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

they did do blood tests in the first 2 months i was taking clomid to check for ovulation and was told that i hav ovulated and theyr not goin to do more blood tests as i am ovulating.

my partner has had a sperm check etc and everything was fine so male factors are not involved in my case just me & Pcos

actually im a little excited that IUI might work for me have i got my hopes up too high?

how successful is IUI anyway, anyone on here had any luck with that or had to move on to IVF??

It is vitally important that the three of you (you, your man and the cons) can work as a team - if this is not happening then I would look in to seeking a second opinion.

Having regular periods does not mean you are ovulating (particularly if you've been previously diagnosed with PCOS) - are they doing blood tests now to see if ovulation has occured or not?.

I would still challenge them on the IUI issue - how is this going to help with regards to PCOS?. Several attempts may well be needed too; it is unlikely to work in the first month. It is often used in cases where male factor problems are an issue.

Tyra,

It is pretty common to move onto IUI - I'm assuming it is with OI (Ovulation induction) this is seen as a much less invasive procedure than IVF and much cheaper which is why at 26 they will suggest this.

Basically they give you lower doses of the same drugs they use for IVF to produce 1 or 2 follies then use IUI to give fertilisation the best chance.

We did 5 cycles of this before moving onto IVF - our 4th did work but I misscarried.

good luck with it

correction! i hvnt had a lap iv had HSG.
im at a NHS subfertility clinic. i did ask as to why they want me to go for IUI was told that as im only 26 i have more chance of IUI being successful. i did ask for other options but the consultant was not very helpful...
dont know whats right/ wrong for me IM CONFUSED. help!

iv had a lap and dye tubes and stuff are fine... the only treatment iv had is clomid for 7mnths. well my periods are regular now so i guess i am ovulating???

Hi tyra

Are you under the care of a gynae at a NHS hospital subfertility unit or are you at a clinic as a private patient?.

Are you still on clomid as of now?. Ideally it should only be given for a max of six months after which other treatments should be tried. Clomid is certainly not suited to all PCOS patients.

BTW a HSG (tubal x-ray) can be instead done instead of a lap operation to see if the fallopian tubes are patent (open). Its far less invasive. If surgery is proposed I would ask them about your suitability to have ovarian diathermy rather than a laparoscopy which is often solely used as a diagnostic tool.

Why has IUI been suggested?. This in itself does not address the problem of the cystic follicles on the ovaries.

Verity's website may be helpful to you - www.verity-pcos.org.uk

Sorry for all the questions.

HTH

Attila

welcome tyra

Oh your story has been told so many times on this thread...loads of tears and anger been aired on here...probably mainly by me!! hahahah

What other treatment have you had besides clomid?
Are you being looked after by a fertility consultant?
Have they proved you aren't ovulating?
Have you had a Lap and Dye yet to check that tubes are open?

Oh the list can go on and on....

feelin very

hi all!
i just stumbled across this on the net and decided to join.
i am a PCOS sufferer and desperately trying to concieve and obviously finding it difficult... been on clomid for 7mnths now...
which has left me frustrated and depressed. i have now been referred for IUI but i am apprehensive. could anyone here guide me, any advice would be appreciated.....

Hey DungunGirl!

I am good. I have my first scan this Friday. I am huge already! I will be 12 weeks on Saturday. Wow 18 weeks. Time certainly is flying by. I feel sick and very tired all the time and can't meat. Apart from that I am great

Hey Moonlit!

I am ok thanks. Am fast approaching my 18 weeks! Will be 18 weeks on Saturday! Have my 20 week scan on he 24th Nov so get to know sex of baby then!!

HOORAY! Can't wait!

How are you holding up?

Hey DungunGirl - How are you?

xxx

Hey where is everyone???

Hi DungunGirl

I am good. Well if you classify 24 hours a day nausea as good . I had my booking appointment with my midwife yesterday. I will be 8 weeks this Saturday. Time is flying by! I can't believe you are 14 weeks already. I am so pleased all is well with you and the baby. I can't wait for my scan, nor can my DH. We just came back from our hols, so I am a bit exhausted.

Keep in touch ok!

xxxx

hey moonlit

How's it going?
How have you been feeling? Any sickness?

I am now almost 14 weeks gone! Can you believe it!
Saw baby at the 12 week scan and he\she is gorgeous!!! Although I would say that wouldn't I !!!

My all day nausea is dying down a little now but my uncomfortable gut saga continues....uuuurrrghhh.

I have my next midwife appointment at 16 weeks so I might just wait and see whether everthing has settled by then.

How is everyone else? This thread has been rather quiet recently!

