TTC with PCOS

[Ainat266]

Are there any other ladies out there trying to conceive with PCOS? Or any success stories of conceiving with PCOS?

We've been ttc and off of bc since August. Since then I've been diagnosed with PCOS and put on Metformin. I am overweight, especially for my height as I'm only short - but am trying to lose the weight. I'm almost at a 10% weight loss since getting the PCOS diagnosis in November 14. I haven't had any periods since coming off of bc in August 14, apart from what I'm guessing was a withdrawal bleed (that happened pretty much straight away - end of August) and a couple of very light bleeds that lasted no longer than a day.

I'm just feeling all a bit fed up now and think I need to hear from others that are either in a similar boat or have been able to have healthy normal pregnancies despite the PCOS.

Ooh that's good news Gin! EWCM doesn't lie does it? I wouldn't know, I've never had it. Do it do it do it! Really hope this is ovulation for you!

Ab My scan is at 8:40am UK time on Thursday! I hope it's good news for us both!!! I had such painful ovary twinges last night, it kept me awake for half the night- maybe I was pushing grape sized follicles out of a pin hole!? Who knows! Lol!

Mistletoe Glad to hear AF has buggered off! Back on the horse I plan to start doing opks from tomorrow which will be cd8. Is it weird that I'm planning to keep them all and stick them into a little book so I can compare them to each other and see if I notice any patterns?!

Mistletoe I think I'm just super lucky being offered follicle tracking in the UK- I have read lots about women being given high doses of clomid and having no tracking. I suppose like all things, it's the financial costs associated with it.

Gin Dotted cross-hairs means it's not confirmed by FF, so based on your very positive opk cd22 and the ewcm, I would say its more likely that you ov'ed around then. Like Ab I've never had ewcm or a very strong pos on an opk....... but if I did I would be beaming! So it's fab news for you!!!

Well I've finished clomid and I am suddenly consumed with thoughts of DTD every few seconds! My sex drive is back and I feel like a mad woman. I've stripped the foo and plan to start DTD tonight I'm aiming for EOD but not telling DH that. DH is in for a shock!

Gin go for it, sounds like ovulation!

Mistletoe I know how you feel, this cycle I had no scan so no idea if there were any follicles!

So today is CD 16, yesterday evening I had LH surge, still surging this am. DTD Friday, Saturday, Sunday and this morning so hopefully covered all bases. Was going to do EOD but as DH had high amounts of swimmers, I thought just go for it. It is quite sore down there after all that! I've been having weird period like cramps all evening, nothing that feels like ovulation pain or maybe I've been mistaking it all along?

Also I usually have EWCM but have had absolutely non this cycle with Clomid!

Fingers crossed for some serious ov for us all!!!! I've never had any before either I got more than excited it's so funny! Hopefully my temps will shoot up now

rose keeping OPKS to compare can't be that weird because that's what I plan to do too. I've never used them before either.

rufus The scan thing is just annoying because I had two last cycle (February because I had a bit of a break) and it was nice to know what was going on in there.

I've booked my cd21 blood test so that's sorted but won't get the results until cd 26.

Isn't it weird that quite a few of us are ovulating around the same time?? I hope everybody's ovaries behave and we get a flurry of BFPs in a couple of weeks time

Anyone else on clomid reeeeally tired? I woke up this morning and felt like a lead weight. Not been too tired during the day but very groggy in the morning. That said, it could be the fact that it's almost half term (and we don't even get a half term this term! Argh).

If I ovulate at a 'normal' time (and if I ovulate at all!) and end up with a 'normal' cycle, I'll be expecting a BFP around 9th June. Lots of ifs there! Do some of you know when you'll be expecting a BFP if all the 'ifs' work out?

As far as CM goes, I've never been more interested in it! Haha it's the weirdest thing to talk about with people (on a forum of course, I don't just bring it up in the staff room). I once read somewhere what types you should have at different stages in your cycle. Would be useful to find again.

I will definitely chase up that letter next Tuesday rosebud if nothing before then. I'm at home all day so have no excuse to not get through to the doctors.

I am not on clomid ab, but I am really tired lately. It could just be, as you say, that it's nearly half term! I've been crazy symptom watching this week though and it's driving me crazy. I hope these symptoms turn into something... Even if it is just AF coming at a reasonable time!

