TTC with PCOS (Thread #2)

[RoseBud2015]

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS and would like a small group of very friendly ladies in the same position as you to talk to, then this is the thread for you!

You can find our first thread >>>>>>>>> HERE

You can find the stats >>>>> HERE

Good luck ponty! So important to have the right doctors.

Right, so my next ridiculous question for you all - I am going on a fabulous adventure holiday on Friday to South East Asia. My typhoid vaccine has just expired and some parts of the world we are going to are malarial (low risk, but still). I am obviously going to have the typhoid vaccine but (a) do I need to stop ttc ing because of it and (b) do I need to take anti malarials at all? and (c) do I need to stop ttc ing w the malarials?

Obviously I want to protect myself BUT I feel the chances of getting pregnant are so low why bother to stop formally BUT on the other hand I can protect myself against being bitten quite well (used to live in malarial Africa so know what to do) so why take the anti malarials unnecessarily? Hmmmm

Oh Stealth I can answer this one cos I had the same questions when we were getting our vaccinations for South America in June.

So some vaccines are 'live' and others aren't. When TTC or preg you are allowed the non-live ones (such as hep B and thypoid) but not the live ones (like yellow fever).

Malaria tabs are more difficult. My nurse told us that you really shouldn't take them when TTC. And instead take lots of other precautions like mozzie nets, 50% DEET, long sleeves etc. So that's what we did.... no anti malarial. But if you are going to be going somewhere that is really high risk then you may need to reconsider your options. I.e. most of Thailand is relatively low risk, except for the far north, Singapore is low risk.... so depends where you are going in Asia?

How long are you going for? So exciting? X

stealth I'm so jealous! Sounds amazing! Rosebud has you covered I think. I agree, I would take them if I was going somewhere high risk. Ooh I'm so jealous

ellewalk I wanted to say it is so worth going to get more bloods done to check for ovulation, I know weight loss really helps some women with PCOS. And welcome!

Ooh thanks rosebud! I am pleased to hear that about typhoid as that's tje only one I need to update - I am already covered for all the heps, yellow fever, tetanus etc.

On the anti malarials - not high risk but nor is it v low risk - we will be in Malaysian borneo. Dengue fever is also a problem there I think I'll probably not take the malaria tabs as I'll need to avoid getting bitten anyway due to the risk of dengue (no vaccine or protection available). I'm a dab hand with a mosquito net, deet application etc plus it's winter there so a bit cooler - hopefully I'll be fine. Thanks!x

Ps going for just over 2 weeks - can't wait!

Hi all, and a special welcome to all newbies You are in good company here

Well, I had my rescan this morning and there has been some progress... but not enough. I've been told it's a '50/50' chance of a viable pgcy at this stage. This rollercoaster just keeps on going! I am technically pregnant, at the moment, and the hormones all indicate that too (emotional, bloating, nausea, retching, food aversions, painful breasts, exhaustion) but it could all be in vain. I didn't want to come on and be all doom and gloom, but I wanted to update rather than simply run away and bury my head which is what I really want to do I've completely gone off chocolate, so can't even drown myself in that!

Keep the faith, ladies. My Consultant said that being positive was the only way forward, so that's what I have to do.

PS: How have we got to almost 800 posts already?!

Amazing stealth that sounds like such a brilliant trip!

chandelier I'm keeping all my fingers and toes and everything crossable crossed for you my love xxx

Well got the letter from my consultant, seems I'm no longer being treated as if I were PCOS any more - given that my bloods, symptoms and scans mean I'm presenting as anything but (and not in a good way!)

So as I'm presenting as a low responder, not a high responder as PCOS women normally do, he's recommending the short protocol for IVF - ie very aggressive stimulation.

So not sure if I belong here or not, now I'm seemingly neither presenting nor being treated as someone with PCOS

I'll certainly be lurking as I want to hear all your news and see lots of BFPs popping up!

banana is the recommendation a surprise or what you wanted? just in case

I've been to boots today & multivitamins are 3 for 2- so I got 2 lots of pregnacare and 1 pack of soy! Love a bargain

chandelier what an emotional rollercoaster for you and yours. I'm so sorry for the stress you must be under. I will be keeping everything tightly crossed for you.

banana I don't know whether that feedback is good or bad for you, but do stick around even if it's just popping in and out occasionally

AF came today a day earlier than I anticipated (I overrode FF in the end, I thought it looked like I may have ovulated 12 days ago, and now here's my period almost bang on schedule so I'll take it and run with it) which means a 40 day cycle, down from 46 last cycle and 60+++ the cycle before. The only thing I've consistently stuck to is the weight loss regime (SW) so it's definitely encouraging. And I have an appt with my GP for all the "initial proceedings" to get the ball rolling on getting a little extra help. Really, I'm angling for metformin and not clomid as I just don't feel ready for that yet but we'll see what comes from it all!

actually - it's been a long while since I went to the GP when TTC. What are the first steps? I know DH will need sperm analysis as we did that before, and they didn't bother testing me again because they knew I had PCOS, but I got pregnant just before I was due to go back to talk about "the next step". Can my GP prescribe metformin or is it a referral straight off the bat? thanks ladies

Ponty sadly if I was still presenting as PCOS it would be a much better picture

Don't know how the hell I've managed to un PCOS myself and go from cracking to very poor ovarian reserve between 28 and 33 but there you go.

