TTC with suspected PCOS

[NLO94x]

Hey! 💛
I'm in UK and been TTC for over a year, it is hell!!! I've had doctors appointments, scans and blood tests and everything seems to be coming back to PCOS, I have most of the symptoms so it wasn't a surprise! I'm currently on the waiting list for a gynaecologist but have no idea how long I'm going to be waiting, is anyone in a similar position and if so how long did you have to wait? 💛

@NLO94x are you taking anything supplement wise like myo inositol

@MK85 yes taken myo-inositol for this first time this month with vitamin D 💛

How's everyone doing?

I got my referral appointment through today and it's fallen when I'm on holiday, typical!! Back on the waiting list now so hopefully hear something in the next few days! I can't wait now I just want to know what the next step is for us, the unknown is so hard to deal with, I'm presuming they will redo our tests and go from there, anyone able to shed some light on what happens at these first few gynae stages?? 💛

@NLO94x ahh no, I hope they reschedule you quickly! I agree, the waiting around for the next step is unbearable.

I’m not sure what tests you’ve already had done but at my first consultation they wanted to do an transvaginal ultrasound scan, full blood work, with the most important being to check being my AMH levels. My AMH level basically decided my fate and next step! They will also want to get your tubes checked at some point, to make sure no blockages. If there is a blockage, my consultant said we’d need to go straight to IVF.

Hope that helps a little!

@sl7uk I just feel more relief something is finally happening!!

I had all those tests done at the beginning of the year but I'm guessing they may want to redo them themselves.

How are you getting on 💛

@NLO94x

same happened to me - i got bored waiting around then the appointment came as i booked a holiday... typical
i called the department and they got me a cancellation earlier than my offered slot! So call and beg?!

They did internal scans on me as they had all my blood work etc.. so prepare for that even though I was on my period at the time - lovely. lol. height and weight etc was done.

Then they suggested I started Inofolic which I take now - then waitlisted for a laporoscopy ... 8 months wait apparently.. so I am hoping I get that surgery by September/ october :)

@lottieb92 thanks for sharing. What type of surgery is your laporoscopy? And what was the reason they suggested that to you?

Dipping back into this thread! We had our first fertility appointment in April - next one booked for July. We had all our original tests done in 2020 when we had DD1 but this is a new hospital and they want to renew as more than 1yr old. So bloods ordered (although haven't had a period since March so still waiting to do day 2-5 bloods), TV scan done and DH has his semen analysis next week. I might not need to have my tubes checked on account of carrying a pregnancy to term in the past, but they said they will make a decision about that at the next appt. Next appt is July and i'm currently doing the FAST 800 diet to try and get my weight down further as my BMI is currently awful (i basically lost 0kg after having DD).

Plan agreed with the Dr that pending the results of the tests, it will likely be another 3 rounds of letrozole to start with, which i'm happy with. This worked for DD1 and although i'm a couple of years older, hoping we'll have the same success. So DH and i are both focusing on being as healthy as possible in preparation - i'm 37 later this year and so we have agreed we will give it another year and if it doesn't happen, we will be thankful for our DD. But we are not going to go for IVF and OI is as far as we are prepared to go now.

In terms of timelines for anyone interested, i had first GP appt in Nov, referred to our women's clinic for initial scan in Jan, women's clinic referred to me Gynae at end of Jan, letter said it would be a 26week wait but first appt was beginning of April. So not quite as bad as expecting (we are in London).

@sl7uk

so the laparoscopy was suggested I guess because they can root around inside and see what’s going on better!
they’ve said they can check/ flush my tubes / Check for endo (as mum has it) see if they need to remove anything.

And I guess they can do ovarian drilling if they needed as well (I hate the term used for that so much!)

I really didn’t want a surgery, but as we have a child together (7.5 years ago!) they have said this is the end of the NHS line for me post the surgery.

I won’t get any meds either due to my cycles and ovulation being regular. So it’s this then onto IVF.

@lottieb92 So typical! I will call them to see if anything has come up :) I had internal scans done at the end of last year so not sure if they will repeat them, I don't mind either way as long as we're getting somewhere!

@YorkshireTeaCup ooh what is the fast 800 diet? I am so bad at dieting!

