*****PCOS - Anybody in the same boat?******

Hi Scooby

Were you aware that blood tests can be done according to calendar days?. This is why the unit that I attended did as my cycles were pretty much non existant due to PCOS.

You should not also have to wait for AF to have either the HSG or blood tests. You could be waiting a long time.

I'd have words with them to ask whether the blood tests can be done according to calendar days (e.g the 3rd and 21st of each month). With regards to the blood tests they should also be looking closely at your FSH level too and comparing that against that of LH.

HTH

attila

Fruity

No wonder you're hacked off with them - why has it been moved back to such a late date?.

Would complain to both your GP and PCT (Primary care trust). With regards to your GP I would ask him to refer you to a subfertility unit at another hospital. I don't think you'll get very far with this current lot anyway.

I would also try and contact the dept where your gynae works at as they need to be aware of this too (I reckon they are not aware of any change).

Hi scooby I had the exact same process, I got AF three days after taking the last progesterone tablet. AF was very very very light, only lasted a day really unless you count the brown spotting before and after. Barely any red blood at all.

It get's worse for me not only has AF arrived which has royally pssed me off. But I have just received a lovely (not) letter from the hospital telling me that it has been necessary to change my appointment for the baseline scan from 7th July to the 29th* September!!!! . I can't effing believe it. This means my follow-up gynae appointment will be useless because she's hardly going to give me anything if I haven't had all the scans is she! So, I'll have to wait another bloody 6 months to get another gynae appointment. I'm so p*ssed off and upset it's untrue. How can they treat us like this?

I'm at the stage of getting LH bloods and an HSG. The gynae has given me a course of progesterone to enforce an AF which I finnished on Sunday. The problem is I still haven't had an AF. Does anyone know how long I should wait before an AF should come on? When I was on the pill it only took 2 days before I had an AF. Once I finally have an AF I then need to book the HSG and bloods.
Thanks

Thanks DGG but AF arrived this morning Ah well, at least I can say I finally ovulated, every cloud eh? So I wonder if I'll ovulate again this year not likely if this is the 1st time in 6 months (that I'm aware of)

fruity

The chart looks promising. It definitely looks like the 'bell curve' that they tell us to look out for!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Hi ladies, well it is very possible I may have ovulated at last. Still not gonna get excited about it in case I haven't but my temps for the last 13 days have been well above my coverline. Especially the last 8 days The only other time this happened was when I had a fever, I feel fine this time. I cant think what else could be causing these higher temps except for ov. If it was PCOS messing me around then surely I would get these high temps all the time? Is anyone else temping? I cant remember.

fruity's chart

Hi Attila and DungunGirl

Thank you for all your advice as always. Now the frustrating thing for me is, because we are going to the US, I don't think my appointment is going to come through before we go. Going private will be expensive, because my private medical insurance is not going to cover "fertility treatment". I will have to wait until I come back in September, by which time it will be 2 years TTC number 2.

Also, the other problem is, is it not possible I ovulate sometimes and not on every cycle? If the blood test result comes back saying, yes you are ovulating, that doesn't necessarily mean i am always, right?

I agree, GP's should not be allowed to vary in what they prescribe. It's appalling!!!

Attila - On Monday, I will assist on being referred. Thank you!!!! Your words of wisdom always help.

"I must say that after reading that you have really painful periods pains..makes me worry even more about my younger sister....she is 22 and get crippling pain with her periods. She can't walk it is so bad".

Dungangirl

Your sister needs to see a gynaecologist asap. Tell her to be brave and see the GP who will refer her. Your sister needs to be evaluated by a gynae to see if endometriosis is present. This is both common and a common cause of crippling period pains (which I've suffered from since 14. Yes my periods were that bad from the time I began menstruating). I was a classic case and it took me years to get diagnosed. Would not want anyone else to go through the same.

www.endo.org.uk is a good website to look at. I would urge both you and sis to look at this. This has lots of information on it.

