New here, with questions

debbi · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 08:46 PM

Hi ladies,
I am brand new to Femara & I am pretty confused. Everything I have found to read talks about the dose being similar to clomid... from CD3-7, etc.

Well my Dr. is recommending taking one single dose, of 8 pills, all at once, on CD 3. (I think that's 200 mg. at once?)

Have you ever heard of this & do you know where I could read/learn more about this protocol?

Thanks a bunch!
Debbi

Mommie2Ava&Presley · #2 (**permalink**) 01-19-2008, 06:56 PM

Sorry to just now be getting back to you, Debbi, I've been out of town and weekends can be slow around here.

Yes, I have heard of a single high dose protocol before. For some people it works out great. My question is, will your doctor be monitoring your response to the femara by u/s to see what your body does? My personal opinion is that without monitoring to see what the meds do, it's kind of like playing Russian Roulette. Femara can (doesn't always, but can) alter the timing of your O date. Some people still only make one good follicle and others make several, but that may or maynot get mature at the right time. Still other people get a couple of follicles that both mature at the right time and either O on their own or get a trigger shot to help time their BDing. That is why I am an advocate of monitoring. A lot of time, the big problem is timed intercourse or the need for IUI and if you don't know what's going on, that is still a factor that doesn't have to be there.

I hope that you find Femara is the answer for you! I had great results from it; unfortunately the times I got PG, I m/c'd due to an underlying problem that wasn't found until 3 years later. Of course once that was identified, I did conceive - on my own - and was able to maintain the pregnancy with a different protocol of steroid medication. We would love to have you stick around and keep us posted on your progress and let us be supportive during your TTC efforts.

Loopy Lou · #3 (**permalink**) 01-20-2008, 03:24 PM

Hi Debbi and Welcome!

This weekend has really been slow by the looks of things, but trust me you are among great group of supportive women here.

As for the one dose protocol i have not personally heard of it, but i do know each woman responds differently and even on each cycle, and as your Doc/RE knows your background and history so i am sure he/she believes this protocol may work best for you.
And just like Shannon i am a big advocate for monitoring, unfortunately i found out the hard way how crucial it is.

Good Luck Debbi, again welcome, and please keep us posted!

Celi · #4 (**permalink**) 01-20-2008, 06:08 PM

Hi Debbie,
Welcome! I never heard of a single dose protocol, but I used Femara just once. And I agree with Lou and Shannon make sure you are being close monitored, I think u/s works better and are a more reliable, because your doctor is seeing everything first hand, but at least using OPK's. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Constance_13 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-20-2008, 09:01 PM

Welcome Debbie:

I am PG with a Femara baby currently. BUT as the others have said I truly believe that monitoring is a HUGE HUGE part of it. You just never know how your body is going to react to the med and you want to make sure it’s the right "recipe" for you.

I have never heard of the single high dose either BUT I was extremely lucky and hit my miracle recipe my first CY on the meds.

Femara is like Clomid and general you do take it cd3-cd7 (I took mine from cd4-cd8 and then had a scan to make sure there were not too many follicles, then did the trigger shoot on cd13 and did timed BD’ing). BUT the difference is Femara helps promote thickening of the uterine lining where as Clomid tends to thin it and the side effects seem to be more manageable.

You doctor may have had a greater success doing the single high dose. I think all RE's are different in their approach and they try to tailor the treatment to your body. I hope you find your special recipe.

The ladies here are truly great!!!! Let us know if you have any other questions and if we can help in any way!! Keep us posted!