*****PCOS - Anybody in the same boat?******

[fruitloop79]

I don't know if there are any threads already started but I've just officially found out I've got PCOS this morning - I've always known deep down. Please tell me it's not all bad I'm feeling very sorry for myself.
We've been TTC for 6 months - only 3 cycles. I supposedly ovulated on CD36 (now CD43) this cycle. Gynae reckons not preg cos uterus lining would've thickened. (Had a scan this morning)

Any hints/tips on treatment/TTC?
How to deal with symptoms?

How did Posh spice and Jools Oliver manage to fall preg?

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Hi - this thread is a little out of date. We've got some more information on PCOS here. MNHQ

dozymare and pink

Now that I have confirmation. Good the call from the nurse at the hospital and my bloods are in - I am definitely PG!!! I feel so much relief as I now feel that I can let it sink in now.

So I will be joining you on the November thread!

Moonlit

Keep going...that's all I can say. I let the whole weight thing really get me down but as a result the consultant herself said she thought the half stone I lost this month must have kick started something!!! That is the only explanation she had!

Just for information:
ON BREASTFEEDING WITH PCOS
I asked the consultant if there was a link and far as she was concerned there wasn't a direct one. However she did say that obviuosly milk production has a direct link to hormones and if the hormones are off -balance it is possible that it could either interfere with milk production or result in over-production of it of course! (in dozymare's case!)

Just realised I have typed wrong words all over the place! Sorry I am obviously too excited!

Hi Attila

I agree with you that my prolactin levels must be raised, as I still have leaky breasts. Hopefully, this is what is preventing me from getting pregnant. But I am still overweight to. I now weigh 78kg that's a BMI of 28.5.

Hey DungunGirl

You have every right to be excited. I look forward to get my pregnancy BOUNTY pack in the near future

DungunGirl, how did you lose the 1/2 stone in a month? For that matter how did anyone with PCOS manage to lose weight? I tried low-carb with DP for two weeks, lost 1 kilo and ended up incredibly constipated. Marilyn Glenville's Fat Around the Middle book seemed pretty good, but was having a hard time doing all the eating it required! I've done WW in the past and lost nearly 2 stone with that, but it's all back.

sarah7306

Losing half a stone in a month was the hardest challenge in weight loss I have ever taken on!

Basically, I had to go hard-core.

I was taking in 30minutes cycling everyday, going to the gym for 1 hour x 3 days a week, jogging 3 times a week.

As for diet - I started off following low GI and then went onto the SLIM FAST diet for 3 weeks, and have been eating only a side plate portion of dinner.

I swapped my 1 teaspoon of sugar in my tea to 1 sweetener as well.

Now that I have confirmation I am about 5 weeks pg I will need to slow down a bit, but I do want to keep up a little exercise as I am really enjoying losing this weight!

I think the slim fast increased my metabolism which then in turn has continued to burn calories faster than before.

Anyway, good luck! It just proves that it is DAMN hard work losing wweight with PCOS but if you are stubborn enough ( like me ) then it can happen!

Hi Sarah7306 - I have been taking Metformin for about 5 months and have lost 1.5 stone. When I think I am pregnant I stop taking it and the weight stops coming off to. It's very frustrating. My sister lost weight and went from a size 16 to 8/10 by exercising and eating a healthy diet, and has managed to maintain her weight. I am just lazy, as I am sure I could do it to, I have once before and thats how I got pregnant.

I was really hopeful when I went on metformin because I heard loads of stories of PCOS ladies losing weight on it, but unfortunately doesn't seem to have done anything for me!

Prolly will go back to my wheat-free, dairy-free, red meat-free, eating 6 times a day thing. That made me feel pretty good, though Marilyn Glenville will make me give up my precious caffeine.

Oddly enough, despite having high cholesterol since age 12, and high triglycerides for the last 10 years, I've now been told all my lipid levels are normal! I haven't lost any weight, but did start taking omega 3-6-9 oils and some other supplements for PCOS. At least something is going right!

It's quite frustrating. My SIL has PCOS to and takes Metformin. She hasn't lost any weight either. The problem with PCOS is that we are all affected by it differently. My own family is a prime example, all three of us are so different in age, weight, height, degrees of hairiness etc. It's just one of those things. THey just heap us all up and throw us into the same bracket. PCOS should really be broken down into different categories. I guess scientists will get there someday . We just have to remain positive

Morning ladies!

Well Attila you were right! After 18 days of being DPO, FF have taken away my fun by removing my ov lines. Ah well, that's life eh! I'm going to start the dreaded progesterone today instead of tomorrow. Might just as well get the ball rolling, my fate is now in the hands of the NHS..................Don't hold your breath!

Sorry Fruity, I know how much that sucks. Good luck with the progesterone, let us know how you get on.

I started taking progesterone last night and my tep has shot up this morning. Does progesterone have an effect on temp?

fruity, I think it's the progesterone that causes your temp to rise dramatically after ovulation, so I suppose it's possible just one day of taking progesterone could make your temp shoot up.

Hi everyone. I hope you're all enjoying your chocolate today

I got my follow up appointment letter yesterday. Guess how long I have to wait for it?

