[Sandy]

Hi eveyone, I'm new to the site and I've found it to be the most informative site i've seen online.

I'm hoping to get some advice on my situation...anything will help right now because I feel lost and hopeless.

I've been TTC for over a year, and have been seeing a ob/gyn for a three months now, and I am suprised that all she has done for me is an HSG and an ultrasound and a SA for my husband. I was advised to take 50mg of clomid and see her in 3 months time. She didn't offer any info on the drug, she said there were no side effects and when i called her to ask her why I was having brown spotting about 1 1/2 weeks ago, she didn't tell me that it could be a side effect, rather she lead me on to believe it was AF, and simply increased my perscription to 100mg clomid. I had to find out via research that it was a side effect of clomid. What infuriates me is the fact that i could have taken the clomid at the wrong time when i could have been ovulating, etc, etc.

I don't mind doing research, but I feel so overwhelmed with all the info and don't know where to start. I suppose I'm looking for some guidance because my ob/gyn seems distant and unapproachable to say the least.

I'm sorry to vent, especially considering it is my first post. But I don't think I'm getting good treatment from my doctor, especially when I'm reading about all these types of tests people are getting. So I have scheduled an appointment for another OB/GYN next month and a RE, and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what tests I should definately have done. Including those for my husband. His SA came back and all they told us was that it was fine. I didn't know to ask about count, motility, and morphology or if there is anything else to ask about.

Thank you very much for any advice.

Sandy

[babybearjmd]

Sandy, welcome to the forum! I would definitely get a copy of the SA. Have they done more than one? You usually want to do at least 2 SAa to make sure that either everything is fine or that there is really something wrong. Also the SAs should be at least 3 weeks apart, if not more. You should be seeing an RE, not an Ob/Gyn for ttc issues. Make sure to bring/forward your records from your hsg and ultrasound to your RE. They will do cycle day 3 bloodwork to check your hormone levels (FSH, LH, E2, Progesterone, etc). They will also probably do a transvaginal ultrasound to see things for themself. They will take a detailed history and then go from there. You should do some research about which RE to go to by checking word of mouth and the stats at the SART website: SART - Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

Hope this helps!

[Kay]

Sandy- so glad you have joined us.

First RUN don't walk to a fertility specialist. OBGYNs are great at giving paps and delivering babies (I know this is an over siplification) but very few are trained in the latest treatments and procedures for infertility. In my opinion Chlomid should NEVER be given with out the proper monitoring. How does your dr know if you are even responding to the meds or if you are over responding?! How does your dr even know what to treat if he/she hasn't done the necessary tests? I waisted a lot of time in the beginnings of my IF journey with a gyno. I went to an RE (reopoductive endoconologist) and had a successful IUI in two months time.
You have started down the right path with getting help after 1 year ttc and by doing research on your own. Now find a good RE in your area. Best wishes to you and I hope you get your BFP very soon!!
Kay

[Sandy]

Dear Babybearjmd,
Thank you for the link. I will do some more research. It was really helpful to read your response as I was wondering if it would be beneficial to get another SA done. I will definately request my bloodwork to be done as you've suggested. My appointment with the RE is April 30th so I'm hoping for a new and positive relationship to develope from that. Also seeing my new ob/gyn that day. Again thank you so much for the info, I hope we can keep in touch. It's reasurring to have someone knowledgeable in my corner.
I wish you the best of luck.
*.... II ...* this is me sending you a BFP.

Sandy

[babybearjmd]

Your welcome!!! Many of the ladies in this forum are very knowledgable and have been through much more than me! They are all supportive and will ing to answer almost all of your questions! I wish you luck in your journey! Take the time to read through the different threads here and you will learn a lot! Happy Easter!

[Sandy]

Dear Kay,

Thank you kindly for the information. I must say that when I read your first sentence my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. I wish i would have known that a fertility specialist would have been a better use of my time. i will be seeing an RE on April 30th, is there any other specialist that you can suggest?

Also, when I did further research and learned that some women actually knew how big their folloies were, and if and when they were ovulating (nearly next to impossible for me to tell with opk and temp readings) the same thoughts were going through my head, such as how does my doctor know if I'm even ovulating?
It's very frustrating since time is important here, yet some doctors seem fine with the idea of throwing meds in your lap and have you self diagnose and self medicate. Where is the service in that? I know...I'm venting again...SORRY!

