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Original poster

Obesity (PCOS related ) and fertility treatment

32 replies

BeckiF · 08/09/2003 14:18

Hi

Has anyone else that is as overweight as I am (although dp says I am just damned sexy!! Bless!) been turned away for fertility treatment? We have our 1st appt on Thursday but already know we are going to be told that I have to lose weight.

Does anyone have experience of being overweight but having sucessful treatment?

OP posts:
Neetsmassi · 08/09/2003 14:35

Hi

I too have PCOS and am also overweight but I am pleased to tell you that I did have fertility treatment and have a three year old daughter. I DID go private but it was worth it - trying to get pregnant again but through NHS and everything is so slow. For info I had Clomid and ovarian drilling - took time so don't lose hope.

All the best

Original poster
BeckiF · 08/09/2003 15:45

Thanks for that ... we've already been told we have to have ICSI but they say that my weight sould cause miscarriage or the drugs not to work so well ...

Thing is, they hold the cards, they know the in's and out's, and I can't disprove if they have the proof that weight is a factor.

OP posts:
bluecow · 09/09/2003 14:55

Anyone who knows about PCOS should be sympathetic about the overweight thing - it's nearly always a symptom and it's hard to lose weight when you have PCOS (I have it).
However when i was told I could start on Clomid my weight wasn't even mentioned. As it happened I fell pregnant naturally in the end, which is another thing people frighten you with - you know 'ooh, being overweight affects your fertility'.
Well, not necessarily - and don't be bullied by people who tell you otherwise. I'm still overweight and pregnant again!

Original poster
BeckiF · 09/09/2003 15:26

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It's always great to hear that the bigger girls can have babies too.

I'll let you know how it goes on Thursday ...

OP posts:
dot1 · 10/09/2003 14:24

Hi,

I've got PCOS and was told the fertility specialist (on the NHS) wouldn't even see me unless I lost weight. I lost 3 stone over the course of a year and am now pregnant - without having to have Clomid, but I was prescribed Metformin, which helped me to start ovulate and is supposed to help with losing weight aswell. You could maybe go down the Metformin route if you are turned away because of the weight issue - your GP might prescribe it, or ask for a referral to an endocrinologist - if you're not already seeing one.

Just been weighed today (am 11 weeks pregnant) and my weight's already creeping up so I'm in the 'danger' BMI zone so have to have glucose tolerance test in a few weeks time - I suppose it's good they're keeping an eye on me, but quite depressing when it's such a battle to keep the weight down/off...

Good luck with your appointment.

Original poster
BeckiF · 10/09/2003 17:14

Thanks for that ... I am on the Metformin which seems to of helped the periods but not the weight.

I ned to try harder I guess, but as you know, the PCOS doesn't help does it?...

OP posts:
bluecow · 10/09/2003 19:45

Have you read; PCOS - a woman's guide to dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome by Colette Harris (Thorsons). Pretty well informed on all aspects of PCOS. When I have had d?2 I will try to lose weight but it will be with exercise only as having PCOS means your body doesn't deal too well with diets (and if they worked, we'd only ever have to diet once!). However will always be a big girl (and dh not complaining!)

bluecow · 10/09/2003 19:46

PS Becki - thanks for your congrats and keep heart. Not only do I have PCOS and big curves, I'm nearly 40 so never lose hope!

Original poster
BeckiF · 11/09/2003 07:45

Bluecow - you are an inspiration! I am all that you are but just 33! Appt with the fertility clinic is this morning, and I had to fight to get this far having been told we didn't qualify for treatment becuase dp already has children from first marriage. I took my complaint to 10 Downing Street and the House of Commons, in as much as I wrote to them! I even got a reply from the Prime Minister !! My advice to everyone now is never take NO for an answer!

Today SHOULD be the day when we discuss commencement of treatment, but I already know they will send me away because of my weight with the usual hospital line of "Come back and see us when you've lost some weight". Then another 6 - 12 months of our lives pass, and to them we are just names on a list.

Well, one tries not to be TOO despondant but it IS hard!

I'll let you know what they actually say!

OP posts:
quackers · 11/09/2003 08:30

Good luck BeckiF, I'm appauled that they don't treat you as an individual in your own right - disgusting. Good luck today, I'll be rooting for you! Look at the many successes though we've had on here for poeple will PCOS. How overweight do you have to be out of interest? You don't have to reply to that precisely though! Good luck all xxxx

dot1 · 11/09/2003 10:02

good luck from me aswell BeckiF. I found the last bit of weight I lost seemed to come off a bit easier when I started doing power walks in my lunch hour! Only twice a week - about a 25 minute walk going uphill for half of it...! My consultant had also said about exercise being the key with PCOS and losing weight. I HATE exercise, so the only thing I was kind of willing to do was walk - and it got me out of the office!

