PCOS

[DawnK77]

Hi all.

I am relatively new to all this! I have PCOS, and quite a large cyst on one ovary that the docs are leaving for now. NHS are taking a while with my referral, We went to a private clinic recently who told me I will qualify for NHS funded treatment so to save our money for now. So we are waiting for the first appointment still (this week I will be back on stalking the hospital as they lost the referral last month then found it but no app yet) Just a couple of questions, I have been put on metformin before, currently on the tablets (I can't remember the name) to force a period as I haven't had one for 5 months now. When you go to the first app, is getting a prescription for Clomid dependant on weight? I could do with loosing about one stone. I'm 31, used to be able to loose weight quickly, now I'm really struggling, is this the PCOS? Does anyone with PCOS have any good diet tips? Google is saying low carb would be better.... and I think I should stop inhaling chocolate !!

[Hedgehuggy]

I don't know the answer to this, sorry, but I am looking to follow the post as I am also looking for the same information about clomid.

I'm currently on metformin, have lost 10lbs scince January. I know clomid is my next possible option but I have a feeling it's going to be put on hold until I can loose quite a bit of weight :( DRs appt next week so will just have to see what they say.

I have heard low carb is good, and a lot of people swear by the slimming world diet. I've just been cutting out the bad food and eating more fruits and veg, as well as cutting out fizzy drinks & alcohol and drinking more water. It just doesnt seem to be coming off as quick as I would hope :(

[physicskate]

Generally treatment on the nhs requires a bmi below 30. The requirement for clomid might allow a little more wiggle room, but will depend on your consultant. The nhs is less willing to help women who will be high risk because of obesity in pregnancy...

Nothing on the nhs is fast. I first saw my fertility clinic (not just gp) last July. Did 6 months of clomid which caused a fibroid to materialise, so I'm pissed about that. Now preparing for ivf in may/June.

[DawnK77]

Well done on the 10 pounds Hedgehuggy! I have re started again today, hopefully can loose a few pounds at least before I get an appointment.... mother in law just dropped an Easter egg off... am doomed!

[DawnK77]

Thanks for the info PhysicKate, I'll google BMI and work it out!
Yes your right! Does all seem the be quite slow! That's why I thought I would try private, at least the consultant wasn't a money grabber and she did say I need to try NHS first.

[Motherhood123]

Hi all
Sorry to gate crash here but i am also in the same position as you guys.

So our story is that i was on the pill from october 2015 to january 2017 and have been trying to conceive since then. When i came of the pill i didn't have a period till i was given metformin 500mg x1/day in November 2017 then in december 2017 i got my first period after 11 months! At this time i was also referred to the fertillity clinic at salford royal hospital for February 14th 2018.

At my first appointment the consultant basically told me to loose 7kg in 8 weeks and increased metformin to 500mg x2/day. I have only lost 5kg so far. I was 89kg now i am 81kg and my height is 5.5ft so my bmi is 30 wih the help of low carb low sugar diet and excersise aswell as metformin.
We have done blood at cd2 and cd 21 although i dont know the results yet. I have done a scan which shows signs of pcos and my husband has done SA which came back normal.

I'm worried that at our next appointment which is on april 18th, he will just brush us off and tell me to loose more weight even though my bmi is 30 now. Im hoping to shift few more pounds in next 2 weeks and bmi will be 29.

Do you guys think he will give me clomid or even hycosy. Either way i don't want leave without moving on in the process. Its taken too long as it is.

What do you guys think?

[Motherhood123]

Dont know how to edit the post above but just to clarify i was 86kg in feb 2018 not 89kg.

[Hedgehuggy]

I dont know the answer to this motherhood, but it sounds like you are a little ahead of me on your journey. I am currently 97kg with an appt with GP next week after 6 months of metformin. I have a feeling everything is going to be put on hold until I lose this weight, it's so hard :(

Please let me know how you get on.

