:) Hi everyone.

I started taking femara this month for the first time to regulate my cycle. Before taking the medicine I read the book Taking Charge of your fertility. In the book it mentioned paying attention to your cervical fluid and noticing your peak fertile day indicating ovulation. I am currently on day 14 and have not noticed any cervical fluid. I have felt a slight pain indicating that ovulation may be occurring but haven't noticed any other signs. My question is can femara/clomid dry you up during the month or does this mean that I am not ovulating. My RE told me not to use the ovulation indicator tests and that I will ovulate around day 14. Just wondering if anyone could help. Thanks!

I have had the same problem--It seemed like it got worse the more I took Clomid. I am now taking Femara (2nd month and have noticed very little cervical fluid as well. I am doing IUI so it is not a big a deal for me right now. One thing I used before IUI was called Pre Seed. I bought it off the internet. It definitely made things better. You can also take Mucinex or Robitussin with Guaifensin to help create more. Did your RE say why he/she didnt' want you using the OPK? Are you taking your temps or getting monitored by sonogram? My RE has me use the OPk and I have several sonograms and bloodwork leading up to ovualtion and right after.

Barkley

Hi Barkley,

Thanks for the info I will have to try one of your suggestions. My RE told me not to check my temps or use the OPKs kits because he said it adds too much stress and is just a constant reminder of the problem. I can go in and get blood work on day 20 but that is it. He said that I should ovulate around day 14 and the earliest would be day 12 which is why we start to "try" on day 11-18. This is my first time doing anything so maybe that is why also. He said that he knows that I am ovulating on my own but my luteal phase is too short which is why he put me on femara. He said if I am not pregnant this month and my cycle is not regular then call him and he will do further monitoring. I don't know...he was the second dr. I went to about this and they said the same thing. Did you get blood work and sonograms from day one? How are things going for you this month?

Hi Barkley,

One more question...when should I start taking the Robitussin? Does it work immediately? Thanks!

My RE also told me not to take temps also. He said next time I have a garage sale to put my thermometer out there with a sign that said free! With the meds I am on now, I start my sonos on day 7 and pretty much have a sono every other day until I ovulate (usually day 15). When I was doing Clomid only with my regular OB, I would just go in for one sono a month, usually around the 14th. I don't know how soon the Robitussin will work, I usually started it the same day I started Clomid. I didn't do any of this the first few months, but it seemed like the dryness got a little worse each month of Clomid. I also took straight Guaifensin in pill form, but it was for my allergies, just had a good effect on me in other places also! From my dh's point of view, he said the Pre-Seed was the best.

I would listen to your Dr. and do exactly what he/she tells you! I have many other issues that we are dealing with which is probably why I have so much monitoring. I would discuss the lack of cervical fluid with your RE. It is a very common problem.

Things are going great this month for me. I have 3 good sized follicles and we do our 2nd IUI on Tuesday. We will have to keep in touch, especially since our cycles are so close! Best of luck to you!

Barkley

Hey Barkley!

That is great news! Good luck with your IUI!!! I will definately keep in touch. I am on day 15 so now is just the waiting period. I don't want to get my hopes up but it's kinda hard not too. Keep me posted! :)

You both probably already know this, but the CM problem is one of the bad side effects of the Clomid. It's one of the main reasons you shouldn't take it for more than 3 months because without good CM, the sperm cannot reach the egg. I have never actually taken Robitussen to create CM, but I do know that it works because in the last couple of days, I have been taking it for a cold and man almighty...I've never seen so much CM!! Sorry if TMI!

Good Luck to you both! Baby Dust!

~ravae

I am on day 13 and the IUI will be on day 15. I hate the 2ww-it is so hard to wait. I am actually going to test a little early on my dh birthday and the day before I leave town for a few days for work. I will be anxious to hear how it works for you! Hoping for a BFP :D

I was reading your posts about cm and clomid. I thought that if you are doing an IUI, cm doesn't matter because the IUI bypasses the cm and sperm go straight to the uterus????

