Can someone help me figure out what's happening to me and what I should do????

[objet_trouve]

I have PCOS, with no periods w/out BC or Provera. I did the second round of Clomid (100 mg) at the end of December, starting right after Christmas. I know I ovulated, had positive OPKs and blood tests. A few days after the positive OPKs, I began getting sore nipples and nausea, and over the next few days I have lots of symptoms, fatigue, small dizziness, mild cramps, heartburn. I became absolutely convinced I was pregnant. at 14 dpo I started bleeding. I told my doctor, and she said it could be implantation, could be something having to do with the uterine wall shedding from ovulation...something like that anyway. After getting off the phone, I got extremely dizzy, and the flow increased. I got horrible cramps, almost bad enough to go to the ER. I've now been bleeding bright red blood (started out brown and very very little) for two days. I had black lumps in it when the flow got real bad last night, but it's been just red other than that (no exceptions).The soreness in my nipples has reduced, I'm still dizzy (I've fallen down from it, three times now) and cramping. Nausea is gone. Heartburn is same, fatigue is much worse.

Possibilities seem to be-

-Implantation. Much heavier flow than I'm told it should be.
-That uterine wall thing. Doctor said it should only be a little red blood, this is a lot of red blood.
-Early miscarriage. I've already had two miscarriages. Why the heck not? Could always use more of that! /sarcasm
-Threatened miscarriage. I don't know, just heard about that earlier tonight and don't know anything about it.
-Period. After years of not having periods without BC or Provera, that would be very odd. Also, my doctor said it's not that and she would be shocked if it was.
-Something is horribly wrong and I'm dying (my mild hypochondriac side really wants me to believe that's the only possibility). Getting better isn't generally a symptom of internal bleeding though is it?

If it is a period, when should I begin round 3 of Clomid?

My doctor says I should take a pregnancy test on the 31st and start the next round if I'm not pregnant. Is it safe to do that if I'm having a period right now? Would the meds work?

It's only day two of the bleeding. I'm scared and getting disappointed, but I'm staying strong for my husband, who hasn't been through this kind of stuff before like I have. I'll update if anything else happens.

[ValH]

Based on what you described (bleeding, clots/black lumps, and horrible cramps), I would assume it was a period.  My first round of Clomid, my period seemed a little weird, too - heavy for a few days with a lot more clots than normal, and cramps so bad I nearly vomitted.  The other symptoms are odd (dizziness, etc.), not sure what's going on with that. 

Good luck, I hope you get things figured out soon!

[objet_trouve]

Thank you!

I'm still not sure that sounds quite right, since my doctor doesn't think it's that and it would be really random to have a period out of nowhere after so much time not having them without meds, and those other symptoms I was having that are going away now. However, it would be interesting, and I certainly would prefer it to those negative things I'm all afraid of right now.

[LivingSky]

I think something to consider is - you are on meds, you took Clomid this cycle. It's completely reasonable to assume that a hormonal medication like Clomid would impact your monthly cycle and could very well adjust some of the hormones causing you to not get your period.

What you're describing is almost definitely not implantation bleeding. It is likely your uterine wall shedding - which is, by definition, your period. It may be that due to the troubles you've had with getting your period to happen on its own, that your uterine wall has not shed properly in a long time, and that's why you're seeing so many clots this time.

Doctors aren't always right, especially when diagnosing over the phone. Of course, neither are we always right! lol. But what you're describing sounds like a typical period for many women - and if Clomid is helping your body to regulate its own cycles, that's a very good thing!

[yellowdart]

I don't understand why you wouldn't have a period if you ovulated.  When you didn't have periods in the past, presumably you also weren't ovulating.  Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

[Veronika01]

If you did ovulate on the Clomid, it would only be logical that you'd have a period if you didn't conceive.  I don't really understand why your doc would insist that it couldn't be a period.  Like someone else said, shedding of your uterine lining after ovulatioin is a period.  It is way to heavy for implantation bleeding.  Ofcourse it could be an early miscarriage, but without a positive HPT, I would definitely vote for it being menstrual bleeding.

[objet_trouve]

Actually Living Sky, I'm NOT seeing a lot of clots at all. One time that I went to the bathroom there were a ton of them, I haven't seen any at all before or since. I usually have a lot of clots in my periods.

