Hi All,
So I'm completely new here and am only just about to start trying to conceive, despite trying to get to this point for a roller-coaster 3 years. Looking for some support and advice on what steps to take, to try and do the right things as time-effectively as possible.
I was diagnosed with ME/CFS back in 2007 when I was 26 and put on citalopram (an anxiety/depression/pain medication) to help me recover as much of my health as possible. I was lucky enough to recover so I was able to continue with an almost normal life, but found I was stuck on these tablets. Back in 2012 my husband and I wanted to consider starting a family, so I tried to come off the tablets (very slowly at the advice of my GP) as they are known to lead to complications. I had strong neurological kick backs (vision flashes/jumps, dizziness etc) and as I was almost off them, managed to catch flu that winter, which caused a relapse of the ME.
I had to go back on them for a year and then come off, all while fighting to build my health back from a relapse. I've now been off them for a year (went through another hell to get off them) and am getting stronger again, and learning to cope with the chronic pain.
Almost 4 months ago I started taking a conception vitamin and came of the pill, which I was put on at the age of 17 when I began having permanent bleeding and developed a large ovarian cyst. I did come off it for 18 months when I was 22, but had such irregular periods (first couple of months were ok then became anywhere between 8-12 weeks) and bad acne that I went back on. Now I'm off again I'm seeing the same pattern - I did have one at 28 days then 34, but now I'm still waiting...).
On top of all of that, sex is really painful for me (was from the start and it's been getting worse), so I've been trying to seek help through therapy (GP has been useless) but it's still not exactly enjoyable.
So after three years of challenges I feel already like an emotional wreck, and we haven't actually started yet! Husband and I are going to the docs next week to ask for fertility tests (which I can now do being off the pill) so will have to see what happens there. But with the hugely irregular periods and pain, I don't think they road ahead is looking much easier.
My plans were derailed some time ago already, but I'm now 34 and feeling increasingly frustrated and emotional about how hard it has been and how I feel that three years have just been taken from me. I therefore want to make sure that my husband and I consider all the relevant advice now, not finding out things we could do/try/consider after another x months etc.
If you got to the end of this, then thanks for reading my woes - all of my friends now have children and are constantly patronising me (unintentionally) about the fact that I don't/asking would I want them. (Why is it that once they had children it was fine for them to forget that others might be trying but not succeeding??) The journey so far has been so emotional and painful that I am also finding it hard to be around them and their children, so I'm feeling isolated and don't have anyone to confide in.
Any suggestions of how to support successful conception with irregular periods (hopefully GP will help be find out if it is PCOS or not soon) are most welcome.