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 that is odd about having to get your AMH results in person. Mine was tested as part of the various tests they did to see if my ovarian cyst was benign so may not be typical procedure. But FWIW, the doctor called me when he had the results of all the various tests (blood and MRI) and ran through them with me, including the AMH. I did then have a follow-up consultation with him but it wasn't mandatory. So I would request your clinic to ask the consultant to call with you with the results rather than need an appointment - surely that saves everyone time in the lond run?
Thanks re your comments about my appointment etc. It's weird how resistant I feel to taking the Pill! Interesting re that it's used in IVF though. I might mention it when I see my other consultant for the post-op follow-up and see what he thinks.

fee brilliant news about going on clomid, it's exciting isn't it? Except exciting doesn't quite seem like the right word does it? I'm not sure why you've been given the pill, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. My understanding is that provera is basically that anyway! Good luck with it all - will watch out for developments!

ponty rant away! It helps me to know that everyone feels like this!

mistle fingers x for last round of clomid. I've got friends who conceived on the last round. They said they think it's because they actually just relaxed and were thinking beyond clomid. Does that make sense?

rose wonderful results regarding your hormone results so far. Keep badgering the receptionist. You'll definitely get something, I'm sure of it. I've not heard of it before, so no suggestions, but will post if I think of anything!

bannana good luck with the start of the journey, I'll have everything crossed.

As for me, well, I'm a little bit confused. I was given clomid to start taking after provera. AF arrived 3 days after started taking proverb (was super pleased by this, sometimes I feel my body is so broken it won't respond to anything). Anyway, consultant said I was to have follicle tracking, and to book in on day 8 or 9 and then have a scan every 2 days if it looked like a follicle was developing. If there was no sign then they would up the dose. Fine. So booked in for day 10 (8 and 9 were weekend) and stupidly thought, it'll be quick in out procedure, see you in two days or let's up the dose. Anyway, the sonographer found either a large simple cyst(nothing to worry about), or a follicle on my right ovary. After a long long long wait I wAs called into speak to a nurse and was tested to see if I was ovulating (obviously wasn't) so they gave me a prescription injectionto induce my ovulation and told me to get busy dtd! I was so shocked and late for work, i didn't ask any questions (why so early? What size was the follicle? How thick is my womb lining?) and now wish I had. I feel so confused! Any advice, greatly appreciated xxx

Thanks newhere. I've also reassured myself now with a bit of Dr Google - seems BC pills are not uncommon pre-Clomid. (I didn't want to be a total anomaly ).
You're about a month ahead of me on all of this so I have no words of wisdom on the outcome of your scan but I'm sure it's a good sign that they are getting you to DTD and that if they haven't mentioned the womb lining, then it is a good thickness! Have they asked you to come back in for another scan this cycle?

Rose- turned out it was AF, just a lot lighter and less painful than usual. Did some Googling and it seems this may be an effect of taking the Agnus Castus. At least if I have to have periods, they'll be lighter!lol I feel a little silly for thinking it was implantation bleeding, but as I've been losing weight, exercising and eating healthily, plus taking the AC, I allowed myself to believe that my body might do it's job for once

I understand how you feel, Ponty, and I'm sure some more of us on this thread do too. I always think that having a child is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world and yet my body doesn't seem to want to! It's so annoying that it's all you want but biology screws everything up.

On a positive note, my cycle has gone from 48 days to 44 in the last 2 months Think this is down to the AC, weight loss and exercise. If it continues in the same pattern, I'll be expecting a 40 day cycle this time round (currently cd6). Better go to bed, luckily Wednesday's are my day off work but even so! Enough time spent Googling for tonight

feefee no, that sort of adds to the confusion..... They were just like, if your AF hasn't started as expected then do a PT! Even that's confusing, when is my AF meant to start on clomid? I'm just so cross with myself for not asking more questions! are you going to have follicle tracking when you start clomid?

newhere, from the little I know about clomid, there's no guarantee of when your AF would come, but I guess it would be expected to be 14 days after ovulation, and that the nurse was expecting you to ovulate any day now.
Yes, if I take clomid (depends on the HSG result) then there'll be follicle tracking (which I'll have to pay for despite being referred to the ACU as an NHS patient) for at least one cycle.
MrsC, well done on reducing your cycle - I will take you as my inspiration! Don't feel silly for thinking it was implantation bleeding. I had the same hope/thought that last summer - now, a whole year and various diagnoses later, I realise that would never have been possible, but it's completely understandable that we get our hopes up.

