TTC with PCOS - anyone care to join me on the (hopefully) short journey? ....

[8rubberduckies]

Hi - I'm not a newbie but have only dipped my toe in the Talk pages a couple of brief times before, and I'm feeling a bit lonely TTC No 2 at the moment. All my friends with children are either up the duff again already or not actively trying.

We conceived DS1, now 20 months old, by accident 4 months after I was diagnosed with PCOS. Sadly, don't think it's going to be so easy this time around, we're actively trying and I have not had a period in 3 months....

First doctors appointment tomorrow and I'm thinking of asking to try out Metformin - any other PCOS sufferers trying to conceive and fancy some support and story-sharing?

By the way, I'm BMI 30 and have heard that I might need to lose weight if I want to try Clomid as well as Metoformin - anyone know if this is right? I just can't seem to shift it... sigh....

Hi,
I totally hear you on not being able to shift BMI --
Reading your post I think it's fabulous that you have DS1 and so I'd say - Be positive, you've done it once you can do it again -- Speak to your doc about your next steps.

I had PCO in December, BMI 31 and starting May was getting my AF every other month so went in to see my doc. They ran Day 5 and Day 21 tests, a scan and checked if my tubes were blocked. The scan and tubes check was inconclusive...so they recommended a laproscopic procedure to 'go take a look'. They combined with Ovarian Drilling (hence the 'had' PCO) Post that miraculously I dropped 4 kilos without doing anything different doc explained it as the result of changing morphology of my ovaries.... first cycle came in 28 days and second followed in 28 days again. My D21 Progesterone test for cycle 2 was 0.3 so doc said ovulation still not happening. He couldn't fathom why because the laproscopic procedure confirmed that everything was healthy except for the ovaries which were then treated. However he also said that in 20% of cases ovaries don't respond -- and he said you're in that bracket. So this cycle he put me 50 mg Clomid and told me to continue TTC and do the D21 Progesterone test [I did that today]. He also warned me to lose weight till BMI 25 because he feels in my case that seems the most plausible reason for ovulation not happening.

I am not sure if any of that helps -- but thought I'd share my path so far.

There's also a PCOS board here that might have answers for you related to Metformin (my specialist said absolute no even though my GP said yes... )

Thanks Womanlytales, I hope everything works out for you. I am a complete newcomer to ttc so some of the stuff you have gone through recently I've never even heard of, such as Ovarian Drilling.

I've always been flummoxed by my weight gain, as I love good food and hardly eat any junk, but the more I am beginning to read about and speak to women with ovary problems over the internet I am beginning to understand that it may not just be down to what I'm eating but also my physiology.

My GP seemed to know less about Metformin than I do today - I really hope that it is right for me. Do you think it's worth insisting I see a specialist even at this early stage?

Yes. A specialist can lay out your options in a more comprehensive manner. However much of the work related to the weight comes down to us. Regular exercise and healthy eating (Low GI and apple cider vinegar is what I am following) -- > sounds simple but the catch with PCO women is that the results take longer to show. Also the impact is not just fertility but also threatens other areas - diabetes and heart disease...so it's a life long journey to healthier patterns.
Ovarian drilling is considered after they typically try medication and other related stuff. In my case because I was due for a laproscopic procedure it made sense to go ahead with OD in that same procedure. So the options vary from person to person.

I was surprised my GP just popped me on Metformin straight away; I was expecting a referral to a specialist, so feel a bit left to dealing with it all on my own really.... hmmmm....

Faced up to the dreaded dieting today though [gulping smiley] and ordered a Low GI diet book off the net. What particular PCOS board were you referring to as well?

I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago after 6 months of TTC. It took me a year to get to consultant & he gave me 6 months of clomid after 6 months worth of preliminary tests to confirm I had PCOS & wasn't ovulating. After 6 months of clomid still nothing has happened. I asked for metformin but he said it wouldn't help (not convinced) and now waited 2 months to be reffered!!!!!

I totally get what you mean about losing weight. I've manged to lose over a stone since forst ttc but even low GI works for a bit. My body almosts loses a couple of pounds then stedies itself for a couple of months before being able to lose weight again! Weight Watchers actually made me put weight on!!!!!

Good luck for you to have a quick ttc!

Fairy - I am wondering if I should go see a dietician but am scared that it'll just frustrate me more. Currently my weight is in a holding period [AF due this wk]. I just feel that there are very few folks who get the PCO condition ..and I would need to find a dietician who gets PCO.

8duckies - Sorry I got mixed up with the boards here and elsewhere. I was referring to a site called soulcysters which is primarily for PCO women -- they have tons of different boards on all the different phases of PCO women.

My current weight goal is to drop 5 kilos [almost a stone]: God give me strength. LOL

Dieticians aren't the best people to see. Both my niece & mum have food allergies & have been told to test food & see if you react. My mum is also overweight & when she asked the dietician for help she said she can't tell my mum what to eat & what not to!!!! Another dietician told my sister that she was doing well with controlling my niece's allergy so therefore what help could she give!

There are some that do the right thing. My friend is a coeliac (hope i spelt that right) and her dietician gave her menu's & books to help her buy and make the correct food.

maybe it all depends of your allergy/intolerance. So far low GI seems to be the way to go but I think it's something thats long term . Life is pretty much unfair!!!!

Verity is an org in UK dedicated to PCOS, they have good forum for PCOS TTC. I used it loads. and they have loads of good advice on there.
I went on Metformin for a few years when TTC which did regulate my cycles but some people really dont get on with it and the side effects can be pretty grim for some. Some people find it really helps with losing weight if you have PCOS if you follow a good eating/exercise plan (with diet I did lose weight). Getting BMI down is important and I found Low GI and exercise best way. Even just getting fit without losing a lot of weight can really help. Good luck!

I will check out Soulcysters, sounds good...

Fairy... my weight has gone up and down depending on whether I'm having AF or not, and seems to steady itself aound the BMI30 mark, unless I exercise like a demon , so I know your pain!

Maybe you should try getting a second opinion about Metformin, one thing my GP told me was that 46% of women who take it find their cycle regulates (no idea on timescales though)

Themonkey... Verity is on my list too!

Thank you for advice.

PCOS for Dummies is a very good book. Nice recipes in there too.