Hi Cole1 - I have had PCOS since my early twenties. I lost a lot of weight before I concieved my DD. We concieved first time and I weighed 9 stone and 6lbs. After DD gained a lot of weight (I was 13.5 stone). We started TTC#2 in October 2006. My GP gave me Metformin in October 2007. By January I had lost 1 stone without any diet changes. My GP promised me further help in May 2008, so I waited patiently. I went to see her and she gave me referral to the Fertility Unit. At the last minute I had to cancel my appointment for the end of June 2008, because I was going abroad for 3 months.

Whilst I was abroad, I decided to knuckle down. I ran 3 miles everyday, ate multivitamins everday and followed the Atkins diet. After a month I lost 1.5 stone. When I returned to the UK, I got pregnant straight away. Hurrah!!!!!

I hated taking Metformin, because my moods were terrible and I had constant runs whilst taking it. But a combination has helped me to get pregnant without intervention.

I am 7 weeks pregnant and so grateful to this thread.

I hope my story helps.

Good luck!

xxx

Hello Ladies

Just a wee update from me. All seems to be going well with the bean although up until this week (I am now 10 weeks) I was feeling absolutely dreadful. The tiredness is indescribable!

Saw the midwife last week and I'm staying on the Metformin until the 12th week when it's safe to come off it.

I've had no bleeding since the scare back in September but I won't be happy until my 12-week scan.

Just want to reasssure fellow PCOS sufferers that it's not hopeless. I am 36 and conceived the first month of trying, which I put purely down to the wonder drug that is Metformin (and knowing when the best time of my cycle was!). Other PCOS ladies here know I've waxed lyrical about the stuff on plenty of occassions and I know it's not suitable for everyone but for me it worked!

dungungirl

Congratulations on conceiving with no medication thats great.

Hope all goes well after. It took about a year after my second before symtoms started to rear ugly head.

I am so grateful for all the gyny and diet support but i need help with my will power blinkin addicted to carbs....supportive dp helps bless him.

I have not read through all the pcos pages but wondered what help had been offered to others for moods and hair.... hate the plucking...and the me that comes out for half the month or shall I say my dp does.

cam75

Yeah...12 weeks and 5 days today! Will be 13 weeks on Saturday! Feels like it is going fast but at the same time feels like it is dragging on as I can't wait to see the back of the nausea and indigestion.

Woohoo! Glad that your DP is back soon and you can get back on the horse ( so to say...) Fingers crossed for you!!!

cole1

Welcome! Reading your post makes me worry that I will have the same fate! Never knew I had PCOS until after I had DS and gained loads of weight and also things went weird. Found out I had PCOS after TTC for no.2 for 18 months with no joy.

I have seen my PCOS consultant who will be seing me again in 1 years time (after I have this baby - am 3 months preggers) to see how we deal with PCOS symptoms and whether they come back worse or better!
Eeekkk!

Can't help with the metformin I am afraid, never been on the stuff. DOesn't sound at all pleasant though!

Hi all..new to mumsnet. So reassurring to read all your comments. I am 34 and have been very lucky to conceive whilst taking medication. My ds and dd are 2 and 4 now only 20 months between them. However the PCOS symtoms just seem unbearable now. The metformin is sending me nuts I dare not be further then a foot from a toilet. Does any one else get the hot flushes?

I am desperatly trying to follow a gi diet but working fulltime with two kids just does not fit with the planning such a diet takes. So I am just alittle bemused at the moment.

No one in my social circle has an understanding on how a change of diet can effect you so much and make me feel a bit daft.

dungungirl,

you have passed the 12 wks stage!!! fantastic. DP is back so will be waiting for af to come to start cycle 5 of clomid!!!

Hello ladies moonlit, sarah76 and everyone else who i have forgotten...
How is everything going?

Hi Fruity and DungunGirl

I am so pleased the scan went well. I have my booking appointment with my GP today, then we are off on hols for a week

xxx

How lovely Dungun So exciting to see the LO on the big screen
Yeah, in yer face PCOS

Hello ladies!

Update on the little one! I had my 12 week scan yesterday and baby was happy and healthy. Had all it's arms/legs/hands etc and was very lively bouncing all over the place.

Take that PCOS!!!!!!

I'm doing okay, thanks for asking Fruity. The worst part about right now is that I am going through withdrawal from stopping my antidepressants. I figure since I was trying to cut down before pregnancy (and to quit during), I should get it inevitable over with while I am not working. I'd managed to cut to the lowest dose pill before I was pregnant, and then while I was pregnant I cut down to taking only 1/4 of the tablet. Today is the 4th or 5th day without any, and I can't believe the withdrawal stuff is still going on. I'm dizzy, lightheaded, jittery--but importantly no more depressed than I think is normal considering the miscarriage.

I start my new job next week sometime, and just hoping my GP doesn't spill about my being pregnant to occupational health. I also hope this withdrawal stuff will stop soon, I do NOT want to have to start taking anything--it will just make it harder if I do get pregnant again.