TTC with PCOS (Thread #3)

[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 our second thread >>>>>>>>> HERE

You can find the stats >>>>>HERE

Rosebud - thanks... I'm on the app so I can't see the page numbers but I found it anyway. DH is making such a fuss about about taking more vitamins He doesn't believe it will fix his count. He says he will do it but he's being so annoyingly negative about it Right, so I need to buy DH 1000mg vit c, 100mg zinc, 100mg, vit B complex, and 100mg co-enzyme q10 uquinol. Is the co-enzyme copper? I've read that you need to take copper if you're taking high amounts of zinc. I understand that it takes 90 days for anything to start working as that's the sperm turnover so we're in it for the long term! Just wish DH was more enthusiastic!

So, I rang up today for my blood results. The only one back is the diabetes test and that has come back normal. I am stupidly disappointed which is dumb. I just want an answer DH has received his second batch of results. They've stayed the same. The GP he saw this morning wasn't helpful at all and even stupidly told DH that changing his lifestyle won't make a difference. What a stupid stupid thing to say Luckily DH says he still wants to loose weight...phew! The GP told him to "relax" and it will happen. Grrrrrrr!!! How about the GP experiences not being able to get a ticket for his favourite lifetime hobby and all his friends got tickets over a year a go but he's still on the waiting list and doesn't know when or if he will ever get a ticket...see how "relaxed" he feels after that!! Anyway, DH rang up the GP afterwards and asked for my GP to ring him this week. Hopefully my GP will make more sense of the results! Meanwhile I'm on cd31 and AF is due to arrive on Thursday. After hearing DH results I have little hope of a bfp. My temps remain high but little pimples have appeared on my chin this morning so I feel glum. I hate the pre AF glumness. Not knowing but deep down you know Anyway, after the weekends shocking events in Paris...well it just puts its all in perspective doesn't it

Hi Ponty, I hope it is the primrose oil that is working for you!

Peardrop Just double checked cos you got me thinking and the zinc supplements are 15mg so not such a big dose! But the vit C is defo 1000mg and the Co-enzyme Q10 uquinol is defo 100mg. The other one that gets mentioned a lot is selenium but I didn't manage to get my hands on this so didn't give it to DH. However this seems to be a common one to take with the zinc to improve count and quality too.
Tell your DH to suck it up! Men have to do very little on this crazy TTC journey in the grand scheme of things- I'm pretty sure he can handle taking a few vitamins every morning! Men huh?!!
P.S Was your GP male too by any chance?! BLOODY MEN! GPs know shit about fertility! My consultant (female of course!) told us that lifestyle changes and a good diet, supplemented with vitamins, were are best chance of seeing an improvement.

Ponty Welcome back! I'm sorry to hear you are having a hard time- we are here if you fancy sharing and getting some stuff off your chest Woop for the 35 day cycle though- I've just had a 23 day one and my god it was nice not to have to wait an age for AF..... bliss! x

Follicle tracking scan booked for Thursday morning. Ovary twinges have started. Fingers crossed this Femara is doing something. First 100 million of DHs best men got deployed towards the pending egg last night , next 100 million will be set loose tomorrow

Demoiselle Aww glad you think that! These ladies are fab! Do you want to join us?

Eighty Any news on those blood results? x

Hello ladies, I haven't disappeared, I'm just biding my time I'm currently awaiting AF... this will then herald the last cycle of consultant enforced fun-only action! Looking forward to December's AF so I can get back on it Ironically, I was planning a break (you may remember) and resuming ttc once work had calmed down (which it will do soon), so it's weird that it's worked out this way. All the pregnant people around me in work are starting to go on Mat leave now. I'm trying not to think "what if" ...

How are you all? Welcome to the new ladies on the board. Hope your stay with us is a short one. Off to read all the new posts... Love, hugs, , , / for everyone!

pear echoing Rosebud all the way - that GP's advice is bullshit! As I mentioned, I asked my consultant this specific question - whether DH should be doing anything specific lifestyle wise apart from the obvious (diet, don't smoke, don't booze to excess etc). He (male!) said DH should absolutely be taking zinc, selenium and vitamin C as antioxidants (of which coq10 is a brilliant super charged kind!) would help to neutralise free radicals which would significantly improve sperm production. My friend is a GP and she said they basically cover fuck all fertility in their training - so whilst I don't blame a general practitioner for not being an expert, I do blame them for giving incorrect advice about matters they don't properly understand!

Rosebud - you sure you don't mean 100mg of Vitamin C not 1000? Thanks for updating me on the Zinc levels! Ive just cross checked with the Wellman vitamins I brought him last week. 1 tablet includes Co-enzyme Q10 2mg, Vit C 90g, Zinc 15mg and Selenium 150ug. Maybe it's worth be buying a separate Co-enzyme Q10 as the levels you're talking about and what he's taking is quite a difference!

