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Hi - this thread is a little out of date.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

Attila - thanks for explaining that. I'm in quite a different situation from the one you were in because my blood levels were all fine and - prompted by your good self - I asked my gp to compare the LH and FSH levels and he said they were fine. He had them up on the computer screen and I watched him put his finger on one number then the other. I don't know what they were tho. The only level that was off was I had very slightly too high a level of testosterone.

I'm now waiting for Monday when I've got a blood test to see if I have ovulated. After that I ha2ve to wait 2 weeks for the results - they only take 1 week but my specialist is on holiday! How dare she take a holiday when my treatment is at stake!? I don't know what will happen if I haven't ovulated but I will definitely be asking about alternatives.

Morning ladies

Was wondering before being put on clomid/metformin etc etc whether anyone found that taking Vitamins helped at all.

I have been taking Vitamin B complex, Vitamin B6 and Folic acid all together for the last month and a half and I swear that one or two of my symptoms are a little better.

My spots/acne that I was getting has really calmed down, so instead of full blown acne type spots I am just getting little white head spots just before my period.

My mid-cycle pain is also much better.

Has anyone else found this?

Hi DG I take B6 and Pregnacare but not sure if it has made any difference. I've been taking them for 6.5 months and spots only just fading. Which I think is due to my improved diet. I take B6 cos it's supposed to be good for the old metabolism

Tigerschick how annoying your specialist is on holiday - how rude

Hi girls,

Been a bit quite in here this weekend. I'm feeling really crap. Hopefully a sign AF's on her way. Just feel completely useless as a woman, can't get pg and when I did I couldnt even BF. IT's just sh*t really. I need a hormone/endocrine system transplant

[violins playing quietly in the background]

Hi Fruitloop. I couldn't BF either! DD was 5 weeks early and wouldn't suck so my milk wasn't stimulated. I know there are people who say that there is always a way but she lost 17.5% of her birth weight in the first 3 days - there was no way I was going to stop her from getting nutritian after that!
Got my blood test at 11.45 today - won't get the results for a fortnight but at least it's something!
I've been really grouchy all weekend. Had a massive row with DH yesterday when he accused me of biting his head off everytime he opened his mouth . I don't normally get hormonal but, when I do, I get grumpy. Goodness knows what it is an indication of - if anything!
Hope you are feeling a little brighter soon - I know it's hard tho.

Hi tigerschick yeah, (my not-so dearest)DP keeps biting my head off. I was so upset last night feeling like my womanhoods been robbed cos I couldnt give birth normally (had to have c-section), couldn't breast feed and now I can't even seem to manage to conceive (wa wa wa) and this morning he told me that washing-up (which I asked him to do for the first time in ages) is my job and that because I don't have a 'boss' I don't get motivated! , I'm a Childminder FFS! I dont stop all day! I feel like he's just kicking me while I'm down Sometimes I think I actually hate him
I can't wait to snap out of this (what I hope is) PMS!
Well I think Attila was right about those OPKs, I got my so-called +ve one 21 days ago - That can't be right can it? I would've had AF by now surely?
Let us know what the blood test results are, I hope you have ov'ed, what CD are you on now?

Hi ladies,

It must be something in the air. I was complete cow to my husband yesterday all day and he didn't deserve it. When you are trying to conceive it gets very stressful. We might not notice it but other people do. I was lucky last time with my DD getting pregnant at our first attempt , and as it's not happening so easily this time. SoI am complete cow all the time as each month it's 'aren't you' or 'are you' pregnant. It can drive you mad!

I went to a wedding yesterday and stuffed my face. But the weight is still coming off, must be my new Davina DVDs .

x

Hi

It must be something in the air, like you say, Moonlit!
DH told me I'd been sniping at him all weekend when I really don't remember saying anything. He went out for a walk with DD and came home all emotional and saying that it was all his fault etc. Bless him, he gets as wound up as me about all this ttc lark!
Fruitloop - I'm on CD24 but my specialist thinks I would have ovulated last Monday so I had 21 day bloods today. I'll get the results in a fortnight. If I did ovulate then I should start my period before then. If I don't start my period then I'm not doing a HPT until I know for sure whether I ovulated or not. I know it will mean waiting a few more days but it's not worth wasting a test over as I'm very far from convinced that I ovulated.
Moonlit - hope you enjoyed the wedding. A perfect excuse to forget about the diet

Just a query (gonna ask temping buddies too)....

