*****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Hi - this thread is a little out of date.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

How is everyone? I've been on holiday for a few days and had fun TTC! I've been on Metformin a week now ans so far no side effects. I've finnshed the course of progesterone tablets, so now just waiting for AF before I start on Clomid. Feeling very bloated so I think it may be imminent, I'm a little nervous!

What's everyone else up to?

Hi Scooby

I've also been on holiday so also been away for a week or so.

Great news that the metformin is not giving you side effects! Good luck with the clomid! Is this your first time?

I've taken Met for 2 years now and forgot to take it on holiday for 1 week now getting the worse nausea as I get used to it again...

Im TTC right now. This is my first month and its very exciting and scary too

JaneandBen- are you still there? did AF show?

Hi GYo
Thanks for asking after me, I am still here! Not much to report really, no AF, now on CD31 and considering doing a test next week but fully expecting it to be negative. Don't feel any different at all, I remember when pregnant with DS I got sore boobs etc so I think I am just in limbo with no ov or anything.

Had reflexology again this week and was very tender on my ovaries/pituitary area which was strange.

I am looking forward to going to the doc in August and being referred for Metformin again.

Good luck for his month to you! Keep us informed!!

J

Jane - my fingers are crossed for you.

Gyo - yep this is my first time on clomid. I've just finnished the first course, so the next few weeks will be lots of babymaking fun!

However, since I very rarely have AF I'm not epecting anything to happen on the first round!

Hi Ladies,

I hope you are all well. I am in the US. It was a last minute thing.

Anyway, Attila I thought as I was here , I would have some private fertility investigations/treatment. The only thing is what investiagtions/treatment should I request?

I thought I would have a HSG, and then Clomid with IUI. The reason I have decided to go down this route is because, I had to cancel my referral appointment because of my last minute trip. I was told I would have to get a new referral from my GP due to some rubbish about 'appointment quotas'. I could have killed her! I kept on arguing my case but they didn't care. How cruel!!!!!

So here I am considering spending my hard earned savings.

What do my fellow PCOS buddies think ?

Hi Moonlit,

You need a new referral from the GP, words fail me honestly. Very sorry that happened to you, you must have felt very upset to say the least.

You're in the US now am I right in thinking?.

I would do your researches carefully and ask lots of questions before parting with your hard earnt cash. Some privately based treatment is actually quite poor in delivery, do not just visit one clinician. Do not also just focus on these treatments alone; look at the bigger picture. You need to find a subfertility specialist with many years experience, a proven success rate when it comes to patient subfertility and up to date knowledge; not just an ob/gyn (some of them in particular do not seemingly know their bum from their elbow. My US based friend has numerous stories). Your insurance also may not cover all costs.

IUI is sometimes helpful where male factor is an issue but again this is not going to do anything with regards to the cystic follicles.

HTH a bit, let us know how you get on.

Attila

Hi all!

Back from holiday. God I have missed loads. Will spend the next few days trying to read through the thread!

Hi Attila,

I know, I was so mad at the appointments lady. But her voice was so stern and heartless. I guess that's life!

From the research that I have done, I have noticed that there are a lot more PCOS specialists here. Whether they are any good is another thing (you are right). I will definitely think about it before rushing in. I guess my being so fed up with the NHS is making me loose focus on reality. I never thought having another child was going to be so difficult.

I am in the US for over two months (it's not a holiday )

Hey DungunGirl have you been anywhere nice?

Moonlit xx

Hi Attila,

I know, I was so mad at the appointments lady. But her voice was so stern and heartless. I guess that's life!

From the research that I have done, I have noticed that there are a lot more PCOS specialists here. Whether they are any good is another thing (you are right). I will definitely think about it before rushing in. I guess my being so fed up with the NHS is making me loose focus on reality. I never thought having another child was going to be so difficult.

I am in the US for over two months (it's not a holiday )

Hey DungunGirl have you been anywhere nice?

