Hello all - I'm new to the group. Just looking to get some support and hear some success stories from people who are in similar situations to me. I'm in my early 30's and DH is late 30's. He tests fine. I don't get periods or ovulate on my own. I did 3 cycles of Clomid but did not ovulate on any of them. I moved to injectables - gonal f. My first ultrasound (after 5 nights of injections) showed 5 follicles and E2 level was over 1000. I was so excited that I had responded so well :bouncing: . They cut back my dose, and the next day everything was about the same. The nurse said this was OK. Another small dose and the next day my E2 had plummeted to 200 :( . They told me to do the HCG shot and I had 2 IUIs after that. Well, today I went in for a progesterone test, and I did not ovulate. I am so frustrated. They nurse admitted they cut back the dose too much which is why it didn't work. I know this is how they learn about my response, but still......After 5 months of Clomid (the cycles took that long since none of them worked) with yucky side effects and nothing to show for it, I had figured that at least I would ovulate with injectables - that would be a huge step in the right direction for me! But now it is just another wasted month. And I have to wait the 2 weeks anyway, take a pregnancy test that will obviously be negative, and take Provera to induce a period which just delays things again.

Oh yeah, and my doctor's office is an hour and 15 minutes away, if I leave my house by 6 am so as to beat traffic.

So, anyone had a similar experience and have a good outcome to share? I know some would consider me to be early on in the treatment phase, but it doesn't make it any easier!

- Raven

I did two clomid IUI's and they failed. I moved to Gonal F and did two IUI's and the second one actually worked. Sometimes the first cycle they are just getting a feel for what will work for you. I know they started me out on the first with only one vial and I had two mature follicles but they took a while to mature (plus lots of immature ones). They didn't like that so the next time they started me out on 1.5 vials and then once my follicles were developing nicely they cut me back down to one. It was this cycle that worked. The funny thing is, I thought this month they totally missed the mark. I thought I had already ovulated by the time of hte IUI and that it wasn't going to work for sure. It did, and it shocked me. Don't lose hope. Give the docs a chance to learn what works for you and if you aren't sure they're doing a good job after this next cycle, you need to ask lots of questions and if you want a second opinion you should get one. But sometimes they just need time to figure out your recipe for success.
Good luck!
Stacy

maybe IUI isn't what you need...have they talked to you about other treatments? with me they skipped IUI's completely. i went from 3 cycles of clomid to IVF

Welcome raven-j9,
I am also sorta new to the boards and found it very helpful to vent and express my feelings to others here. There are many success stories I have read and it helps maintain my faith that PG will happen one day. Keep your chin up and give the meds a chance to work, and for your body to respond.
Your story sounds like a mirror image of mine...I was on clomed for 6 months when the RE finally took my blood test and vag u/s to find out I was not O'ing on the clomed. So last month (oct) was my first month on gonal-f with HCG shot and I had to much and it overloaded my system and I was in the hospital for the night. But one good thing I did have 4 follicules and O after my first month on gonal-f. So this month I am on break with no meds and am waiting to see AF, which I doubt will come without getting another rx for provera(because I have annovulation). I will call my RE tomorrow to get more provera then start my shots again. I hope that within the next month or two I can have an IUI, because right now we are just trying naturally with the meds of course and timing, no luck yet still waiting to conceive number one.
Keep in touch and baby dust to all!

Michelle

I am really sorry you had a dissapointment. I am hoping next cycle goes much much better for you. I will keep my fingers crossed. Are you felling physically out of sorts??? I am taking the provera right now too. I really hope you feel well and things work out for you. Best wishes... and I hope you get a positive preggers test for christmas

Love,

Lady tafs,

(on her seventh day with no diet coke.. and still going strong .... ish)

Thank you so much for everyone who responded! It is so nice to hear supportive voices when I am stressed out. To follow up on a few of the comments:

Stacy - your message came so quick - it lifted my spirits when I needed it most. Thanks.

dh22 - I think it's not so much the IUI that I need as the ovulation induction. I live in a state where insurance covers infertility, so my Dr. is doing IUI b/c that is what insurance wants to see before IVF. I hope the IUI works, but if not, IVF could be in my future (and I had a friend who has successful IVF at the clinic I go to - yeah!).

