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

Cobblestones I had a similar line about 4 days before I ovulated last cycle. Hopefully you'll get a darker line in a couple of days. Don't be worried if it seems to disappear tomorrow though - mine went back to nothing for 2 days before being very dark!

Mistletoe I bet your emotions are everywhere with the combination of things you've had to do Got everything crossed for you though that this is your cycle.

A little update from me. I have my scan a week today, which will put me at about 6 weeks 3 days. I've been spitting for the last 4 days and it has just started to get to look like 'newer' blood. I've also had some back ache. Trying my hardest to keep positive and have read lots of comments about how spotting is very common but I've got a bad feeling about it Trying not to be miserable and getting plenty of rest. I wish the rest of this week would disappear. Or that the spotting would stop. You know, either would be fine.

Good for you mist that you've managed to keep focused and try again this month. I hope your right in what day you may OV. I Am sure you've already read this, but DTD as much on the days before and after your OV, as sometimes it can be a day or two out!
Ain don't feel bad for asking the Dr so many questions, that's their job, don't let them rush you and ask again if your unsure of anything your told.
Rosebud and Ponty I too hope you both OV this month, really hope to see some BFPs again!! I laughed at hiding all the TTC bits ( I hide my folic acid behind the breadbin)
Cobble I hope the next few OPKs get darker lines, I would have been unsure of that result also x
Drew glad you have a little weight off your shoulders on the job front. Good luck xx
Well ladies Hope you all have a good week and I will catch up once I am feeling a bit rested after Thursday! Scared now, hope it's not all bad awful news xxxx

Hi everyone just checking in. Hope everyone is okay! Mistletoe I hope you're feeling positive as you can be given the situation, when I had my chemical just made me frustrated as it felt like I was so close, like having 4 numbers on the lottery but not quite enough

AbFab hope that your scan comes around quickly and hope that it's good news.

And hello to everyone else! I'm just refreshed from a nice holiday but was actually too hot to dtd a lot of the time!

All my doctor has told me is that I have Pcos but as I am still having regular cycles I should keep trying. I really don't know how everyone copes with the 3 month long cycles, I think I would lose my mind, you really are a strong bunch of ladies!

Hey ladies..

Just checking in ????

Mistletoe hope your ok and I have a feeling this will be a good month for you!!

Drew glad your feeling abit more relaxed and good luck in the new job ????

Abfab I hope your scan comes quick and everything will be fine ????

Rosebud hope all going ok!!

Hi to everyone else and hope all ok!!

I have my appointment with consultant on Wednesday with OH.. Quite nervous and scared!! Xx

Abfab I hope all goes well with your scan! Keep relaxed xxxx

Hello everyone, please can I come in?
I've been reading through all your threads with great interest and could really do with being around people in the same situation if you don't mind having me.

I just found out yesterday that I have PCOS, and to say I cried would be an understatement. I think I am one of those "end of the world" sorts who goes straight to the worst possible outcome first, ie I'll never have a baby.

My stats are, age 32, BMI 18.6, Cycle 4 since stopping Dianette in early Feb.
Cycles so far of 45, 53 and 39.

Anyway, feel silly being so upset when I am sure it just means more hurdles to pregnancy than no pregnancy, but surrounded by pregnant friends so was hoping to share the journey with people who understand please?

Hi Dollface!

I know how you fell, I found out last month and got my app with consultant tomorrow.. Don't think of it like that.. Just means we need abit more help and that's what they will do for us.. We can all do it together and support each other ???? xx

Just back from my follicle tracking scan and it's not good news As I suspected the 100mg clomid didn't do anything either. No follicles have grown at all!! The sonographer has upped my dose to 150mg for the next cycle, but she did say that if that doesn't work then there is nothing else they can do for me on the NHS. The next step would be IVF. I burst into tears and feel totally devastated....... she suspects I'm just one of those people that doesn't respond to clomid.

Sorry for the me post. I'll read back and respond to everyone later.... just feeling very sorry for myself at the mo and trying to hold it together as I've just arrived in work.

Oh Rosebud that sucks, hopefully the 150mg will do the trick, you can only cross your fingers and hope I guess

I feel for you as you are always so positive, life just isn't fair sometimes!

Rosebud I'm so sorry 100mg hasn't worked. I'm crossing everything for you that 150mg will. It could make the world of difference. Can you not get IVF on the NHS where you are if it doesn't work?

Thanks for the welcome Shellbell :-)
Rosebud, sorry to hear that (and hello). Being at work is the worst when you have this sort of thing on your mind!

OK, I'm on my lunch break now so can respond to you all properly!

