Hormone Testing And Clomid

[Ash]

Okay, so I am unsure where to start on this. But after talking with my cardiologist I brought up that in all my testing these last few years I have never had my hormone levels checked, and after looking at some symptoms of hormone imbalance I asked him if it would be something to look into (well hubby is also convinced it is hormones, i think he is just finding something to blame for my roller coaster emotions ) He agreed and was shocked it hadn't been done yet, well of course he tells me that he would be happy to do the blood work for me but has no clue what to run, and what results to look for since that is not his specialty, and sent me to my OBGYN and then to come back to him with my results. Easy enough, right? Ummm no! Lol. The normal doctor I see was booked out for a month so I scheduled with the new doctor that just joined his practice (only had to wait 2 days, yay) so I met with him, tried to explain what PoTS is and dysautonomia since when I asked if he had heard of it he said he has not, and went on to explain some of my symptoms which he seemed to half heartily listen too. In the end he just kept telling me that because we haven't been trying to conceive long there isn't any reason to test for infertility..so I kept explaining I don't want tested for infertility I want to know if I have a hormone imbalance that may be causing some if not all (wishful thinking never hurt, right ) of my symptoms he said he doesn't think it would but if I insist on having him do the test he would, I said my cardiologist wanted it done so he agreed. Okay now my questions and sorry if I am sharing more then what you all want to hear....I got a call today that I have to be on my third day of my period and get blood work (which came a day early, so it means day three is Sunday, so I get to go through the ER to get my labs done, yippee :/) then on Tuesday I am to take clomid for 5 days, then go back to the ER as it will be Sunday the next time my blood needs drawn again, and then we will go from there, oh and to do it all correctly my hubby needs to donate a "sample" yep he is thrilled about that one! So talking to my husband he keeps asking me if they are really checking for a hormone imbalance or infertility, as it seems a like a lot? So is this the same test do any of you know, or do I need to ask for a different one? And has anyone ever taken clomid, I know it is only for five days, but I have been so bad since getting periods again, this last month I have been cramping for 18 days, granted I did have a cyst on my one ovary but dang it ***** and makes me really miss my mirena and no periods for 4yrs, it did make a huge difference. So I am worried that five days of clomid might well send me into a down word spiral and since the days I will be taking it falls into the days I work, I am worried about functioning..okay sorry for ranting, this just seems so over whelming, I really want a baby, and have had two miscarriages in the past, but all I want to know now is if my hormones are causing everything......thank you in advance for any insight

[sue1234]

I took Clomid way prePOTS, like 25 years ago. Twice. The result was two babies!! It worked really well with me, as I got pregnant both times, I believe(memory), within 2 months of taking it. I had no ill effects.

[Ash]

Thank you Sue, I am so glad to hear it helped you get two babies. Do you remember if they did or how they did fertility testing prior to prescribing the clomid. I have never had any of my hormone levels tested and it concerns me to take a fertility drug, when I am not even sure I have a hormone imbalance or if it is something they normally do in testing a hormone imbalance....Got to love all this medical stuff.

[corina]

My first pregnancy came very easy. Then when we tried for another baby things didn't go as hoped for. In the end I was prescribed clomid and though I remember I had a few side effects (can't remember which but they were tolerable) it helped us get pregnant again (at first try). Half way through my thirties I was diagnosed with early menopause and was suspected to have been peri menopausal when trying to get pregnant the second time. About 7 years later I was considered "normal" meaning not menopausal anynmore. Of course I questioned my doctor but he (of course) hadn't had that happen before

I'm telling you this as I suspect hormonal imbalance is an issue in my POTS/dysautonomia so who knows it could be an issue for others as well. I had fertitility testing before the clomid was prescribed though can't remember the outcome. I think everything was normal but my gyn wanted to help us which is why he prescribed the clomid (not 100% sure though as I haven't seen the results on paper).

I'm very sorry to hear about your miscarriages and really hope the clomid will help you get some answers!

[Ash]

Thanks Corina! I am excited to hear it helped you get pregnant the first try! I completely agree I really do think that PoTS and hormones are interlinked at least when it comes to fertility. I truly question if both miscarriages where possibly caused by the blood being pulled away from the baby, as I know the reason myself and I guess many people with dysautonomia get so many stomach issues, is or can be related to the blood being constantly pulled away from our digestive tract. it is hard though because my husband still doesnt seem to understand why it upset me so much as we were not very far along, I keep trying to tell myself that it is fairly common among many women who don't have PoTS to have a miscarriage and God has a plan, but they were still my babies and I loved them regardless....I did call the nurse to see why the clomid was used for hormone testing and she gave me a solid answer that made sense, I have a few more days of the clomid and then get my blood drawn on Sunday and next Friday will get the results, part of me is praying something comes up abnormal, so I may be able to treat it and maybe get rid of some symptoms, and then part of me hopes it is like all my other tests and is normal as the infertility road scares me. As far as the clomid for PoTS pts so far on day three the only symptoms I have had is extreme bloating (I look 3 months pregnant) and I have had 2 real hot flashes, not just my "normal" go from freezing cold to a hot flushing feeling, but sweating every where for 5 mins..all I know is if that was a taste of what women go through during menopause I am not sure I want to get to that point :/ I am sure the mood swings will come though..but it doesn't seem to make my actual PoTS symptoms worse, other then maybe more fatigue, that or I am really used to feeling crappy all the time