You are right. I was just answering her questions based on past experiences. Koukla is not doing IUI. It is really not an issue for me now that we have moved on to IUI---it was an issue for me before that.

HI Barkley,

I just wanted to wish you luck this week. I know you were thinking about testing early. I hope all goes well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep in touch.

Koukla

Hey Koukla,
I am testing a few days early, but not until Sunday. I am leaving town that afternoon for a few days and it is dh's birthday. I hope I am able to give him a BFP that day! What about you? When are you testing? I know you were a few days ahead of me--are you testing this weekend? Keep me posted!

Hey Barkley,

Today is day 28. My RE told me that I should get AF between days 28-32 so of course i tested this morning and it was negative. I still haven't got AF but the outlook isn't too hot. If I am not pregnant then I am hoping atleast for a normal cycle so I know the medicine is regulating it. I am upset but I just have to keep on going and trying. I hope you have better news! Have a great vacation and keep me posted!

~koukla

Koukla,
I am so sorry. It totally sucks to get a BFN :(. I do hope you will find something out about your cycle though. My first month (long time ago) I took Clomid I didn't even O, so I know it's frustrating. The drugs do help regulate my cycles though which was nice. The Femara worked better for me the 2nd cycle I just went through. I don't know yet if it worked enough for a BFP though. I'm not really "feeling" pregnant, so I'm trrying to prepare myself for a no. It's always hard to see a no, though. Hugs to you---I will try and post before I go!

Hey Barkley,

Thanks for the reply and the support. Am I crazy in still hoping that I am pregnant? My DH thinks that maybe I tested too early but i think if i was it would have shown up. I don't know what to think and i'm too scared to get my hopes up. Anyway, I hope you have a good result and my thought and prayers are with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you want send a post if not have a great trip.

~koukla

Hey Koukla, I got home from my conference today and AF came today :mad:
Tomorrow I am going to see my RE so he can check on the cyst I have. Then I will know if I will get to try this month-if so, I will start meds on Fri.
What's up with you?? I'll let you know what he says--I am hoping for no surgery :angel:

What is pre-seed?

Hey Barkley,

Sorry to hear about AF. :( How did your doctor's appointment go? Well I have to retest tomorrow in the morning and then again on the 28th. If it is still negative I will start Provera at that time. Then she said that I will try another round of femara (they may increase the dose) and add progesterone. I will have to buy an ovulation monitor also during the month to make sure that i am ovulating, b/c since AF hasn't arrived they don't think that I ovulated. I can do 2 more rounds of this and then they will do further testing on me and dh. and i will have the option of doing IUI. I was pretty upset this week but I guess I was silly to think that the first round would work. Oh well...I just have to keep trying and think positively. This is all so new to me and I have a ton more questions about the progesterone etc. like what to expect side effect wise, why i am taking it etc. Anyway, I hope you doctor's appointment went well. Keep your spirits high...we'll get through this!

Thinking of you :)
koukla

Saybrook,
Pre-Seed is a "sperm friendly intimate moisturizer." I have never seen it in a store, I bought mine on-line.

Barkley

Koukla,

I am so hoping you do get a BFP tomorrow. That would be great news. You aren't silly to hope that it worked the first time. I am sure that has been all of our hope. If you don't have hope, what do you have? Don't give up hope until AF comes! :angel:

It sounds like your Dr is really trying to do the right thing-I know it's hard to be patient though. My cycles were not regular either until I was put on the right dosage of meds-- upping your dosage should help.There are different kinds of Progesterone---pills, suppositories, I'm not sure what else. I am taking compounded Progesterone pills for 5 days after each IUI. They help strengthen the lining of the uterus. When I had my 2 mc, I had low progesterone, so that is why I take it. The progesterone has side effects that make you feel like you are pregnant--at least they do with me. I get sore bbs. My RE told me and DH that the stronger compounded pills would make me irritable,and could make me a little shaky to be sure to take them with food. It didn'' make me shaky, but I did get grouchy!