I really do love this thread, such a hub of information and experiences. I feel a lot more positive than the other day, I think everyone needs a moment to lose their shit and the other day was mine!

Im taking a lot of stuff atm, just thought I'd write it down for anyone interested or lurking:

2× omega 3
2 tbsp of inositol
Recc. Dose of folic acid
Evening prim 1000mg
Vit d3 1000mg

Temp shot up this morning so it'll be interesting to see if it amounts to anything.

rosebud how bloody annoying! Hmm, in the interests of expediency could you get a private AMH blood test done if they're being spectacularly unhelpful? I think Zita West even does a home pin-prick AMH test, or privateblood tests.co.uk off the top of my head...

Oh and did my first jab last night. The thought of it is way more scary than the doing of it. The needles are so teeny I genuinely couldn't feel it go in at all...

Banana- It WAS a private blood test! I had to pay for it.... that's why I'm so confused that they won't give me my results until I see my NHS consultant (my clinic does NHS and private work but the AMH I could only do privately with them!) Soooooo annoying!

Yay for first jab tonight..... the thought of needles is so much worse than the reality- well done for being so brave! I'm sure they will get easier and easier each day! x

I thought I would put some positive news on here, sorry so many of you are having such a tough time at the moment. Had my 20 week scan today and he is perfect. I started feeling kicks over a week ago. I am currently the fattest I have ever been, have the most spots I have ever had, my face is covered in raw eczema, I have black hair sprouting everywhere on my body and my legs and feet are so swollen I lost my ankle bones completely and couldn't get anything on my feet. Saying all that I couldn't be more grateful or happy to be pregnant.

Hope that there is some more good news on here soon, fingers crossed for you all.

Thanks Feefee. I only felt silly as I've been ttc #1 for 2.5 years (3 years since we started but they put me on a pill for 6 months alongside Metformin to try to regulate cycles and ovulation, which didn't work!) and as I never bleed except on my period, I allowed myself to hope. It astounds me that all of us on here never give up and still know that it will happen for us one day!

Congratulations Rufus, I'm so pleased for you! A little boy Thanks for the good wishes x

Oh Rufus that sounds amazing lol your baby is perfect and he's kicking away! Shame about the ankles and spots but all very worth it in the end. So pleased for you, enjoy every moment of your pregnancy, you'll be glowing soon

I too finally have some good news! I called the Dr's secretary yesterday and she's manged to move my appt forward from Nov to 2 weeks time. I also mentioned I was still waiting to hear about my appt with IVF consultant, she said she would sort it. Low and behold they call me today, I have an appointment for next thurs! So relieved I don't have to wait ages. Really feel lucky to get them so soon. It's been too long Know I need assistance to get pregnant but not being able to start any treatment.
banana go you with the Jabs! I bet you still cannot believe you've started your
treatment. Hope it goes smoothly for you hun.
rosebud I have a feeling you'll get those results, I am sure you won't give up until they've given in to you. You've paid so they should bloody tell you!
MrsC sorry it was AF hun, but at least your body has responded to something. Google can be a blessing and a curse
Nowhere your head must have been spinning after that appt. I hope you've sorted things and know what to do with the meds!
Feefee getting Clomid so soon (I know time drags when TTC) must surely be a great sign of things to come. I hope you have a great response to it.
Anyone I've missed apologies and hello x

Oh ffs that's bloody ridiculous! Actually I was being a prat as I think I did know that you can't get AMH tests on the NHS. Doh! Wtf are they on about? I'd get stinky and ask to speak to someone else to understand why you can't get the result (that you've paid for!) - you'd have got it done elsewhere if you'd have known they wouldn't let you have it without making an appt with the consultant. Good luck!

