Thread 6 PCOS support

[Sunny1984]

Hey girls if I’ve done this right really hope to see you all here!

Wish I was more creative for a title this morning but my brain is mush!

Thank you everyone.
It was actually fine and I passed the clots straight away and now just have normal period style bleeding which I'm thankful for atleast it wasn't to to bad.

Now about to ring up for a progesterone blood test & go from there. Xx

@intrigued2018 Before i started acupuncture i had reflexology for around 3 months, No help for me in terms of fertility however it is so relaxing so i would recommend it. Its horrid when you start symptom spotting! In terms of the CD14 scan i would say internal. my first few clomid cycles were monitored, so i had a scan on CD14 then around CD19 and then 21 day bloods. I moved up from 50mg as the scan showed i had ovulated but my bloods came back as 21 which is classed as no ovulation.

@Alice, glad to hear it went as well as it could x

Hi ladies - I had posted on a new thread about this however I’m posting here again in case there are more of you here for whom this is relevant.

I’ve had pcos for most of my adult life and I’ve had trouble conceiving (5 years ttc) and 2 mmcs. I’ve been through cycles of clomid and letrozole (similar to clomid). Ovulated on all cycles. Conceived on 1 which failed. And now I’ve been referred for laparoscopic ovarian drilling. The nhs doctor I’ve only recently seen recommended this. The private doctor I’ve seen for atleast the last two years didn’t bring this up (though I’ve reason to believe he wasn’t motivated by profit).

The reason to post here is two fold: 1- to ask if anyone here has had this done or is considering having this done. 2- if youre in a similar boat ie pcos/everything else ok/have tried clomid etc and contemplating ivf. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor.

I wish I had known about this sooner.

@Cobblestones I haven't had ovarian drilling done, but I know a fair bit about PCOS (I've been TTC for nearly 2 years and had 1 MC) and came across this in my research. From my understanding, ovarian drilling is done as a second-line treatment (i.e. if drugs failed to induce ovulation) to hopefully help restore ovulation. If you ovulated on all Clomid/Letrozole cycles, ovulation is not a problem, so I don't really understand why he recommended this. Maybe ask him what the reasoning is? Read a few scientific articles / studies about it so you have a better understanding of what it can help with. I would also do some research into the risks, such as adhesions forming and tissue damage. I don't want to scare you, but any surgery has risks. On the cycle you conceived, have they checked your progesterone levels after you ovulated to see if they're high enough to sustain the pregnancy? I know that UK doctors don't really look into progesterone issues, but it's one of the first things they do anywhere else. Would you be able to ask the private doctor you've been seeing for a second opinion? I don't want to sound cynical or ungrateful, but sometimes the NHS try to delay more expensive treatments (i.e. IVF) and string you along by asking you to jump through all sorts of hoops. Sorry if this confuses you even more, but I do recommend reading as much as you can about it. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do next, I know how difficult this infertility journey is.

@looking4hope thanks so much for your views. I’ve been pondering over this and have done more research. I think I was quite excited by the prospect of becoming ‘normal’. For five years this condition has defined my existence and troubles and the prospect of getting rid of it albeit temporarily seemed quite attractive. The reasoning the nhs doctor had given was that if I could ovulate there’s a good chance I would conceive. And also post op I might be able to better sustain a pregnancy. But I don’t know how true this is - given as you said - on meds I did ovulate. Timing has now become a factor ie I just don’t want to delay more certain treatment any longer.

I’m waiting for the private doctor to return from leave so I can get his opinion and will take it from there. Thanks once again.

Hiya,
I've just come off the pill after taking it for aaaaages, and it's been three months and still no sign of my period ( besides the withdrawal bleed). Can I ask how long you guys waited to try and get prescribed Metaformin. I was previously diagnosed with pcos and high levels of testosterone (every girl's dream!) and I just wondered whether you guys had any words of wisdom.
Thanks xx

Hey lovelies,

I hope everyone is well.

