Trying to lose weight and PCOS? Fancy a diet 'buddy'?

[510fudge]

Hello all

I am trying for baby #2 - no.1 was conceived when I was using metformin and took a lot less time than I thought (5 months). This time around it's proving much harder and we've been trying for nearly a year now. I've got an appointment at a specialist clinic in a couple of weeks, and I know one of the things they will say is to lose weight- but I find it incredibly hard to lose even a small amount of weight, especially with a tall skinny husband who loves sweet stuff and glasses of wine at the weekend ...!

I was wondering whether there were any ladies out there in the same boat as me and would like to join a weekly weigh-in and offer each other support and advice?

xxx

yes! I'm in pretty much the same position (PCO not PCOS though) feeing shit about ttc atm & totally unmotivated, would love a buddy (eats last biscuit).

I don't have PCOS but I am trying to lose weight and on cycle 12 trying to conceive number 1. Am trying weightwatchers but have fallen off the wagon and need a kick back on it. Having the basic fertility blood tests at the moment and I know my weight is an issue.

on metformin and clomid. The weight is coming off surely but slowly. it took a while for it to get use to but now it works.
Got pcos and the dr's seems to think it's a weight issue??? on cycle 4 test friday????

Me! I have pcos and am size 20. Diet starts tomorrow (was going to be today but, um, chocolate bar saw for that).
As we're all anonymous how about a weekly weigh -in where we post our weight and how much gained/lost? Anyone up for that? I prefer kilograms and stones depress me.

Hurray- sounds like a good start. I'll be here next week to weigh in!

BTW what's the difference between PCO and PCOS? I thought it was all the same?!

I ovulate normally (although sometimes a bit late) despite cystic ovaries and my LH is normal although higher than my FSH - I don't meet the diagnosic criteria of PCOS. I've used metformin in the past, helped me lose a lot of weight but it was prescribed by my private gynae, neither my GP nor miscarriage dr will prescribe it because I already ovulate & don't have impaired glucose tolerance. Very frustrating.

I prefer kg too! I'd like to lose 25kg in an ideal world but would be happy with 15kg.

sadminster,

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently.

If LH is higher than FSH this is actually one diagnostic indicator of PCOS. Many PCOSers produce too much LH and not enough FSH. Also these two hormones need to be compared; they should never be looked at as separate items.

If it was prescribed by your private gynae in the past to good effect why aren't the others now prescribing it. How do they know you are actually ovulating?.

okay, well I weighed myself last night and was shocked I have put on 20kg in last two years!! I knew I'd put weight on but not that much.

I was, unbelievably, 115.8kg.

So am going to aim to get below 100kg.

Diet starts today with breakfast of strawberries and yoghurt and lunch of soup.

Am going to give up alcohol and try to eat low carb.

Anyone else?

I'll join you. I started metformin 4 months ago and have lost just over two stone. I still have another couple of stone to lose though and it is getting hard. I might see if GP will increase metformin dose.
Does anyone know if this will help?

My mc doctor (NHS consultant gynaecologist who produces piles of 'evidence' to support her position everytime I try to challenge her) assures me that LH levels are no longer taken into consideration when diagnosing PCOS, my last FSH/LH levels were 4 & 8 - so LH is double FSH but still 'low'. The disgnostic criteria are now only cystic ovaries with anovulation. Everything else - weight gain, facial hair, insulin intolerance etc - is irrelevant to the diagnosis No metformin because I don't have PCOS, can't afford to go back to dr who actually treats me rather than piles of test results IYKWIM.

How do they know I'm ovulating? Repeated cycle monitoring. LH is low enough that I have a typical surge seen with OPKs & the progesterone levels tested 8 or 9 days after the +ve OPK indicate ovulation (>30). I've conceived twice in the last 2 years - one live birth, one second trimester miscarriage.

Lubyloo what dose are you on? I started at 1000mg/day and increased slowly to 2000mg (the extended release version which cuts down on nasty side effects).

How do I know if I have pco or pcos? I have periods every month and do ovulate (they did the 21 day test). A scan showed cysts on one ovary. I have the hairiness and the weight problem.

hi all not going on the diet but also have PCOS personally I think endocrinologists know more about the syndrome than gynaecologists

also have a look at syndromeX

some diet advice there, best of luck

I just looked out the paper work I was given at my last appointment.

Polycystic ovaries are diagnosed if there are '12 or more follicles on the ovaries'

It goes on to say 'some women with polycystic ovaries ovulate and some do not'

Then 'If you have monthly periods polyystic ovaries probably aren't causing your infertility'

and 'You have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome if you have:

• polycystic ovaries on ultrasound scan
• anovulation (or very infrequent ovulation)
• raised levels of testosterone, which may cause excess facial hair and acne'

sfxmum thanks, I'll have a look.

Sadminster - I am on 1000mg a day (prolonged release ones too) I think I will see if I can find any info about recommended dosage for PCOS and see GP. I thought it was a wonder drug when I started taking it but it seems to have stopped working! I found it really controlled the intense sugar cravings I get.

those cravings are really hard to deal with, I find it best to avoid refined sugar s as much as possible or otherwise understanding that when I do eat cake I will want more and more
I think the psychological effects of PCOS are often discounted and they are vital, hormones really mess with your head

Saminster - I saw GP today and he very relunctantly agreed to me increasing my dose to 1500mg. I am on the extended release version like you. He has told me to take one tablet in the morning and two before dinner as the doses need to be 12 hours apart. Is this the way you take your or do you just take a tablet before each meal?

Well since beginning of this thread I have lost 4kg (9 pounds). Yay! Am determined to keep this up and get down to 100kg (first target) and (90kg) second target. 100kg by Christmas would be achievable I reckon.

Well done Yellowflowers - that's a pound a day! Any tips?

I haven't lost any weight this week. I haven't lost any for nearly two months now. However the good news is I haven't gained either!

I've given up bread and casual drinking and joined weightwatchers online. Am spurred on by knowledge that for fertility treatment you need body mass index of 35 or less, and my doctor today said if no pregnancy by Christmas then he'll start running all the tests on me.