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

Oh wow chandelier what incredible news, huge congrats, what a fantastic Christmas present!! Wishing you all the very best for a happy and healthy pregnancy and bouncing bubba in 9 months time xx

Congratulations chandelier that's such wonderful news. So happy for you. I totally understand your bewilderment and anxiety after everything you have been through but got everything crossed this is your lucky break you so deserve it. Stick around and keep us posted

So tomorrow i have a (long awaited!!) GP appointment. Although he suggested my bloods showed PCOS over the phone I havent been able to get an appointment to go and see him until now (there is a 3 week wait at my GP surgery at the moment). What should I be asking for? I havent yet had an ultrasound scan, Had one when i was 19 which showed cysts. Should i asl to be referred for one? I had asked about metformin on the phone however he suggested that due to the fact that it was an off license prescription it would have to be prescribed by gynaecology.

Also considering asking for a dietician referral, have any of you ever had one? Thanks again ladies :)

I would go just to explain that you are TTC and would like to investigate further. Has your partner had a SA? This is what my doctor recommended. He also did day 3 and day 21 bloods which showed I had not ovulated. He then referred me to a gynae.

Thanks Rosebud, banana and Freddie

Nurse I saw a private dietitian quite a few years ago and I did find it rather useful. She explained to me about maintaining/regulating blood sugar and helped me with so natural remedies too. I wasn't on anything from the Dr at this point though, so be wary of that; lots of herbal things aren't for use with proper controlled drugs. I would certainly ask for a referral; it can't harm. The only trouble might be their lack of knowledge of PCOS.

No SA yet, I don't suspect any issues with my husband yet - i know im not ovulating so defs not going to get pregnant without that being sorted so happy enough at the moment to leave that. I am already waiting to see gynae (v long waiting list - 11 months)

Yep, was thinking the lack of knowledge may be an issue but think it may be worth a go, my kettlebell class instructor at the gym is a qualified nutritionalist and i paid him to make me a nutrition plan a while back and i have managed to lose some weight on it but worried that at that stage we didn't know i was likely insulin resistant so would like to see a dietician regarding that :) All so complicated isnt it!!

nurse would deffo recommend seeing if you can get a dietitian referral (or recommendation if you’re willing to see someone privately) - it’s a regulated title so a dietitian has to have a proper qualification and standardised level of training - anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and qualifications vary, but a dietitian should absolutely be trained to help you with PCOS and eating low GL (where a nutritionist may not).

The GP should also def be able to arrange a SA for your husband - as if there are any issues then this gives him a good run up to work on things with lifestyle while you wait for your gynae referral. The lovely rosebud got her DH on a fantastic regime of supplements which transformed his sperm count, but it was a 6-month marathon not a sprint - so may well be worth getting his boys checked out in the mean time. My gynae wouldn’t prescribe Clomid without DH having had a SA in any case - so good to have all your ducks in a row, so to speak.

Your GP should deffo refer you for an ultrasound - am assuming you’ve had all the relevant bloods done (day 3: FSH, LH, oestrogen, testosterone, prolactin, thyroid and day 21: progesterone)? xx

Hi all
Hopefully some of you will remember me.
After my miscarriage in October, I haven't really been around mostly because I had to focus on something else for my own sanity.
Any how I've come to share the news that I've got a BFP again, really hoping that after 2 miscarriages this will be it. It's VERY early days but I'm feeling hopeful.
It's my first cycle back on clomid after m/c, using preseed once.

Big congratulations chandelier

Congratulations on your news!

I did start reading the old threads a while ago but didn't have an account to post anything.

Well my gynae telephone appointment was yesterday. Literally had a countdown on my phone as I was so excited something was finally happening. Came to yesterday and they did not even ring!!!! Up early now so can ring the minute they open. Hoping I don't have to wait weeks and weeks like before.