[Friedbrain]

{{hugs}} btdt with both a miscarriage and having a doctor pat me on the head and say everyone has them, it's no big deal, don't worry so much about it happening again (she, my OB, was about 7mo pregnant at the time! Grrr). I didn't buy that because, like you, I had a history of autoimmune problems and had researched my increased risks for problems. I went to a pregnancy specialist instead, even tho my problem was not conceiving, or even technically a candidate (after *only* one miscarriage). He tested autoantibodies (I came up positive for the anticardiolipin Abs (can cause miscarriage via clotting) among others), and hormones throughout the cycle (if I remember correctly, the LH was always high or something weird). AND I went in for an US of my ovaries-before going on clomid, and I had like 20 cysts. The nurse was astounded. My understanding-as vague as it is-is that all that suggested that my hormones were NOT cycling normally and that the clomid would help out by making several nicely sized and healthy cysts instead of a bunch of randomly aged cysts, if that makes sense. (I've read both that clomid is helpful in that situation and that it's advised against, but I tried it anyway). I didn't conceive while on the clomid though. To answer your question.....but this was before my serious health problems (but after I'd been experiencing autoimmune problems).....is that I don't remember any serious side effects.

But what I'd like to add, for your consideration....... is my experience a few months after that when I did get pregnant. I immediately went back to the specialist, and he tested both my hCG and progesterone levels. My progesterone was too low to sustain a pregnancy! He had me start on progesterone supposetories right away. I'd been experiencing back cramping (similar to a period!) which went away when I started the progesterone. In hindsite, I believe that I was in the process of losing that pregnancy and that the progesterone saved it. The hCG was tested a few days later and had gone up, so I knew I was doing good! I took the progesterone throughout the first trimester; because of the autoantibodies, the pregnancy was considered "high risk" and I was on baby aspirin and monitored throughout, too. Healthy full term baby. When I became pregnant a second time, I repeated above. Went straight in to see the specialist, and he found that my progesterone was again too low to sustain a pregnancy. Back on the supposetories; away went the cramping.

Two years after the second baby, I started having severe catamenial seizures.......the type that are hypothesized (last time I looked) to be related to....drum roll..... low progesterone before the period. And all of my health problems since that time 11 ys ago (when the seizures started) have been associated with a window of time in my menstrual cycle. So, yeah, hormone imbalances are a huge problem for me, and I'm SO glad that I found a doctor at that time who even looked at it.

Good luck!

[Ash]

Thank you so much Friedbrain! I am sorry you had to go through all that, but glad you found answers and had 2 healthy babies. I have wondered about progesterone as well, and will ask my doctor this Friday if this last test tested it and if when I do get a positive pregnancy test if I can come in and have him do it, if not I am going to go and see my reg OBGYN who has always been great and is very good at working with high risk pregnancies and referring and working with someone more specialized if needed, he is just booked out for 2 months :/. Have you noticed a difference at all with any of your symptoms now improving when your hormone levels are balanced correctly?

[Gemma]

Hi everyone. I am in similar situation. I see that this forum is like 6 month old, but maybe someone will be able to answer. I also had a miscarriage a year and a half ago. Have been perfectly healthy before that. After miscarriage i had few episode of feeling like i will pass out. Then almost a year later I got sick with some virus and plus too much stress from school and i totally crashed. I thought i was dying. Now it has been 8 month and i am still very sick. I noticed that i get more sick before my period. I have more chest pains, back pains, more fatigue, more lightheaded, basically falling apart totally. One doctor told me some time ago that because of post i am unable to get pregnant. Ohh and i forgot to mention that we were trying for 2 years before i got pregnant. I had miscarriage on the fifth week. Very upsetting. I wonder if i need to be tested for some women's hormones. My endocrinologist did test me for hormones, but didn't pay much attention to women's hormones. I heard that they need to be tested during certain days of menstrual period. Would i need to see a fertility specialist for those tests or can my regular gyno do them. I told her once that i might be having dysautonomia and showed her tests that my endo did and asked if she can do any more tests, but she said no. I had thyroid tested and some other hormones like LS, FSH, not progesterone. Any advice would be so helpful. I really want to get pregnant. I am 31 already, plus on xanax and now flurinef. Being on these drugs doesnt allow me to even try to get pregnant. I need to be off the meds, but my symptoms are severe. So i dont know what to do. I am willing to get off drugs for sometime if i can get pregnant, but i cant be off meds for so long while trying.

Sorry for long massage. Thanks.