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Hi - this thread is a little out of date.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

Hi Attila,

I don't see the point in speaking to the Primary Care Trust, they are bloody useless! They are the ones that set the 'quotas' for treatment. It's not always the GP's fault.

When I had to cancel my first appointment with the gynecologist last month, I was told they have to meet 'quotas' and that I would have to get a refferal. I was trully pissed off!!!!!! I asked a relative who works in the PCT and she said this was quite normal, again because they have to meet their 'bloody quotas'.

DungunGirl - I think your treatment has been completely unfair. You need to change your GP practice ASAP. There are always several within your catchment area. Your GP practice appears to have a underlying problem, perhaps they have received a smack on the hand from your PCT, so they aren't as quick to hand out treatment or referrals. This is what my research has concluded. Good luck sweetie, I am appalled at your treatment......as you can tell from my outburst .

Anyway, Atilla, I have taken your advice and have not taken a private treatment whilst i am here in the US. Instead I have been exercising and eating a low carb diet. As a result I have result 10lbs. And hopefully by the time I get back, I will have lost enough weight that I will get pregnant naturally!!!! Well I can hope can't I, it worked the last time I followed this regimen with my daughter .

Ok must go, time to take care of lots of children.

Moonlit xx

Moonlit, I am glad your weight loss is going well. I really hope your get pregnant naturally.

there are many people out there with PCOS that are the "normal" weight. that aren't receiving the help as well.

get a referral = get a re-referral

I have result 10lbs = I have lost 10lbs

Hi Sars87 - Thank you!

Yes you are totally right. It amazes me how GP's are able to differ in their treatment for PCOS sufferers. Some hand out Clomid without tracking and some make us jump through fire lit hoops to get even the basic check ups. This proves my point, GP's are puppets and the PCT's are the string pullers. I wish their was group out there that could help us get the treatment, when we need it. Also, GP's have not been educated on PCOS, so they don't realise we need a little extra help in the conception department. Bloody plonkers!

Well at the end of the day we want children, so we will do anything . All legal of course.

Dungungirl - I read on another post you are being advised to take clomid that another mumsnetter had sent you. Listen sweetie, I know you are exhausted by your unfair treatment, but please, please, please do not take unprescribed drugs. The risk is not worth it. What if you damaged your body and could never have children again! I know you will get pregnant. You have worked so hard! Don't let all that hard work go to waste.

Ok ladies I am not suffering from PMS today, I thought I would just clarify that .

Hi
Just as I got an appointment to see the endo again we have decided to hang on and not TTC yet!

In last two weeks we have had to get a new mortgage deal which is an increased payment of £40 a month and a £500 fee to organise and our buildings and contents insurance has doubled this year as we were flooded last year. I am working more hours from Sept as DS starts school so we thought we would hang on and try next year as we could do with the extra money for a while from Sept.

But, I saw my GP about 3 weeks ago and she was really helpful and said she would refer me and as I work at the hospital they have squeezed me in.

Now I don't know whether to go to the appt (its not a fertility appt, just endo) and explain that the situation has changed but get some advice about having Metformin next year or shall I just cancel it and ask to be referred again next year?

Or shall I get Metformin now and not TTC so that by next year I am settled on it - it took a year to work last time.

I am so confused now, we were decided that we would try for a baby but if by some miracle I got pg quickly we'd be in a mess financially.

I am not happy with being off the pill but not on Met as my skin is getting bad again - I don't mind bad skin if I am TTC but don't want it if I am not!

What would you do?
Thanks X

Hi Janeandben

Would not cancel it, these appointments can be like gold dust.

I would keep the endocrinologist appointment and get some advice re Metformin.