Some of my particular symptoms of endo:-
shooting pains down legs (sciatic nerve)
severe pain leading up to and during start of period
mid cycle pain
pelvic pain
sometimes painful bowel movements
loss of stale brown blood
back pain
heavy bleeding
pain that comes on all of a sudden

Blood tests can also be done re PCOS (this is how I was diagnosed) but in your sister's case endo may be the actual cause of her problems. It is also usually only diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. Blood tests and ultrasounds of any sort will not detect endometriosis.

any other questions just ask

Attila x

Attila

I find it really irritating and incompetent that the GPs all seem to play to different rules.

On one hand you get GP's happy to perscribe Clomid/Metformin to PCOS ladies who are TTC and on the other end of the spectrum GP's who won't even run the initial tests!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Makes my blood boil.

I must say that after reading that you have really painful periods pains..makes me worry even more about my younger sister....she is 22 and get crippling pain with her periods. She can't walk it is so bad.

With me being diagnosed PCOS...and it running in families...makes me wonder whether she should get checked....

Only thing is..do they ALWAYS do vaginal scans to confirm PCOS? Obviously I know they did with me.

My sister is not sexually active...so all is still preserved down there!

Hi Dungangirl

Re your comment:-

"Attila - My GP got me to have all my blood work done before going up to the hospital. Maybe I was lucky and he was just on the ball!"

Think he was trying to speed things up too. Certainly some GPs will do tests, others like mine did not. In my case the GP took one look at me and referred me to the unit after discussion about my both irregular and bloody painful menstrual history.

I now have two diagnoses.

Hi guys

Yeah I have the same experience as Fruity and Attila.
GP could prescribe clomid but he wasn't going to as he said that I would need monitoring and the sub-fertility unit at the hospital were fully equipped for this.

Unfortunately though, like Fruity is finding...waiting lists can be long...

Attila - My GP got me to have all my blood work done before going up to the hospital. Maybe I was lucky and he was just on the ball!

Fruity

I was referred as well to the subfertility units - had no tests at all done beforehand.

Would actually ask your GP to refer you to another hospital subfertility unit. It is unfortunately fair to say that some units are far better than others.

Hi Moonlit,

Well done you for seeing your GP!.

A caveat re clomid. If your GP does give you clomid I would ensure that she monitors you properly whilst on it. Ask about monitoring. The problem you may encounter is that she will not have time to monitor you properly. That is not ideal.

No monitoring whilst on clomid is a no-no; it is not always suitable for all PCOS patients to take as it can cause an exaggerated rise in LH levels. As many PCOSers have an excess of LH to start with clomid is not always ideal.

With regards to semen analysis they often need to be repeated. Would suggest as well that when the result of this test comes through you both attend that particular appointment.

Quite apart from anything else you ought to be seen asap by a specialist anyway as all these tests can be done far more efficiently at hospital. All these test results going back and forth can just delay things. Regardless of how these tests come back I would insist to your GP that you are referred. You will likely end up being referred anyway.

Hope the choccy cake tasted good!

With best wishes

Attila x

Hi Fruity, yes my GP will prescribe it, she is very clued up on PCOS and fertility treatment. She has always said she would IF I wasn't ovulating. This is the first time ever, I am hoping I am not ovulating. It's not long before leave, so I want some help before we go.

I am considering Slimfast to, after telling DungunGirl not to, I feel like a hypocrite. But I don't have time to make Low GI food as well as everything else.

I can't believe you have to wait until August. A referel here is usually a month or two. Lazy buggers!!!

Really moonlit? your GP will prescribe it? My GP wouldnt touch my with a barge pole referred me straight to sub-fertility unit at hosp. I'm still waiting to get my follow up appointment in Aug and even then I dont know if I'm going to actually see the gynae or another one of her nurses I'll probably be told to come back again after even more tests NHS IS crap

Hi Ladies

Fruity - I know tell me about it.

Ok so today I went to see my GP which took a lot of courage.