Right, no temp shift (but only started temping a week or so ago and well aware temping could be a waste of time), but just went exploring blush(TMI ALERT!) cervix high, soft and open (I think) and lots of EWCM but it's not clear like egg white it's white with the odd see through streak. Any one think it's possible to still ov on CD58????? I've had this before during this cycle. I don't know if it's the PCOS winding me up or not I can't do an OPK (which I know also could be a waste of time)cos I've just been to loo so too late. Any one any clue?

Hi ladies

Well...it is as good as confirmed. I am joining the PCO club. They haven't confirmed if it is rather PCOS than PCO...but they keep saying 'with PCOS...' so I am assuming...

I also had a real blow yesterday and really need some support...

Had my second internal scan - day 18 of my cycle and my follicles had only grown to 9.6 max. Way off the 20mm needed for ovulation. My cycles are no longer than 32 days, so fertility clinic nurse pretty much confirmed for this cycle at least that I would not ovulate.

This I could accept as I thought....never mind come the 19th march and I get my appointment with the doctor, I will get clomid.

Here comes the blow.

Nurse then turns to me and says that the hospital will not treat anyone with a BMI over 35. My heart sank...

My BMi is about 36 and losing weight is a continues struggle....

It was worse when she then said with a smile that it is a double edged sword for ladies with PCOS as my body is actually doing the opposite!

I felt like the last 3 months and the 1 stone I have worked so hard to lose was worth nothing. That she turned around and slapped me in the face as I hadn't lost the extra half stone more needed.

I was ok all day yesterday as I was busy from 7 am stright through to 9pm.

It all started to hit come bed time...I started to feel really depressed.

This morning I felt physically ill and am an emotional wreck. I cried almost all morning and couldn't get myself into work. I then slept on and off curled up under the duvet in my dark bedroom until midday.

I am feeling so depressed ...I have never felt this low. I really think I am experiencing depression. I don;t care about going to work and just want to sit in my pyjamas under the blanket.

I really need to snap out of this...as I know that the next problem will be my DH will give me a horrible time if my weight is the reason that the doctor won't help us on the 19th.

I am really feeling down...never in my life have I felt like this....

My BMi is about 36 and losing weight is a continues struggle....

It was worse when she then said with a smile that it is a double edged sword for ladies with PCOS as my body is actually doing the opposite!

I felt like the last 3 months and the 1 stone I have worked so hard to lose was worth nothing. That she turned around and slapped me in the face as I hadn't lost the extra half stone more needed.

Dungangirl

((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

I think you've done bloody well actually to lose that amount of weight.

That nurse was helpful NOT. I would see if they can do a test to see if you are insulin resistant. Some PCOSers are so this ought to be tested for. Metformin in this regard may well be beneficial - has anyone spoken to you about taking this?. You need also to be seeing a specialist gynae or endocrinologist.

Verity are also very good - would look at their website too - www.verity-pcos.org.uk if you haven't already done so.

fruitloop

I think the PCOS is mucking you about again.
Cycles of over 35 days are less likely to be anovulatory.

That shouls instead read

Cycles of over 35 days are MORE likely to be anovulatory.

I can sympathise with the PCOS diagnosis, I found out about two weeks ago and sunk straight into a miserable mess. It took me a couple of days to snap out of it and I just felt pure anger and rage. Now I go through good days and bad days, at the moment I feel crappy and feeling very sorry for myself so we can be in this together

Im fortunate that I don't really have any weight to lose but my cycles are (so far) anything from 35-88 days long (Last was 88 days, I'm on CD58 now).
How have you managed to lose your weight so far? Are you with a slimming club? or just healthy eating (ie, GI)?
I was with Slimming world for a few months but I only lost 1/2 a stone. It's much quicker to lose the weight when you're bigger. My friend lost a stone in the few weeks it took me to lose 1/2. Lot's of other success stories at the club too. Only prob is they don't really teach healthy eating, they even say you can have processed food like pasta'n sauce and their sugary cereal bars .
If it works then fab but I find GI is very good for making me feel healthy as well as energetic and I even lose a few pounds and feel much less bloated. It's apparently the best thing for PCOS.

Also depression is a symptom of PCOS, please just go outside and look up at the sky - it really helps when feeling down.