But it's soooooo difficult, and needless to say I haven't even done a power stroll since getting pregnant...

With a bit of luck the Metformin might work its magic and help you get pregnant - I was on it for about 6 months before it worked.

Fingers crossed for you.

twiglett · 11/09/2003 10:07

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aloha · 11/09/2003 11:18

I have heard from people in the field that women with pcos can have problems with carbohydrates - esp refined ones - and are more likely to lose weight on a high-ish protein diet (sort of Atkins style). Have not had pcos but have interviewed others about it. My friend has pcos (all the symptoms, including acne and weight probs) but has lost weight amazingly after having her baby a year ago (after a bit of a struggle and a miscarriage). She had a personal trainer who told her not to eat carbohydrates after 6pm so supper was chicken/fish plus salad or veg and fruit. No sugar, bread, potatoes etc. Plus she had a protein shake at 4pm. She also did kickboxing. She went from nearly 12 stone to about 91/2 on that regime with pcos. She She'd dieted for years without much effect before. Good luck with your appointment.

aloha · 11/09/2003 11:20

BTW the 12 stone was her weight pre-baby - she won't tell me what she was immediately after!

quackers · 11/09/2003 12:32

I'm 12 stone, maybe I should seriously think about losing some before ttc again. I was only 10 stone with my first and have lost 2 since and was 12 stone. Iam 5 ft 8 and probably don;t look fat - fat as in bulbous!! but feel it!!

twiglett · 11/09/2003 16:13

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quackers · 11/09/2003 16:56

Well that's what I thought, how could they possibly think I was obese I am a bit porky now I have to say but I have shape and curves and nice boobs now and never did when I was skinny. My skin is very young but I my figure does let me down these days!! Twigs, are u as twig like as your name suggests??????? bet u are 'smugamum'!!!! ;0

aloha · 11/09/2003 17:11

Oops, didn't mean to make anyone paranoid! She's quite a bit shorter than you Quackers - about 5'4"

twiglett · 11/09/2003 17:44

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Original poster
BeckiF · 11/09/2003 18:54

AHhhh you see I'm 5' 6" and weight A LOT!! As for personal triainers, well my partner is one but loves big girls so I'm onto a loser!

Anyway, had the fertility appt today and I do believe they were going to start me on a course of treatment. Anyway, we discussed my chances being so heavy and we all agreed that I need to lose about 2-3 stone before I give it a go, so I will. Plus more if I can. Tell you what, I'll do it by Christmas to.

Wish me luck PLEASE!!

OP posts:
Bogwoppit · 11/09/2003 20:20

best of luck BeckiF. you'll do it I'm sure.

quackers · 11/09/2003 21:03

BeckiF, YOU WILL DO IT!!!! I lost 2 stones in 2 months to get into a size 12 wedding dress, and I bloody did it!! Cross trainer every other day. I still had a drink and enjoyed myself but worked dam hard to lose it! Good luck chuck!
Twigs, sylph like, just like me LOL xxxxx

bluecow · 14/09/2003 12:38

Becki - any news? My weight is up there with those already mentioner (!) and I weight more this time round than when I conceived ds last year. When I was fit and leaner a few yars ago it was exercise (3-4 times a wek in gym) that did it for me. Aloha is right - women with PCOS handle carbs badly (something to do with being insulin reistant or something.)
Nice to be somebody's inspiration thugh! Everything crossed for you.

Original poster
BeckiF · 14/09/2003 20:45

Bluecow, Hi! - It was so hard as the doctor started writing up my drug programme to tell him that I would rather wait till I had lost some weight!

I am currently suffering with awful naseua (no I'm not pregnant; I did the test!) and have done so for about 3 weeks. Just talking about food or smelling it cooking makes me come over all awful! So I'm having to eat a little of what I can. Sadly at the mo that's high carb food like bran flakes with skimmed milk, or plain cold boiled potatoes, plain baked poatoes or plain cooked rice! Yes I know, I sound like I'm pregnant!

Still I hope that the sickness and the loose tummy will pass and I can get into my diet more. I am on Metformin so that should help with the insulin resitance!

OP posts:
bluecow · 15/09/2003 13:02

Becki - well best of luck with the diet. Your partner sounds great by the way (liking big girls and all that - my dh is like that!) Don't be too hard on yourself though because diets are tough but perhaps your dh can work out a good routine for you, cos PCOS people do respond well to exercise, it seems.
Your nausea is intriguing - it certainly sounds like a pregnancy type sickness. Are you SURE you're not preggars?!