OUCH-the ovulation monitors are expensive! You might want to look on Ebay to see if you could get one cheaper. You might want to ask you Dr. about doing a blood test to measure estridol levels--that will tell them if you have ovulated. Of course, the test has to be done at the right time.

This is a very frustrating experience full of many highs and lows. This week was kind of rough on me also. I teach school and my principal has been through everything with me over the last 2 years. She knew I was going to the Dr. yesterday to find out about the cyst/surgery. She had a present on my desk for me this morning. She is such a sweetie!

I have good news from my appt---my cyst is gone so we are moving on to round 3 IUI. I started my Femara today and will start my injections tomorrow.

I'll try to answer some of your questions. I'm no expert, I'm just a little farther along in the process. Hope you get a BFP! I have a baby shower in the morning, but I'll check back when I get home to see if you have posted!

Barkley

Hey Barkley,

I am so happy to hear that your cyst wasn't there!!!!!!!!!!! That is great news!!!!! :D Im sure that was a big relief and now you can move forward. I took a test yesterday and it was negative!!! I have one more test to do on Tuesday and then I can start the provera. i know that is going to be negative too...i just want to get it overwith so then we can start all over again. Anyway I am going to visit my parents for the week so I won't be able to post until next weekend. I will post then and keep you updated after I talk to my dr. Im sure Iwill have a billion questions. Thank you soo much for all of your caring thoughts and advice...it really means a lot to me. You are in my thoughts and prayers. talk to you soon.

~Koukla

Hey Koukla,
I hope you had a great time visiting your parents. It's always comforting for me to see my mom when I'm down...I hope it helped you as well! I'm lucky-my parents live just 10 minutes away.

So, what's up with you? Did AF come? Did you take more tests? Have you talked to your RE?

I have been going in for my sonos-Monday, Wednesday, and I am going in on Saturday morning. My third IUI will probably be Tuesday or Wednesday--I may find out tomorrow. I had more developing follicles this time-there were 7 on Wed. but he said they wouldn't all mature. I'll keep you posted! Say a prayer that all will go well next week!

Hope things are going well with you! :bouncing:

Barkley

Hey Barkley,

Sorry it took so long for me to reply. My week at my parents was wonderful...it was great just to relax and get away. I am in my last year of medical school and my husband is in his first year of residency so our schedules are CRAZY...this is the first time we saw our families for more than one day....it was great. I am happy to hear that you have 7 follicles...did you go through with the IUI yet this week? I have been thinking about you and hoping and praying that everything goes well for you this cycle. I FINALLY got AF on Wed! That was my longest cycle...46 days and I started femara today. They kept my dose the same and I have to call the nurses when I see a color change and then they will let me know about the progesterone suppositories. I think that I start the ovulating tests on day 10....hopefully I will ovulate this month and make some progress. Keep me posted on you...I have my fingers crossed. Here's a little story for hope. I have a friend who is in her early 40's she has been doing IVF's for the past 5 years. She has one little girl who is 3 which she got pregnant with her after 4 IVF's. Well, she is pregnant again after 2 years of trying with twins!!!! I am so happy for her and it just makes me keep going knowing that hopefully we all will be in her shoes some day. (sooner than later hopefully) Anyway, have a great weekend and I will check to see if you posted soon!

~Koukla :)

Hey Koukla, :wave:

I'm glad you and your dh were able to get away and spend time with your families. WOW-you and dh sound busy, I bet it is hard to find time to be together and not be stressed about school/residency and then ttc on top of all that. You needed a vacation :)

Glad AF came for you-hopefully you won't have a 46 day cycle this time. I am hoping we both get BFP this month! I had my IUI last Monday, but we only had 2-3 mature follies as of the Saturday before the IUI. I took one more injection of Menopur that Saturday so maybe that helped them grow a little more. I am really hoping it worked this time--if it did I will have a little Christmas miracle :cool: My Dr. is really incredible--he's such a caring man. He just recently (2 weeks ago) started his own practice. I know he is really hoping this worked to give him good stats out on his own. When we were waiting for the IUI, he let Mike go and see his little swimmers under the scope. DH was quite proud of his little fellas and was amazed at how fast they were going and how many there were. Let's just hope they swam in the right direction!

