PCOS and ttc!

[KylieP]

Someone just suggested setting up a PCOS and ttc thread - I'm on the June ttc thread but would love to hear from other PCOS'ers too!

[Jodidi]

Spotty isn't a temp drop supposed to mean af is on the way? I thought you wanted it to rise to show ovulation. I hope you did ov, and caught it.

cyster did you have other symptoms of pcos before your gp diagnosed it? Not just the ttc complications? My gp wouldn't do any tests at all until we'd been trying for 18 months, and even then she seemed to think me not having periods was down to coming off the contraceptive injection (which can mess up anyone I believe), even though I told her that it had been an ongoing problem since my teens.

[cystersledge]

Attila - well the GP said they don't refer until a couple has been trying for 12-months, but perhaps that's not the case where PCOS is concerned? Also, his immediate concern was the potential damage/progression to diabetes associated with the insulin resistance so he wanted me to take the Met for that. I figured that anything that had the potential to improve egg quality was worth doing to get ready for whatever comes next. Gulp.

Thank you for your thoughts about AC - will re-think that... I guess I just wanted to feel like I was doing something!

Jodidi - I went to the doctor because my periods were very irregular five months after having stopped taking the pill. I didn't (and still don't) have any other symptoms but a scan a couple of years ago for something unrelated had shown some cysts on my ovaries, so I had a fair idea what was going on (if only my awful former GP had done the blood tests then... he said it was nothing to worry about!). So then I had another scan and when that came back confirming signs of PCOS I had some blood tests.

Your GP not doing tests for 18-months sounds really tough and must have been very stressful indeed. It seems like everyone's experiences with their GPs are so different that it's hard to know what is right. Mine is generally quite keen to refer for scans etc. which I like!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi cystersledge,

Great name that btw!.

I would have thought that a referral would have happened earlier as you already have a PCOS diagnosis. I was referred to the subfertility unit by the GP after 6 months of ttc with hardly any periods (was eventually diagnosed with PCOS after ultrasounds and blood tests).

(I also had a lot of pain during and leading up to menses as well; that was due to another gynae problem - endometriosis).

Jodidi - would seek help from another GP within the practice and if they are just as unhelpful change GP practice. Gynaes generally like to see people after 12 months of ttc without success so making you wait another 6 months on top of that before you have a referral (again you could wait a further few months for this appt to come through) is completely unacceptable. Do not be fobbed off!.

[HettyTurner]

Hello Everyone!

Mooly was so excited and then gutted for you. Did you see the Dr to get it put on your records because 3 mc's gets you to the consultant and even a chemical counts as a mc x x

I've been feeling down this week - not been for a run, eaten crap, not slept very well and had an observation in the worst lesson I've taught all year . AF due anytime between now and Wed and I suspect all the negativity is hormonal... Also been feeling sad about mc's as a friend of mine is due 2 weeks before I was and a lady at work the same week as I was and they are both fully into maternity clothes and showing off their little bumps.

I must go for a run when AF arrives and that'll perk me up, but too scared to go until then 'just in case' because I worry that last months little bean didn't stick because I went running in LP.

[Jodidi]

Attila Once i had the diagnosis of pcos I managed to get pg fairly quickly after that with dd2 (dd1 had been a youthful accident) because I did a load of healthy eating, exercise, etc to try and manage the pcos naturally before going back to the gp. I would have gone back after another month or so to request a referral, but the gp seemed to think the fertility clinic wouldn't take me at the weight I was so I needed to lose about 2 stone before I could be referred. I don't think they would look at me now either as I managed to get pg in Jan although I mc at the start of April. We would need to be trying (and dp would need to know we are trying ) for another few months before a referral would happen.

Hetty I'm sorry you are feeling so down this week. Dealing with a mc is really hard, it's definitely the worst thing that has ever happened in my life. It's difficult seeing people around you being as pg as you should be, one of my friends is due a week after I was supposed to be, and a colleague has just announced she is pg and is due about a month later. I want to say it gets easier, but I haven't noticed that bit yet. Observations are shit and stressful at the best of times and when you are down already they only make things worse. I had an observation just before Easter when I was really suffering with pregnancy exhaustion and nausea and that was the worst observation I'd ever had, I was utterly shit :( I've just had another one this week and while it was better than the last one that's only because I stole someone elses ideas, I have absolutely none of my own at the minute.

