PCOS confusion (and a bit of a rant)

[HandbagCrazy]

Hi
I finally got my PCOS diagnosis on Tuesday. The consultant told me I have the syndrome, that I'll need help to get pregnant, I need to lose weight, then gave me metformin and started talking about how the IVF clinic won't treat me unless I lose weight. Then she started talking about needing a HGC (?) scan - injecting dye to check my tubes - and another ultrasound. Then back to her to 'make a plan.'
Although I'm so happy to have a diagnosis and some progress, I wasn't expecting to discuss IVF at the first appointment. FFS it threw me so much I'm sure I've missed some info.
So I started metformin yesterday (500mg daily to be built up to 1500mg) and have cramps today. Is that normal? And can someone please tell what the frig happens next?

(For the basic info, I'm 28 (vv nearly 29) been with DH for 11 years, no children, ttc since May last year and feeling low about everything taking ages and 4 of my friends having babies in the last few months).

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

No mention of giving you clomid? Surely that would come first before trying IVf?

[isabellnecessary]

I was diagnosed with PCOS last year (I'm your age) and went on metformin. I got pregnant incredibly fast on the metformin but unfortunately ended in mc.

The cramps are normal, apparently. Metformin can give you a dicky tummy when you first go on it. Stay close to a toilet.

My GP seemed to think the metformin would do the trick and she was right in a way, although I didn't become pregnant again whilst still on it (am pregnant now but a while after coming off met). She certainly didn't discuss IVF at the point of diagnosing/prescribing. Surely you are supposed to see if it aids natural conception first? That's the impression my GP gave anyway.

The fact that you're in your 20s gives you a lot more time to work with in terms of trying naturally for a few months whilst on the metformin. I don't know if it was coincidental but I went on a low GI diet (good for PCOS weight management) and got pregnant. Also, talk to your GP about being on a higher dose of folic acid. Apparently women with PCOS/thyroid issues may need higher levels of folate in order to conceive/sustain a pregnancy. I have been on a higher dose this pregnancy and not lost it (lost previous 2).

In terms of weight loss - are you overweight? It can affect chances of conception, of course, but my GP told me the metformin may help with losing weight. At the time I was only marginally overweight. I wouldn't worry too much or fixate too much on IVF/weight loss.

Are you prepared to keep trying naturally for a while? I have been in your position and it's so frustrating (and heart wrenching at times).

[HandbagCrazy]

Thanks for replying! at the end of the Appointment she said about coming back after the follow up scans so we can 'make a plan' but at the very beginning she mentioned my weight, metformin and my suitability for IVF within the first 5 minutes. It just caught me off guard. I'm hoping when these tests are done that she'll move towards giving me clomide.

I am overweight by quite a lot but I've been following slimming world and lost some and have been looking into low GI alternatives just today (thanks to the power of google) :)

Thanks for the reassurance about metformin. I've got cramps and an upset stomach but today is only day 2 of them.

Yes I am very happy to carry on trying naturally while I lose weight and they investigate more - although I've been told we have to stop trying and use contraception until they've done this 'dye through my tubes' thing which will be in either day 10 of my period or in 6weeks if I don't have one before then.

isabellnecessary I'm so sorry for your losses but congratulations on your pregnancy now

[HandbagCrazy]

C

[HandbagCrazy]

Oh bugger!!

That was meant to say, can I also ask, how quickly can I increase the metformin dose? I'm on 500mg a day but need to get to 1500mg. Consultant told me to build up to gobs but not sure how slowly I should do this? I'm inly on day 3 and the 500mg is upsetting my stomach and causing cramps :(

[HandbagCrazy]

Gobs? I have had some
That should be 'build up slowly!!

[InanimateCarbonRod]

I refused metformin after my diagnosis and decided to try to cure it naturally. I went on a Paleolithic diet and within 3 cycles my pcos was gone. I got pregnant on cycle 6 with no meds. You don't need meds and IVF just because you've got PCOS. It's curable.

[Lally112]

I agree with the weight loss thing though it is hard but highly beneficial. Before IVF have you thought of laparoscopic ovarian drilling? Sounds like some form of ancient torture method but thats where I'm thinking of heading next year rather than IVF route. Maybe worth a look at if even just to give you a peek into other options possibly available to you?

[HandbagCrazy]

Thank you! I've been looking at the low GI diet. I was doing slimming world anyway so I've been eating lots of veg and things anyway - I just need to swap the carbs for low gi versions.

With the metformin, I'm giving myself a week on 500mg then I'll do a week on 1000 then move to 1500. I'm hoping in a months time it will be fine but if not I'll def ask the gp for the slow release version. I wasn't even aware there was one, the consultant didn't mention that or that it would likely upset my stomach when I took it.

No- one has mentioned the drilling thing to me - does that come after clomid?

Sorry for so many questions - I've been looking back through other pcos threads to try and understand what the procedure is. Before the consultant I had a hope that the issue was something else that would be much easier to treat and am now trying to arm myself with as much info as possible