Wishing you the best of luck and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your u/s. Please let me know how it goes.

Sandy

[sarah16]

Through ultrasounds and bloodwork they can keep track of your cycles. I understanding what you are going through. My OBGYN put me on clomid for 6 months where I just did the BBT charting. I called every month and they kept saying gee it isn't working. I could have told them that!!


Good luck, there are wonderful women on this forum. Welcome!!

[lovingwife]

Sandy. I agree with the other girls. You will get much better treatment with the RE. I kept pushing my OB/GYN to investigate my IF issues and she kept telling me to wait. She finally referred me to an RE after she got sick of listening to me. She suggested putting me on clomid-but I insisted on going to an RE instead. Those OB/GYNs seem to just be clomid pushers.

The RE may ask for another SA and the results from your HSG and ultrasound. They will probably do bloodwork to check for STDs and hormone levels and they should do day 21 bloodwork to check your progesterone to make sure you are ovulating. My RE did and internal exam and found some tenderness on my uterus. He suspected endometriosis and I just had a lap (laproscopic surgery) to diagnose and treat it. Not everyone has a lap. Only if your RE suspects endo. I had none of the classic symptoms and was completely shocked to find out that I had it!

I go to my OB/GYN in a few weeks for my annual. I'm really looking forward to telling her about the endo. She kept telling me I was fine and to just keep trying. Ha! I'll show her. Good luck and keep us posted.

[evita]

to the forum! From your post i guess you are on the right path to success. However, i have a few points to make. Firstly, getting a good RE/OB is essential in this journey. More essential than that is having a good rapport with your doc...s/he should be a phone call away and be ready to answer all your queries...yes all your queries!!! You have the right to know all the details of your reports and the doc should explain you the nitty gritties, as in if you demand explaination. Secondly, people and the web will tell you ten different things but an expert is still an expert!

Regarding the tests which should be done, i would recommend you to research about follicular study. Then ask your doc whether that can be done to monitor your egg production for one cycle. Besides this, there are several brands of ovulation predictor kits(OPKs) available in the market through which you can monitor ovulation yourself. Hope this helps. Wishing you all the very best.

[Kay]

Originally Posted by Sandy

Dear Kay,

Thank you kindly for the information. I must say that when I read your first sentence my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. I wish i would have known that a fertility specialist would have been a better use of my time. i will be seeing an RE on April 30th, is there any other specialist that you can suggest?

Also, when I did further research and learned that some women actually knew how big their folloies were, and if and when they were ovulating (nearly next to impossible for me to tell with opk and temp readings) the same thoughts were going through my head, such as how does my doctor know if I'm even ovulating?
It's very frustrating since time is important here, yet some doctors seem fine with the idea of throwing meds in your lap and have you self diagnose and self medicate. Where is the service in that? I know...I'm venting again...SORRY!

Wishing you the best of luck and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your u/s. Please let me know how it goes.

Sandy

Sandy- I am so glad you have an apt with an RE in the near future. You won't believe the difference. You will be watched very closely and the guess work will be taken out of the equation. Still keep on top of your own treatment by researching and asking questions here. Ask your RE lots of questions. You are now on the right track to your BFP!! Keep us posted and I hope it happens very soon.
Kay

[Sandy]

That's exactly what I feel like I'm going through. I've decided to get a new ob/gyn and RE, but I need to wait till April 30th for my first appointment. Here is the clincher...AF showed up a couple days ago, and I wasn't sure whether to call my current obgyn yesterday to ask advice on wheter to continue taking the clomid because it is shorting my cycle. I had to leave a message and the entire day had passed when finally it was her receptionist that called me back to simply say that i should continue taking clomid and that it changes your cycle. That's all she said! I voiced my concern of how AF is gone down to two days and that I think I should be monitored but she didn't respond to that, it fell on deaf ears. I'm in shock ... maybe its my fault... I should have specifically researched an ob/gyn specializing in infertility from the very begining. Live and learn.

Best of luck to you with your adoption process!

Sandy

Originally Posted by sarah16

Through ultrasounds and bloodwork they can keep track of your cycles. I understanding what you are going through. My OBGYN put me on clomid for 6 months where I just did the BBT charting. I called every month and they kept saying gee it isn't working. I could have told them that!!