Totally agree with you ladies. This male doctor on this occasion was absolutely useless in the fertility area!!

Definitely agree that DH needs to "suck it up" Nicely put!!

Definitely 1000mg vitamin C I've just doubled checked. Lidl and Asda both sell soluable tablets at this dosage x

Thank you! Ok I shall buy more Vit C and more Co-enzyme. Let's get this party started!! Funny how doctors are happy to talk about about the importance of pregnant ladies taking vitamins before, during and after babies!! Men are super heroes though aren't they!! Couldn't possibly need vitamins to strengthen their bits and bobs!!

Hi hi everyone - good to hear all the news and hurrah for the short cycles. Keep em coming!

My temperature has dipped below the cover line so as I predicted AF will shortly show up, just wish I knew which day for convenience Also heard that a friend gave birth this morning. Feeling so which is sooo selfish but boy it's hard to keep plodding along without feeling dragged down isn't it!

Chandelier Welcome back to you! Loving seeing some 'old' faces on here again! Now where are ItIs Popcorn Gin and Shell??? I really hope that the rest of this cycle and next cycle goes quickly for you so you can start ttc again- once you are ready.

Pear YES! definitely! Lets have a look at your chart

Finished my Femara for this cycle today- just a few headaches but no other side effects..... lovely! So much easier than clomid! Here's my chart for anyone that's interested

www.fertilityfriend.com/home/5790c0

Wow Rosebud I'm impressed with how many months you've been able to chart. I do find charting stressful myself

Looks like it's going to be a second cycle in a row of early ov for me! I'm CD8 today and oved CD9 last cycle. EWCM, painful ovaries and now this today! All in one day.. ... just waiting for DH to get home

Hi everyone,

Didn't realise I'd been off here for a while again! Well done to you and DH on getting the the count up so much Rose Brill news about early ov too.
I've caught up on all the posts, sounds mainly promising. Sending hugs to those who are struggling

Im CD24 and expecting to ov sometime in the next week if I have another 39 day cycle. Doing the same OPK's as Rose to try to catch that elusive egg! Have been a little down as pregnancy is all around me at the moment- my supervisor at work has announced it, which she had to as it's becoming obvious, and I just found out on Tuesday that my cousin is 12.5 weeks pg too, conceived first time of trying. She was dreading telling me as she knows about my struggles, but I'm happy for her, even if I'm jealous!

Got a little dilemma atm about when to stop taking Agnus Castus, which I've been on for 5 months. The company I bought them from has no idea, which is helpful. Online advice which is very vague seems to suggest anything from stopping them now (2 months ish before Clomid) or 2 weeks before. I'm a little worried about stopping 2 weeks before in case that delays or affects my January cycle as this is when I'll be starting Clomid, and wonder whether to stop at ov this cycle so I'll have one natural cycle before taking Clomid. Does anyone have any advice please?

MrsC I don't think Agnus castus stays in your system like clomid so you can stop it whenever you like it did f all for me so I stopped ages ago

well I've just had my next scan and as predicted no progress. One follie has grown to 12mm and that's it. My sonographer wants to do another scan next week and is still saying it could happen - chiefly because my lining is still thickening and texturing up nicely - but even she I think is admitting nothing is going to happen this cycle. She did flag that I could potentially take provera to accelerate a period so I'm definitely going to push for that AND an upping of clomid dosage next week when I see my new consultant(s). Monitoring will potentially be a nightmare as I'm travelling home for Christmas so need to find a sonographer in my (non-UK) home city that can potentially scan over Christmas, but hey ho - just add it to the list of stupid shit I have to do to make a baby!

On a side note, I really do have LOADS of follies. The sonographer showed me the ovaries of a "normal" woman and it was like night and day. I was fascinated, despite my predicament!

Sorry to hear that stealth Everything just seems to take soooo long doesn't it!?

I had my first follicle tracking scan on Femara today. One larger follicle on my right but she wouldnt tell me the size and told me I'd have to abandon this cycle because I was meant to have a hycosy before starting the Femara (which I didn't have because I tried to get an appointment for the last 3 cycles and there was never any availability) I tried to question the reasoning but couldn't get a clear answer and was instead given an appointment to see my consultant again on Monday. My ovary is so sore.. .. I'm convinced I'm about to ov but she's told me not to DTD unprotected again this cycle! So confused and upset I just don't get it.

rose I think you have had terrible info there

A hycosy has to be done from cd1-10. And if you've had sex in that time they won't do it I've posted on here about how they almost wouldn't do mine EVEN THOUGH I don't ovulate and I'd had sex on cd3! I had to complain and see a senior consultant who agreed it would be a medical miracle for me to be pregnant. So if you are on cd9 already they won't do a hycosy this cycle.