Michelle - we do sound so similar...don't respond to clomid, do respond (maybe a little too much) to gonal-f. And we are at about the same place in our treatment. I am going in tomorrow for an ultrasound to see if I start a new cycle or need to sit one out due to remaining cysts. Good luck to you too - I'd love to keep in touch.

Lady tafs - thanks for the wishes for a Christmas gift. Fortunately, I feel fine physically - didn't really have any trouble with the meds. I've run through quite a number of provera prescriptions, but this month didn't need it (which is weird, since I didn't ovulate.....oh well - who am I to second guess what my body wants to do!). Good luck with the diet coke withdrawl! I'm lucky - I don't normally drink caffeine so didn't have anything to give up.

Thanks again everyone! It's great to hear from all of you!

Raven

HI Raven,
It has been sometime since I posted or even looked at the board because I was on break. Well needless to say I did not O in Nov and I waited until 12/3 to take a EPT and it was negative, of course! Now I am back on provera to start AF and then start gonal f again. My doctor has not called me back with the plan for this month, I will give him until monday and I will probably call.

Just wanted to check on you any luck from Nov? How was your u/s? If you start a new cycle will you be on provera first then gonal f? I will probably be watching the board now that I am back on my treatments, so keep in touch!

I have a friend who is going through infertility because of her endometriois, she has had alot of bad luck in the past 5 years. I hope that her and DH get some good news soon. It is nice to have someone to talk to that lives near by and you can just call if your having a bad day.

love to hear back from you, take care,
Michelle :)

Michelle,
So good to hear from you again! Sorry to hear about you not O'ing in Nov - we are in the same boat there. I am all too familiar with provera.....

I had the strangest thing happen after my lack of O last month. I figured I would not get a period (seems logical, right?), but I ended up getting one early - started only 12 days after the HCG injection (so 10-11 days after the time I should have O'ed but didn't). Go figure. I went in for my baseline ultrasound, and was forewarned that I would likely have cysts and would have to sit out a cycle (since I didn't O the follicles and not much time had passed). Well, turns out I didn't have any cysts and so now I am in my second gonal-f/IUI cycle. It was one surprise after another last cycle.

So, I started the gonal-f on 12/3 - 1 vial a night. I went in for my first check on 12/7. Estradiol was low (74) and I had two measureable follicles. They kept me on 1 vial a night, and today (12/9) they said my estradiol was "about the same". I didn't really ask for a clarification on that, as my office door was opened! I'm staying on 1 vial/night and going back Sunday for another check. So this cycle they are taking it real slow with me, making sure I don't over-respond. Hopefully my readings will progress some by Sunday.

Let me know when you get started. At the *slow* pace I am going, I might be at this cycle for a while. I would just love to have great news for the holidays :bouncing: , but am thinking of avoiding my family and in-laws just in case...

Best wishes,
Raven

Hi there. I am coming in late on your story here. I just wanted to say congrats on the no cysts! I have had to wait b4 and it is frustrating. Also, I agree with the other post on these past cycles being a way to "learn what to do" with your body. My situation is on the other end...I O too early and my follicles are not as big as I would like. So, they are thinking about doing another IUI cycle (I've had 2) adding in Lupron. They wouldn't have figured that out unless we had gone through it before. I am considering moving to IVF too. Now I'm just plain rambling....anyway, good luck & baby dust!!!

Hi Raven,
How are you feeling have you taken your HCG shot yet? That is great you didn't have any cysts. And that is wierd about O'ing so late. So how long after your HCG shot do they proceed with the IUI? Just wonder I have never had an IUI done, and I think that may be our next resort if this month's cycle doesn't work. So Jan maybe IUI.
I am on my last pill of provera and starting to get cramps and feel crabby. So that is usually a sign that AF is on her way. Then hopefully by next week on can start my gonal f. If the timing is right we may conceive around x-mas. Wouldn't that be a great gift?? I try not to get my hopes up to high but try to stay positive.
Hi Healthseeker,
When are you due for your IUI? I wish you the best of luck! What does Lupron do? I know I should probably know but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Thanks for all the caring and baby dust to all!
Michelle