Clomid Side Effects: Hello, Emotional Roller Coaster!
Ya’ll should be glad I’m writing this post now. Because right now I feel pretty good, hopeful and, well, sane. Talk to me in a few hours though and you might just get an entirely different Jenn. Why? Because I just took Clomid for the first time. And the side effects—for me at least—have been up, down and all around.
I thought it would be “fun” to keep a Clomid side effects journal of sorts. Turns out, the joke was on me. Here’s a play by play of my experience! (And note that I took Clomid from cycle days three to seven. While the worst side effects were felt during those first five days, I had plenty of the crazy after—especially when it was combined with more anxiety-producing doctor’s visits.)
Clomid Side Effects Day by Day
Day 1: After waiting to start my period so that I could start Clomid, I’m almost giddy today at the excitement of actually finally getting pregnant. I’m still on my period, so I have mild cramps now and again, but I’ve been nothing but happy today. Okay, maybe a little overly sentimental, as while walking around the neighborhood I thought about walking with my future kids, and I happily teared up at the idea. Then, a little later in the day, I was listening to a Smashing Pumpkins song that reminds me so much of meeting my husband in college that I happy-cried again. And despite really, really wanting to listen to The Bodyguard soundtrack this afternoon (guilty pleasure, what can I say?), I decided it best to not tempt the Clomid with the Whitney Houston.
Day 2: Woke up super excited again, and then my mood quickly shifted to big-time cranky pants. I have been super annoyed by little things. Like the sirens being tested today at noon? Rage producing. Afternoon into the evening, a commercial could make me cry, which isn’t uncommon but isn’t commonplace either. And my desire to work? None whatsoever. Although that may have more to do with working long hours and it being gloriously springy outside. Oh, also bloated and extra hungry today. Grr.
Day 3: After mood swings yesterday, I spent most of the day feeling tentatively normal…but waiting for the crazy. I’m still bloated yet am happy to report that my hunger is back to normal. Feeling a little on edge and not quite myself, but the real mood swing came around 5 p.m. when I had a random crying outburst and a general poor-me feeling that “We’ll never have kids,” over and over. A bit over-dramatic. A bit.
Day 4: Despite having a hot flash (my first on Clomid!) in the middle of the night and waking up in sweat, I slept great and woke up feeling great. Fast forward to lunch where I made the mistake of watching Parenthood. Gets. Me. Every Time. Triggered bawling. Thankfully, it was short lived. I had some slight stress/rage-out in the afternoon, but then I was pretty normal for the rest of the night. I’ll take it!
Day 5: Happy it’s my last day taking Clomid, and feeling good thus far. Warm and tingly down there. A good sign of growing eggs? Hmmm. Keep telling myself to “not over-think it…”
Days 6-9: Normal. Thank the Lord.
Day 10: Um, not normal. Back to crying. Nervous for my appointment tomorrow that will tell us how my body is responding. Headache. Oh, ouchy headache.
Day 11: I’m not sure how much I can blame Clomid side effects for this one, but cue complete breakdown No. 1. I’m frustrated, angry, depressed and just everything all at the same time. Lots of crying. Appointment shows some progress, but not ready to ovulate yet. More headache. Another couple of hot flashes that night.
Day 12: Normal. Hallelujah!
Day 13: Complete breakdown No. 1 doesn’t have anything on today. The doc says Clomid is still making my hormones run amok making me nutters, and I have a full-out angry-at-the-world/I-might-as-well-plan-my-child-free-life-now outburst. It involves, yelling, crying and staring into space with the reality that I am unable to have a child without drugs and medical help. Sigh. Thankfully, after all of this, my appointment shows progress and that we might have a chance to “try” this month. Finally. I’m flooded with a sense of relief.
Day 14: Normal. Hopeful.
The rest? Well, that remains to be seen. Throughout all of the Clomid side effects, I really felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster and most definitely an emotional detox. It was like I was a teenager again—minus the insecurities and the constant desire to sneak out of the house to make out with my boyfriend. I had feelingscome out of me that have probably been waiting there for months, if not years. They all just bubbled up and out through crying spurts that rocked me to my core. Almost as if layer after layer, walls I’d built up over time started to erode. So much so that I had no choice but to be vulnerable, raw and almost beaten down.
But after every emotional event passed (almost as soon as it came—until those last few), I did feel better and more real. And in the process, I’ve learned a great deal about myself. I do want children. I will go through what it takes to do this. And it’s okay to let other people support you. It’s okay to be real and yourself, even when that self is hurting like an overemotional mo-fo.
And I think my husband summed it all up best when he said: “If you’re this emotional from the Clomid, then obviously it’s working, right?” Heck, yes. Fingers crossed that this crazy ride is coming to a close—so that our new ride can begin.