FIVE FLIPPIN MONTHS!!!! My appointment's booked for August FFS!!!
So even if I'm given anything like Clomid (hope hope) then I cant take it till August! How can they leave me like this? If I could afford private I bet I'd be given it next week!

my baseline appointment isnt till July but I've been told to phone every week for cancellations. I wonder if I can do this with the follow up app? Do people really phone to cancel? I imagine most just dont turn up

Also, we cant have unprotected sex between AF and the Dye scan!! What a waste of his little boys!

Hi fruitloop,

"My baseline appointment isnt till July but I've been told to phone every week for cancellations".

Good idea, do this for the follow up appt too.

"I wonder if I can do this with the follow up app?". An August appt is not on either, I would try and get both moved forward.

"Do people really phone to cancel? I imagine most just dont turn up".
In my experience of such places most people did show.

Was never advised not to have intercourse between the AF and the dye scan (periods were pretty much non existant anyway, infact I was only told to refrain a couple of days before the test).

HTH

Attila

Hi Fruity, by 'dye scan' do you mean the hysterosalpingogram, the one where they put dye into your uterus under an xray, and watch for it to flow out your tubes? If so, I also got the advice to not have unprotected sex between AF and the procedure. They just want to make sure you're not preggers when they do it.

yes Sarah it is, I keep forgetting the name of it and I can never be bothered to go look at my letters! I'm hoping I dont have to wait too long between AF (which should arrive anyday after my course of prog) and the scan. I just cant bare to think of those little boys wasted! It's heartbreaking! haha.
Do you remember how long you had to wait between? Also why cant I book it until the 1st day of AF?

Hi Fruity, there is some reason, can't remember what, that they want to do it on/near a certain cycle day--that's why they want you to book it on CD1. Looked back at my chart and I had it done on CD14. The leaflet I got from the hospital said it should be between day 10 and 20, to make sure bleeding from AF has stopped, but aim to do it before O occurs. Another thing I read said they aim to do it between CD7 and CD10 for the same reason.

Something interesting I heard, not sure how true it is, but some women reported falling pregnant on the cycle after an HSG--there's some thought that it 'clears you out'!

ah thanks Sarah yes I've heard it can "clear you out" too. However, I refuse point blank to get my hopes up until August at the very earliest which is when my follow up appointment will be (providing I dont get a cancellation app)
I was worried once I book the HSG they'll keep my waiting another couple of months or something. I think I can cope with 20 days. My cycles seem to be at least 88 days anyway so a 20 day wait for a scan is nothing!

Fruity, I'm hoping your hospital is better than mine was. They only did HSGs on a Wednesday, and the first time I phoned up they were fully booked on the one of the Wednesdays that fell between my 10-20 days, and the other one they had a training day so weren't doing any. They said I had to wait until next cycle--I said, "Um...that could be several months from now!" but they said there was nothing they could do. So I waited another cycle. The next time I called, they were fully booked one day, and I was out of the country on the other. So I waited ANOTHER cycle. The next time I phoned I finally got an appointment, but it was a bit bittersweet as husband and I had split up in the meantime. I decided I wasn't going to let the opportunity to check that my tubes were clear pass me by, so I went anyway.

I think all told it was 6 months between referral and getting the HSG, due totally to the scheduling difficulties!

oh no Sarah dont say that! My cycles are like three months long! I couldnt bare it!

I've not had a period (AF?) for a year since coming off the pill and have just been diagnosed with PCOS. On my 30th birthday (23rd March) my period started, does anyone know if this means I am now ovulating and consequently have a possibility of getting pregnant? My blood tests in Feb said I wasn't ovulating. If I am ovulating, when is the best time in the cycle to get PG? I'm all pretty new to this stuff, particularly all the abreviations everyone uses!

Hi Scoobyd00 Unfortunately having an AF(period - Aunty flo ) doesnt mean you are ovulating. Anovulatory cycles are very common in PCOS. It's a bugger of an illness but to give you some hope, a lot of people fall pg with PCOS. It's not impossible! I only found out a couple of months ago and my last cycle was 88 days. I am now on day 93 of my third cycle TTC (7-8 months worth!)
I have 2 yr old DS who was conceived on an epic cycle (I've always had these) so dont lose faith! It will happen. It's not fair, I know. Especially when everyone around you seems to find it so easy to get pg. But things can be done.
Talk to Attila she's our expert! . Unfortunately the best time is at ovulation. You probably wont know when this is unless you have regular cycles and you temp. I've been temping but the only thing it has shown me is a very erratic cycle!

a bit quiet in here lately I hope you havnt all given up hope!

I've just finished my 5 day course of prog so am waiting impatiently for AF. I keep thinking I can feel definite cramps or something going on but I usually only get this the day before AF and it's been happening for a about 3 days now. Maybe I'm imagining it It can supposedly take up to 10 days after the course for AF to arrive. She's so lazy, she needs to get her fat a*se into gear I just wanna get these tests over and done with. Still there's no hurry if my follow up appointment isnt till Aug, dum de dum..........