[DawnK77]

Hi all, Little update from me: the hospital had lost my referral and rang me Wednesday to go in for appointment Friday. Didn't give me Metformin, got to have this fake period, (stopped the tablets for this on Thursday and still no period, not sure how long it is meant to take?!) then have some swabs then another fake period, then check the tubes, other half has to have the sperm test, then they will decide whether to give me Clomid or first remove Dermoid cyst I have on ovary in case the Clomid makes it grow. I had a really nice informative doctor... I was impressed as last appointment was one who didn't seem to like people or his job!! But this was enthusiastic, I didn't really need to ask any questions as she kept giving more and more info!

[reneefrancesca]

Good luck everyone I have just been told I have PCOS and told to loss weight and go back in June to start treatment ( tablets didn't say name) if still no period. I come off the pill in November 2017 and a withdrawal bleed and nothing els at all.

[Hedgehuggy]

oh

[Motherhood123]

Does anyone know if the gynea will give clomid to patients with bmi of 30 or does bmi have to be below 30 to start clomid? Im on 30 at the moment im wondering if i should loose bit more weight to get it to 29 so the gynea has no excuses to not put me on clomid.

[Motherhood123]

Hi dawnk77 did you take the provera tablets? If so they usually take 6-10days for a bleed to occur. Mine took 8 days and they asked me to come in for cd2 and cd21 blood test. Also with provera i got 2 periods in march and april. Not sure if its the same with everyone.

[DawnK77]

Morning Motherhood.
My BMI was 28 and no mention of anything to do with weight but I am still on the diet as I can go up very easily.
Yes they are the tablets, took 4 days for period to start then I had to do the day 2 bloods this Tuesday, but the doctor said not to bother with day 21 as they already know I'm not ovulating. Really heavy period on these I've never had one like this before I can't wait for it to be done with!

[Cammy30]

Hi Ladies

Hoping some of you experienced women can help a mind boggled youngster like me!

My story (I'll keep it short)

-had a little endo; tubes fine > got operation to laser ovaries etc and mirena coil inserted
-coil out in Jan 2018 and normal periods but follow up appointment shows lots of follicles on both ovaries
-no other PCOS symptoms so doc says only maybe PCOS and to come back in Sept if not pregnant
-I'm young (27) and very fit and healthy

TTC #1 and would love some advice.

What are chances I can get pregnant naturally? Is there anything I can do to help me do so?

Thanks in ad advance for any help, appreciate it more than you know.

C xo

[physicskate]

I have polycystic ovaries but not pcos (my consultant told me he knows this because I don't 'look like I have pcos). It's not meant to stop you getting pregnant, but I've been ttc for two years now...

You're lucky that someone seems willing to help you. It took me a year and a half to get anyone to listen to me...

[allthatmalarkey]

Physicskate not sure that makes senses the term polycystic ovaries is apparently wrong, but PCOS is a real condition. I had it and my first clinic did not diagnose for nearly three years because they were crap. My amazing consultant diagnosed based on old clinic's own test results at first consultation. However, watching her train someone else I realise how expert and thorough she was. I'm going to have to cut and run but I will try to get back to this thread later. You may or may not like to hear that this is because it's is DC1's birthday. I didn't look fat or hairy enough basically, but I'm tall and hide it well and I'm fair. I will try to come back later and answer some of these if I can but long story short 4 years of ops, clinic, IUI and 3 rounds of IVF and I'm now a parent.

