Secondary Infertility Support

Hello,

I hope you don't mind me popping in and letting out some of my frustation. I've lurked here a few times in the past but have never posted. But I need to get some things out that I know only people who are going through what I am will understand and my IRL friends feel sorry for me but just don't understand like I know you will.

First some background. My name is Jamie, I'm 32. My DH (32) and I have a little boy who is 4.5 (conceived in our first cycle of trying). In Jan 2003 we started to try for #2. We did conceive that cycle but miscarried at week 8. Since then I've had 2 other miscarriages and one chemical pregnancy. I've had a complete work up and doctors have found nothing. I've tried progesterone supplements but it was doing crazy things to my cycle so I stopped. I take a baby asprin each day. And I just had my first unsuccessful cycle on Femera.

I'm just so frustrated. I don't know what's wrong with me and since they can't seem to figure it out I don't understand why I'm not getting pregnant. It kills me not to be able to give my son the sibling he is wanting so badly. He asks almost daily if there is a baby in my tummy. And I feel like I'm letting my DH down too. There is a small part of me that is ready to get off this roller coaster but there is a bigger part of me that wants to do anything to have another baby. Unfortunately if the Femara doesn't work I think that will be the end. It took a lot of convincing my DH to get him on board with taking meds to help us. He wants another child just as much as me but doesn't want to get too scientific with it.

Does anyone have experience with or know anyone who has used Famera for infertility? I would love to hear about the experience, if it worked, how many cycles it took to work, and all that stuff.

Thanks for letting me vent. I'm feeling better already!
Jamie

hi Jamie, first, sorry you're feeling so down, I completely relate. I too have a four year old son that I desperately want to have a sibling to grow up with. For me, that is the hardest part of not being successful in getting pg again. That and also just feeling like a freak as I'm surrounded by women at work who get pregnant at the drop of a hat.

A little info on me--I have irregular cycles--sometimes long and annovulatory. In 2004 I did three rounds of Clomid and one round of Femara under the care of an RE. Once of the Clomid cycles and the only Femara cycle were also with IUI. None of it worked, and I wasn't happy with the RE, so I decided to take a break. After that I did acupuncture for 3-4 months but eventually stopped that as well. Since Feb of this year, we have just been trying on our own and have had several promising cycles where I've ovulated on my own and BD timing was perfect but to no avail. The disappointment has been overwhelming.

So, I just wanted to let you know you're not alone, and yes, I've taken Femara and it did work for me in that I ovulated and it was not nearly as hard on my body and emotional state as the Clomid was. I plan to see a new RE later this year and I'm guessing I will go back on Femara and do IUI's along with that. I am nervous about spending all the money and still ending up with no baby :-( However, I feel like I at least need to commit to treatment and give it my best shot.

If you go over to the Clomid board ( http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppclomid ) there are some women who have taken Femara--it seems to be gaining in popularity because it doesn't have the negative side effects of Clomid.

Best of luck to you...I don't come to this board often because its very slow, but I do pop in occasionally.

take care,
Adrienne
ttc #2 for 2 years

WOW! I'm really glad that I came back to this board today LOL! I too have a 4 year old son (will be 5 next month) and we have been TTC for 2.5 years. It hasn't taken at all for me though. I also have irregular periods and ovulate irregularily because of that. I haven't been on any meds yet and hope to prolong that as long as I can. I go back to the Dr. near the end of Oct to see what we can do next.

DS wants a sibling SO BAD!!! He is always asking me if there is a baby in my tummy. It breaks my heart. I wanted to have all of my kids by the time I was 30 (will be in November). Only I wanted 4 of them not just 1! I love my DS and I think I would be OK if I never had anymore kids, but DH wants more so bad, and I do too, but the rollercoaster is just getting so old IYKWIM.

Barb