Moonlit xx

Hi Ladies, notices this on Active - where have you all been hiding lol!
I have pcos and after 3.5yrs successfully conceived Kieran (who wa 2 yesterday!) I conceived naturally after losing 4st in 6months to kickstart ovulation and we restarted TTC in Aug with two periods since andstill fighting with my weight. I was a skinny lizzie last time after losing the 4st but this time Im getting no-where despite tryingWW and SW. My levelswere all checked recently and were not suprisingly sky high and I was given Xenical to help me with the weightloss whilst looking at appetite suppressents as a possibility for later. I realy dont fancy suppressents but - I did a full month of no cheating ww (religiously) with extra exercise, drinking the water etc, and averaged 8 points a day out of the 24 I was allowed and lot 3lb in the month. Gutted! Luckily I have agp who knows me well enough to know if I say Ive stuck to it, I have and to lose the 14st before I as on 14pts a day (damn near starvation).
The GI diet seems like the next sensible option to try, can anyone recommend a PCOS friendly LOW GI diet book which is quite precriptive? Thanks my dears.

Hi NickiSue

Have a look at books by Collette Harris (herself a PCOSer). She's written a variety of publications on PCOS, including a cookbook.

Verity's website is also worth looking at - www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

Welcome NickiSue

I'd agree with Atilla, Colette H has the best sources of information re PCOS.

I think low GI diet is a great option, and I favour the 3 smallish meals and 3 snacks option too, seems to help me not get huge blood sugar peaks/dips and makes me less hungry

Good luck with the books but feel free to ask more Qs.

Gyo

Hi DungunGirl - welcome back from you holidays

Moonlit- good luck selecting some treatment

Moonlit

Just went for a short break to Pembrokeshire. Spent the days just going to the beach, doing walks and just relaxing.
Was lovellllyyyyy.....

Hows everything in the US? Outrages what your GP did to you!!! I don't know why we bother sometimes. My GPs are TOO bad but they aren't great. It is the consultants I have lost all faith in. My ones are rubbish.

hi nikkisue

Low GI is great - I highly recommend it. I am on the weight loss battle as well and combo of low Gi diet and regular exercise helped me lose my 2 stones within 5 months.I am keeping it off without much effort at all!!!!

Now i have to krank things up to lose the next stone!

Hi GYO!

Morning All

Hope you are all well today. So glad it's Friday at last.

How is everyone?

Moonlit how is the search for treatment going?

NikkiSue did you try and find any Colette Harris books?

Hi JaneandBen, DungunGirl, Atilla

Hello GYO

I second that! I am sooo tired - can't wait till home time!
My company has started our summer early finishing time today so it is home time at 3pm! HOORAYYYYYYY!!!!!

I am really confused with my PCOS at the moment...

I had another day21 progesterone blood test done this month and the results came back 33.6

GP clinic said that was 'normal' indicating ovulation.

Sooooo....has my 2 stone helped my hormone levels and ovulation or what?

Is it possible with PCOS to ovulate relatively regularly but have other associated fertility problems like problems with the actual pregnancy being sustained?

Anyone have any ideas? Attila oh wise one!!! Do you know?

Can there be problems with the actual fertilized egg sticking with PCOS?

ohhhh questions questions...

Is it possible that I do ovulate but my eggs aren't very mature or viable?

Sorry last question honest!

Hi DungunGirl

Good questions. Weight loss definately helps and is likely to kick start ovulation
I think it is possible ovulate regularly with PCOS - I think I do, but I have only had reg cycles since taking Metformin, but I think good exercise, low gi diet etc that results in wt loss has same effect as Met.

I think ovulating regularly and sustaining a preganacy arent necessarily associated but I dont know. Perhaps Atilla does? (sorry I didnt say hi to you this morning!)

not sure that really helps...

"Is it possible with PCOS to ovulate relatively regularly but have other associated fertility problems like problems with the actual pregnancy being sustained?"

