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Really nervous (female TTC stuff)


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So, I had an ectopic in the summer and in October and November I used ovulation predictor tests and never got a positive. I worried a bit it was age related (I will be 39 in May).

 

But in November I also went to my dr and decided to focus for a while on losing some weight. I was at my highest weight ever (247.6) and found out I had high insulin. So I thought maybe that was why I never got a positive those two months.

 

I got put on Topamax and Metformin to help with weight loss and insulin and I went on a very restricted carb diet. I eat virtually no grains/carbs, watch my sugar intake etc.

 

I've now lost 38 lbs (I'm down to 209.6 and still going), and I've heard Metformin helps if you have PCOS or something, so I'm really really hoping I'm able to get a positive with the opk tests now so I can know it was something controllable at least.

 

I started testing again this cycle just to know. I started on cd6. I didn't expect a positive until "around" cd12 or so. Today is cd12 and it was negative today.

 

I REALLY want a positive in the next couple of days. It is bad enough I was supposed to be having a baby at the end of this month and it was an ectopic last summer instead. I'm going to be heartbroken if I find out I'm still not even ovulating. I will feel a LOT better if I can just see a stupid smiley face on that test in the next couple of days, to know I still have a chance.

 

Send some good thoughts my way if you wouldn't mind!

 

ETA: Just to clarify I have NOT been formally diagnosed with PCOS or anything. I just mentioned it because I thought that Metformin might still help someone in my situation, too, as I had problems with my insulin levels, didn't ovulate the last two cycles I checked in the fall, my cycles were always a little irregular and so on.

 

P.S. The OPK tests DID work for me when I initially got pregnant with the ectopic so it's not that they just don't work for me.

 

ETA again: changed the weight I originally wrote up there because the stupid scale FINALLY put me out of the 210's this morning, so, yay, I've said goodbye to the 240's, 230's, 220's, and now the 210's as well. I can't wait to get out of these stupid 200's altogether! :D

Edited by NanceXToo
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I have PCOS. I have never taken Metformin but did do clomid with my first son to get pregnant. I also took cinnamon to help lower my blood sugar. With my second breast feeding seemed to make my PCOS symptoms less so I just took the cinnamon. Anyway I have a point I swear. With the second we though we would have a go of it naturally. I did OPT the whole month and we did it ever other day for a large chunk of the month. Never got a positive and figured we had to go through infertility. Next thing I knew I was pregnant. You might try doing it every other day incase the OPT don't work. I have heard they just don't work for some women with PCOS. They never did for me.

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:grouphug:

Nance,

 

I had an ectopic in '03. I went from being told I was having a m/c, to going to the ER almost a wk later, thinking I needed a D&C, being told that no, my cervix was closed, I was still pregnant...to an u/s showing baby was in the tube.

 

That was in Feb.

 

My HCG levels never went back down to 0...they couldn't figure out if either they'd missed something during surgery, or if we'd gotten pregnant again and something was wrong, since the levels didn't double.

 

I had methotrexyate (sp) 2 days before my wedding.

 

We started ttc again when we had the all clear, about 3 mths later. Nothing, nothing, nothing...almost a yr later, and I'm starting to freak.

 

Tazzie was concieved that May.

Princess the New Year's Eve before Tazzie's first birthday.

And Boo around Valentine's last year.

 

So, all that to say hang in there. I know how frightening it is, once you've had an ectopic :grouphug:

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Not sure if you if you are aware but Topamax is known to cause birth defects and not recommended for during pregnancy. My neurologist wanted me off it 2 weeks before conception. Also you can't just stop taking it since it is an anti-seizure drug and that can trigger a seizure. Hope this is helpful info. You might want to do a bit more research or talk to your Dr about it. I'm not a Dr or anything but I have been on this drug before.

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Not sure if you if you are aware but Topamax is known to cause birth defects and not recommended for during pregnancy. My neurologist wanted me off it 2 weeks before conception. Also you can't just stop taking it since it is an anti-seizure drug and that can trigger a seizure. Hope this is helpful info. You might want to do a bit more research or talk to your Dr about it. I'm not a Dr or anything but I have been on this drug before.