Ahhh Chandlier and mistletoe congratulations 3bfp for the thread will hopefully bring lots of luck to all of you

Mistletoe Of course I remember you! Huge congratulations!!!!! I really hope this is it for you and Chandelier Were you on 100mg clomid again? How are you feeling? x

Nurse How did your appointment go yesterday? Oh and what Banana said re what you should be asking for. It took 10 weeks (nothing in comparison to your 11 month wait, but long by England's standards) to get my fertility specialists appointment and in that time my GP made sure I had ALL of my bloods, scans and SAs in place so that when I did eventually see the specialist I could hit the ground running. I certainly helped me get into the system quicker, and get through the mass of hurdles more easily.

Dunlin That is so crap! I hope you manage to speak to someone today instead. It's horrible when you gear yourself up for something like that and then nothing happens. It can get a bit soul destroying when TTC so defo be proactive and chase the little buggers! x Can I ask why it has taken so long for your GP to refer you to a specialist when you were diagnosed with PCOS 4 years ago and you've been TTC 1.5 years? The guidelines say 6 months of TTC is enough! Are you in the UK? x

I'm off on another little holiday with DH today. We are going away for 4 days to celebrate NYE in Denmark. (I figure I may as well take full advantage of my childless barren position- it's pretty much the ONLY perk! ) I really hope my bloody IVF drugs have arrived when I get back, otherwise its going to be a major rush to reorder them and get them to the UK in time for my January 'cycle' Arggggghhhhh!!!

Thanks Rosebud! I did manage to speak to them. They could not find anything on the system for me!!! Grrrrr!!!! On the positive side they have booked me in with the head consultant next Thursday face to face which is much better. Maybe that was meant to be.

I did not get referred earlier as he wanted me to try and lose weight and try naturally! I did explain that I had been at a healthy weight before and I still had irregular periods but he did not listen. Lost weight again but still irregular.

It is definitely soul destroying! I feel like I am not living my life yet till I have kids. I am a teacher too so constantly around them but need my own. I live in Yorkshire, UK.

P.S hope you have a wonderful mini break!

Dunlin Another teacher here too! Although I teach 16-19 year olds and at times they certainly have the ability to make me question my decision to want children Teenagers are a whole bunch of complicated!!!! I'm in Hampshire.

Great you managed to get a face to face appointment next week- that sounds much better!

Enjoy your trip Rosebud! Hope your drugs come soon. Eeek! Exciiiiiiiting!

Dunlin GL for your appt. Make a note of any questions you have a take a pen with you to write down answers and anything else said, as it can be quite a blur.

Huge congrats Mistletoe and everything crossed for you

Thanks everyone! Good luck to you all also! 2016 is going to be a great year.

Rosebud I teach 5/6 year olds. Most of the time they are adorable but can have their moments. Don't know how you do it teaching the older ones!!!! I taught the 10 year olds last year and I thought that was bad.

Thanks everyone.
rose I'm apprehensive, it broken my heat losing the last one but I'm going to do everything in my power to keep this one in. I've started progestrone pessaries which are unpleasant but if it helps I'm willing.
It's was 150 mg this time, I ovulate on day 17 and we dtd on days 12,14,16 and 17.

chandelier how are you doing?

Oh mistletoe this is wonderful news, huge congrats! Really, truly hoping in 9 months time you have a bouncing bubba in your lap.

Loving this run of BFPs! Hoping it starts a trend for a fruitful and fertile 2016 for us all

dunlin wishing you lots of luck with your appt - so glad it worked out this way, def so much better to have a F2F consultation (and with the big cheese no less!) Echoing everything that’s already been said about taking notes etc. If at all possible, it’s great if your DH can come with, at least to the first big appt. Although so much of this process focuses on our plumbing, making babies is a two person activity, and it really makes a difference to feel like it’s something we’re going through together. Also means he can hear everything the Dr’s said first hand; both so he can hear things he should be doing with his own ears (e.g. those vitamins I’ve been telling him for months to bloody take!) - and also helps me to have a 2nd pair of ears to remind me what we’ve discussed.

Have a fabulous trip rosebud - hope you and DH have a terrific break, and that your meds are waiting for you on your return. Excited for you!