Ain if AF came at a normal time that'd be a huge victory! FX it's that making you tired

My temperature has shot up this morning. I'm only on cd8 so surely it's far too early to be an ovulation peak?! thinking sensibly, I haven't had any positive OPKs or ewcm and I had a hypo last night (diabetic) so my BM was sky high this morning. Hoping that could influence it some way? We dtd last night but I imagine that's too late if this is a real ovulation spike. Not that it is....argh!

Is this a positive OPK?? Or not quite dark enough? It's never been this dark before!

Id say not quite positive but should be soon, I'd do another one later this afternoon xx

It's already 5:30 here so perhaps it'll be tomorrow. Have DTD just in case

AbFab I would say should be positive in the morning, not quite there yet.

So I wasn't convinced that I ovulated on Monday after my LH surge, no distinct pain just grumbling. Yest did OPK and was neg so thought it is all over, this afternoon had stabbing (nearly screamed) pain on L ovary, 10 mins later the same on R ovary, did an OPK on dilute urine and found LH, not a +ve but shouldn't be any after none on FMU yest! Don't know what my body is playing at!!! Will DTD when DH finally gets home as it has been 2 days and I don't want to miss it.

I thought Clomid was supposed to stop false LH surges?

That's all very confusing isn't it? I think just DTD as much as possible and hope for the best! Perhaps not the most scientific approach.

My OPKs are now showing definite negatives. It's picking up LH but not enough of it yet. I'm still only cd9 though so no panic yet. Scan in 2hrs!

Rosebud how did you get on? Any good follicles?

Aww thatnks for asking Ab........ no absolutely none!!! I have to go back for another scan next week to see if anything has changed, as it might be that I am just a late ov'er. But honestly because of the lack of any real side effects I'm pretty convinced that 50mg is not enough for me and the sonographer seemed to agree with me.

She said that my lining looked good but that my follicles were all tiny. What made me feel more positive though was that your 6 cycles of clomid doesn't start until they have found the right dose that works for you so if this cycle doesn't work they will increase my dose to 100mg and I still get 6 attempts. It made me feel better but I still feel disappointed!

Fingers crossed for you Ab Let us know how you get on xx

Oh I'm sorry rosebud :( That must have been so disappointing. Very good news about the number of cycles allowed though. I wasn't aware that it didn't count as one of your cycles unless it actually worked, but thinking about it that makes perfect sense. Here's to 100mg working! Or that you're just going to ovulate late and that next week shows some movement.

Well I went for my scan. This could get lengthy...

I had a 12mm follicle, one slightly smaller on the same ovary and then a 9mm one on the other ovary. She seemed to think this was good news. However:

• The whole appointment lasted 4 minutes. That wasn't the consultation after, because there was none. That was the entire time I spent with the doctor (the doctors do the scanning here).

• The first thing she said to me when entering the room was 'why was your progesterone low in your blood test?' in a very accusatory tone. I pointed out that it was because I have PCOS (surely that is on my notes?!? That's why I was there!). She didn't know I've only had one cycle of clomid. I had to point out that I'd only had one cycle because she wouldn't prescribe it the first time.

• I had a 15mm follicle at my last scan (on cd120+). I now have a 12 and a 9 on cd9. To me, that isn't conclusive evidence that the clomid has or hasn't worked. She said the 12mm one has time to grow (but didn't say she'd scanned too early) but it needs to be 18mm for it to be viable. She did not offer to scan again in a few days.

• Once the (2 minute) scan was done, she stood up, said 'I'll see you next month then' and turned to leave. I actually had to shout after her to ask whether I needed any blood tests. She shrugged and said 'maybe progesterone on day 21??'. Asking me or telling me?! I then asked if it had to be day 21 (bearing in mind I haven't had a cycle shorter than 100 days naturally) and she said between 21 and 25. So I'll go on day 25. I very much doubt I'll ovulate on day 14 unless this 12mm follicle suddenly grows by 5mm over the next couple of days. Why the hell she said 'see you next month' I don't know. What for?! She mentioned nothing about changing the dosage or anything.

I came out and was so upset. I held it together until I got in the car and called DH but then burst into tears. It was SO rushed and she made me feel like I was just wasting her time. It was awful. I don't expect doctors to sugar coat everything or be all fluffy sparkly unicorns, but jesus a bit of compassion wouldn't go amiss! I wanted to point out that, actually, I'd much rather not be there. I'd much rather have just decided to have children with my husband, had a nice romantic night then 2 weeks later found out I'm pregnant, but it's not worked out like that. Something that is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world is now being entirely controlled by drugs and doctors and, actually, I already feel pretty shit about myself because of that. As would the majority of people in our situation I am sure. She clearly didn't give an ounce of thought towards that.