Hi Dollface! I've added you to the stats (the link is above) You can have a look at who is on what medication etc. I completely get the sheer fear that comes from finding out you have PCOS- I think we have all had that reaction at some point! I am also surrounded by pregnant friends and colleagues, and facebook is the devil at the moment- I don't seem to be able to ever go on their without someone announcing another pregnancy It's all sooooo frustrating- us ladies totally get that

Thanks Ab and Battenberg. Ab I hope the bleeding etc stops soon and your scan puts your mind at rest..... you give us all hope! I'm not eligible for IVF funding because DH has 2 DDs.
Battenberg has your doctor confirmed that you are ov'ing regularly too? Just because you have regular AF, deosn't mean your ov'ing- that would be the important thing to know.

Shellbell I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow! My best piece of advice is don't let them rush you, and make sure you ask every question you can think of, no matter how small you think it is.

IsIt How are you getting on with 150mg? Have you started them yet?

Unfortunately, I wont be able to start the next round of clomid until August because I am on holiday for 3 weeks in July and must be available for the next follcile tracking scan. Soooo annoying!

Dollface, I felt like that and I haven't even been properly diagnosed yet! But hopefully we're both just being fatalists and it will work out. I got my blood test results (only got testosterone because they forgot to ask which cycle day it was so I have to wait on progesterone results). Testosterone was normal. But I read it can read normal and you can still have pcos? Also, if she couldn't tell if my progesterone was normal because she didn't know which day it was, I assume that means it's low or else the surge would be clear, right?

Thanks Rosebud!
Can i ask you guys about inositol? I notice a couple of you are taking it. Are you using a combination of myo and D-chiro?

Rosebud I'm really sorry the scan didn't go well. I really hope the 150mg works for you. I agree with battenburg that you're always so positive. It has to work out for you. I really hope it does.

abfab how are you feeling today? I hope you're taking it easy and not lifting heavy objects etc (I read your new blog entry :) ) hope the scan date comes around quickly.

dollface welcome. there are loads of success stories on pcos as you probably know so hang in there, chin up and lets stay ahead of this condition..

cd 16. opk went blank yest (like you said it might ab) its very confusing as this is the time I ov'd last month and have had lots of cm (ew kind too) and cramps so fingers crossed it did happen despite the neg tests..

Ab spotting is really common, I had it although my pregnancy with DD and each time I was scanned and all was fine. I hope it all stops and the scan brings good news.

Rose I'm sorry 100mg didn't work for you, and really hope 150mg does the job. Just remember pregnancy is possible even if the clomid doesn't work, I have walking talking proof of that. Doesn't make it any easier but fingers crossed for next month.

cobble is this your first month with OPKs? Remember they aren't reliable for people with PCOS or you may be ovulating earlier or later than you expect. I test from cd10 onwards.

Hi doll and welcome PCOS is not the end of the world and you will have a baby, theres plenty of options available to you. We are becoming pros over here so ask any questions you may have.

Thanks for the good wishes shell, I'm hoping this will be our month. Last month ruined me so we need some good news now.

Not an awful lot to report from me at the moment. I'm on cd12 and OPK is slightly darker than yesterday but nowhere near where it needs to be. Although this was the same last month with a sudden peak on cd15 so everything is still crossed. My parting words with DP this morning were 'we need to start on the no pants dance tonight'

I am definatley a bit more focused on ttc now than I was a few days ago but I suppose that's because I know I should be due a peak soon, oddly I'm due to ovulate on Friday which is when I'm meant to be seeing the consultant for a 6 month review. Although it isn't strictly a 6 month review as I have only had 3 cycles but that was our choice to have a break march and April.

Just a TMI note for anyone who is cm checking, I don't get any at all and never have so just because you have no cm it doesn't mean you aren't ovulating.

Rosebud I'm sorry to hear the 100mg didn't work for you! I'm sure the 150mg will or maybe it will all happen when you least expect it or on holiday?

Mistletoe this is definitely your month!!

Thanks guys, will let you know how I get on at the hospital tomorrow! Abit worried incase they are going to tell me something bad since not been that long since I went to see the nurse and she told me would be months before I saw consultant... Hoping it's just a cancellations... Any suggestions on questions I would ask incase i get tongue tied tomorrow xx

Dollface You and I have exactly the same BMI! I didn't have elevated testosterone, and my oestrogen was at the lower end - but I had absent periods and PCO (plus acne) so that was 3 out of 3 on the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS. I read that in lean PCOS it can often be that our oestrogen can be quite low and although our testosterone levels can be normal, if the ratio is a bit out of whack, our bodies can react in a similar way to if we had normal oestrogen and elevated testosterone. In any case, the Rotterdam Criteria had only 2 out of 3 of the signs to be diagnoses with PCOS:

1. irregular or absent periods
2. external signs of hormonal imbalance (e.g acne, hirsutism) OR elevated male hormones levels in blood tests
3. polycystic ovaries (PCO) on ultrasound scan

Lean PCOS is a bit of an arse cos though the advice about nutrition etc still applies to us, it's really hard to follow it and not lose weight!

Your cycles sound v encouraging. When I last came off the pill it took 9 months before I had a period! I came off Yasmin week before last and am CD9 of my first month off the pill at the moment.