[frozenpenguin]

Hi everyone, thank you for welcoming me to the group :)

I've been given a date for my scan - this Saturday, 2nd June!
Feel a bit apprehensive but also slightly excited

Really interesting to read everyone's experiences of how helpful (or unhelpful) doctors are. The doctor I'm with said in our area (North East Somerset) you usually have to try for 12 months before anything is done, however if you have known or suspected fertility problems then it's only 6 months.

Still waiting for DH to make an appointment for his SA, he doesn't seem too keen to get tested...

[HettyTurner]

Hi guys! I tested last night at 11/12dpo and got a faint line. Stayed up nearly all night freaking out about mc again, stressed all day at work constantly checking knickers. Did a digi when I got home and PREGNANT! I am pregnant! Please pray/hope/FX for me that this is a sticky healthy baby.

[Jodidi]

Congratulations Hetty!!! I've got everything crossed for you that everything goes well this time.

[RIBS]

Oh My god hetty congratulations. Im thrilled for you and hoping this is a sticky one. And you were feeling so down too!! Maybe thats just the hormones talking. I havent checked in for a few days either, wow you've made my day!

I wont check in for another few days and will expect to see another one!!

[frozenpenguin]

Huge congratulations Hetty !

I'll definately keep all my fx for you :) x

[LittleMissSnowShine]

Hetty!! Woop!!! Great news fx (and everything else crossed) for you, come back and let us know how it's all going, how you're feeling etc

[queenofthefairies]

Has anyone got any news?

I'm driving myself nuts symptom spotting..... Can't test for another week

[queenofthefairies]

Sorry forgot to say congrats Hetty!!

Fingers crossed it sticks x

[KylieP]

Hello! Sorry for the silence, I've been on hols. Am trying not to get excited but my yucky brown spotting stopped eventually, then on Sunday night, first night back from my hols, I THINK I got EWCM for the first time since ttc! DH has cracked a rib slightly playing footy but we managed to dtd (wasn't as up for it as he usually is but manned up to the challenge!). Anyway I think we should dtd again tonight to be sure, and I'm trying not to get excited...but please let it have been EWCM!! Although not sure it's healthy to get pg the first month after over a week of brown spotting?

Congrats Hetty!! x

[TremoloGreen]

Hello to everyone

Really great to see everyone's stories and find other people going through the same thing. Pleased everyone is really positive and wish you all the best of luck... hang in there!

I have been ttc #1 for 9 months.... Came off the pill in September, felt horrendous, no periods for 3 months, all the tests, find out I have PCOS (I'm 28 but had been on the pill for ~10 years). Now have established a long ~38 day cycle but with late ovulation and a short luteal phase. I also have the 'lean' type PCOS, with all normal blood tests so far, if people are interested in that type of thing.

I'm still feeling positive but have to admit it has been a real emotional rollercoaster so far... so doesn't help that hormones are all over the place!! My two best friends are both pregnant, one due in 4 weeks and one due in October. Both got pregnant straight away. I'm truly happy for them, but struggling a bit to be honest.

Anyway, DP is off to JIAC (jizz in a cup) tomorrow, I'm going to have another round of blood tests this month, then our GP is going to refer us to a specialist and hopefully we can start Clomid later this year. We're getting married and going on a long holiday in August/September, so probably after then, giving us time to sort out our lifestyles before then.

Things we're trying:
Low sugar/GI diet
No caffeine
No alcohol
Regular sex all month long
Exercise - DP is already superfit, I've just joined a gym
Meditation - going to our first class next week!
Yoga - also to strengthen my body for inevitable pregnancy (!!)
Masses of vitamins - Iron, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, all the Bs, plenty of E and C...

I got all these lifestyle tips from a really good book I have on my kindle - unfortunately I don't have it with me today but I will post the link when I get chance.

Regarding agnus castus, I bought some then was too scared to take it, since I also read that it can mess things up more. I will check out the links posted by LittleMissSnowShine though.

PS, congrats Hetty Great news!!

