Anyone here taken Clomid?

[RRBB]

Yes, for 5 cycles - 2 at 50mg, 2 at 100mg, 1 at 150mg. I experienced hot flashes and moodiness. I didn't realize they were s/e at the time because I thought it was just the emotional rollercoaster of TTC. Anyway, Clomid really messed up my system because I only O'd every other cycle on the stuff whereas I was O'ing every cycle not on the stuff. Needless to say I will never take Clomid again. What finally worked for us was injectibles in combination with IUI and very close monitoring.

I guess my word of warning to anyone contemplating going the clomid route is to be prepared for it to not just mess with your emotions but also your cycles. I know lots of people that have had success on it, but then there are lots like me that it doesn't for whatever reason.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We must have been a hopeless case because we bypassed the clomid and went directly to IVF with injectibles and thankfully have a beautiful set of 7yr old twins to show for it.

I did want to second what mickeyboat said about PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome):

I tried many cycles without the monitoring as well. It didn't work for me. My problem ended up being PCOS and glucophage worked for me.

It is sometimes difficult today to get a diagnosis of PCOS but it's worth a try to check it out if you're going through infertility treatment because as she said, nowdays if you're found to have it, they can put you on metformin (glucophage), a diabetic drug, instead of clomid and often times that's all it takes to regulate your cycles enough for you to get pregnant on your own. PCOS is not well known even by many doctors today (although that's slowly changing) so you have to do your own research and be your own advocate.

Two and a half years ago I was reading a Woman's Day article about PCOS and thought it sounded a lot like me. I requested to see an endocrinologist through my primary care and who did they send me to but my infertility doctor who is a Reproductive Endocrinologist (it was fun introducing him to my twins). Sure enough, I had it, confirmed with blood tests, and went on metformin which has made a big difference in a lot of things for me. We were done having children but if we were still trying I have no doubt this may have helped us enough to get pregnant on our own. So check it out and maybe see an endocrinologist, you can research it online and PM me if I can help in any way. Good luck!

 

[cats7494]

It helps to read about other women going through the similar things...

My cycle is very regular – but unfortunately it is every 15 days! Since they are so close together, I do not ovulate…

I meet with my Dr. next week and hope to get some questions answered. I will be asking her about the concerns and tests/medicines you all mentioned!

I want to make sure we are doing the right things.

I will have to keep you posted on how things go!

 

[mickeyboat]

PCOS is not well known even by many doctors today (although that's slowly changing) so you have to do your own research and be your own advocate.

I couldn't agree more. I basically diagnosed myself in 1998 through a combination of an article I read in Glamour, a tv news show segment, and through the internet. I had just bought a computer and gotten internet access - which I credit for being able conceive.

My symptoms were clear, no cycles, weight gain, polycyctic ovaries (which was noted on every u/s I had while on Clomid. Still, I was never tested, and I assumed I had been.

So when I was lucky enough to see the RE and not the Nurse Practicioner (who was great by the way), I mentioned PCOS. He said he was sure I had been tested, but he checked anyway, and I hadn't been.

I was tested on New Year's Eve, found on on Jan 6th the I had mild insulin resistance, started metformin (glucophage) on Jan 7th and found out I was PG on Jan 28th. Too bad it took so long and so many attempts to find out what the problem was.

I encourage anyone going through infertility testing and/or treatment, to be your own advocate. Get as much information as you can, talk to as many people as you can, ask as many questions as you can think of - and make sure you get answers you can understand. For a long time I felt helpless during treatments, but once I empowered mydself with information, the whole process seemed much less daunting and intimidating.

cats - good luck to you! 15 day cycles - ouch! For everyone going through infertility, there is hope.

Denae

 

[zagafi]

My dh coined a term for how I was while taking Clomid: Clomicidal. It wasn't far off, either. That stuff made me NUTS! Hot flashes, mood swings--it wasn't pretty. I got pregnant twice and miscarried twice.

On the other hand our first IVF worked well. We have twins! Our oldest ds was adopted.

 

[wld]

Two beautiful clomid babies here. DD 1 is now 22 and nurses gathered round to see the "clomid baby" I never ovulate so this drug was a blessing to us. Got pregnant the first time. Had to take Premarin to have a cycle so I could start the clomid. Now that was a drug I hated and was depressed on it, very unnatural for me. But taking the clomid didn't bother me at all.
DD 2 I planned on conceiving in 1 month too, but it took almost a year. It was a difficult year but more because I wasn't ovulating and everyone kept telling me to relax. I can relax all I want but with no egg, it isn't helping!!!
Finally ovulated (knew from temperature taking) and got pregnant that month. Two eggs, two daughters, I'm a happy girl thanks to clomid!!

 

[Minnesota!]

Did 1 month of clomid. Got pregnant. Unfortunately, I m/c at 8 weeks. I kind of remember moodiness and hot flashes ;o)

 

[Diana Lyn]

Past Clomid user here. I tried two differen dosages and it did not work for me. My Dr. monitored the size of the folicles as they were growing through my cycle. They grew to the proper size, then DH injected me with Hcg (the pregnancy hormone), then at a certain time, we had to try to make a baby (6AM - not a lot of fun).