 

Hi,

Yes, I will stop taking the topamax prior to TTC. I'm not TTC yet, just testing to see if I am even ovulating. My dr actually prescribed it as an off label weight loss aid as opposed to what it's actually for (seizures and migraines). Due to me being so overweight, the high insulin levels, the fact that I've already struggled so long with diet, and wanted to try to lose weight more quickly so I could ttc from a healthier weight as soon as possible considering my age, he agreed to prescribe something that would help facilitate weight loss. He didn't want to do actual weight loss pills though as he said they are addictive and have more side effects.

 

He did tell me I have to stop the meds prior to ttc though.

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We had a lot of success TTC when I was on Metformin for PCOS.

 

Anyway, late in the game I found out that for many women, the LH surge starts in the afternoon, so if you're using first morning urine it may be nearly over by then (and could be missed if the person had a surge of short duration). I had the best luck testing at around 2 pm or so (or even later), after having avoided drinking much water for an hour or two.

 

Best of luck!!!

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Janice, no I haven't had anything checked since the testing they did to make sure my hcg levels were back down to 0 after the ectopic. I've never taken my temperature, I just used the Opks in the past.

 

Wapiti, I've been testing about 10:30ish with second or third morning urine and don't drink much before then. Maybe I should test twice the next couple of days!

 

Starr I have no idea how much it costs to see a fertility specialist but I'd be paying out of pocket for it so I'm just really, really hoping that it doesn't have to come to that! I'd like to just see that I seem to be ovulating, spend another month or two losing weight, and then start trying and hopefully have it happen on its own. I hope!!

 

Thank you, Faithe!

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:grouphug::grouphug:

 

Don't get to discouraged yet, you were pregnant. I went from ovulating late, around day 20 for my first 3 pregnancies to day 16 leading up to my last. Everything can change after you had the hormones dancing around your body. Another thing is that your ovaries are 2 separate organs. One might be taking longer to get back into gear than the other. The one that is suppose to release next month could be back on track while this months one still is thinking it has some time off.

 

I am thinking of you and I hope it goes well.:grouphug:

Edited by Northwest_Mama
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I GOT A POSITIVE TODAY!!!!!!! :) :) :)

 

It took until cycle day 18, and it's been so nerve-wracking and discouraging seeing those blank circles every day up until today, but I got my smiley-face this morning!!!!

 

So, I'm ovulating again, at least!

 

I've also lost 40 lbs as of this morning! I've gone from 247.6 lbs to 207.4 lbs! SO close to getting out of these stupid 200's.... had a follow up appt with my doctor the day before yesterday and he was SO pleased with the progress I'm making with regard to my weight loss. I'm really pleased, too, and now incredibly relieved to know that there's hope that I'll still be able to conceive again when I'm ready. Just want to lose a bit more weight first...! I'd like to maybe get into the 180's and then start trying. I'm hoping by April/May.

 

ETA: Of course, that seems to give me a pretty short luteal phase, since the metformin has my cycle exactly 28 days and an LH surge at cd18 means I prob don't ovulate til cd19 making the luteal phase only, what, 9 days? I read that anything under 10 days (and some doctors say anything under 12 days) is considered a "luteal phase defect" and can lead to early miscarriage, but that doctors can prescribe something to help lengthen the luteal phase. I made an appt with my OB for 3/12 to discuss this stuff. At least I know that's rectifiable and that for now, I have a positive sign! (No pun intended)! :)

Edited by NanceXToo
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YOu might want to talk with your doc about progesterone supplements in your luteal phase.

 

I have PCOS. I posted to your other thread, but my eldest was conceived through injectables and IUI. My RE used progesterone prophylactically following IUI in pcos patients. That was I think somewhat controversial as to whether there was evidence for it, but I did supplement with crinone (a vaginal progesterone product) after the IUI up until I tested, and then I believe I remained on it for most of the first trimester.

 

WIth my 2nd, conceived naturally with just metformin, I had very low progesterone when it was tested once I was pregnant. I had to jump through hoops and a bunch of other stuff, but I supplemented and she's still around.

 

My third was also a met baby fwiw.

 

Wooohoo on the positive test. You may want to talk with your doctor about supplementing your progesterone levels to see if it improves your luteal phase. You may need to see an RE to really get anywhere with that, I don't know.

 

PM me if you want to chat more about it.

