September 2009 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Mrs. Mo and others knowledgeable about Clomid
I have my prescription for 100mg of Clomid that I plan to start taking next cycle. I've read the link in Mrs. Mo's siggy and some other info about Clomid and monitoring online. My doctor didn't mention monitoring at all, so I'm trying to figure out if this is something I need to address with her. Honestly, sometimes I feel like the message boards, especially GP, blow things out of proportion. I don't want to get worked up about a 1/1,000 chance of something going wrong (not a statistic, just a guess). If I search the internet long enough, I can find a horror story about any drug out there. People drop dead from taking birth control. I want to know if this is something I should really be concerned about and need to address with my doctor or if this is not one of those cases. I don't think I can get honest, rational info from GP (no offense to them), so I'm asking here. If anyone want to share what they know about Clomid, the risks, monitoring etc. etc., I'd like to hear it.
Re: Mrs. Mo and others knowledgeable about Clomid
The risk on Clomid is that you will either hyperovulate and either be at risk of a high risk pregnancy because of multiples, that some people don't respond and cysts grow on their ovaries, or that like the woman in Mrs. Mo's signature, there is a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy because their ovulation was abnormal and not monitored.
Truthfully, Clomid is kind of a scary drug, and most people start on 50mg, not 100mg. I'd ask your doctor if it is possible to schedule a couple of monitoring ultrasounds during the cycle in which you're taking the Clomid. That way, you're better safe than sorry with the risk factors and you're also under treatment and can have documented response or lack thereof- that way you don't waste any more time if it isn't a treatment that you respond to.
Stand up for something you believe in.
Mrs. Mo can probably provide a lot more info, but I almost ended up taking Clomid.
I wasn't sure if I'd even O'ed at all since going off the pill 8 months prior so my doctor did an entire workup on me, and said if all my parts looked normal, she'd have me try Clomid for my next cycle. Turns out, I O'ed (according to my chart) a few days before I went in for the work-up. (I still had the testing done just in case.)
That said, my doctor did discuss the ins and outs with me. You do need to be monitored so ask your doctor about this and ask her who will be monitoring you. (It probably won't be her, but every clinic is different.) Though it can happen, from what I've read, there isn't a huge chance of multiples with Clomid (though the risk of twins goes up by about 10%, I think.) However, there are lot of side effects that may occur from taking it. In some women, it also causes "hostile CM" which can make it hard to conceive, though I have a friend who took Clomid and didn't notice any issues there, but I think she used PreSeed too. Anyway, if you're not monitored, your doctor won't know how you're responding to the drug. Your follicles will need to be checked, this is important if you're going to do a trigger shot and trying to time intercourse or if you plan to do IUI. Also, if the Clomid isn't helping, you may need a higher dose or, after 3 cycles or so, if you aren't pregnant, you may need to try a different treatment or consider an S/A for your H. Like Mary said, you don't want to waste your time if the treatment isn't working.That's good your doctor did all that beforehand. (I hope everything is totally normal!) Anyway, it sounds like she's being proactive, but I'm still surprised she didn't mention monitoring. I'd just call her up and ask her how that'll be handled.
I don't have anything to add about Clomid, but I just wanted to say fingers crossed for you guys, and again, I give you a lot of credit for seeking out answers and being so pro-active. It must be hard, but hopefully it will all get you a step closer to that baby we know you want so much! Good luck and keep us posted.
Honestly, this worries me. Even the pamphlet that comes with the clomid says that you shouldn't take it for more than 6 months in your lifetime. If your doc wants you to do 3 totally unmonitered, I would be a bit scared. Also, all the clomid in the world will not help if your tubes are blocked. Most OB/GYNS will hand out Rxs for clomid like it's candy without really knowing what it's all about. As Mary said, it's a bit of a scary drug.
This was actually the reason I switched to a RE. My OB wanted me to just take it and not give me CD3 & at least 1 other u/s to see how I was reacting to it. So, I didn't bother taking it and went right to a RE. They wouldn't even think about writing a script for any meds until all our tests were done. You should definitely have the HSG to check your tubes first.
Also, just remember that it's the OB's job to care for you after you get KU, not to actually get you there. That is why they are not as well versed on the meds and how to properly monitor a patient. Another thing to remember is that once you go to a RE, they may want to preform all the test your OB already did as they want their labs to do it. So, it may be something to look into so that you don't waste any time or $$.
Dx: Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism After 2 years TTC & failed IUs,we have our IVF baby born 9/24/11
LO#2 aka 'Miracle Baby' Orig. EDD= 9/28 EDD moved to 10/3/13
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison