Ijust want to say how you are feeling is so very very usual. I truly understand. I am feeling very stressed out too - the losses, the pain of BFN's the stress of timing, follicle size, progesterone levels... It is bloody hard and what you are feeling is so painful.
Clomid kinda tricks your body (hopefully) into producing more fsh which in turn of course grows those follies and the increase in fsh also triggers a bigger progesterone response also. Clomid is a great drug for many women. The downsides are a lot of the hormonal symptoms, mood changes, flushes, sleeplessness etc. Clomid also can have the effect of thinning the endometrium. This is why women usually have u/sound when they take clomid. If the endometrium is not plump enough implantation is inhibited and of course pregnancy rates decrease. Another reason why clomid is usually only used for a maximum of 6 cycles. Clomid can also have a detrimental effect on some women's cervical mucous.
FSH is just that follicle stimulating hormone. So, it doesn't trick your body it directly stimulates it - it is a hormone. FSH is often touted to have less effect on mood, less flushes. It doesn't have the effect on the endometrium that clomid does either. It does have a higher risk of multiples than clomid simply because it is directly stimulating your ovaries to produce follies. This is of course weighted with the fact that you will have more frequent u/s on FSH than on clomid - this way the doseage can be adjusted so that you don't grow too many follies and thus decreasing the risk of multiples.
Why would your obs put you straight on fsh? There could be a few reasons - what comes straight to mind is that he is being very proactive. You want another baby yesterday. Clomid 100mgs may stimulate you enough but it may not. If it doesn't it's another month down. Clomid is used first as it is less costly in terms of the medication and the monitoring required. FSH does seem to be more efficient at stimulating ovulation in women who are not ovulating on clomid. IUI as you would know gives a higher conception rate than natural conception simply because the sperm are washed and only the 5 star babies are kept and put straight into your uterus - bypassing the whole cervix nightmare that can have those swimmers confused (they are men afterall!!!! - just joking I dont' really mean that!)
Overall conception rate using fsh iui is higher I believe.
Your progesterone level on clomid suggested no response from memory - I really think that your specialist is pulling the big guns early to give you the best chance. If you would rather try the 100mgs given that your endometrium is showing no ill effects you could ask for that for your next cycle and see what the response is - or you could discuss it with your specialist and get his gist on it.
I am so sorry you have been so upset today - those hormones are not helping any. I have been in a flurry today certain that I missed the surge and I have lost my chance this month. This is not rational and I know it but I have been in a bit of a way about it!
I guess if it was me Lynn I would be asking your specialist the questions you have but from my perspective what he is doing is a pretty proactive way to go if you are happy with that tack.
Another big hug Lynn and I hope that helped a little ....
Oh Lynn I really wish I could do something for you. Deb has replied in a way that has given me confidence in your OB (even though he is not mine, he seems like he knows what he is doing) and I hope she can give you that confidence as well. As you know I am not on the exact same journey as you in that I am Oing so I cant offer any help to re that, although with Deb around you dont need me. The only thing I can do is tell you that in my opinion your troubles with the TTC journey are contributing to your increased feelings of grief and hopelessness, along with the hormones as Deb pointed out. You already know what I have been going through as the months keep passing and I believe that my grief for Nicholas was definitely magnified greatly by all of the other stresses going on, and you also know the lengths I have had to go to to get that under control. I know how hard it is to remain positive, for me its basically impossible. After reading Debs post, I feel confident that once AF eventually shows up () you will be on the right track and hopefully it can be the start of some good things coming your way because you definitely deserve them. I just wish I could do more, but unfortunately all I can do for you is support you and be there for you and let you know that, even though I am not on the meds you are on, I understand that feeling of you cant take anymore.
Take care of yourself,
Love Mel :hugs:
Last edited by Mel1977; April 11th, 2007 at 05:53 PM.
- just joking I dont' really mean that!)
) you will be on the right track and hopefully it can be the start of some good things coming your way because you definitely deserve them. I just wish I could do more, but unfortunately all I can do for you is support you and be there for you and let you know that, even though I am not on the meds you are on, I understand that feeling of you cant take anymore. 
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