TTC with PCOS (Thread lucky #4!)

[RoseBud2016]

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 our third thread >>>>>>>>>HERE

And you can find our stats >>>>>> HERE

Just a quick hello to all, good to see everyone is moving. I can relate to the losing weight struggle, I am carrying too much weight. I also have done SW and found it really good but this time I am simply doing low GI and that is so much easier to follow for me. Oh and running, I can now run 3 times a week 5k a time! I recommend the couch to 5k app from the NHS it was great. I went from running nothing to running 5k in 8 weeks, the weight simply dropped off...I am at 20lbs now, still got 14 lb to go to get to my target but fingers crossed.

I also wanted to say to rose well done you, I am so very pleased for you, whilst I struggle with other peoples announcements on here they seem to sooth the sole. I am so pleased for you and the other recent good news updates....take care Rose and enjoy Valentines Day, I have a feeling it is going to be the nest you have ever had....

Will be missing for a day or so, off to hospital for my lap and dye tomorrow so will be at home where I get hit and miss internet, fingers crossed.

Take care all x

Tryingtowait me too. I've done a few different things which helped:

• got Finecea from my GP. It is one of the few topicals genuinely safe if TTC or pregnant. It is aimed at rosecea sufferers so it doesn't aggravate poorly skin
• become careful with dairy. I've given up cow's milk (try reading about all the hormones in milk and the effect on acne-prone women!) so I use Koko in tea/coffee, I now eat organic yoghurt rather than normal (not any more expensive if on offer), and I try to have goat's cheese rather than cow's milk cheese if possible
• massively stripped back my skin regime. I wash with Toleraine cleanser (the one with 5 star Boots reviews), I threw away any makeup that might be comodogenic, and I use micellar water to take off make up if I wear any

My skin is now passable again. For the previous few months the hormonal acne was appalling - I looked like I had chicken pox.

I really didn't want the dairy thing to work, but it made a real difference within a few weeks :( I bloody love milk, but I love clear skin more!

Also pompoms for everyone else. I'm having much less luck than everyone this thread so I've been silently lurking in case my bad luck jinxes anyone!

Well done Elle! That's an incredible effort! Keep going, you are doing brilliantly x

Oranges Wanna talk about it? We might be able to offer advice or just an ear to rant to! Did you manage to persuade your fertility clinic to increase your clomid dose straight to 150mg? X

Thanks Rose. They are still dithering (which is better than an outright no) but they really aren't keen. I've got another week and a half til the official end of this cycle, when I'm supposed to start again on 100mg. I've got enough tablets left to do one cycle of 100mg then two of 150mg, so I could just ignore the clinic and start on 150mg, but if it works I won't have enough to do three cycles of 150mg. Plus if I got OHSS or something similar, I'm not sure if they'd stop treating me at that clinic if I'd ignored them and started on 150mg early.

Sorry for the appalling mixed tenses in that, I hope it made some sense! Thank you, I feel better having just said it to someone - DH is all "be patient, trust the doctors" but at this point I have more faith in the collective experiences of Mumsnetters than the clinic!

Oranges that's a tricky dilemma you have there! How are they monitoring you on these cycles? If it's just blood tests I'm not sure I would risk ignoring their decision- just because 150mg is potent stuff and I had really severe side effects on 150mg despite nothing on the other doses except night sweats!
On the other hand if they are scanning you regularly and you are speaking to someone regularly about your progress and how you are feeling, that is another matter.
I think, if it were me, I would still feel more comfortable persuading them of my case and being honest than doing it without their knowledge. And remember you are entitled to 6 rounds of clomid once they have found a dose that works for you! I have a drawer full of the stuff cos it turned out my clinics optimism was very misplaced and none of the doses worked for me!
I think I would like to know why they are so hesitant to increase the dose after a failed attempt? That's what every clinic I've heard of does except yours..... I think that's the stance I would take. X

Hi everyone...

oranges I'm sorry ur having a hard time and losing faith in the doctors. Hope things improve for you soon.

I am a bit confused myself. Only diagnosed with PCOS last month after an USS. Altho I am aware I am not having the struggles some of you are having, which I'm grateful for but makes me wonder the validity of my PCOS diagnoses.