I would say that weight loss and being within the correct weight range for your height (as GYo correctly surmises) does help symptoms of PCOS - but it does not make the problem go completely away. The cystic follicles associated with this condition do return over time. I think that ovulation can happen with PCOS but infrequently. Some cystic follicles associated with PCOS release hormones, others are dormant and some may contain an egg.

It is also a very individualistic disorder and affects each person quite differently.

It is possible that PCOS may reduce egg quality ? perhaps because of abnormally high insulin levels, or because of the delayed ovulation (to which insulin resistance may contribute). Think age is also a factor when it comes to egg quality; generally speaking as well fertility does decline with age.

HTH a bit, some very interesting questions have been raised here.

Hi GYo (no apology necessary!).

Have a nice weekend one and all

Attila x

Thanks Attila...

All makes complete sense. I reckon I do ovulate some of the time, but from charts and some tests, it doesn't seem to happen until day 21-28 of my cycle...and my longest cycle is 35 days!

So yeah, what you said about the delayed ovulation and insulin was hugely interesting.

My pregnancy in Feb that resulted in MC was on the back of a very very late ovulation - day 29! And by week 7 I had MC'd. THe consultant was very flippant about it all and just put it down to statistics and my weight! THE COW!

ANyway, thanks again!

Hi Lovely Ladies,

Honestly the more I research on PCOS, the more my mind boggles. One thing I have noticed speaking to friends of my sister in law is that everyone has it. They have had no problem conceiving the first and then conceiving subsequent children has been impossible and they classify it here as 'unexplained infertility' which then leads to IVF. Why is more research not being done on this? PCOS affects women differently, we are all examples on this thread.

My cycle varies from 28-35 days and Sometimes even 40 days!!! But the three times my GP has done my bloods, she says I am ovulating. And like you Dungungirl, I have explained to my GP, 'that does not necessarily mean I ovulate regularly!!!!!'.

It wasn't my GP's fault about the appointment, it was the consultants secretary's fault.

Being in the us is a bad thing though. Because I am stuffing my face. But I will try to control my diet ASAP. I feel so bad when I see how hard you are working Dungungirl. GYo, I haven't managed to much more research into the private treatment. I am so busy looking after a brood of kids, that spare time is on existent. But I will get around to it soon. I am here for another 8 weeks!!!

Take care you guys.

Moonlit xxx

Hi all

CD42 for me and feeling really fed up. I really didn't expect to be normal but I guess I was hoping deep down that I would have AF without any help for once.

I did a test this morning as I am having a routine smear test tomorrow so thought had better make sure but it was -ve.

I will see GP in Aug and then be referred back to the endo/gynae clinic like last time I guess and I presume I will get Metformin again.

I wish I knew what was going on in my body, why can't I be normal!

DS has his settling in session at school this afternoon and I am worried about him crying and clinging to me which I am sure he will do so I think that's getting me down today!

Hope everyone is well.
J X

Hi J&B
Sorry to hear you are fed up?. it feels crap when you are hoping your body might do what it?s supposed to for a change? I know that feeling all too well. Roll on time for your appt in August.. Fingers cross they will give you met straight off.

What time is your DS?s session at school? is it all afternoon thing before starting school in sept?

GYo.

Aw thanks GYO, I was really fed up earlier on but feel better now! Still disheartened that my body is messed up but at least I know that Met worked last time so hopefully once I get it it will work again!

My son had a great time at school! I was expecting tears as he doesn't know anybody at all there but he was fine. I had 2 hours to myself and felt like I'd lost an arm as if he is not with me I am normally at work!

I went to the library and relaxed, it was great!

I'm going for a smear tomorrow so may see if my doctor is around and see what she says about my long cycle - she may refer me earlier as I've been through it all before.

How are you anyway? Have you had your first cycle since getting the coil out? You are already on Met arn't you, its fab, I hope it works for you quickly.
XXX