Luckily, I am in the situation whereby I can change gynecologists. Hopefully I will be able to find one that actually cares about their patients. Private health is so ridiculously expensive, you'd think you'd get the gold standard of care. I have never once been made to feel like this at the hands of the NHS.

Sorry, got a bit ranty. Told you it might get long!

Oh Ab that sounds awful! Good news about the follicles but a terrible level of care- I hope you are ok.

I welled up when I read your last 2 paragraphs... couldn't have summed up how I am feeling, better myself! I feel like a total failure!!! God PCOS really is so so tough on your physically and emotionally! Then with the added complication of clomid not working or doctors being shit, it just feels like things will never improve doesn't it?!

Hopefully a new doctor will do the trick for you, and 100mg will do it for me!

I still feel gutted for us both though! x

Oh ladies I am so sorry! There's really no need to be treated in such way, if I was you i would request to see somebody else as you will feel uncomfortable seeing her again. Great news about the clomid dosage, think you taught us all something

I'm feeling a lot better now, angry rather than upset. I just think about how closely we're inspected at work and held accountable for kids' emotions, staff emotions, parents' emotions - and we're not even in a stereotypically 'caring' profession! You'd think a doctor could show a bit more compassion.

Anyway moving onwards and upwards. Just called a gynaecologist that has a very good reputation and is a specialist in PCOS. Asked his receptionist for an appointment and she said 'ermmm...how is Saturday 10am?'. My voice went a bit squeaky when I said 'THIS Saturday?!?' Crazy. Thought I'd be waiting weeks! Hopefully he'll be able to arrange to do another scan.

We will all get our babies and they will be so special because we've had to bloody fight for them!

Rosebud I'm sorry you didn't have any follicles, hopefully some will grow.

AbFab You are not alone in having a crap gynaecologist! I think you have been scanned too early, us ladies with long cycles don't just suddenly conform to the 28 day cycle just because of Clomid. My last scan was done on CD13 which was too early, CD 16 actually showed what was happening. So if you are only CD 10? It is way too early! Good luck with the new Dr and scan.

Ab I think that's a very good idea, if your not happy with the service given then defo look elsewhere. It simply isn't acceptable to not even read your notes beforehand.
I'm on my 3rd day since starting met, feeling a little sensitive in the stomach area

Hi. Sorry I've been gone a while. I had my day 21 results back - inconclusive apparently. I didn't want to update while everyone was waiting for scans - didn't want to be the person to put a downer on the thread.
I was told my progesterone level and that it does not confirm ovulation but not sure if that means they did the test too soon as I don't have regular 28 day cycles. Am on cd31 today and no AF yet, although I have some cramps.
I think DH isn't coping well with the weight and watching me so preoccupied with it so he wants me to POAS later. I've said I'll do it on the weekend if there's nothing before then.
Aaggghh why is this so hard?

AbFab that's really rubbish, sorry your dr was so rubbish. For a caring profession, I think sometimes they see so many similar symptoms that they forget that patients are people. Definitely look for an alternative!

Rosebud Please please don't feel like a failure. Although I understand the feeling (and in my hormonal the-world-is-crap phases) feel it too, the truth is we have an illness and are doing our best.
It is rubbish about the Clomid but hopefully an increased dose will work.

Gin I hope your stomach is feeling ok. Met does get easier to deal with after a while but I know that doesn't help while you're dealing with the effects in the beginning!

Rufus fingers crossed that you have some solid news on ovulation /what's happening with your cycles soon. It's so frustrating isn't it.

mistletoe Fingers crossed for some good day 21 results! What cd are you on now?

I think I'll try and keep up with the thread a little more now - I think I'm going to need it if I POAS.

I have to say that after spending 18months muddling through the process, feeling like this is never ending and there's no one to talk to about it because the people I know 'get it' it's really nice to have this thread. It's reassuring to me to know that there are women out there who understand the feeling of exasperation, the hormonal madness and the stress fertility problems can cause. So thank you for letting me post I may be feeling hormonal and emotional today

And I've just done something that is a pet peeve of mine

*wait not weight!!

Ab sorry to hear that the doctor was so rubbish! Glad you've managed to find another one so quickly. I really hope that this new doctor is more compassionate!

Gin I hope the side effects of the met aren't too bad.

for all who are feeling a bit crappy.

I am so grumpy today! CD 21, was a ball of fury yesterday as well. Really tired as well which is probably why I'm so grumpy.

Ladies on Clomid what CD are you on? Any LH surges yet?