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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Ultrasound can’t find ovaries bc I’m overweight

54 replies

BananaHammock23 · 29/06/2020 18:04

Hi all. I’m currently in bed crying and have been here most of the day! My partner and I were due to start IUI today but when we went in for our baseline scan the nurse said she had to have a difficult conversation with us... she went on to say that because of my BMI, she was unable to see the ovary in the scan and therefore unable to proceed with treatment this month.

I’m devastated. Not only because we’ve had treatment put on hold but also because I’m struggling to find any info online that points to this being an issue. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

We’re at a private clinic (same sex couple, no help on NHS) so BMI isn’t necessarily an issue for IUI, but now I just feel like a fat mess who’s not got any control.

OP posts:

beelzeboob · 29/06/2020 19:34

@SpunBodgeSquarepants
speak to any sonographer and they will agree with me. I can assure you it’s not bollocks and I have been scanning for 10 years. Just because your ovaries were clear to see on a TV scan doesn’t mean someone else’s are.

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 29/06/2020 19:45

@beelzeboob good to hear your input, thank you. Any advice for helping to get a clearer picture, other than drastic weight loss? Also keen to hear answer to @HavelockVetinari question!

@defnotadomesticgoddess I’m on Metformin yeah. I actually upped my dose to 1500 when I started treatment but I can’t say it’s helped. Fertility consultant did say I could take more if I could stomach it so I think I’ll go up to 2000. What are you on? Xx

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Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 29/06/2020 19:47

Thanks @SpunBodgeSquarepants - it’s a bit of a mystery! Seems to be mixed reviews from us high BMIers as to whether they’ve managed to get a clear picture of the ovaries or not! Think I’m one of the unlucky ones

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beelzeboob · 29/06/2020 19:56

@HavelockVetinari unfortunately I have no idea where the fat would be lost first. I would think it’s different for different people, such is weight gain and weight loss.

@bananaHammock23 In terms of getting a clearer picture, if it’s fat that is making it difficult to see on ultrasound then fat loss is really the only solution. There’s nothing else you can do really. Bowel gas can sometimes be an issue in TV scans but your sonographer would have told you that if it was an issue with your scan.

Best of luck in your fertility journey xx

TheWolfWoman · 29/06/2020 20:11

Interesting, one of my good friends is preparing for her 1st private IUI and it was specifically suggested that she lose weight beforehand. She was about 15st and is now down to 11.

They didn't insist, just said that there is far more likelihood of success and less complications, and said 12st would be a good goal, but she's only 5ft3.

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 29/06/2020 20:26

Interesting @TheWolfWoman - it was always kind of glossed over in my consultations... I actually mentioned it as I’m very used to having my weight impact things (especially when it comes to hospitals!) but they said don’t worry. I wish they’d said something sooner and I wouldn’t be facing this disappointment now

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Hopingtobelucky · 29/06/2020 20:57

Sorry to hear this. When we initially went to the drs in November for a fertility referral the gp said we'd have a baby by this Christmas, nothing at all about my weight - BMI at the time 39, I knew that I needed to loose weight to increase chances of pregnancy but it wasn't coming off that quickly. Saw the consultant through the NHS in February and he was really honest, said the NHS wouldn't find treatment until BMI was 30 but the same consultant is also the medical director of a private clinic so I asked about seeing him privately and he said I couldn't be seen privately until my BMI is 35 and said the next stage would be to have a scan but until my BMI is 35 and under they wouldn't be able to visualise my ovaries sufficiently.
It's devastating and especially when you know yourself that the sensible thing is to loose weight to get in the best shape for pregnancy but after the first day of feeling stupid, humiliated and sad it gave me the kick I needed, after never really exercising I started C25K on a treadmill in the gym and tried to stick to 1100 calories per day, up until lock down I was doing really well and in that month lost a stone but then the gym closed and I started to work from home so not as active and eating more snacks and weight stabilised without any loss for weeks, started to feel really disappointed with myself but last week decided to kickstart my motivation I needed to book an appointment at the clinic to have a target so have booked an appointment for mid August with the aim of loosing 16lbs to get my BMI to 35.
I've also started doing sit ups to try and loose weight for my middle, not sure if it works like that but manage to do 100 a night in front of the tv.
Try and think of the positives, they will keep seeing you and try the scan, don't focus on the weight loss needed see it that you only have 2 points to loose. I've downloaded the NHS BMI app for my phone and when I was being good adding my weight each morning and gradually seeing the number come down.
I'd be interested to know what clinic you are under and please update us your progress when you go back for the second opinion.
Tomorrow perhaps set a goal and get your partner on board with helping, once mine knew he supported by cooking healthy meals, making shire healthy snacks were in and cutting back on takeaways.
Good luck x

FedUpOfChangingName · 29/06/2020 21:24

@BananaHammock23

Yep... Every person is different.. and has different techniques.
Abit like 1 person cant get blood from you, and the next person finds it easy.... 💐

avocadoze · 29/06/2020 21:35

If you take your height in metres and square it (e.g. 1.71 x 1.71) you get the weight in kg you need to lose to take a point off your BMI.

So if you’re 1.71m (171cm, 5 foot 6) you need to lose 2.9kg to move one notch down the BMI scale.

I have had large amounts to lose before, and it seems such a massive challenge when you’re counting weight loss in stones or in tens of kg, but I found it really motivated me if I aimed to lose a point of BMI at a time.

