Cycle Day 1 - Clomid Begins!

Today is my first day of full flow period, which means it's my first day of Clomid! I've noticed on the baby center forums that most women are taking their Clomid on CD 3-7 or 5-9. No one seems to be CD 1-5, but that's what the instructions from the nurse say, so that's what I'm doing! I have been taking Provera for 7 days, so now that AF is here, I am off the provera and on to the Clomid!

I am a little nervous about the possible side-effects. Some women have reported having terrible mood swings and cramping and just feeling super tired. So far, I feel fine (considering I'm on my period, haha). Nothing beyond the normal period cramps and bloating and slight back pain. I hope it stays that way! I'm taking 2 50mg pills of Clomid each day for 5 days, then will start taking OPK's every 12 hours starting on CD11. I bought 14 test strips off Amazon for about $5. I have no idea how long it will take or how many tests I will need, but I'm hoping they aren't too hard to read! I might also go to walmart or CVS and pick up the digital OPK with the smiley face, just in case I can't read these others very well.

I feel so nervous that I will make a mistake and ruin my chance of getting PG this cycle. I want everything to go smoothly!

A word about Glumetza: For the first 7 days of taking 2000 mg Glumetza (metformin), I was sick as a dog. Diarrhea, throwing up, constant upset stomach, tired as hell, etc. Thank GOD I am feeling better now. If you are taking any form of Metformin and struggling through it, keep going! Don't give up! This drug has amazing results when it comes to pregnancy success with PCOS as well as helping to prevent miscarriage. It's worth a week or two of feeling like shit! Plus, you WILL come through it. The most important thing, I think, is to eat right. At first, I had a hard time keeping anything down at all. Now, though, I am adding things like eggs and vegetables and fruit into the mix. All I could eat before was plain oatmeal (no sugar) or saltines, lol. The nausea seems to have passed now and as long as I keep my sugar intake relatively low and stay away from things like potatoes and greasy, fried foods, I should feel good from here on out!

I feel so excited to be starting my cycle. There's no way to tell if getting pg will be easy or very difficult, but at least I can know that we're doing everything we can to be successful and healthy.

An Intro to My Story

In 1997, as a junior in college, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). At the time, no one could really properly explain what that meant. All the doctor really told me was that there were cysts in my ovaries that had been causing the problems I'd had such as acne, sudden weight gain, hair growth on my face, and missed periods. He also told me that PCOS would make it difficult, if not impossible, for me to someday have children. His only solution was to put me on a hormone blocker to block extra testosterone and to put me on birth control pills. That was it.

For many years, I mostly tried to ignore my PCOS. Humiliated by the growth of hair in strange places on my body, I took to daily shaving. I even tried electrolysis, which ended up being super painful, expensive, and a big fat failure. I gained weight and went from a healthy and thin 135 that junior year to a larger and much less energetic 200 pounds by the time I was 30. Between the PCOS and a husband that was verbally abusive and not at all interested in sex, my self-esteem plummeted to the very deepest depths.

On my 30th birthday, however, I picked myself up, filed for divorce, and vowed to make some changes in my life. I deserve to be happy. Everyone does! But you can't sit around and wait for something or someone to come along and make you happy. You have to take life into your own hands and make some changes in order to make your life better.

Less than a year later, I moved in with the man of my dreams. We met playing an online game called Everquest 2 (yes, we're geeks and we're proud!) and became close friends long before we ever met in person. Once we did finally get together, it was instant love! I had been teaching school at the time, but when I moved, my love told me I should work toward my lifetime dream of becoming a published writer. He supported me and put up with self-esteem issues and told me daily that I was beautiful. I went to Sona Medspa and had laser hair removal treatments, which meant goodbye to shaving and embarrassment forever (highly recommended by the way!). I started writing and finding my goals and passion again.

On December 19, 2009, I married the most amazing man in the world. I have always dreamed of having a baby, but the time has never been right... until now! In October of 2010, we officially decided to start trying to conceive. I am currently 33 years old and will be 34 in January. With my PCOS and my advanced age (fertility-wise), I knew we should talk to a specialist right away. We went to see a doctor at a local fertility center and he helped us put together a plan:

• 2000 mg of Glumetza (metformin) a day
• 100 mg Clomid
• CD 11 u/s to check for follicles
• OPK's every 12 hours after CD 11 to detect surge
• Sperm analysis and IUI as soon as ovulation is detected
• (possible HCG trigger shot if needed)

I have decided to write about our TTC journey and what it's like to be a woman in her 30's TTC with PCOS. For me, it's a type of therapy. If anyone ends up reading this, I hope that it will help you find hope and help you to know that you are not alone. Sometimes, there might be some TMI, but I hope you will keep reading and reserve judgment on the decisions I've made or the path I've taken. This is a place where I want to be honest about my feelings and my journey toward making my dream of having a baby come true.