Good luck, there are wonderful women on this forum. Welcome!!

[Sandy]

Lovingwife, I hope everything works for you... How often do you have to get the injectibles?

I've decided to stay off the clomid until I see the RE. But I fear that I will be diagnosed with something. I'm not a hypocondriac, but I can't help but wonder if it might be a hormone problem or insulin problem...

It makes even simple daily chores difficult, since my mind isn't in it.

Best to you!!!
Sandy

Originally Posted by lovingwife

Sandy. I agree with the other girls. You will get much better treatment with the RE. I kept pushing my OB/GYN to investigate my IF issues and she kept telling me to wait. She finally referred me to an RE after she got sick of listening to me. She suggested putting me on clomid-but I insisted on going to an RE instead. Those OB/GYNs seem to just be clomid pushers.

The RE may ask for another SA and the results from your HSG and ultrasound. They will probably do bloodwork to check for STDs and hormone levels and they should do day 21 bloodwork to check your progesterone to make sure you are ovulating. My RE did and internal exam and found some tenderness on my uterus. He suspected endometriosis and I just had a lap (laproscopic surgery) to diagnose and treat it. Not everyone has a lap. Only if your RE suspects endo. I had none of the classic symptoms and was completely shocked to find out that I had it!

I go to my OB/GYN in a few weeks for my annual. I'm really looking forward to telling her about the endo. She kept telling me I was fine and to just keep trying. Ha! I'll show her. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Sandy]

Dear Evita,

Thank you so much for the information. I've been doing a lot of research. I far from the naive person I was that thought it was as easy to create a baby as just saying that you wanted one. I've written down on my laundry list follicular study as additional research. I appreciate that information. Could you please let me know anything else that I should not overlook, if you think of anything in the future?

Congrats on your beautiful bouncy baby. She is so lovely...my husband and I were just gooooing and gaaaaaing over the pictures....please post more...their inspirational, also quite artistic.

Many healthy wishes to your new expanded family!

Sandy

Originally Posted by evita

to the forum! From your post i guess you are on the right path to success. However, i have a few points to make. Firstly, getting a good RE/OB is essential in this journey. More essential than that is having a good rapport with your doc...s/he should be a phone call away and be ready to answer all your queries...yes all your queries!!! You have the right to know all the details of your reports and the doc should explain you the nitty gritties, as in if you demand explaination. Secondly, people and the web will tell you ten different things but an expert is still an expert!

Regarding the tests which should be done, i would recommend you to research about follicular study. Then ask your doc whether that can be done to monitor your egg production for one cycle. Besides this, there are several brands of ovulation predictor kits(OPKs) available in the market through which you can monitor ovulation yourself. Hope this helps. Wishing you all the very best.

[lovingwife]

Originally Posted by Sandy

Lovingwife, I hope everything works for you... How often do you have to get the injectibles?

I've decided to stay off the clomid until I see the RE. But I fear that I will be diagnosed with something. I'm not a hypocondriac, but I can't help but wonder if it might be a hormone problem or insulin problem...

It makes even simple daily chores difficult, since my mind isn't in it.

Best to you!!!
Sandy

Hi Sandy, I don't blame you for stopping the clomid. It doesn't work for everyone. It actually dries up your cervical mucus and can cause more harm than good. With IUI, they by pass your cervix and deposit the sperm directly in your uterus. That's why my RE recommended clomid combined with injectables. I think it will be a total of 5 injections-yikes! If that doesn't work we will move on to strictly injectables-double yikes!! I hate needles and I can't imagine giving them to myself-but I've done a lot of things I've never imganied myself doing to have a baby. I know it will be worth it in the end.

Good luck with the RE!! That is definitely a step in the right direction.

[artsygirl1971]

Hi Sandy,
I agree with everything the ladies said.
I just wanted to say that I was in the same boat as you! My ob/gyn told me to wait a year and I'm over 35! I FOUND a fertility clinic by calling my Insurance and then had my Dr. write the referral because the ob/gyn's office wouldn't even write the referral! Needless to say, I have been with the clinic since Dec. and I'm finding a new ob/gyn.
Just hang in there. The initial testing process will take about a month before they put you on fertility drugs. Don't be afraid if they put you on injectables. The needles are very small and you get used to poking yourself fairly quickly. It's a journey, but it will be worth it in the end! Good luck!
Melissa