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Thanks, everyone! :)

 

YOu might want to talk with your doc about progesterone supplements in your luteal phase.

 

I have PCOS. I posted to your other thread, but my eldest was conceived through injectables and IUI. My RE used progesterone prophylactically following IUI in pcos patients. That was I think somewhat controversial as to whether there was evidence for it, but I did supplement with crinone (a vaginal progesterone product) after the IUI up until I tested, and then I believe I remained on it for most of the first trimester.

 

WIth my 2nd, conceived naturally with just metformin, I had very low progesterone when it was tested once I was pregnant. I had to jump through hoops and a bunch of other stuff, but I supplemented and she's still around.

 

My third was also a met baby fwiw.

 

Wooohoo on the positive test. You may want to talk with your doctor about supplementing your progesterone levels to see if it improves your luteal phase. You may need to see an RE to really get anywhere with that, I don't know.

 

PM me if you want to chat more about it.

 

Yeah, I read progesterone is one of the things that can be prescribed to help lengthen the luteal phase. I plan to ask the OB-GYN about it when I go for my appointment on 3/12- I made the appointment to basically just discuss fertility/TTC, the luteal phase/progesterone etc... is it something any OB-GYN can prescribe?? I'm not sure what an "RE" is? I'm hoping the OB-GYN can and will prescribe that and between that and staying on the metformin I will be able to conceive when I start trying in a couple of months. For now I'm just SO glad the first hurdle has been overcome and that I'm at least ovulating. I was starting to worry that I wouldn't at all!

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Thanks, everyone! :)

 

 

 

Yeah, I read progesterone is one of the things that can be prescribed to help lengthen the luteal phase. I plan to ask the OB-GYN about it when I go for my appointment on 3/12- I made the appointment to basically just discuss fertility/TTC, the luteal phase/progesterone etc... is it something any OB-GYN can prescribe?? I'm not sure what an "RE" is? I'm hoping the OB-GYN can and will prescribe that and between that and staying on the metformin I will be able to conceive when I start trying in a couple of months. For now I'm just SO glad the first hurdle has been overcome and that I'm at least ovulating. I was starting to worry that I wouldn't at all!

RE=reproductive endocrinologist, aka a fertility doctor. They also diagnose and treat things like PCOS. Depending on if you decide to go for more testing, an RE may be something to consider.

 

I think there are some great OB/GYNs but sometimes I think they get in over their heads with fertility stuff. I am biased because I dealt with an OB/gyn who insisted that I did not have PCOS, did not do a full panel of the correct bloodwork for PCOS testing (did some tests, they came back higher end of normal but not out of range, but I had symptoms, so clearly something was wrong). Once I got in with an RE, they did more complete testing and so forth. I felt like the ob/gyn was a waste of time.

 

My other concern is that had I gotten pregnant under my ob/gyn's care, I would have never known I had PCOS, which has health implications beyond fertility. It can also unfortunately impact miscarriage rates, etc. Infertility is not a fun experience, but I am thankful I got an accurate diagnosis and had the right testing, etc. in place. My OB/gyn also did things like RX clomid without doing adequate monitoring, for example. He was just in over his head, IMO. That doesn't mean all ob/gyns are, but IME sometimes they don't do the correct bloodwork, or always give an accurate diagnosis, or engage in the right type of monitoring and so forth.

 

eta: I had to deal with a different ob/gyn when I got my surprise + pregnancy test with my DD. I didn't have an established relationship with an ob/gyn because we had moved, etc. I had my progesterone level checked and it was very low, as I mentioned. Like, dangerously low (I think it was around a 6; anything under a 10 is not good in a natural cycle). I needed to get supplements. After calling and basically pleading for help, an ob/gyn in the area affiliated with a major, well-known medical center Rx'd me prometrium (peanut derived progesterone). They told me to take it orally. I knew from my time with fertility docs and meds that oral progesterone doesn't absorb well if you are trying to get levels up in a situation like mine. I used my judgment and used the progesterone vaginally (which I was aware was an option). My point is that had I taken their advice, I might not have ever gotten my level up high enough to sustain my pregnancy with DD. I am biased because of my experiences, but I think some OB/gyns try to take fertility issues a little too far on their own before realizing they are in over their head.