Janeandben - When I fell pregnant with our 1st DD i was in a great job but the minute i stopped working we really really struggled. With the arrival of DD2 i just couldn't believe the mess we were in and still are. But i love them and would never change what i have. If people honestly sat down and worked out just how much children cost (no matter how much you earn you struggle) no on would have children. There is worst things to come to the door than a baby. x

Hi Guys, I'm new on here. I have PCOS and am set to have lap and dye and ovarian drilling in one week, so angry all the time, just wish I didn't have to have it and could get pregnant. This whole fertility problem has made me have clinical depression , take my feelings out on my Family (Husband and Parents) and I've often wondered if it's worth it. It has taken me so long to get this far-got married late (am 31 now) and had to loose a stone and a half for the "pleasure" of this operation. I am unsure about the benefits as consultant very kindly "warned" me that I will not get any drugs until I loose more weight as it is very "expensive"-I'm so so so exhausted now all the time, both physically and emotionally, I just feel I can't go on like this any more. Am running out of energy to do more exercise to loose weight and have an underactive thyroid with my PCOS. In addition my husband has a mediocre sperm count-morphology was bad, but he needed to have varicocele surgery, which we were told didn't do much by one Consultant and then that it had worked really well by the other one. I hate this situation and get so frustrated-if someone can offer anything on here, I will be beyong grateful. Thanks

GeoGirl - be strong. Thats all i can say to you. If we could sit every doctor in one big room and get them to agree for once then it would be a miracle. try accupuncture, massage, anything at all that will help you relax. I myself took all my anger and frustration out on my husband but then I realised that he to was feeling stressed and upset with the whole thing. We pulled together and i chilled and it worked, i got pregnant. It my sound really daft but it worked for me, I write in a diary nearly every day. I write down all the hurt and pain and anger i feel which really helps me. And my husband can read it if he wants, that way he gets to understand how i am feeling and gives me a hug and just holds me. Which before would have ended up with us shouting at each other. xxx

Thank you sars87, I will try it, writing it down will be hard, I know that. When I cry it's often bitter tears and tears of frustration. I have tried reflexology and massage and it helps for the time I'm having it done, but just doesn't last long. I think my job may also be contributing-I'm starting to resent going for many reasons that are too big to go into here. I am trying to find another job, but I often find that that just adds to all the extra stress (I often think that I just need to get rid of all of this stress or I'll never manage to get pregnant). I am such a negative person and often feel that everything is just going against us, there often just doesn't seem any prospect of happiness for us. How did you just chill considering the great stress subfertility can cause?

GeoGirl. I don't know how i just chilled, but I think i knew deep down that I was going into self destruct mode. My husband nearly left me, he had his bags packed. I was lucky in away that i had a daughter already which i know so many people dont havve but it also caused me great pain because i knew my body could do it and couldn't understand why it wasn't. I can never see a positive in anything aswell. Writing it down is the hardest thing ever but anything is worth a go if it means a baby. Sounds silly as well but buy yourself sexy underwear, and bring the spark back into the relationship and not make it about just baby making. The minute you loose the spark even more stress is added. I think i got to the stage that i spoke to my husband and said if it doesn't happen we could adopt or go for a surrogate and said we'd give it another year tops and if not then we'd go down those routes. We also said we'd not discuss the fact we couldn't have baby as it was discussed every day which just wasn't healthy. that way i just knew if it didn't happen it would still be all ok, it wasn't that i didn't care, but i just learnt to accept the situation i was in and 5 weeks later i was pregnant. i know kno matter what anyone says to you its still so so hard and i really do feel for you but please don't give up.
xxxx

Thanks sars87. I also end up talking about baby stuff constantly-I'm very fortunate as my husband has not packed his bags, luckily and he's great about things. I often feel so guilty after we argued as he tries so hard and I love him to pieces. Thanks again X

nothing to say thank you for GeoGirl, we are all here for each other. I wish you all the best in your journey. It will all work out for the best. xxxx

Geogirl

You have my empathy - I was you ten years ago facing this surgery.

You may want to look at this website as it may also help you in terms of support:-

www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

Have had the surgery you're going to have - please feel free to ask me any questions.

Have they done any drug treatment with regards to the underactive thyroid?. That also needs addressing?.

