Intro (Mostly been lurking)

Hey everybody!  I'm just introducing myself.  I've left a comment or two, but haven't really posted on this board up until now.

I had my RNY in June of 2008.  I'm 31 years old.  I have lost a total of 178 lbs and currently weigh 140 lbs.  One of my many motivations for doing the weight loss surgery was so that I could have a healthy pregnancy.  We have been TTC for 5 months (since August 09).  Through charting and OPKs, I realized that I had a luteal phase defect and saw my doctor in December to get help for that as well as my fantastic panni rash.  She sent me for a day 21 progesterone test and confirmed that my levels are low.

I should preface this by saying that about 6 weeks prior to my RNY, I went to the ER for severe abdominal pain.  They discovered a canteloupe sized cyst on my fallopian tube.  Thus, I have two working ovaries, but only 1 tube.  At the time, they actually ruled out PCOS, even though I felt that I had many of the symptoms!  About a year prior to this incident, they did a brain MRI (different doctor) and discovered a partially empty sella that was probably the result of a benign pituitary tumor.  I add all that info to say...  I have high prolactin, one fallopian tube, and now I also know that I have low progesterone.

I just did my first round of Clomid.  She only gave me 25mg for days 5-9.  I thought most people started at 50mg, but of course I didn't know that at the time I go the prescription.  I am curious about the malabsorption factor with this medication, for one.  I am still charting and using OPKs and anxiously awaiting signs that I actually ovulated on time this month. 

If anyone has experience with ANY of these issues/factors, I would appreciate your insight.  THANKS!

just wanted to say welcome and best of Luck!!!
Beth

Thank you!!!

I have no clue re the prolactin or one fallopian tube, but there are a lot of women here (myself included) who have the low progesterone.  I have low estrogen to boot - which means w/o drugs, my uterine lining doesn't develop thick enough to sustain a pregnancy (thus the four m/c).  I'm now on strong doses of progesterone - via tablets inserted vaginally - for the 2nd half of my cycle until I either test negative after two weeks (I usually give it a few extra days) or I get pg (the progesterone stops AF from coming, which is why I have to go by the tests to know to quit it).  I also take estrogen from day three of my cycle until I stop the progesterone at the end when I get a BFN.

I believe some women here have taken their progesterone via a cream and some via injections.  It's also available via pills you swallow, but I don't know how well they absorb.

Re the clomid...I've taken that - and Femara - and I think you should absorb them OK.  They're very small pills, so I can't imagine they take a lot of absorbing. 

Welcome to the board...and I hope you get your BFP soon.

She did mention that I may be prescribed the progesterone, dependent upon what happens when I have my next progesterone test on the 15th.  Thanks for responding!

I used clomid and was resistant to it. My re said it wasn't from malabsorbtion though. She had a dr friend that did extensive research on malabsorbtion while ttc. That being said I have never heard of anyone taking only 25 mg of clomid and I have some experience ttc and on other message boards as well. You say you are seeing a doctor...but is it an ob, regular doctor or an RE (reproductive endocrinologist). The RE will be much more thorough for you. Is your cycle being monitored with ultrasound? Or are you just doing opk? Are your cycles regular length, with just the lpd? Did they give you a script for progesterone? A very low progesterone level may mean that you are not ovulating. What other symptoms do you think you have for pcos? Sorry lots of questions...just curiuos. I post on fridays for those of us ttc if you would like to join in. I am about to post it now. Shari

She's a high risk OB-GYN.  Not sure why she wanted to start off low, except maybe it has something to do with my levels not being THAT low?  I don't know.  I haven't had another appointment with her since getting these results back.

Cycle is not being monitored via ultrasound at this point, I'm only doing OPKs right now.  Cycles are generally 30 days and pretty regular now.  No script for progesterone at this point.  They ruled out PCOS via ultrasound a couple of years ago.  At the time, I was pre-RNY and I had irregular periods along with insulin resistance.  I was seeing a different doc at the time.  I hooked up with this doc because of the emergency cyst removal. 

Thanks!  I will come find that thread.

I used clomid at 50 same days as you.  I took three cycles during a six month period (my hubby was deployed for some of the time so it didn't make sense for us to take it during those months).  With all that being said, I had never got a positive on OP****il taking the clomid, so it def got my body's parts working.  But another interesting fact, the month I got pregnant, my perscription was out and the dr wanted me to wait until the next month to do the 100 dose...never had to do it.. my body did it on it's own.  Both dr and I agree that although I didn't take it the month I concieved it was what made my body work at all.  So that's my long story, every patient is different even without gastric, it doesn't work for some people.  Good luck with it....Stacey

PS welcome!

So, sometimes it's a jump start for your body?  I think a friend of mine mentioned that she knew of someone who got pregnant like that as well.  It was a non-Clomid month for whatever reason.  Good to know!

I would think that without a tube they would want to monitor your cycles. At least you are charting and doing opk. How long was your lp before the clomid?? Also your progesterone test should only be on cd 21 if you are ovulating on cd 14. If you have lp defect you are not ovulating until after cd 20 on a 30 day cycle...so your test on the 21st day would definitely be way to early. It should be 7 days post ovulation for a number to tell you if you are ovulating or not. Hope that helps.