all about?

[marzipanned]

Hmm, it's really hard to say. I think the best course of action is to just keep having regular sex; that way, if by some miracle a follicle has developed at lightning speed and you are ovulating then there will be sperm there to meet it!

Also, keep an eye on your cycle length this month - if you ovulated very early/very late then your period should turn up at a different time to usual. Though let's hope it doesn't turn up at all :)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Clomid is often the first line of treatment for women with PCOS but its not successful or suitable for everyone who uses it. Around 1 in 3 women on it becomes pg. Its main objective is to make the ovaries work harder.

It does have side effects (do mention the pain you are experiencing to them) so I am also glad you are being monitored whilst on it.

I would start asking them about other options as clomid should only be used for a max of six months after which time other treatments should be tried.

You have every chance of becoming a parent but the journey to get there may be difficult. Keep asking questions of them and do not be fobbed off. It is vital that the three of you can and do work as a team.

[FeatherFeather11]

Thank you Marzi and Atilla. I really can't blv how lovely and supportive everyone has been. For so long I just read through threads hoping to glean some information that I could use for my situation. The last few days since posting has made a huge difference. x

[Leopardspots]

Hi, I know exactly how you feel. We have been ttc for over 2 years and I have severe polycystic ovaries as well as being diabetic.

I'm currently on my 6th and final round of clomid. I have ovulated each cycle on 50mg (just one follicle) after having regular scans and the hcg trigger shot but I have yet to become pg :( each month I have only ovulated day 18-21 so quite late. This month they upped me to 100mg and I'm having my second scan tomorrow, day 17 (didn't have any follicles on day 10).

I have an appointment with my consultant on Monday to discuss next steps which will be IUI, however I need to loose a stone to get my bmi down before I can move forward.

Good luck in your journey - it's very hard at times but all we can do is stay positive and believe it will happen eventually!

Leopard

[FeatherFeather11]

Thanks Leopard. Very best of luck to you. I'm sure we'll get there in the end x

[FeatherFeather11]

Also, Leopard - do try and stay positive on this round! I downloaded a set of two clomid assistance meditation mp3's from catchingrainbowsfertility.co.uk (think it was £15 for both) - the first you listen to while taking the pills and the second is to bring on ovulation. I can honestly say that the month I did the meditations every day, I got brilliant results, and the month after, when I didn't bother, I got nothing. Not sure if it's at all related, but it was very relaxing putting my headphones on and zoning out every day and plan on using it the next round. It's not for everyone - a bit airy fairy - but I thought it was great.

[FeatherFeather11]

Well, did my 21 day progesterone blood test this morning and miraculously got results in the same day: as suspected, I didn't ovulate this month and my prog was at 5. The nurse gave me another round of clomid at 100mg and has said they would want me to move onto injectables if this next round doesn't work. Feeling pretty calm, oddly. Just wanted to update you.

[marzipanned]

Hi Feather, I'm glad you're feeling more upbeat. I think calm is the best you can hope for in this situation :) That's great news that they're moving so quickly with the injectables (though, of course, fingers crossed you don't need them).

Leopard, good luck to you too. A couple of things that might be worth bringing up with your consultant - have you had a lap and dye/tubes checked yet? Since you've been ovulating yet, is there a possibility of taking progesterone to extend your luteal phase? The fertilised egg needs longer than a week to implant (assuming you're having 28-ish day cycles)

[Leopardspots]

Hi all,

Onwards & upwards feather. Thanks for the info on the meditation, I'll look into it - anything is worth a go! :)

I had day 17 scan today and no follicles so looks like thats it for me on clomid. I'll know more about the next steps on Monday when I see my consultant.

Hi Marzipanned. I had a hycosy before I started clomid and all seemed fine so at least that's something I don't need to worry about. Not sure if the progesterone would help much either as even though I ovulate late my luteal phase is 12-13 days so in the normal range I think. I'll definitely ask the question though thanks. My endometrium is also always a good thickness too as I know clomid can thin it?

I've just no idea why I haven't fell pregnant as hubby's sperm tests were v.good on all counts too

Trying to stay positive but it's hard, month after month and knowing there is nothing much else we can do to make it happen.