[xLauraa]

@Cammy30 I'm in a very similar boat to you! Minus the endo (I think at the moment 🤞🏼)

There's still a chance you can conceive naturally there's no doubt about that. As my GP said it's just harder for us than anyone without PCOS. As Ovulation still happens, it just won't be as often!
Stay positive and keep trying! 💕

[xLauraa]

@DawnK77
Re Diet; try not to follow FAD Diets as they're not good for the body. Low carb is a good option, but this doesn't mean you can't have carbs. Chose LOW GI carbs (such as sweet potato, whole meal/seeded bread....over white potato, white bread, white rice etc...) Eat plenty of Protein and leafy greens. I also read that limiting dairy can help. Can not confirm this as I love cheese and full fat yogurt too much 🙊

[bobstersmum]

Op I was diagnosed after ultrasound with pcos and had trouble conceiving for 7 years, we were not entitled to free treatment as dh has a daughter. I asked gp about metformin and he let me try it. I had already lost three stones at this point but doing slim fast and walking lots. I had tried all other diets and failed miserably. Slim fast isn't ideal long term but to get to a weight goal it can be good. I lost another half stone when I started metformin which I couldn't shift otherwise. This is going back almost 6 years and I have 3 children now I still have to pinch myself sometimes! I am almost 37.
When I was pregnant with my daughter who is almost 1, I asked at the ultrasound if my ovaries looked OK and the lady who scanned me said she couldn't see any sign of pcos. I has conceived her without trying and without using metformin, which I had been on when I conceived my two boys.
I honestly think metformin helps, but I think weight loss helps just as much if not more. I wish you the best of luck!

[Hesburger]

I was offered clomid at my first fertility appt but the dr said that it would be more likely to work with weight loss. So we made an appt for 4 months later for a better chance - in that time I lost about a stone and a half. We conceived on our third go once the dose had gone up to 100mg.

I know it's hard to lose weight but the book recommended low gi/low sugar diet and that really worked for me. Apparently it's a precursor for Type 2 diabetes. Did it again after dc1 was born and currently on mat leave with dc2. I also took up running through the c25k, running regularly at park run.

The other thing I read somewhere was to avoid sugar after ovulation as it can hamper implantation. Coincidentally the first time I did that second time round we conceived.

I know these might not work for everyone but worth a go? My BMI was around 29 both times.

Good luck

[Hesburger]

Sorry should add we didn't need clomid second time around.

[Cammy30]

@xLauraa thank you Laura! It's funny how you automatically feel better just from hearing from someone in your position isn't it? My AF was due today but no sign yet (but I got a steroid injection for my hip 2months ago which through out my last cycle so I might be 5weeks instead of 4 again).

Have you or anyone else heard of anyone getting ovarian cysts after a cortisone injection? My over googling self is wondering if the follicles were a one off as when I've had my follow up scans post endo op I never had any?

Maybe just wishful thinking 😇😇

C xx

[allthatmalarkey]

Physicskate if you're still around, what worries me is that my first clinic diagnosed me as perimenopausal and gave me twice the regular dose of stimulants on my first cycle of IVF. They overroode their own protocol and continued with this despite me producing tons of follicles and I went ahead to egg collection, then they had to decide I had ovarian hysperstimulation syndrome and they couldn't put back the masses of embryos conceived. Five days later I was sitting in a hospital bed being admitted because I was so ill. It calmed down enough for them to send me home, but I've since learnt someone died from OHSS at that clinic. The consultant at my second clinic looked at the first clinic's test results and immediately saw what they missed - that another part of my blood tests indicated PCOS instead. I'm fair and I'm tall so my weight and hirsute was aren't as obvious as they might be. She started me in HALF the dose of stimulants and I still responded very close to the wire. We were NHS at that point but went back privately and had the same recipe for DC2. Since the OHSS I still swell up for weeks when I grow follicles. If there's any way, please get a second opinion as your treatment would be the polar opposite.

[physicskate]

Thanks for the malarkey! I'm only 34 and my mum started menopause at 54. They already think I might over respond so I'm on short protocol. So I don't think it's perimenopause yet. My grandmother had my mother at 44 and then my uncle a year later!!

I think they're being cautious with me more than anything. But I will try to be more forceful next round (not getting my hopes up about round 1).

I'm always here!!! I'm unemployed and desperate - where else would I be?!