Good luck with the baby and the weight loss OP.

defnotadomesticgoddess · 29/06/2020 21:37

I take 2000. Low gi food plan has worked well for me too x

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 29/06/2020 22:17

@Hopingtobelucky totally feel your pain re humiliation, sadness and stupidity. I'm deep in those feelings now. I also feel almost embarrassed to go back to the clinic to have someone else have a go... I got so upset today and all the excitement has gone now. I feel frustrated too as I see a personal trainer twice a week, I swim (in the sea) most days, I eat well and I'm not drinking or having caffeine. I'm just not seeing any results and it's so demoralising. I'm with the London Women's Clinic in Canterbury, they've been great so far and the nurse was lovely today even though she was essentially telling me she couldn't wade through my fat to find my ovary!! Good luck with your appointment in August - will keep you updated on second opinion on Thursday x

Thanks @avocadoze - great tip! I guess the only problem is that there's no goal as such... I just have to keep going until my ovaries are visible on the scan. I dread how long it could take!

@defnotadomesticgoddess thanks! I'll try 2000 and see how I get on. Hopefully that'll give me a little boost to get my hard work paying off. Will check out low GI too x

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Viletta · 30/06/2020 02:46

Sorry you have to go through this OP. I had a scan once where the nurse just couldn't see my right ovary and asked if I had it removed. I had multiple IVF cycles and this was never an issue. It was hiding behind I guess as the next day it was clearly there. Hope another nurse will be able to find them or possibly try next month.

Hollyhobbi · 30/06/2020 04:24

Are you on medication for your hypothyroidism ? Do you know what your thyroid blood levels are? Are you under an Endocrinologist?

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 30/06/2020 08:26

Thanks @Viletta - hoping the other nurse will find the bastard thing on Thursday! Feels humiliating going back after the performance I put on yesterday but must move forward!

@Hollyhobbi yeah I am! I take 175mcg thyroxine and monitor my levels with Medichecks blood tests every six months. I've managed to get the antibodies down a lot over the past year by cutting out gluten, other levels are fine too.

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Hollyhobbi · 30/06/2020 11:19

That's good especially re the antibodies. When were your last bloods done? Cause a lot can change in six months when it's the thyroid, unfortunately.

Viletta · 30/06/2020 12:15

@BananaHammock23 good luck for Thursday. Fertility treatments are very stressful, you are doing the best you can. Try to distract yourself during the day as well and maybe have a second project running so you can switch to thinking about other thing as well. Hope all goes well!

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 30/06/2020 12:23

Thanks @Viletta –will update the thread on Thursday when another nurse has a go at the ultrasound!

@Hollyhobbi – I'm due for another six monthly blood test in the next couple of weeks. Ordered it today so will get results in the next couple of weeks. You're right re thyroid change!

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Hollyhobbi · 30/06/2020 12:44

I've an underactive thyroid myself as half of it was removed during surgery to remove other glands and, between that and another Endocrine disorder I have, it's so hard to lose weight.

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 02/07/2020 14:59

Hello! Thought I'd check back in as I had my second opinion/follow-up scan after Monday's incident...

Both ovaries are present and correct and perfectly visible on the ultrasound scan. The left one (not the one that the sonographer struggled to find on Monday!) was tricky as it was behind my uterus, but it was there and it was fine!

Obviously I'm over the moon, but I can't help but feel deflated and saddened by what happened on Monday. The nurse literally stopped in the middle of the ultrasound (after maybe 3-4 minutes of looking) and said 'I have some upsetting news' and proceeded to say that my BMI was too high to find my ovaries and therefore we couldn't go ahead with treatment. Why didn't she just say she couldn't find them? The other sonographer said it was probably just gas. Why was she so quick to jump to the BMI conclusion and make me feel like that? I feel furious.

They said we can proceed with IUI for next cycle, providing my uterus lining thins out (which the nurse said she would expect). I'm trying to be positive and think I've got another month of exercise and healthy eating and acupuncture and reflexology and all that stuff to get myself in better shape for it. I'm still just so upset by what's happened.

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Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 02/07/2020 15:01

As a side note – I almost didn't go back for this scan because I was so humiliated... I was told my BMI would have to come down before my ovaries would be visible. What the hell is that about?!

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Addler · 02/07/2020 15:21

I'm so pleased it was a better result for you. I hope your next cycle goes smoothly for you!

Oddgirlout · 02/07/2020 15:23

This is excellent news. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all that pain on Monday. It seems like she was searching for someone to blame instead of saying it is one of those things. She should have booked you in for a second attempt without the commentary! Now you can focus on being in good health for the future for positive reasons, not out of feelings of unjustified shame xx

Hopingtobelucky · 02/07/2020 19:27

That's amazing news, I've got the same BMI as you and was told by the consultant that they would start treatment until my BMI was 35, tomorrow I'll definitely ring around some other clinics to see.
Sorry you had to go through this but really really happy you get to start, hoping things go smoothly now on x

Hopingtobelucky · 02/07/2020 19:28

*wouldn't

Original poster

BananaHammock23 · 02/07/2020 20:00

Thanks @Hopingtobelucky - sorry to hear you're having a hard time as well. It's a horrible thing, especially as BMI is so unreliable. Are you going for IUI? They said I'd have to be under 35 for IVF. We're with the London Women's Clinic in Canterbury x

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