I have one DS (4yo, v happy unplanned pregnancy). We have been TTC for a year, but had 2 mc's in that time - so I obviously have been ovulating! However, I am quite sure I haven't ovulated regularly and am now tracking cycles and doing opk's and temping etc etc. I have had positive opk's but no temp rise and little ewcm. I wondered if the two mc's were the only times i ovulated. Which led to me seeing doc for USS. I had day 21 bloods and went for results last night. They came back 'reasonable'. Progesterone level was 26 and anything above 30 indicates ovulation. So doc said I 'might' have ovulated (Altho I'm certain I didn't due to temping etc). After talking it over he sort of asked what I wanted him to do giving me the option of referral to gynae or metformin prescription. I went for metformin which he prescribed quite happily but he didn't seem to know a great deal about it, was unsure if I shd continue to take it if I got pregnant but suggested I stop taking it if I did. He was lovely and supportive but I left feeling a bit uncertain that I've done the right thing or made the best informed decision.

Has anyone got experience of metformin? Is it ok to take given my (what I think could perhaps be mild) PCOS? Would you recommend I get a referral to gynae? Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? Bit confused

...oh, and do I start taking it at any point in my cycle?

Lucinda I think progesterone of 26 on a natural cycle is fine - for reference, when I had my bloods done and didn't ovulate, they were 1.4. Have you had blood tests for LH and fsh, testosterone etc? At the moment you don't really have a PCOS diagnosis so if you are worried about it I would get all that done. They don't know how metformin works but it does result in improved outcomes for PCOS women - it works better if you're overweight I think. It's done absolutely eff all for me but on the other hand there's no harm in taking in - plus my experience is that it forces you to be a bit more healthy as you'll vomit if you eat too much crap or drink too much alcohol on it

Oranges that's really frustrating. I agree with rose that you ideally want your doctor to be on board - but I would be tempted to just do it and keep an eye out for symptoms.

AFM - just had the worst baby bomb at work. Doing a series of really large presentations today (to groups of about 900 people at a time) and it has just knocked me for 6. Have recovered now but ffs. Not only can't I have a baby, I have to arrange everyone else's maternity leaves?!

Other than that - nothing to report. Symptom spotting a derisory affair - have had lots of CM (probs just hormonal fluctuations), tired (jet lag) some stomach pain (all the crap food I'm eating), back pain (being on a plane + hypermobility). Vomited yesterday but think it was my metformin. Boobs remain resolutely unsore. Ho hum.

Thanks stealth I really am very confused. Definitely feel that something hasn't been right since the mc's. Sonographer said I had PCOS then took over a week to see GP (eventually had tel consultation as they were so busy) and HE said I had PCOS and organised day 21 bloods which I've waited another week for results. Then flapped about trying to get an appt and then sort of felt the GP and the results weren't really what I was expecting and not definitive. He seems to think I have PCOS, but wasn't sure what to do about metformin and I felt he was just prescribing it to get rid of me almost. I know I shd be grateful to have it I spose but I'm just not sure what's going on, whether I have PCOS, whether I need a gynae referral, whether gp can order the other tests u mention, and if so can imagine yet further toing and froing which is just beginning to get very weary. I'm beginning to think I just persevere with TTC naturally for a bit longer and put it all to the back of my mind

In sorry ur feeling a bit crook and work seems amazingly stressful!! Kick in the teeth organising mat leave too good luck and feel better soon xx

rose it all sounds so unbelievably positive for you right now, I am so sure that a BFP will be yours in the very near future. Can't wait to hear your V-Day update!

stealth take the baby bombs in your stride today and then console yourself later at home. This journey is SO shit, SO annoying and SO inconvenient, and sometimes you do just need to have a rant about it. I hope you're presentations go well - you sound like the kind of woman who can hit it out of the ball park under any conditions.

AFM - another sesh of electro-acupuncture later (yelp) and today I just feel like shit. I think it's got something to do with the 11000 pills I take every morning now!

Thanks oranges for the skin advice. I'll definitely try giving up dairy.

Stealth sorry about the baby bomb. Remind us when you're due to test, is it Sunday? Your job sounds so impressive, I'm presenting to 50 people tomorrow and I'm feeling twitchy about it!

Rose good luck for Sunday! I won't be online much before then, but I'll check in to find out your news.

Cwtchy would you recommend the acupuncture? How did you find a good practitioner?

Lucinda can you go back and ask for the referral? In my experience GPs don't know much about PCOS. I've been diagnosed with it, undiagnosed with it, rediagnosed with it... they can't decide. As Stealth says metformin probably won't hurt, but it might be better to get another opinion?

Thanks everyone for the advice. I only get CD 21 and 28 blood tests, no scans, so I'm probably going to try and persuade them, and if they refuse, point out I could just do it anyway and see what they say. Got a call booked with them on Friday. I only get a max of 6 cycles of clomid in total - even if none of them work, they won't extend beyond that because of the increased risk of ovarian cancer. I think after clomid I move onto injectables, which I'm slightly more hopeful about. It just feels like everything takes forever.