Edited by Momof3littles
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RE=reproductive endocrinologist, aka a fertility doctor. They also diagnose and treat things like PCOS. Depending on if you decide to go for more testing, an RE may be something to consider.

 

I think there are some great OB/GYNs but sometimes I think they get in over their heads with fertility stuff. I am biased because I dealt with an OB/gyn who insisted that I did not have PCOS, did not do a full panel of the correct bloodwork for PCOS testing (did some tests, they came back higher end of normal but not out of range, but I had symptoms, so clearly something was wrong). Once I got in with an RE, they did more complete testing and so forth. I felt like the ob/gyn was a waste of time.

 

My other concern is that had I gotten pregnant under my ob/gyn's care, I would have never known I had PCOS, which has health implications beyond fertility. It can also unfortunately impact miscarriage rates, etc. Infertility is not a fun experience, but I am thankful I got an accurate diagnosis and had the right testing, etc. in place. My OB/gyn also did things like RX clomid without doing adequate monitoring, for example. He was just in over his head, IMO. That doesn't mean all ob/gyns are, but IME sometimes they don't do the correct bloodwork, or always give an accurate diagnosis, or engage in the right type of monitoring and so forth.

 

eta: I had to deal with a different ob/gyn when I got my surprise + pregnancy test with my DD. I didn't have an established relationship with an ob/gyn because we had moved, etc. I had my progesterone level checked and it was very low, as I mentioned. Like, dangerously low (I think it was around a 6; anything under a 10 is not good in a natural cycle). I needed to get supplements. After calling and basically pleading for help, an ob/gyn in the area affiliated with a major, well-known medical center Rx'd me prometrium (peanut derived progesterone). They told me to take it orally. I knew from my time with fertility docs and meds that oral progesterone doesn't absorb well if you are trying to get levels up in a situation like mine. I used my judgment and used the progesterone vaginally (which I was aware was an option). My point is that had I taken their advice, I might not have ever gotten my level up high enough to sustain my pregnancy with DD. I am biased because of my experiences, but I think some OB/gyns try to take fertility issues a little too far on their own before realizing they are in over their head.

 

Ah okay! They do list infertility as one of their "services" and on their website it says they have over twenty years of reproductive endocrinology experience and a good working relationship with board certified reproductive endocrinologists so hopefully they will do what needs to be done for me or at least point me in the right direction! I'll see how my appointment goes next month and take it from there.

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I have to say, I'm happy it's March. At least my due date and the month I was due are now past and behind me.

 

My health continues to improve every day. This morning, the scale said 205.4 lbs... 42.2 lbs down and closer than ever to being OUT of the 200's altogether!

 

Now that it's March, my appointment with my OB-GYN is only 11 days away, and I have my fingers crossed they can easily put me on some sort of prescrip to lengthen my luteal phase. Between the weight loss and knowing I am ovulating again, I feel more positive than I have in the recent past.

 

Another 16 lbs or so, when I hit the 180's, I plan to TTC again, and hopefully I will be successful and will have better luck than I did last time! Still a bit nervous about my odds because my 39th b-day is exactly two months from today but one step at a time, right?

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I have to say, I'm happy it's March. At least my due date and the month I was due are now past and behind me.

 

My health continues to improve every day. This morning, the scale said 205.4 lbs... 42.2 lbs down and closer than ever to being OUT of the 200's altogether!

 

Now that it's March, my appointment with my OB-GYN is only 11 days away, and I have my fingers crossed they can easily put me on some sort of prescrip to lengthen my luteal phase. Between the weight loss and knowing I am ovulating again, I feel more positive than I have in the recent past.

 

Another 16 lbs or so, when I hit the 180's, I plan to TTC again, and hopefully I will be successful and will have better luck than I did last time! Still a bit nervous about my odds because my 39th b-day is exactly two months from today but one step at a time, right?

Way to go on all of your progress!!! :D

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  • 2 weeks later...

So, I saw my doctor today. She agreed that getting a positive OPK test around cycle day 18 was unusually late. But she didn't think that a prescrip to lengthen my luteal phase was the way to go.