I tried many cycles without the monitoring as well. It didn't work for me. My problem ended up being PCOS and glucophage worked for me. Then, while nursing, not taking the medication, and not having a period, I got pregnant again, only about 2 months after DD#1's birth. Be careful!

I did experience moodiness which is pretty unusual for me.

Good luck to you.

Denae

This is my exact story! After four years of desperately trying....I now have TWO DDs 13 months apart. Only I did four rounds of clomid, my only side effect was the hot flashes. People at work thought I was crazy all winter with my short sleeve shirts! In hindsight, I would have dealt with any side effect just knowing that it is so worth it in the end. Good luck to you!

 

[Jennifer S]

Same- I had no problems getting pregnant w/ my first child but second took 2 years. Used Clomid 2 months and was pregnant. I don't remember hot flashes but I do remember ovulating - you could feel it - was a little uncomfortable but well worth our beautiful 4 year old boy. Good luck! Funny after all that trying now I want my husband to get "fixed" and he won't.

 

[cats7494]

I had the same experience as you. No problem with my first, but then we tried for about a year for my second. I took 3 rounds of clomid, tracked my temp and took ovulation tests. The 3rd round was the charm. I didnt have any side effects either.
Best of luck to you. I know how frustrating it is.

The ovulation tests...I have seen those. Were they a big help? I will have to talk to dr. about that too...

 

[DVCconvert]

Any side effects to be aware of?

omg...yes, there was at least in our case. My DW took this....it turned her into the most vile, aweful, hateful, wicked, human being I've ever seen. Of course I knew what was causing it, but it didn't end when she stopped taking it. I ended up calling it "GO Mad". It was horrific. One moment she was hanging on me....120 seconds later, she'd be in a pile on the floor sobbing uncontrolably. Be very careful with this drug. I hope it works for you, but it did not for us.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I too took the Clomid, 150 mg... a day for 5 days. I got pregnant right away. took the pills the week before Christmas. Then went away the 27th. I was at the Boardwalk By the way, Minus my Dh. During the course of the trip. I was so swollen I could not button my shorts. I can't say I was in pain but somthing just fealt not right.
By the time I returned home on the 4th, I called the DR and saw him the next day. Turns out even that dose taken for one cycle was too much. I had 12 cysts on the left ovary and I think 8 on the right. Normally they would have operated under such extreme circumstances, Because they were worried about ovarian torsion, ( twisting of the ovaries) But... My blood test showed I was pregnant. So I was given the choice of what to do. In the end I of course opted to keep the pregnancy and went every morning for almost a month for ultrasounds to make sure the cysts were receding luckily for me they did. And I was blessed with twins.
Funny when the doctor told me I was pregnant, I said I couldn't be. I had been on vacation with my brothers and my DH stayed home. My Ob had a good laugh about that one! We finnally figured out I had gotten pregnant on Christmas.
The moral of the story, Is don't take a medication like this for the first time and go away on vacation. I did and it was foolish, Because side effects can happen. I can not attest to any of the other side effects As I only took the one cycle. Good Luck!

 

[cats7494]

There are certainly some scary stories about this drug! The Dr. sent me some information to read last night..
I am, of course, a little worried about ovarian cysts - I have had some in the past and they were quite painful.

Lots of questions for the dr!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Clomid user here. We tried for over a year and then tried clomid....I got pregnant my first cycle on it. And now we have a wonderful 13 month old daughter. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[clori]

I took clomid for two cyles. No pregnancy but absolutely no noticeable side effects. The third cycle I didn't take anything since I knew I would be away too much for the daily ultrasound monitoring my re required. The next cycle I did clomid (always 100mg for 5 days) and this time also unmedicated (other than clomid) iui. Today I'm going to the pediatrician for my daughter's 6 month check up! I don't know if the clomid, iui, or both was what helped. My re however will only allow someone to use clomid for a total of 5 cycles but I don't remember why.

 

[jel0511]

My re however will only allow someone to use clomid for a total of 5 cycles but I don't remember why.

Mainly because if a person hasn't gotten pregnant by successfully producing ovulation with clomid in 5 cycles (my RE said 3) most likely they won't with any subsequent cycles. It is then best to move to more aggressive infertility treatments.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I took it for one month then got pregnant. I don't remember any side effects. Probably because I wasn't on it long.

 

[valesoloteee]

Cheap Clomid - ibright.lv Me and my husband tried to have another baby for about 4 years. I took clomid for 5 days and I ovulated and found out 3 weeks latter I'm having a baby and recently at 8 weeks along I found out I'm having twins.

 

[RoseGold]

Why are we resurrecting 20 year old threads?

Them kids out the house by now.

 

[piglet1979]

I took Clomid for one month and got pregnant with my son. The only side affect I remember is being very emotional. I was the assistant director at daycare at the time and state came in unexpected and I just cried. This was nothing new. they came twice a year. DH also said that I had a horrible attitude at home.

My sister's sister in law was one it and got pregnant with triplets. Twins run in my family so every appointment I went to (I had ultrasounds every month with DS until about 20 weeks) I made sure that there was only 1 baby.