[LittleMissSnowShine]

Hello freesea and tremolo!

Welcome back from hols Kylie - that does sound exciting and good on yr dh for manning up!!

We-ve been having a so so ttc month - really nasty tummy bug that took me out of action for a few days and DH had a boys wkend away but wr hav still managed to dtd on CDs 7, 11, 13, 15 and twice on CD19. I'm on CD20 now and had a bit of a skin outbreak and lts of ewcm on cd17, 18 abd 19. Maybe cos of all the agnus castus?? Anyway hope this means I hav OV and that I will hav managed to catch it, even with no dtd for 4 days... Going to keep up dtd plenty tho for rest of cycle in case OV hadn't happened yet, dont want to risk missing it! Annoyed we missed cds 16, 17, 18 particularly cos of ewcm but thats timing for u!!

I hav to say I think agnus castus is making a difference for me this month tho, plenty of cm and dodgy skin - something is going on with hormones since I started taking it this month anyway!

[Jodidi]

Hello and welcome freesea and tremolo. Ttc really is an emotional rollercoaster, and then once you fall pg you start worrying about miscarriage (which ime is way worse than the rollercoaster of ttc), then if you get through the pg it's worry about bf vs ff, routine or not, sleeping, weaning, safety, etc. I think we must all be mad for putting ourselves through it all, then I look at my kids and on the days I don't want to kill them (not literally) they make it all worthwhile.

LittleMiss you are doing really well with all that dtd, I bet you're exhausted!

We've only dtd once this month, so are unlikely to concieve which is ok because dp hasn't come round to the idea yet so I think it would be best to give him a little more time. We dtd on cd 17, and it's now cd 22. Had loads of ewcm around cd 15-18, and fertility friend seems to think I ov'd on cd 17 as temp went up. So if that's right we dtd around the right time but I'm not getting my hopes up at all. Oh and I got spots around then too, so did dd2 which usually indicates she's getting a change in hormones through my milk.

[RIBS]

Hi free and trem

Well ive only gone and got some ewcm!!! Thought id spotted a bit on Monday, then it was more sticky that ew, just been for a wee and there it was as plain as day! Didnt think the clomid was gonna do its job this month as ive had no side effects. Maybe im just getting used to them.

jodidi if its around the right time thats all it may take? Maybe DP's swimmers were ready to burst out and pounce on your little egg!!

Im glad its looking good littlemiss. I wish id heard about the AC years ago.

My best mate is having her 12 wk scan today Im both nervous and excited for her, as its when I found out id had a MMC. But ive got to admit I am really . But ive got everything crossed that all is ok for her.

[HettyTurner]

Thank you everyone! Feeling ok, sore boobs some crampy twinges. Did another test and still pregnant today. I've got into taking it one day at a time, and I can cope for now. Went to see Dr, and she to come back in 2 weeks... I can make it to 2 weeks without having a meltdown.

Yay for all the EWCM and DTD! We only DTD 3 times this month so don't stress/tire yourselves out too much x x

[HettyTurner]

My consultant wanted 2500, but it just couldn't stand it and reduced to 2000 and that's worked well for me. Just make sure you start off low and build up over several weeks. It gave me BAD gas and all my food tasted odd and headaches, but after a couple of months I was back to normal.

[cystersledge]

Hetty - that is wonderful news! Huge congratulations to you. I'm sure I am not the only one on here who finds your news very encouraging!

Free - I'm on 1500mg of metformin and I built up to that over a few weeks. I felt quite grotty at first and had stomach cramps and nausea, although no stomach upsets, and these mostly happened after my morning dose. The good news is that I hardly have any side effects from it at all now - yay! The only thing I notice is that I get car sick if I go in the car too soon after taking my morning dose.

Some things that I found helped with the side effects were: having breakfast and my morning dose a bit later (about 90 mins after I got up - this made a huge difference), avoiding fatty foods, and taking the tablets with some form of protein - nuts seem to be particularly good for cushioning the blow in the morning.

[TremoloGreen]

Thank you for the welcomes.

PCOS and Your Fertility by Collette Harris is the book I was talking about

So who else is on the 2WW at the mo? Or 9-10 day wait in my case