@YorkshireTeaCup were due our second fertility appointment next month.
I'll be 38 this year but we have no prior children. Just completed my first month of clomid and successfully ovulated but didn't get pregnant . On CD2 now . Hoping this cycle goes better

@MK85 good luck for cycle two. Great news that you've ovulated though! The first cycle we did with letrozole for DD1, the dose wasnt quite right and it didnt work so at least you know its working.

@NLO94x fast 800 is a diet by Dr. Michael Mosley. He uses it to treat pre-diabetes but because PCOS can also cause insulin resistance, i was recommended it. Its 800 calories a day for 12 weeks + intermittent fasting (i do 16:8). Then after 12 weeks, you switch onto the 5:2 diet to be more sustainable. I started it 4 weeks ago and I've lost 6kg 💪🏻💪🏻 Hoping for another 6kg before my next appt. There is an online progamme to follow and im finding the recipes really easy to stick to. Its a lot of eggs for lunch though! 😅😋

@YorkshireTeaCup I need to lose another 9 pounds by middle of June for my next fertility appointment 🙃 I might give the 800 diet a try

@YorkshireTeaCup i did fast 800 for my wedding - weight fell off it was hard to start then I felt amazing by week 3

i think I’m going to get back on it this week as I wait for surgery, I have about 1 stone to get off and no harm 🤞🏻

There's another thread over on the weight loss board (i think its called Fast 800 anyone?) I'm on it with a different user name but we are doing weekly check ins to try and keep ourselves on it!

@lottieb92 yes the first day i literally thought i was going to pass out 😂 But finding it really good to broadly stick up (im a bit relaxed about it and dont stress to much if i go up to 1000cal for a day for example)

I was diagnosed with PCOS as a teen.

23 - referred for fertility tests which determined ivf was my only option.
28 - ds1 ivf miracle arrived - first go, fresh cycle
32 - MC our darling little frozen transfer at 8 weeks.
37 - ds2 surprised us naturally.

@NLO94x
Hi,
I saw you mentioned you are Manchester based, are you having your treatment at St Mary's?
I am just in the middle of my second ovulation induction cycle there.
I already knew I had PCOS so we asked for a referral before we'd started trying naturally (I hardly ever have periods so know I rarely ovulate).
GP referral sent May 2022, DH gave semen sample in July, my scans/bloods done end of Aug. Finally had our appt end of Feb (and this was with chasing them up in the end!) but basically they said we were good to start on treatment (no issues identified other than my PCOS and I'm within normal BMI) and gave us the prescription meds to take home that day!
The waiting time is really horrible so I really do sympathise, especially when you've already been trying before your referral. But hopefully you will be able to start treatment soon and I hope it works quickly for you 😊

@YorkshireTeaCup I'll take a look at that! I'm not overweight but could do with loosing a couple of pounds!

@Milkand2sugarsplease did you have to wait from 23 to 28 for your IVF or did you have a break in-between?

@SunsetsAndSandwiches I am greater Manchester so my referral will be done through Oldham hospital, how exciting, good luck!! How are you getting on

💛

Thought I'd jump back on here to see how everyone is getting on x

@NLO94x Hello! All good here, currently on my first ever round of Letrozole after my Ovarian Drilling procedure. Had to have ten days of Norethisterone to induce a period as I still haven’t had one in 7-8 months! So we shall see what happens.

How are you getting in?! x

@sl7uk good luck, hope your procedure went okay and you haven't been in too much pain! How are you finding Letrozole? I'm okay thanks, I have my first gynae appointment on Friday so fingers crossed things start moving now x

@NLO94x hello! Hope you’re well, I had some follicle tracking and hycosy recently… tubes clear and defo ovulating on my own, so still no sure reason I am not pregnant yet 🤣😂 I’m giving it two cycles before we start with fertility meds!

@lottieb92 Hey, that's good results! How did you find your hycosy? I've heard mixed reviews on them! Hopefully you get your bfp before that, is that your decision to wait 2 cycles or is that been recommended? X

@NLO94x it was painful 😬but it helped me process and know I was okay to get pregnant naturally, sadly it just hasn’t happened (secondary infertility 7 years so I HAVE been pregnant and carried before!)

hycosy can sometimes increase chances for 3 months so I think by then I’ll be ready to get more help. After 2 years I think it’s time I can’t wait any more 🥲 even though I am crushed to have to do so