I've got a bit of catching up to do. Just making sure I don't fall off the thread.

Will read the last couple of pages when I get home.

Side note.. been to see Billy Elliot tonight. Fucking fantastic!!!!

Hello everyone!

I am on holiday in Kraków at the moment so have missed out on the last few pages!

Just wanted to say have my fingers crossed for you rosebud! I fly home Sunday so will check in again then and have a proper catch up, iPhones are useless for trying to catch up properly!

oranges I think so, yes! The lady I see is very clued up in all things PCOS and sees a lot of women with it - she's been invaluable with her advice on supplements too, and has a link to my FF chart so keeps an eye on it. She doesn't recommend any more acupuncture than she thinks I need - so after I ovulate, she leaves me alone and we see what happens. You can find good practitioners through the British Acupuncture Council and then have a good read of reviews! Ultimately I guess it just makes me feel like I'm doing something.
I don't get why they wouldn't scan you?! What's the point in giving you the drugs but not scanning you?! Madness. Definitely follow it up. Good luck!

I want to cry this morning dramatic - we have been having sex eod for two weeks now and from the looks of it I may have ovulated yesterday, but couldn't have sex as I randomly was really ill last night. Sickness and vertigo! Wtf! So the last time we had sex was Monday, which probably isn't good enough if I did ov yesterday. Really frustrating.

Was all set to go back to another GP so I could get some more tests and some straight answers....but got a BFP yesterday absolutely stunned as I was convinced I hadn't ovulated. Was waiting for my AF and even stocked up on tampons on Monday. But POAS out of curiosity as I seem to have developed the nose of a blood hound. And there it was.

Been on a bit of a roller coaster from being told I had PCOS last month and then faffing about with blood tests and wishy washy GP and wondering what to do with metformin....obviously over the moon but feeling cautious. After 2 mc's I know it can change in an instant. Just hope this is sticky lucky no. 3.

Thanks for all ur support - I'm so sorry, feel a bit of a fraud and perhaps was mis diagnosed. I really hope this is a lucky board and you all get success this year. Sending lots of luck and positives to you all. X

oranges you doctors sound crap. Sorry but it riles me up to hear people wasting your time. For a start you should be scanned if only to check your lining - for all you know clomid could be thinning your lining to the point that even if you did ovulate you couldn't fall pregnant anyway! My doctor said that for poor responders to clomid he wouldn't recommend more than 3 cycles of clomid so to have to do 6 is ridiculous. I like whoever's idea it was to tell them that you were intending to take 150mg anyway and see what they say. Could you book in for a private scan? At least then you'll know! Sorry it's been such a struggle for you.

Ponty don't worry too much about missing a day of sex. Sperm can live for up to 5 days so if you've dtd on Monday you're all sorted for a Wednesday or Thursday ov. Fx

lucinda congrats! I think you can rest easy that, whether or not you do have PCOS, it is not inhibiting your ability to ovulate and get pregnant. Fx this one sticks - good luck!

To whoever asked when I will test - I have decided I am going to do a probably-too-early frer tomorrow (10dpo) as will be throwing myself off mountains and eating lots of cheese and drinking lots of wine this weekend so on the off chance i am pregnant and it shows up it'd be nice to know! Then I'll probably test again on Monday at 13dpo. Only taking one hpt with me skiing so I am not tempted to poas every day! But I honestly think I am out this month, I am writing to my doctor today to book in for an appointment Monday before I go to America for work next week as AF is due weds so I'll have to start the gonal f again on Thursday when I'm still away.

Elle Thank you lovely! How did you lap and dye go yesterday? x

Nurse Hope you are having a fab holiday- I've always wanted to go to Krakow.

Cwtchy DTD today just in case you haven't ov'ed quite yet. What makes you think you have? As Stealth you're not out yet! Keep the faith!

Lucinda Huge congratulations!!!!! That is a turn up for the books- I really hope its third time lucky for you.

Oranges If your doctor is only prepared to give you 6 clomid cycle total that strengthens your case even more to jump straight to 150mg What are they playing at??!!!

Stealth Fingers crossed for your result tomorrow- it's probably going to be too early but I understand you wanting to do it before you leave on your action packed adventure. I'll be thinking of you! xxx

AFM- really severe cramping for about 15 minutes when I woke up this morning. So bad it took my breath away and required deep breathing..... trying to stay positive but feel so unsure about everything. Cramping has been a constant dull ache since then- know bloody knows!

lucinda that is fantastic news - congratulations! I hope you are feeling on top of the world! I know you're cautious, but do allow yourself a little excitement!

rosebud how many weeks are you now? I had horrific stabbing pain one morning when in early preg with DD - I doubled over and thought, this was it, that something was wrong. Everything was absolutely fine. I had a few more instances of it around 15w and that was fine too. Your body is doing lots of crazy things - stretching and whatnot. Get some advice from your doctor if you want to - always better to be reassured than worrying. Let us know how you get on!

stealth maybe you'll be like Phoebe in Friends who tests positive early because her body "has always been ahead of science" it sounds like a really good plan to me I would be POAS everyday because I have no willpower I've got absolutely everything crossed. Why are you not feeling positive?

rosebud ooh that sounds positive? Maybe? This symptom spotting is just such a headfuck.