And yes, jabs all fine. The cost of the meds is way more painful than the needles tbh. One Gonal-F 900iu pen - which lasts me 2 days on my sledgehammer dose - is £350! If ever there was incentive to not fuck up the injection..!!

Yay rufus congrats!! It's so so lovely to see some good news on this group. Hope you've kicked off an upward trend! Massive hugs and congrats to you and master bump xx

Utterly lovely news Rufus So pleased for you. Boys are awesome

Well done banana! Keep up your bravery whilst jabbing!!

Hi ladies, just wondered what your experiences are of OPK's? I tried them once a long long time ago and thought they didn't work for me as I never had a positive. However, since I know more about my cycle, I believe either I had taken them at the wrong time or that I didn't ovulate that month. Just been looking at the CB ones online, but they say not suitable for PCOS? Is it just because we get false positives? How reliable have you all found them? I'm just wanting a second way of measuring ov alongside temping to reassure me that I am actually ovulating (I obv check cm too but just want to be sure!)

MrsC I have been wondering the same! I've read about some women with PCOS that use them with success but it might have something to do with their PCOS being less severe etc

rufus what fantastic news! Thank you for taking the time to spread some happiness on this thread for us wonderful stuff!

I have finally ovulated and thank god for that. My temps have shot up like they should over the past few days. However, we only DTD on the actual day of ovulation, and I didn't have any EWCM or use any Conceive Plus so I'm not holding my breath!

Slightly odd question.....for those of you on clomid / had the HCG injection to force ovulation. Have you noticed you've had very definite dreams? I'm almost certainly sure it's not the drugs, and much more likely to be a consequence of work / ttc stress, but I had the injection on Monday and following this have had the most vivid dreams!

MrsC Cheapy OPKs seem to work for me. It can be harder to pinpoint the LH surge because often there's increased LH in PCOSers at other times in the month including right before AF for me but I buy cheap, highly sensitive ones so it matters less that I'm using more! I initially started off testing when it suggested but realised that my cycle length wasn't going to let me get anywhere near OVing at that time, so I carried on peeing until it happened or not. When I do OV, it's often around CD19-25, depending on the length of my cycle.

Ponty Ah well, ya never know! That once might have been the right once!!

Thanks for the info on the OPKs chandelier, I will order hundreds some off Amazon and give them a go!

Even after all this time, I still find the 2ww irresistible. Even though I know my chances are slim, I still get totally taken in by the hope it will happen and spend a small fortune on pregnancy tests! Every cycle I say I won't but I do. It's an addiction

Ponty glad you’re feeling more positive. Onwards and upwards! I lose my shit quite regularly - I’m sure catharsis is better than keeping it all in. So rant away!

Pebbles that’s terrific news! So glad it’s come through so quickly - keeping everything crossed for you.

Newhere hmm, I can’t quite remember (even though it was only 2 months ago!!) about the dreams, but I do remember feeling a bit peculiar after the Clomid and trigger. I was absolutely shattered the day of the trigger, and I only seemed to get Clomid symptoms after the trigger, rather than before! Night sweats, weepy, I was all over the shop. Hang in there, and hope it’s your month!

Afm, well nature certainly likes a joke. I’m only 3 days into stims and my belly is swollen up like I’m 3 months pregnant. DH joked people will be offering me a seat on the tube at this rate! I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, and as much as I’d like to think my ovaries were going off like rockets, I suspect it’s just my body reeling from the sledgehammer dose of drugs, rather than follies zooming off at warp speed. Certainly not with my crappy FSH and AMH, as I’m expected to be a very poor responder. Just lots of fluid retention I think, so guzzling water up the wazoo. Tracking scan first thing tomorrow morning, so will see what the consultant says, and what my ovaries are up to!

Ponty the cheap HPTs are good too