Re: Inositol. I'm just taking plain Inositol (which is Myo-Inositol) as from what I read, it seems less well suited to me, as I don't have insulin resistance.

D-chiro-inositol seems to be better suited to those PCOS women with greater insulin issues - I was told by my consultant that I needed to put on weight (i was BMI 17.7 before, was told I needed to get to 18, ideally 18.5) so I really don't want to lose any more weight. Although this may just be my interpretation of the info, and YMMV!

These were quite helpful to me:

www.pcosnutrition.com/links/blogs/myo-inositol-proves-better-for-fertility-than-d-chiro-inositol.html

pcosdiva.com/2012/07/de-mystifying-myo-inositol/

xx

Hey bananafish! Well whatdoyaknow, BMI twins :-)
You sound just like me in terms of I easily lose weight if I don't eat naughty things, but I am going to try and snack more on healthy things so my sugar level is more constant and cut out caffeine, I admit to being a no breakfast just coffee sort of girl!

I also have the acne, but just on my chin, and really only around af. Maybe my case is fairly mild, I don't know. I know I definately have a cyst on my left ovary that they want to rescan in 6-8 weeks.

Thanks for the inositol info. I am on CD 3 today and just too my second day of Soy Isoflavins, so will see what that does for a month and add more things depending on what happens I think.

Thanks for the warm welcome Cobblestone and Mistletoe. Today has started to turn from an end of the world day to a much more positive, I have info and will kick pcos butt day!

Hi Ladies

rosebud wish i could shave 3 years off! hehe and hope you ok fingers crossed next month it will work out x also i am currently on Metphormin and evening primrose oil.

I went to hammersmith hospital today for my HSG appointment and i must say the doctor and nurses were wonderful and very professional.

The scan went well all things considered... it was a little painful but not like the horror stories that i read online. There was a little complication initially as the doctor thought my cervix opening was blocked as she was unable to insert the narrow metal cannula but then after a little persistence she was able to get through. Once the procedure was underway doc confirmed all tubes were clear and cervix looked healthy and womb too.

Hoping to go over results in my appointment with the fertility doc in August! as thats the earliest they could fit me in :( but hoping they will put me on a course of clomid as it seems ovulation is my biggest issue... so heres to waiting!

rosebud you be as pissed off and angry and upset as you want. that is shit news. BUT all hope is not lost. the higher dose may kick shit into action. do not lose all hope yet because it's not over. I'm so sorry you're having to be at work today

I may or may not be 4dpo according to my chart I feel like shit. boobs are killing me, I'm cramping and I'm tired. those are not unusual for me though. I need sleep!

Ponty I am on a similar cycle day I think, have all the same symptoms as you but also not unusual for me either!

Stardust that's good news that your scan was all clear, hopefully the follow up appointment will reveal the same and put you in good stead for ttc.

I had another doctors appointment today and my doctor has now put me forward for a HSG and some more tests, I'm quite pleased as feel like I'm getting somewhere at least if I have a HSG will flag up any problems.

Also welcome Dollface

dollface Interestingly whereas I would usually get hormonal acne (along the jawline and chin) on my break week when I was on the pill, and when I came off the pill 5 years ago to get tested - so I could work out why I'd never really had normal periods in the past - my skin def got spottier. I've been off the pill nearly 2 weeks and my skin hasn't changed - was expecting to break out pretty much straight away, like when I'd have my week off the pill. Obv now I've said this I will obv break out in a rash of hormonal spots all along the jawline, and my hopes that I'm 'less' pcos than when I was diagnosed in 2010 will obv be vanquished!

I'm springing for a fertility MOT ultrasound so I can see how polycystic (or rather polyfollicular - as it's such a useless word when it's nothing to do with actual ovarian cysts which are a completely different thing!!) they are. I'm curious - and somewhat nervous - to find out if they're the same as last time. Given last time I wasn't TTC but seeking answers, and now I definitely am!

I've been taking inositol for about a week now, and took soy isoflavones CD 3-8, not expecting to see anything different on screen though obv I am inwardly hoping I'll magically have developed some more 'normal' looking ovaries!!

Thanks battenberg!

bananafish I didn't have any spots at all when I came off the pill in Jan, and since then I have only had the one big spot appear week before af, that's it! Hopefully the pill has done some good, maybe for you as well? I'm sure these conditions must change over time, and even improve. Before I went on the pill I had normal 28 day cycles and normal periods, so somehow in the last 12 years while on the pill my cystic follicles have emerged!

Have any of you been told you have pcos just from a scan? I am waiting for my day 21 blood test still. I'm not now convinced my GP knows very much about this condition as she said straight away I have pcos based only on a trans-vag scan and a blood test wich was "normal" (taked on a non specific day). Maybe she is ill informed and I only have cystic ovaries? I have been told to go back in 6 weeks for another scan as I specifically have cysts on my left ovary.