I was wondering if anyone could help? I’m currently on cycle 2 of Clomid on 100mg, had a u/s scan on CD14 which showed I had a follicle which was about to rupture! So excited. However, yesterday I started spotting which I heard is normal but overnight this turned to being quite heavy so I have to wear a pad and have really bad cramping that it kept waking me up in the night. Has anyone else experienced this? May call my consultant today xx

cake1987 Welcome and sorry you're here at the same time. I've never taken Metformin and from what the ladies here have recently said, there's no real evidence that it helps. From what I know, it works if you're insulin-resistant (which can be diagnosed with a blood test), otherwise there's no guarantee it can actually help. I think the GP can give you prescription if you want to try it, especially as you haven't had a period. You can get referred to a fertility clinic if you've been TTC for at least a year. No words of wisdom per se, just be patient, don't lose hope and make sure you have a healthy diet. I could go for months with no period, but I lost weight (limited carbs, lots of veggies, very little to no sugar, exercise) and took Inositol, and managed to get a semi-regular period in the last year (35-40 days). I still don't ovulate properly, but I strongly believe you need to be in the best shape before you start fertility treatment if you need it. Hope you won't Any questions, feel free to ask here or PM me.

intrigued2018 I'm on my first Clomid cycle (50mg) and I had a trigger shot this week, but didn't have any bleeding. I know you can have a bit of bleeding when ovulating, but it shouldn't be more than spotting. Do talk to your consultant to make sure it's nothing to worry about. Hope you're feeling okay.

Hi, can I join please?

I went to the GP about my periods as they just wouldn't become regular after stopping the pills. She referred me for a scan and they saw PCOS then. My blood tests also showed I don't seem to be ovulating regularly, although I started my period the next day so that may have been incorrect.

We want to TTC in about two months so I'm glad all of this is being investigated now.

The PCOS is also explaining so many other things and helped me understand my body a bit better.

I think my biggest battle will be my weight, as my BMI is now around 38. I feel really embarrassed by that and I know weight can make pcos worse. So we bought an exercise bike which I will start on asap.

TheOneWithTheBaby welcome! Sorry you're in the PCOS club, but this is a great place to talk to like-minded ladies, ask questions and rant whenever you feel like it It's great you're investigating everything before you TTC. My top advice: start TTC asap as you never know how long it will take to get pregnant. Don't want to sound pessimistic, but you need to prepare for whatever comes. And if you do need medical help (hopefully not!), you need to be TTC for one whole year before you can get referred to a fertility clinic. I started TTC when I was 31 (nearly 33 now) and I really regret not starting earlier.

You can get a period and not ovulate. I've had regular-ish periods in the last year, but blood tests showed I'm not ovulating.

For weight loss, I really recommend HIIT sessions. It's the combination of strength, cardio and abs that does wonders. I tried running (both outside and on a treadmill at home), but HIIT was the only thing that truly helped. That plus a very healthy diet, can provide details if you want. I lost about 1.5 stones in a few months. I've done Jillian Michaels' 30-day shred programme, but there are others. Need to go back to it as I've started fertility treatment and Clomid makes me eat like a maniac

Thanks looking4hope, I spoke with my gynae consultant and he said it could just be due to mid-cycle estrogen crash and shouldn’t last more than 48hrs. Unfortunately it has so think he may now be referring me to fertility, I pay private for everything though as my local NHS pay nothing so may have to wait a little while for that route.

@TheOneWithTheBaby - welcome to this thread and sorry to hear about your recent PCOS diagnosis although upsetting it helps explain a lot of different symptoms. Good luck with the exercise bike, weight does make a big difference hopefully you fall pregnant quickly once ttc. We ended up starting ttc 6months earlier than we initially expected as a result and now 3months after that date. X

Good morning, thank you for your messages.

I'd never really heard of pcos before, so once I researched it some other things fell into place. I actually think my mum might have had it, as she also had irregular periods, weight issues, needed support to ovulate and has diabetes. So interesting!

Looking, I do think we will start asap. I'm 30 now so while I don't feel old, I do feel as if I might run out of time if I need fertility treatment. So I won't procrastinate. we went to Mexico recently and I'm waiting for the all clear Zika virus wise. We're actually paying for a private blood test so that we can start earlier.

I would appreciate some diet advice. Have had a google about pcos and diets and a lot suggested low carb. The hardest thing I find is that I love snacking and have a very sweet tooth. I teach and often feels tressed and tired, so I know I use food as an emotional clutch as well as to keep myself going.
I've done the 30 day shred before but I'm so unfit at the moment, I think I need to start a little bit slower and build up to it.