I would ring back and INSIST on seeing your results ie the follie size and interpretation. If they are cancelling the cycle because you've got multiple follies then fine, but otherwise I would seriously query.

Re everything taking ages - yes I know! At least I have argc and new gynae appointment next week to "look forward" to - not much of a wait!

Rose Thats SOOO annoying. Why would you not DTD? So you can have the HSG on Monday? I remember them saying to me not to DTD before an HSG as the procedure can interere with any pregnancy. But WHY oh WHY did they not sort this out for you before giving you the Femera. There isnt anything helpful I can say other than

Everyone is so far ahead of me! I have completely fallen off the temping bandwagon - not because it's not great, because it is for me, but I got sick of tracking it every morning for 40+ days. So now I just do it in the run up to ov - which for me is impossible to predict so basically, I'm an idiot I also need to have more sex. It doesn't help when I seem to be more interested in it after ovulation and during AF

Mrs C MN keeps un-subscribing me from this and other threads - I click ‘watch’ and somehow it boots me off. You’re totally allowed to be jealous - I know I am

This article really spoke to me, you ladies may appreciate it too

www.the-pool.com/health/wombs-etc/2015/45/how-it-feels-when-your-friends-are-having-babies-and-you-re-not

stealth keeping fx for you, and hope you have a fabulous Xmas back home, wherever home is And good luck with your appts - you know we’re all thinking of you.

Rose oh FFS I would be fuming, you poor thing getting messed around like that. Really hoping you get some answers pronto

Ponty big hugs lovely!

So, one week into down regging, no horrendous menopausal symptoms just yet. Although no period either, so not sure when I ovulated, given I’m now CD34, and my scan showed an 18mm follie on Day 13…and no I can’t be pregnant as there was no way I could have conceived given how thin my lining is. Hope it hurries up as I need to be fully down-regulated for my scan on 1st Dec!

My stims drugs are being delivered on Tues - the Gonal-F and the trigger have to be refrigerated, so as they’re being delivered to my work, Healthcare @ Home are sending them in their own little cool bag, so I can keep them under my desk chilling out until I take them home. Better that than have to put them all in the work fridge…!

Glad you're not feeling horrendous banana!

Hope everyone had good weekends too

I'm off to ARGC tomorrow and the fertility gynae weds so it's a big week. Am feeling a wee bit nervous. The only surprise of today was that I got my referral file through from my gynae which included DHs SA and his morphology was only 2%. Wtf?! He has a very high sperm count (308 million - no that's not a typo) and ok motility (60%) bit crap morphology. He said his doctor said that was "healthy", but it doesn't sound good to me. You'd think DH might have mentioned that whilst I've been pumping myself full of drugs Am guessing the clinic(s) will want to retest anyway....

You lot were quiet this weekend! Hope everyone is ok?

Banana How are you feeling now? Has AF arrived yet? You are the proud owner of lots of drugs now! How does it feel? eek!

Stealth That's very odd that noone has mentioned the low morphology to you! That's definitely on the low side! DH's was 10% (which is above average) I think 'normal' is 5-7% off the top of my head. Bur as his count is SOOOOOO high (I'm jealous ) maybe it doesn't mater so muhc?! Not sure! Good luck with your appointments! Hopefully you'll get some answers then x

AFM- Well what a rollercoaster few days it has been...... so as you know I had a positive opk, temp rise, EWCM and ovary pain a few days ago and the FF confirmed ov!

But..... had my follicle tracking scan where it showed the largest follicle to only be 9mm They also found fluid in my lining that shouldn't be there so referred me for an urgent appointment with my consultant and said we would have to abandon this cycle Cue me crying my eyes out on DH on Thursday and Friday! I thought it was because of the HyCoSy comment but apparently the sonographer misinformed me!

Saw my consultant today who said that she didn't think the fluid was anything to worry about and that the sonographer was just being cautious (fair enough!) but that she didn't think the Femara/Letrozole had worked this cycle I explained all my signs of ov but she still isn't convinced it worked as there was no dominant follicle when I think I ov'ed.

So we will continue DTD regularly for the rest of this cycle (she says we don't need to abandon it after all) and will wait to see what happens. I think it's looking more and more likely that IVF will be our only viable option.

Rose - !! What a roller coaster. So sorry. At least you can keep trying - maybe you'll ov late?

I know re morphology. DH has just confessed that his urologist said he could have a second test "if he wanted" but he "hadn't got around to it". We have just had a full & frank echange of views I yelled at him but he is entirely unrepentant. Gaaaaaah!