Before I got my day 3 bloods when I was still working on the basis of treating myself as PCOS, I bought a bloody 6 month supply of Inofolic (Inositol + Folic acid) as it was cheaper than the inositol capsules I'd been buying

As it turns out my testosterone is now below normal and I'm about to start DHEA, I need to stop taking the Inositol (which reduces androgens and DHEA levels - ie not what I need!)

So after relishing the lack of acne thinking how well I was doing with the low GL, I'm about to start on DHEA to up my testosterone and voluntarily give myself acne and greasy hair!!

I bought the Inofolic for £100 but it's going to sit unused, so might as well go to a good home.

So if anyone wants to buy a 6 month lot for, say, the cost of P&P plus a donation of £40 to Macmillan Cancer (who were an amazing support to me and my family when nursing my Mum through end of life care), I will happily send it to you.

If you could let me know here if you've PM-ed me so I make sure to check my inbox, that would be fab.

banana do you think you were misdiagnosed in the first place? I think it's quite common to be misdiagnosed PCOS.
Just yesterday my GP suggested endometriosis rather than pcos due to painful periods and painful sex. It was many years ago that I was told I had pcos and as I was early 20s I just accepted it.

Forgot to add - AF has come s few days early do officially CD1 today, will start soy on CD 4-7!

Hi Zazzles that would be the logical answer! Unfortunately three different gynaecologists all agree the diagnosis was correct - I had 4 of the 3 Rotterdam criteria for diagnosis for PCOS when I was diagnosed in 2010

1. absent or irregular periods (tick)
2. hormonal imbalance on either bloods test (tick - high LH:low FSH ratio) or outward appearance (tick - acne)
3. polycystic ovaries on ultrasound scan (tick - I have the print out and the 'string of pearls' polycystic appearance is unmistakable)

Unfortunately now I have 0/4 of the above, and my ovarian reserves are massively diminished. Consultant has no idea what could have happened but it is what it is. I wish we'd started earlier - but at 28 my reserves looked amazing and there was nothing indication things would take such a horrific nosedive. So we are where we are

Hi everyone! Welcome to newbies!

Stealth I would take the tablets and continue ttc as you never know that could be your month and you could miss out! A friend of mine got pg whilst travelling all over Asia and she was fine! The holiday sounds amazingggg!

Chandelier Keeping everything crossed for you, can't imagine what you're going through at the moment

Ponty yayy for 40 day cycle, it sounds promising if AF showed up 12 days after ovulation!

I'm well and truly exhausted right now and feeling sick as a dog!

*banana" for you - you must not think "shoulda, woulda, coulda" because you've been busy living your life and there's nothing even slightly wrong with that. How were you to know what lay ahead? anyway, you're still young. Yes, this is shit news right now, but you are nowhere near the end of the road. It's just a bit of a longer journey which makes me so for all of us, but you will get there. Don't be hard on yourself

zazzle ooh fab news about AF, please keep us posted about the soy - I'm v interested in its success rate

Oh banana sorry it's a crappy time for you, must be so confusing and exhausting . Please stick around though

Thanks Ponty will do! I'm making DH take Wellman too

oh banana, it sounds like a nightmare! just don't stress too much, it'll all work itself out. how amazing that we all have access to IVF if we need - it's a marvel.

yay for 40 day cycles and AFs and all the rest.

in the end the doctor agreed with my analysis that i probably didn't need antimalarials, so i'm happy with that. had the typhoid injection rather than pills so not a live vaccination and i'm hot to TTC-trot!

i'm CD15 and no sign of Ov yet - have been doing the OPKs this month and nada. Am hoping it will be like last month and something happens at CD20ish. At least I know my LH levels were normal on my Day 3 blood tests, so if the OPK does show up positive that should mean something's happening - right?

fab news stealth, and I'm so at the fact you can use OPKs! I would definitely keep peeing based on your results!

Well I'm not sure I can use them ponty - this is the first month I've tried, so it's a bit of an experiment. I'm going to do it for 2 cycles & the next cycle I'll have the day 21 of tests done too so I'll have some good data Let's see! I am practically dehydrating having to not drink anything for hours on end before testing so I may expire soon anyway - how do people cope with that for months on end?

Banana sorry to hear things aren't going the way you first thought. The good news is that you know the facts and diagnosis now and can focus on treatment.

I am cd 7 and just taking last day of soy 200mg so will be on high alert of anything in coming weeks!

Just wanted to pop my head in to say sorry to hear your news banana. Hope you are getting looked after and I will have everything crossed for you to have some more positive news/times very, very soon!

x

Update on photos: those test were positive :) despite the faint lines

Isit did you get your blood test results yet?

Banana thinking of you. Hope you are being looked after.