Mother nature works in strange ways at times :)

[FeatherFeather11]

Leopard - TOTALLY works in mysterious ways. I have everything crossed for you this round. :)

Marzi - yes calm is definitely the way forward - just hope I can keep it up! Wondering whether I can ask them if I can do the full six rounds of clomid before moving on to injectables if clomid doesn't work? Just don't want to miss out on the 5th and 6th go! Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy and all the best.

xx

[marzipanned]

That is strange, Leopard. You mentioned that you need to get your BMI down for IUI - is it very high? There's a chance that's what's getting in the way of your getting pregnant as it seems like everything else is in excellent order. I've done quite a bit of stats searching over the past year and BMI does seem to have quite a big impact.

Thanks so much, Feather :) Yes, you can definitely ask them if you can do the full six rounds of clomid! Everything crossed for you. x

[Leopardspots]

Thanks feather. Everything crossed for you too :)

Marzi, my BMI is 34 and needs to be 30 so it's high but not mega high. I'm a size 14/16 so not huge :) its such a battle though. I follow a low carb diet as I'm diabetic anyway and struggle immensely to loose weight. It's just something I'm going to have to do though. PCOS + insulin resistance/diabetic = weight struggle!

Thanks for the advice. Good luck with your journey :)

[FeatherFeather11]

Leopard: I'm toying with the idea of giving the 5:2 diet a go as I need to lose some weight too. Not sure if its something possible for you to try because of diabetes? You'll have to forgive my ignorance on that front.

Baby dust to all! :) realising how important it is to stay positive. Read today about how scientists believe how powerful our minds are in manifesting our realities, so going to try, try, TRY to think good thoughts. Thanks again for all the advice, support and good wishes ladies!

[marzipanned]

Oh Leopard, I know what a battle it is to lose weight with PCOS. Nothing to say but good luck and stick to it!

Yes, Leopard, definitely important to stay positive. It sounds like you are on the right track with that :)

[Leopardspots]

Thanks ladies. Fingers crossed and positive thinking all round! :)

Feather I've looked into the 5.2 and will mention it to my diabetes consultant when I see him in a couple of weeks. Low carbing does work so might be good for you?

We WILL get there eventually! Marzi good luck with your pg too :)

[Leopardspots]

Hi ladies

I saw my consultant today and I am booked in for a laproscopy under general anesthetic :( apparently when I had my hycosy my left tube didn't let the dye through and so could be something wrong. They think it was just in spasm but want to do this procedure to check. If clear I will have IUI when I've lost some weight or straight to IVF if they find an anything.

I'm finding this all so stressful, we've been ttc 3 years this summer and since that time I've been diagnosed diabetic, pcos and I don't think I can handle much else :(

Sorry for being so miserable it just gets on top of you sometimes doesn't it x

[FeatherFeather11]

Oh, Leopard, sorry to hear that. I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but it's really important you stay in a positive frame of mind. Difficult when you're going through what we are, I know. The bright side is this: even if one of your tubes IS blocked, it's possible to get pregnant if you are ovulating. I lost my right tube five years ago and I'm constantly reassured by docs that you can get pregnant with one. There's lots of women online who have been through it and say the same thing.
My advice is to do things that make you feel nice and don't be too hard on yourself. I'm trying my best to stay positive this week after a shocker last week. Sending you lots of happy vibes. xxx

[Leopardspots]

Thanks feather. Just one more hurdle to overcome I suppose.

Hope you get some good luck soon xx

[marzipanned]

I'm so sorry about your news Leopard.

If I can try to cheer you up a tiny bit... I had the lap under anaesthetic and it really wasn't bad. I went home the same day and I was sore for a few days but it was rather nice having an excuse to chill in bed while DH did everything round the house :)

Could you ask about having ovarian drilling while they're in there? Some women actually ovulate naturally after OD while others (including me) become more responsive to fertility drugs. I think it's worth a shot!

I know operations are horrible, and you've had so much awful news to deal with already, but the good thing about this one is it really will move you on treatment wise.

[Leopardspots]

Thanks marzi. I'll mention the ovarian drilling then, good idea.

Like you say at least I'm moving forward. I just thought that clomid would do the trick so hadn't really prepared mentally for the 'next step'.

Thank you all for advice - sorry for hijacking feather! :)