I figure really I shouldn't be testing at all until 13dpo but I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it otherwise. So will test once and then go and enjoy my weekend!

ponty ha ha! I wish my body was ahead of science. Probably wouldn't be on this thread if it was though I just feel that I don't have any real symptoms...there are a bunch of things that I feel like I read into being preg symptoms (increased cm, nausea etc) but I just have a feeling they're not. Plus my boobs are very much as per normal and that seems to be the signal. Le sigh. And yes I would definitely poas every day if I had the apparatus to do so - so I'm rationing myself whilst I'm on the road!

Good luck elle for your lap and dye results - sorry missed that one (am on phone as per usual!). Hope everything was clear!

Managed to get an Internet connection at home. ..quick update lap and dye went well report says normal pelvis and upper abdomen good fill and spill of dye from both tubes! So good news. ...very sore and swollen today no choice but to take it easy. Didn't think it would be quite as bad as this!

Sorry rose I seem to have gotten ahead of myself there and assumed you were already pregnant blame this damn sickness bug!! All sounds good to me regardless!

stealth I had no symptoms when I was pregnant with DD - except for after I got my BFP. Boobs were fine, everything was normal, didn't expect it at all. Symptoms didn't come until I was 6w. Stay positive!!!

On my phone so very sorry if I have missed people out but sending lots of love to you all!

Rosebud so excited for you! More so than people I know at work who have been trying. We are like a little family on here now . Those cramps sound like good news to me. Brilliant news of DH sperm as well. Did you buy those vitamins as a pack e.g pregnacare or did you have to buy them all seperately? Going to get that book you have recommended!!

Oranges some doctors don't know what they are talking about and would think you should be able to go on 150mg but like others have mentioned, it would be better if you have had a scan.

CwtchyQ sound like you have dtd enough but hope you sneaked in a couple extra yesterday and today just to be sure. They can live for up to 5/7 days so fingers crossed!

Ellewalk so glad your lap and dye came out well! Make sure you get plenty of rest! What is the next step?

AFM I got my prescription for clomid today. Going to be starting on tablets to induce period then starting on 50mg of clomid. Started weight watchers last week too just to make sure I am at a healthy weight and lost 4lb this week so I am happy. Everything seems to be going in the right direction just hope it works!

Rufus - congratulations on Joshua James!! I remember you from the first thread - how time has flown!

Tryingtowait - completely understandable that you're a little jealous. We've all been there, you'll get nothing but sympathy on this thread.

Feefee - welcome back! How did your scan go? I think we all have that feeling that at some point the dr is just going to say "no, sorry. It's not going to happen" but we just keep plodding on, and as you can see from the thread, it gets to BFPs, it's just a longer journey.

Chandelier - how amazing that you heard the heart beat! I'm so happy for you

Pebbles - I hope your op goes well. Make sure you let us know

Ain - there is no such thing as over-share on this thread and it was very brave Of you to post.
I don't think precious Eating disorder will effect fertility now, but please be careful in your approach to losing weight

Stealth - what job do you do that sends you to somewhere so fabulous?
And how shit that you're being baby bombed at work.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow's POAS.

Lucinda - Congratulations. I know things can change quickly but I'm wishing you all the luck in the world right now.
On a completely separate note - if I give you a kick up the arse about diet / healthy eating, can you return the favour? I'm trying to do sw without going to the class, however, DH is away so I'm struggling not to live on jam on toast and cups of tea at the moment!

Oranges - I think a lot of Drs just follow their procedures and that's it. I know for me, I took down some medication suggestions from the threads here and used them to push my dr to prescribe the meds I needed.

Elle - great news from your lap and dye. Onwards and upwards for you now

Dunlin - congratulations on that weight loss and the clomid prescription. Fingers crossed for your next cycle.

Rose - congratulations on how far you've come. It all sounds so promising- even when I read you were cramping, my mind just imagined a little bean clamping down and hanging on in there.

I, as promised, have absolutely no update, I just missed talking to you all and wanted to pop in on the thread. Hoping that everyone else's good luck rubs off on me soon!