Thank you Intrigued. I need to make a space for it somewhere and put it up so I can get started. I hope I can use it in the morning while DH is in the shower.

intrigued2018 fingers crossed you get some answers soon. I've had a few instances of mid-cycle bleeding because my hormones are all over the place, but not on this Clomid cycle. Hope you're not in pain. Have they checked that you've actually ovulated? Dr Google suggests that mid-cycle bleeding on Clomid might be a sign of no ovulation. No matter the cause, bleeding between periods should always be investigated. Have you tried pushing with your GP?

TheOneWithTheBaby Changing my diet is probably one of the most difficult changes I've made as I've always had a massive sweet tooth, but so worth it. I feel healthier, have more energy and all my blood test results last October (did an extensive array abroad as they were much cheaper) were absolutely perfect. Carbs and sugar are the worst PCOS enemies, so I have done the following: giving up bread and all sweet treats, including biscuits (with the exception of a few small ones while on holiday); replacing normal pasta with pasta made from lentils for example (more expensive and maybe not as tasty, but full of protein); replacing nasty snacks with nuts (Lidl has bags of mixed nuts - unsalted and cheaper than anywhere else), slices of apple with peanut butter (Whole Earth is probably the healthiest), carrots with hummus or occasionally 1-2 squares of dark choc (70%+); avoiding all shop-bought sauces and dressings; upping my veggie intake (especially greens); cooking meals from scratch (no shortcuts!); giving up bananas (they rise blood sugar extremely quickly, so bad for PCOS) - apples, grapefruit (which apparently also increases CM if eaten before ovulation) and kiwi are much better; reducing my dairy intake significantly, including replacing cow milk with oat milk (Oatly is the best, not full of nasties); have been a vegetarian for over 6 months but reintroduced a bit of meat because I've started fertility treatment and I want to make sure I get enough protein; eating lots of avocado (healthy fats!); having a 'shake' with oat milk, maca powder, good-quality protein powder and cacao powder a few times a week; always having a stash of homemade nut bars in my freezer (can give you the recipe, they're delicious)... I could go on and on Make sure you always (and I mean always!) have some healthy snacks in your bag so you don't feel tempted to go for some shitty ones. Take it step by step, don't try to make all changes at once as you might feel overwhelmed and just give up. If there's anything in particular you want to know, feel free to PM me. I've been on this TTC journey for nearly 2 years and I love connecting with ladies who're going through the same things (it can feel lonely at times!).

@looking4hope that's a really good write up you've just done about your eating habits and I'm sure lots of women will take motivation from that!
I've done exactly all of those things except the shakes. I'm looking into the hemp protein though.

Good luck with your fertility treatment

Thank you for the kind words xLauraa. It's something I'm very passionate about as I've seen how much these small changes can help. Hemp protein sounds like a good choice, I also use a plant-based one.

Whereabouts in your journey are you?

@looking4hope that's alright. It's nice to see some positivity amongst lots of negativity on these threads. It will lift people up as it certainly did me.
That's good to know I'll get researching. I've just tried a vegan, no GMO etc protein sachet and it was ok.

I got diagnosed with PCOS a couple of months ago and currently waiting for a date for a Laparoscopy for possible Endo.
Cycle #6 TTC #1

What about you? X

Looking, wow, such a long list. Thank you so nich for your advice! I do think healthy snacks might be key as i often end up with chocolate and crisps when hungry. Bought lots of fresh melon and fruit which got delivered today so will try to stick to those for the next few days.
Also looking into cutting carbs at least in the pm. I found when I dont eat any for lunch I feel all tired in the pm. Although maybe I'd get used to it?

@TheOneWithTheBaby Sweet Potato is ok as it's Low GI 😊 try that at lunch if you're struggling

Sorry I've gone awol, xLauraa. I was on a short holiday and getting back to work hasn't been fun

I know that no matter how long you've been trying, each passing month is difficult. The good news is that you got diagnosed, that's the first step. Hope the laparoscopy will be okay and will show no issues.