Your story does give me hope. I just turned 35 in March so I know that time is ticking away, especially when you factor in all of my other repro issues. Getting pregnant is only half my battle. But, we just keep praying that this will work out for us. If not, we will look at adoption. I have a good friend who also has endo and she recently adopted her second child. I am happy I have a resource to go to if that becomes the only option for us to have children.

I hope you have a good weekend. I am off work on Monday for a little mini Spring Break. The teacher next door to me told me Friday that we only have 6 more Mondays left until summer vacation. She has had a really challenging group of kids and parents this year so she is ready for summer. I love my class and parents so I am going to be sad to see them go, but I will love being home this summer!

Barkley

Hey Barkley,

How are you doing? How have you been feeling since your IUI? Things here are going good...I am feeling much better since the end of my last cycle. I am on day 12 right now and I am hoping that things get regulated at least this month. I started the ovulation tests a few days ago and nothing yet but I know it is still early. I just wanted to touch base and see how you are feeling. Looking forward to your post.

Koukla

Hey Koukla :wave:

I haven't been on in a while, but wanted to check on you. I read that you o'd --that is great news! I hope you will back with more news soon--a BFP :bouncing:

My 3rd IUI didn't work either. We are now going on hold for a few months while I am on drugs to help clear up the endo. I have had a really hard time dealing with this---it is hard to try for so long and then to prevent pregnancy for a few months. I am doing better now-but I still don't want to do it!


When will you know something? I have fingers, toes, and everything crossed that you will get a BFP!

Barkley

Hey Barkley,

It was good to hear from you. I am soo sorry to hear that your 3rd IUI didn't work and that you have to be put on hold for awhile. :( Hopefully your treatments will clear up the endo and then a successful month of treatments. I know that this is so hard...but hopefully we will all get what we want in the end. Im doing ok...Im in the 2ww so I just want to test. I had my progesterone levels checked and they said that I ovulated but my levels were only 13 and my nurse said that was good but what Im reading from other posts it doesn't seem that high. I am trying to stay positive but I also don't want to get my hopes up. They are going to test me if i am not pregnant this month. I am going to do the HSG I guess as soon as possible after a BFN. I am nervous about that but oh well it will be good to know if anything else is going on. I will be praying for you and hoping that everything works out with your endo. Keep me updated or if you need to vent to me...Im here!

Take care,

Koula

Barkley, I'm sorry to hear your IUI didn't work. Hopefully the break will do you good ((HUG)) and they will be able to get the endo under control. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thanks for your kind words and especially for the prayers Koukla and Withinreach. I can definitely use the prayers. I have had a really difficult time in dealing with "the break." I cried for a week when RE told me his plan. We have been trying for so long, that not only not TTC, but preventing anything from happening has been a real emotional journey for me. I think I am beginning to cope with it. AF is late, but it could be due to stress. I saw RE yesterday and he started me on drugs to kick start AF, then I will start my "break" drugs. They are supposed to really make me crazy--just what I need at the end of school. I'm already crazy enough at this time! I told RE yesterday we would do one shot at IVF and that was it. It's so expensive and not covered by our insurance. We are also going to start looking at adoption. I will be off this summer so I will have time to really focus on that and maybe take my mind off of the break.
Koukla-I am so hoping and praying for a BFP for you. How soon will you know? I can't wait for good news from you!
Withinreach- are you going to start IVF? I may have some questions for you. I don't really know that much about it. I was really hoping I would never make it to this point. But maybe this will provide me with the best blessing of all!

Hugs to both of you!
Barkley