I am annoyed that my doctor didn't just say "period" and blathered on about uterine wall something or other. And extremely confused that she doesn't think it's a period, but she does? Pisses me off. Don't know what I was expecting though. She also told me to take a pregnancy test in 3 weeks, but also said I should test five weeks after I started Clomid...which would be next week. And both of those times are nowhere near what everything on the internet says, and even the pregnancy test instructions don't say that, everything says testing MUCH earlier is fine.

[objet_trouve]

Also, because this is actually embarrassing, I didn't know that was what she was talking about because I couldn't really hear her over the phone. It did sound like she was describing a period, but I just kind of figured she would have said period if she was talking about it.

[yellowdart]

That doctor stuff sounds really frustrating.  It sounds like she's not really thinking about you when she talks to you.  I don't know much about Clomid, but from what I do hear you're supposed to start the next round just a few days after CD 1 (which is the first bloody day).  Hopefully other Clomid users can confirm.  I hope your TTC journey gets smoother and goes quickly!

[objet_trouve]

My big concern now is do I start clomid during this period, or do I wait a while, take the provera, induce another period and take it then? I want to start taking it ASAP, but need to make sure I'm doing it right. And I can't seem to just ask my doctor, which yeah, is pretty much BS. Don't see why I shouldn't, shouldn't be a difference in this and provera induced periods beyond that one is induced. But I'm still nervous. I'm not well informed and keep getting different info.

[ValH]

Disclaimer - I am not a doctor, I just play one on MDC.    With that being said, you may want to confirm this with your doctor, if possible (sounds like the doctor is a bit unreliable).

If I were you, if you are bleeding like a normal period, I would count it as a normal period and start the Clomid as prescribed (I'm assuming either CD3 or CD5). 

Just out of curiousity - do you temp?  I'd be interested in knowing if your temps have dropped below coverline at this point.  You may have already covered that, and I missed it. 

Anyway, lots of luck to you!  I hope you get your BFP soon so you won't have to deal with wonky cycles for a long while!

[objet_trouve]

I guess it's a normal period, it just feels weird. Never had one this bad, and yet it's probably the lightest period I've ever had. Tomorrow is CD 5 (if this is in fact a period), so I figure I'll test in the morning (I have a phobia of starting clomid while pregnant and screwing something up, so I test every time I start provera, no matter what), and then go to wal mart and get my Rx (Clomid) filled. It'll be nice not to have to use provera this time. Not fond of the side effects from it.

I don't temp, and need to start. I'm honestly a bit intimidated by it and don't really know what I'm doing. I'm badly informed and having trouble learning all this stuff. I guess I'm just not sure how to look at a chart in light of the clomid, like does it change anything? I don't know, I feel kind of stupid for being this confused. I know everything there is to know about sex, gender, sexuality...and like nothing about pregnancy.

[Lisa1970]

Since you have not taken an HPT, it is hard to tell if you could be pregnant.

Regardless, have you considered using Femara instead? It has a way higher success rate than Clomid. I am expecting my 3rd baby from Femara now. But I never got pregnant on clomid. Femara has a 3-4 times higher success rate than clomid. Clomid can have some nasty side effects that can actually really hurt you in the long run (I know someone who ended up with a hysterectomy as a result of the clomid).

[Kyamo]

I also have PCOS, and I always get a period 2 weeks after clomid makes me ovulate, even though on my own I only get a period every 3-4 months. At 14 DPO it's probably a period. If you are 14DPO, take a pregnancy test to be sure, then go ahead and take the next round of clomid on day 3 or 5 of this period, whatever your doctor told you. This is a real period and you don't have to wait for an induced one to take the next round. Not a doctor, yadda yadda, but that is my understanding.

[ValH]

objet - Fertility Friend is a great place to learn about charting, and it helps you interpret your chart, too.  I've also heard great things about the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility (abbreviated TCOYF around here).  I've never read it, but a lot of people swear by it.  Clomid did not change my chart drastically.  I did notice I would have a few higher temps during my luteal phase, but other than that, pretty normal.  Here's a link to my two charts on Clomid if you want to take a look.  www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2e5d89