How do the two of you get on with the cons?. It is vital that the three of you can work as a team and talk openly.

Attila x

SUCCESS!!!!

HI all...I saw the GP the PCOS clinic recommended and he referred me without even blinking.

In fact he was not impressed at all at how the fertility clinic and the other GPs had behaved.

I am so over the moon!!!!!!

Hey DungunGirl

Great news. Glad you have finally found a doctor who knows what he/she is doing

DungunGirl - Hun I am so pleased, you did not take the clomid. I knew something good would happen for you. Well done Mrs. Keep us updated ok.

x

DungunGirl - that is amazing news, I wish you all the luck i can. xxxx

Thanks everyone!

I still can't believe it, I feel this weight suddenly lifted off my shoulders. I m not even stressing about the wait for the appointment.

The GP I saw was so excellent....he gave me advice on extra minerals I should take as I had an MC earlier this year and everything!

Just for everyones info: He said to take (daily)

100 micrograms of Selenium
15mg of Zinc

He also asked me why I would even want to go back to the fertility unit in September as I would probably get better help at the PCOS/Endo Clinic!

I hope it all turns out to be the answer to things!

Oh my appointment is on the 27th August so not long!!!!!

Hi Dungungirl- thats really great results from your appt. Did the guy say if the selenium and zinc was for MC prevention?

One more question, to anyone with PCOS who has been/ is PG- did anyone get hair loss? not loads but enough to make me concerned. If it continues at this rate I wont have much left in 7 mths!

I thought PG was supposed to make your hair shiny

HI GYO

YEAH...The GP suggested them as I had that early miscarriage in March. So he said best keep those two levels up for when manage to get PG again. He also said though that it should help with the PCOS as well as PCOS-ers commonly have problems releasing mature eggs and also have problems maintaining successfully fertilized ones - he said that selenium is good for healthy cell regeneration which is why it would help with cell division in an embryo.

He sounded very informed....I like him....

As for hair loss....I knew someone ( didn't have PCOS ) but she lost LOADS of hair in pregnancy. It all grew back later, but it really bothered her. So maybe it is unfortunately on of your pregnancy symptoms....

I am finding that my PCOS is causing lots of hair loss at the moment. My hair is MUCH less than it used to be. At first I thought it was good as I had TOO much hair. I had a headful and didn't like to let my hair down as it looked like I had a broom no my head...there was masses of it!!!!

Now...I feel self conscious tying it back as the hair on my scalp is much thinner and it looks to me like I am getting thinner patches right at the front part of my hairline.

If this gets any worse I will be really stressed.

My skin is REALLY oily at the moment too...after 1 hour of washing my face, it has already got a thin layer of oil on it, enough to make me shiny!

I hate this.....

Anyway, PCOS clinic on the 27th August....not long....lets hope they can help me out!

Hello ladies

Where is everyone?

I am peeing my pants right now because I think I may be PG! I am not late yet...I am due AF now, but I started getting really sore boobs yesterday which is unlike my normal monthly symptoms.

I tested with a cheapy TESCo own-brand this morning and I got 2 lines...

Second line was faint but DEFINITELY there! And it appeared within 2-3 minutes.

I am going to do a Clearblue digital tomorrow morning to see if that gives the same results.

I am trying not to be excited in case it is a faulty test stick....also I am also scared about miscarrying again...

OMG Dungungirl, I'm here! thats fantastic news!

Might suggest trying the the First responses are the most sensitive apparently- someone on another thread said a clear BFP on that is never a false positve.

So excited for you

Hi GYO

I have one of the clearblue digital sticks left from my last failed attempt...so I am going to use that rather than spend more money....

After all, if it says negative and I still have no AF by the weekend then I will know I have to test again.

Fingers crossed anyway!

DungunGirl,

Fingers are crossed for you. I have had a false positive from a Tesco's brand test before, so definitley take the clear blue test before geting really, really excited!