Anyway she said I can't have Clomid until I have had a blood test to see if I am ovulating. But luckily, I had to only wait ten minutes and she booked me into have my progesterone checked straight away. I won't get the results until next week.

If I am ovulating - Then no Clomid from GP, but I will be referred to a gynecologist, who might just prescribe the Clomid anyway apparently.

If I am not ovulating then she will give me Clomid, but after my poor hubby gives a sample in at the hospital lab.

God this so long winded. I am getting sick of the bloody NHS.

Right I am off to eat chocolate cake

Morning everyone

I've started my 3 day diet today. So far so good A couple of girls from Emmsy's room have joined me on the quest to lose weight! So, three days of torture then a healthy low GI diet until next weds. I might give myself a 'cheat' day. Perhaps Sunday . Otherwise I might go stir crazy!
I'm lovin this glorious weather I cant wait to get out in the sun, I wonder how long it'll last

Moonlit oooohhh, meringue pie, aaaahhhhhhhhhh
I'm so pleased your DH is being so supportive. I cant believe fertility treatment isnt included! Surely if you have a problem, it needs fixing! It's not your fault you have PCOS
DGG I agree that in order to keep the weight off you need to change your eating habits for good. I'm just using this 3 day diet as a bit of a kick start. I'm gonna try it 3 days a week for three weeks then eat a healthy low GI diet for the rest of the week and allow myself one cheat day per week so I dont deprive myself

bump

Hi DungunGirl - Yes you are right, there are not so fussy in the US with weight etc. But they don't include fertility treatment as part of your medical insurance. My lovely, sweet adorable Hubby already checked it out. He has been great soooooo great recently, I feel we are on our honeymoon again (helps with the BD). Anyway, I am getting a personal trainer for three months whilst we are there, to help shift my weight.

I have gained 5lbs in the last week. But the roast lamb and home made meringue pie were worth it. Yum Yum Yum!!! .

Oh forgot to say...

The other thing is that I am trying to see the way I am eating now as a new way of eating ( for good ) rather than a diet.

This has helped me keep on the straight and narrow....i keep telling myself that this is how I need to eat from now on so best get used to it!

I am now so used to brown rice that I felt physically ill after I ate some white rice one evening!

Hi Fruity

Yeah I am following a low Gi diet and also going to the gym for a hour 3 times a week.

I also try to cycle at the weekends ( with a 3 year old strapped on my bike! )

That is it really!

I went on the slim fast diet for a month before my consultant appointment as I needed to get rid of 3 kilos minimum!!!

But I am finding that just by maintaining a low GI diet and keeping up the exercise I am tending to lose about 2 pounds a week.

It is hard work...I get to sit at work and watch my work mates ( all slim) scoff crisps and chocolate everyday so I keep my trusty bag of cashew nuts in my draw!

In British measurents:

To lose 10lb in 3 days, follow this diet strictly (and it honestly, truthfully works).

You must drink 5 x 8oz glasses of water per day, and no other drink.

Day 1:

BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
1/2 grapefruit
1 slice toast
2 tspn peanut butter

LUNCH:
Black tea/ coffee
4oz tuna
1 slice toast

DINNER:
2 slices any cold meat
1 - cup string beans
4oz beetroot
1 small apple
4oz vanilla ice - cream

Day 2:

BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
1 egg
1 slice toast
1/2 banana

LUNCH:
4oz cottage cheese
5 slatine crackers

DINNER:
2 hot dog sausages
3oz broccoli
2oz carrots
1/2 banana
4oz vanilla ice - crea,

Day 3:

BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
5 saltine crackers
1 slice cheddar cheese
1 small apple

LUNCH:
1 hard - boiled egg
1 slice toast

DINNER:

4oz tuna
4oz beetroot
4oz cauliflower
1/2 melon
4oz vanilla ice - cream

sorry, would've helped if I actually added the link! www.dietingdiets.co.uk/3-day-diet.htm

is fab for a weight loss boost