For those who have been in this situation, what type of Clomid side effects did you have? Did you become highly emotional, too? And were you—in a twisted sort of way—kind of glad you went through it? —Jenn
Comments
So in my warm and fuzzy comment about how much of a blessing clomid was and my two beautiful daughters, I left out some vital information. So glad you posted this because I would never want to scare anyone away from using it. It was a blessing for me, but there were some issues. I was so moody on clomid I couldn’t even stand myself. It was like the worst PMS ever. I also broke out in hives for the last 3 days of the doseage each time I used it. The bad side effects were very short term for me, only lasting while I was actually taking the medication.
Girl, you sound like me trying to get prego and I wasn’t even on Clomid! It’s all such a freakin’ roller coaster while one anticipates ovulation -esp if your ovulation tends to be uncertain. Sending you happy thoughts, a bit of sanity and a hug. Can’t wait to hear how the rest of the month progresses. FINGERS CROSSED!!!
I feel you. I think we started trying to get pregnant at the same time and started on Clomid about the same time. The hot flashes are the WORST!!!
I went through several cycles with Clomid and remember all those side effects – especially mood swings and hot flashes! I never did ovulate (based on u/s monitoring) on any cycles, so we stopped, took a break and regrouped. Well, what do you know, when I went back in to see my RE to discuss the next steps a few months later, I was pregnant! I think I got pregnant the only time I ovulated in years (but not while on Clomid) – stranger things have happened according to my doctor. I wish you the best! But know that even if you go through 6 (or however many) cycles and don’t get pregnant, there’s always hope for a small miracle.
Real mood swings and overemotional. I started crying on day 2. Woke up with a. Headache on day 3. And feeling neuseoUs
I did not seem to have any side effects while on Clomid. I tend to get emotional after ovulation time frame. I’m on day 25 & freaking crying at everything. Broke down on my husband for telling me to lay down.. am I weird for not getting emotional on it?.. ttc for over 3 years now but only on month 2 of Clomid..
Did my progesterone test day21 got a 14.0 so I know I ovulated this month. Crossing my fingers
Hey Jenn! I see this was from 2012–with it now 2015 could you write a follow up. What happened? How long did you try and what all did you do before it worked? I keep reading so many stories of women during this time, but none follow up on when it actually worked and what it took before it did work. Please let us know!
Hi Nicole,
You can see all of my posts here: https://fitbottomedgirls.com/category/mommy-talk/from-the-fbms/from-jenn/. But here’s my pregnancy announcement post and all about how it (finally!) happened: https://fitbottomedgirls.com/2014/08/at-last-at-long-last-im-gonna-be-a-fit-bottomed-mama/.
🙂
—Jenn
Thank you for this, Im on my first lot and im so emotional, crazy, angry and generally nuts. This made my day, thank you.
Oh I hear ya! I’m on my 6th month of clomid and the dose has been increased and I feel like a raving lunatic!! My mood swings are horrendous and not ones I can control. Feel so wired. Hoping not to be in it long. Thank you all for sharing stories it’s a comfort to know I’m not the only one.
Bawling my eyes out as I type this! I’m currently on my 3rd day of clomid and I can’t stop crying! I’m an emotional wreck and my Zoloft is doing absolutely nothing to help but I am so glad to know it’s not me it’s the clomid!
Mikah: I cried so much! Definitely let your doctor know how you responded, but, yep, you are not alone in that reaction! —FBG Jenn
I’m not a crier by any means. Something incredibly small set me off and I was bawling like I’ve never cried before. I called my mom and she was stunned. Not even as a child throwing a tantrum did I ever cry like that. I couldn’t stop even though I wasn’t upset. My husband made me laugh but I was crying at the same time. It was so odd. I had crazy nausea, dizziness and hot flashes as well but crying for 30 minutes like that was definitely the worst for me.
Hi im on my third ride of clomid and its been a roller coaster for me aswell…. I have hot flashes really badly.
My firat month i was very very very irritated and hungry all the time craving things that i dont even eat
My second round i was angry all the time and bloated like crazy.
Third round im very emotional crying about everything….
I really hope this will be my month for a BFP!!!!
Strongs ladies this is not nice!!!!!
Sending you good vibes. Hang in there, Janine! 🙂
—Jenn
Thank you Soo much, I couldn’t expressed it that well.
THANK YOU!!! ??
I’m so glad to know that I wasn’t the only one who was highly emotional. This is my first clomid, and I’m on day 5 now but boy was I bawling my eyes out on day 4 in a parking lot in my car at a shopping center. Just cuz some guy was food to me. Lol felt like the whole world is so cruel and mean. Haha it’s so funny when I think about it.
Thank you for sharing this! This is my 2nd round of clomid and the crazies have definitely arrived. Last month wasn’t too bad in regards to my mood. Mostly headaches, ache, and fatigue. This month: one day I’m crying for no reason on my way to work then next I’m happy. The bloating is so awful this time around, too!
im on my first cycle of clomid currently 2 days post ovulation
im grumpy tired emotional and my skin on my face is way more sensitive that i have break outs!!
thankyou for showing me im not alone in this xxx
Comments are closed.