I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago. I've been TTC since September 2016 - lost count of how many times I was absolutely sure I was pregnant... I actually got pregnant in November 2016 (must have been a miracle), but miscarried in January at just over 10 weeks. Nothing happened ever since.

I'm on my first Clomid cycle, about 8-9 days post-ovulation. I had to wait for just over a year (since the miscarriage) for the fertility treatment to start, so it's been a long wait. I'm not too hopeful about this cycle, but trying to be upbeat about the whole thing - easier said than done!

TheOneWithTheBaby, xLauraa made a good point. Search for low GI carbs and avoid white pasta or rice, potatoes etc. I'm the exact opposite, if I have carbs for lunch, a nap under my desk is guaranteed As for snacks, don't rely on fruit only. I was reading a healthy eating book recently (sorry, forgot which one) and the author (a nutritionist) recommended eating one, max two fruit a day.

@looking4hope no worries. Hope you enjoyed your break! Go anywhere nice?

Isn't it just! No matter how long or little time you've been trying, all I know is it gets no easier! Thankyou! I'm hoping that will be the case. They said either way the Lap will help regardless as it may help open the tubes etc.... and stop Ovaries spasming (if that's what may be causing the pain I get too)!

Oh no, sorry to hear about the MC! I can't begin to imagine what that must have been like!
Hope the clomid works! I've heard lots of positive stories about it so fingers crossed eh!!! You're doing everything you can and as you know the best thing to do is stay positive. And yeah it's very much so, easier said than done sometimes!!

That's interesting about the fruit! I've read a book called "the insulin resistant diet" and lots about PCOS diets, and they say about the high and low GI carbs and explain about insulin resistance etc...
It's very very difficulty, mentally mainly, I find. Especially knowing you eat well and exercise and the scale doesn't budge. I wouldn't mind as I don't care for weighing but when they're asking for a certain BMI..... SO FRUSTRATING!!! must admit tho I've just eaten a full cup of Pick & Mis (my downfall) as AF has arrived and I felt very sorry for myself!

www.mypcoskitchen.com/category/all-recipes/

You're allowed to eat anything you want when your period arrives, so don't feel bad. As one of the Hemsley sisters said: we all have treats at some point, the important part is to savour every bit of it and not feel guilty about it! Every time I get my period, I feel like smashing something, so I fully understand how you feel. Maybe I should buy some cheap china to get rid of all that negativity?

What's the waiting time for the lap? Hope you don't have to wait for long. Fingers crossed it also helps with the pain - hope it's not too bad at the moment. I've always had very painful periods, can't even get out of bed sometimes.

I can't go on planned holidays because of the hospital appointments (frequent scans, trigger shot, progesterone blood test) I have each cycle. I can only go on last-minute short breaks - we found a decent deal for Mallorca from Friday until Monday, so we jumped at it because we absolutely love beach holidays and we desperately needed a break. We got married in March, but can't have a honeymoon with all these appointments

After the miscarriage, I read dozens of books about PCOS in order to feel a bit more in control. I've always had a good BMI, but wanted to lose weight to give myself the best chance. I was quite strict with my diet for nearly a year, but it was worth it. HIIT sessions, coupled with this strict diet, helped a lot. I'm more relaxed about it now, but still limit the amount of high GI foods. I'm far from perfect, this weekend I definitely overindulged

Sorry my posts are so long, I'm very chatty

Thank you so much for the link, I'll have a look at the recipes. I'm not great at cooking, but determined to improve my skills. It's a miracle I haven't chopped off one my fingers yet

@xLauraa. I'm finding cutting out sugar REALLY hard :-( I'm not too bad at the beginning of my cycle but at near the end I'm ravenous :-(. I'm glad I got my clomid privately as weight wise I would probably never bloody qualify for it! Have you read about iodine and pcos? I read about it earlier and found it quite interesting.

Hi all

I've had a bit of a break
Saw the fertility nurse this morning and she said that my oestrogen levels didn't get above 250 again and progesterone less than 1 again

Feel deflated as I've now lost two stone which is 10% of my body weight

All they can say is keep losing weight which is fine but it's not comforting atall

Does anyone know of any way I could help to raise my levels?

They won't do anything until my BMI is 30 (currently 37) so it's going to be a long slog

Hope everyone's ok!