Please don't despair . I must have had PCOS all my life and I've still got a 2.5 yr old healthy (but very cheeky) DS

Attila I thought as much , It's just so easy to get hopeful isnt it. I know this is why you warn us all against all these ov methods.
I just want AF to arrive so I can start again with my next cycle [grrrrrrrrr]

So far I haven't been given any solid suggestions of where we may go from here.

I feel like i am banging my head against the wall!

When the nurse commented about weight - she then said they could send me over to see a dietician who could help.

I then said to her well then get me an appointment now/this week and so that I can work on it before the 19th.

Nurse comment: Oh I can't refer you...only the doctor can. So he will on the 19th.

So...I get to waste one more month to probably be told that I need to lose a bit more weight and to come back once I have! I can't face that.

Fruitloop - I have started jogging twice a week, yoga once a week and doing 15 minutes stepper every other evening.

I have also cut my dinner portion in half and also am trying to be as low GI as possible.

On top of all this....I get up at 6am every morning, do a 1.5hour train commute to work - so total of 3 hours a day! AND get home at 6pm with 3yr DS who then needs to be bathed, DH who needs to be fed dinner and then bedtime sorted.

I am running myself into the ground and this news was the last straw.

Talking of weight issues, I have just made the most delicious (but not gooey enough) Flapjacks courtesy of the low GL cookbook. I discovered Agave syrup at Sainsburys and I am now hooked! It's very low GI and sweeter than honey too . So I put in this Agave syrup stuff, Fruit sugar (lower GI than regular sugar), ground almonds, loads of giant porridge oats and large dollop of olive oil spread. A very healthy and low GI way of making flapjacks, I just cant believe they're healthy! I'm just trying to stick to just one though
I really am loving this GL/GI diet

I have decided that if fertility unit won;t perscribe anything on the 19th I am willing to take the risk and buy online.

My sanity and my marriage is at stake.

Oh Dungungirl Don't cut your portions in half! just trade in your white carbs for wholegrain. Maybe have a little less than you would and add more lean protein. You don't have to starve yourself!
Have you got a good GI/GL cookbook?

Fruitloop

Yeah...everything is wholegrain for me these days!
So got that bit covered.

Oh and I always but lean mince beef and we only eat chicken breast.

I think I am doing as much as I can.

Also I don't allow myself to make cakes/sweet treats.

Like Attila says, Metformin is supposed to be great for weight loss.
Oh, this'll make you lot laugh........ A month or two ago, before I found out about my PCOS, I actually expected to be able to time intercourse so we get a girl this time around! I even bought the Shettles book! Ha ha ha. How naive was I? he he. It just all sounded so easy and I assumed, as I already have a DS, that it would be relatively quick. Shall I have a burning ritual? I think that book would look good in a fire

Hi everyone, sorry to butt in but I thought I would tell you my story as someone might find it useful/encouraging. I was diagnosed with PCOS, often going for 6 months+ without a period and a high BMI. I have 2 children (6 years and 2). The 1st took well over a year to conceive and I found out I was pregnant on the day of my appointment to see a fertility specialist! The second time round I decided it would be more helpful if my periods were more regular and I started acupuncture treatments. Amazingly within 6 months I had regular (ish) periods - every 4-6 weeks. I had just changed jobs and wanted to wait until I qualified for maternity leave before starting to try for number 2. In the end I qualified by 24 hours as we conceived literally on the first attempt!!

Hi Dungirl I totally understand. I have lost a stone and a half now since November with the help of Metformin. My GP has also told me I will not be able to get any further treatment on the NHS until I have lost 2.5 stone. I understand where she is coming from. You see if we don't loose the weight before we get pregnant it can cause other problems during pregnancy such as preeclampsia gestational diabetes etc.

It sounds like you are working really hard. So don't give up. You are doing really well! Besides it's up to the consultant/doctor to decide what your treatment will be and not the job of a nurse (don't get me wrong I love nurses, my mum was one ). Be positive for the 19th and it will work out. Good luck!

x

Thanks for the support and encouragement everyone.
And the stories are really uplifting.

(((Moonlit))) You are right, I got upset too quickly over what the nurse said whereas in fact it is the doctor who makes me decisions. At least you got given Metformin to help with the weight though!! My first appointment with the fertility doc is on the 19th so I am struggling with this weight loss jsut through blood, sweat and tears.

I weighed this morning and I was so pleased that I shed another 2 pounds!!!

Going to go and join the gym this lunch time and burn somemore fat.