AFM CD75 and just counting down the birth control pills till my appt on Monday. I’ve been willing away my precious Christmas break desperate to get to the day I go back to bloody work, as that’s when I see my consultant to see if we can get cracking and actually start stims.

Yet again for the third time in 4 months I’m tapering down my painkillers in anticipation of a possible transfer and 2ww in the coming weeks…I have to taper off my tramadol fairly slowly to avoid going into withdrawal, so of course I’m in quite a lot more pain as a result. If I find I’m tapering off for nothing and have another aborted cycle I will properly lose my shit! Obviously it’s gonna be a hell of a lot more painful if I do get to the 2ww and even more so if I get a BFP and have months without my meds, but at least then it’s for a very real cause. So I’m grumpy as fuck because my Xmas has been spent curled up on the sofa in pain, eating virtuously and not drinking - bah humbug!

Hope the rest of you are having lovely Christmasses, big love and hugs to you all - ho ho ho!!

So went to my GP appointment this morning - went over blood results etc and no change in those. GP suggested i start taking folic acid (how did i not think of this before now?!) and has referred me to the dietician so that's cool. SA aren't able to be done at my GP practice due to the lab being so far away with one collection a day so these will be completed in outpatients at the hospital if they are required later on! Happy with the outcome of the appointment overall :)

Rosebud hopefully your meds show soon, when is the cut off date for them appearing? Have a lovely time away!

How do you guys find being around wee ones all the time? I am considering applying to do my midwifery add on training next year but think i may struggle with it if we are unable to conceive etc. Not sure what to do about it!

Fingers crossed for you banana, All this effort must be worth something!!

Bananafish81 Thanks for that advice! DH is going to come along with me as you are right, it is for the both of us but also purely because I forget everything!! Do you know what is likely to happen next? Would they give me something like clomid straight away seeing as we know what is wrong with me? Or are they likely to do more tests e.g. an HSG?

Nurse15 that is really positive and at least things are moving in the right direction now. Is it just the diet you are focusing on for now or are they going to refer you to a gynae/fertility specialist too? Working with kids makes it a bit easier for me I think. I still get to do all the lovely things with them, fair enough it is not with my own children but it keeps me going. Midwifery on the other hand may be harder. I cry hysterically every time 'One born every minute' comes on!!! There would be lots of work before you got to that point though and I am sure you will conceive before then.

2016 IS going to be a great year for us all! I truly believe that. Good things take time. The fact we want babies more will just make it all the more worth while.

Hi Dunlin :)

yes i am waiting to see gynae but there is an 11 month waiting list here in NI so GP has advised focusing on the weight loss until i see them and then at least thats one issue sorted!! He said that losing weight may help me ovulate more frequently also :)

Yeah i get what you mean! Not sure what to do! Hopefully you are right and we're all pregnant in no time!! Are you waiting to see gynae too? Lovely to meet you :)

Nurse15

11 months!! Oh my goodness, you must have the patience of a saint! The government should put more funding into NI's gynae department. It is not fair on you having to wait that long.

You are right though, I have heard losing weight can have a huge effect on regulating periods etc. just did not really work for me.

Yes I waiting to see the gynae too. Did have a telephone appointment booked yesterday but it didn't happen (hospital mistake) so I am waiting till next week now but it is face to face.

Hi ladies

Lucky I had a follow-up docs appointment in New Year to discuss PCOS because look what has happened...

Chandelier and misteltoe! Congratulations! What wonderful news. so pleased for you all xxxx

AFM, I am at the doctors waiting for a scan that will tell me I'm clomid resistant and it's time to move onto the next stage. The doctor is running late because a woman is in labour ho hum. Feels apt for closing the book on 2015, clomid and all the rest of it though. Happy new year everyone! I am sure good things are coming to us all in 2016...starting with rose's flipping drugs!

And in a bizarre New Years miracle - I have a 26mm follicle ready to pop. Was so thrown by that I reversed out of the hospital car park and bumped the car into a post. I guess you never know! So I will ovulate today or tomorrow. Happy new year all! Xx