 

Her advice was to bump my metformin up from 1,000 mg a day to 2,000 mg a day (she said go to 1,500 first for a week or two to make sure my stomach could handle it), and she thinks that will get me a positive OPK test several days earlier in and of itself. If not she says we can always add clomid, but not until after I stop taking topamax, which we're going to wait another month or two on as I'm going to lose a bit more weight first (we want to get my BMI under 30).

 

She also wants me to have my FSH levels tested on day 3 of my next cycle as she thinks that will give her the most information right now as to where things stand with me.

 

So I'm going to start increasing my metformin today (hopefully that works the way she thinks it will), get that test done next month (hopefully it will show decent results despite my age), and we'll see where things stand after that. I should know more in about a month, and will keep working on more weight loss in the meanwhile!

Edited by NanceXToo
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Just an FYI on the Clomid -make sure it is properly monitored by your OB. Many don't monitor it closely with ultrasound etc. This happened to me and I ended up with hyperstimulated ovaries. A normal ovary is in the 3 cm range and mine got so large, they actually touched in the middle of my pelvis (something like 26 cm). Needless to say, it was incredibly painful. When I went to the RE after this happened, he determined that the reason I did not ovulate as I should was that the outside shell of my ovary was so thick and hard that the eggs could not escape. He did surgery and actually drilled little holes in my ovary so the eggs would have an escape route. Just make sure the docs are vigilant about monitoring the Clomid.

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Just an FYI on the Clomid -make sure it is properly monitored by your OB. Many don't monitor it closely with ultrasound etc.

 

:iagree: On every clomid cycle, my RE monitored with ultrasound, and when the follicle was large enough, prescribed a shot of hCG (which mimics the LH surge, causing the egg to finish maturing and be released). Clomid is not to be trifled with. Also, 3-6 cycles maximum should be attempted. It becomes a contraceptive after a while, because it makes cervical mucus and the uterine lining inhospitable to sperm.

 

Hopefully the metformin will do the trick and there will be no need for the clomid! I conceived five of my kids with the help of metformin.

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So, I saw my doctor today. She agreed that getting a positive OPK test around cycle day 18 was unusually late. But she didn't think that a prescrip to lengthen my luteal phase was the way to go.

 

Her advice was to bump my metformin up from 1,000 mg a day to 2,000 mg a day (she said go to 1,500 first for a week or two to make sure my stomach could handle it), and she thinks that will get me a positive OPK test several days earlier in and of itself. If not she says we can always add clomid, but not until after I stop taking topamax, which we're going to wait another month or two on as I'm going to lose a bit more weight first (we want to get my BMI under 30).

 

She also wants me to have my FSH levels tested on day 3 of my next cycle as she thinks that will give her the most information right now as to where things stand with me.

 

So I'm going to start increasing my metformin today (hopefully that works the way she thinks it will), get that test done next month (hopefully it will show decent results despite my age), and we'll see where things stand after that. I should know more in about a month, and will keep working on more weight loss in the meanwhile!

 

 

Are you currently trying to conceive?

 

I have previously taken Topomax and was under the impression that it was not safe to take during pregnancy.

 

We would really like to start TTC, but I would also like to restart the Topomax. It's hard to control my weight without it. I need to keep my weight down due to another health problem.

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Thanks for your comments on the clomid, guys...I will definitely keep that in mind. Hopefully it won't come down to needing that and the metformin will be enough!

 

Are you currently trying to conceive?

 

I have previously taken Topomax and was under the impression that it was not safe to take during pregnancy.

 

We would really like to start TTC, but I would also like to restart the Topomax. It's hard to control my weight without it. I need to keep my weight down due to another health problem.

 

Hi, no, I am not currently trying to conceive. I am going to be soon, but first I am losing some weight and getting myself a bit healthier. I just lost about 45 lbs and would like to lose a little bit more. I will probably start TTC with May's cycle, I'm thinking. I will stop taking the Topamax when I start trying. Topamax is NOT safe to take during pregnancy.

 

My doctor said I'm doing really well with my weight loss and I should keep doing what I'm doing for another month or two to try to get my BMI under 30, and then I should stop taking the Topmax when I start TTC. In the meanwhile I'm just going to start upping my Metformin to see if my stomach can handle it and see if that starts regulating my cycles to have me ovulating earlier and such but I'm not actively TTC just quite yet. Soon! :)

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