anyone got pregnant after ovarian drilling?

[SarahLou372]

Hi ladies

Can I just ask what ovarian drilling is please? I have heard about it but what exactly is it? Is it scary and do you have to be put sleep? Does everyone with PCOS need to have it before they can have treatment such as clomid?? It really scares me...

I have PCOS and don't have af on my own and don't ovulate either. Im nervous because I have just come off the pill and we are wtt in May 2014. I have had metformin before and this helped me lose weight and my af's returned naturally my cycle days lengths were 29-35 days while on were on this. Is it possible I wont need anything else. And with me having natural and somewhat shorter cycles is it possible I would be ovulating on this?

I have the doctors tomorrow and hoping to get metformin again and hopefully a referral to Gynaecology again. Im nervous as Im scared they will want to do ovarian drilling and lap & dye test before they can help me.. I heard they not so nice things to have

 

[Kyla]

Thanks Tella! He's is growing so fast! I wish you well for this cycle, really can't wait to hear some good news

Thanks Cridge

SarahLou - Ovarian Drilling is a keyhole operation performed under general anaesthetic, usually but not always at the same time as a lap and dye test. PCOS forms multiple cysts and a thick capsule around the ovaries and this makes it difficult for a follicle to rupture and an egg to pass through. The procedure sounds a lot more scary than it actually is. The surgeon inflates the tummy area with gas, and uses a camera to have a look at the ovaries. The 'drilling' part refers to tiny holes being cauterized/burnt onto the ovary, they discovered that in damaging the thick capsule in this way, it often causes the hormones produced by the ovaries to act normally and start ovulation again. Ovarian Drilling has an 80% success rate for ovulation and a 50% success rate for pregnancy in the first 12 months surgery. There are lots of fab success stories on this thread. Many women also find that other symptoms of PCOS are helped too, for example I have a lot less hair growth than I used to.
Clomid is usually the first line of treatment, and depending on your personal circumstances it is sometimes used with Metformin. If you have a high BMI sometimes just losing 5-10% of your body weight is enough to kick start ovulation on it's own. If you're ovulating but still not getting pregnant they may want to perform the lap and dye test to check for blockages.

It's a good sign that your cycles are shorter, although some may still be anovulatory it's hard to tell. Are you temping or having your cycles monitored for example with a CD21 progesterone test? Perhaps they'll suggest continued weight loss and clomid. How is your BMI?
Don't be frightened if you are recommended to go for the operation, almost every lady who has had the op has found the op has benefitted them in some way, and speaking as someone who is an absolute wimp with anything medical, I'd have it done again if I needed to in a heartbeat. :

 

[Cridge]

Hi Sarahlou! WSS^^

OD is really nothing to be scared about! I had what they call a fertiliscope op, which means they just went up vaginally - no holes in my stomach at all, and I was awake during the surgery. I was up and about the next day with no pain. So although it sounds horrible, it's really not as bad as it sounds!

It sounds like you may not need it though, if you're ovulating with metformin. You should definitely confirm ovulation either by way of temping or ultrasound (which would be much harder to do, and very expensive), and if you're ovulating, I wouldn't see a need for OD.

GL!

 

[SarahLou372]

Thanks ladies for your lovely replies Ive just been worrying myself about these procedures the past few days

I see my doctor tomorrow morning and hopefully he will send me back to my gynaecologist, but this is why I worry because it will be then if they think I may need these operations.

Kyla - I think my BMI is about 26 or 27, so its only just over by one point or so but I have managed to lose 3 pounds on a diet on my own with out any help these past few weeks. Well so my scales are saying anyway. I had metformin before and my cycles came down to 29-35 days

 

[Shardil]

Hi ladies how are you all....well you know I said I would be doing the pregnancy test on Sunday...but I caved in and did it today and got my bfp!!! i could not believe it...i am still in shock and trying to take it all in!!: See pics attached!!

 

[Shardil]

I don't think the pics attached

 

[Kyla]

Shardil - Congratulations!!! That's so amazing! There's no pics attached though. You must be feeling shocked and elated. Wishing you a H&H 9 months. Do keep us posted on your progress.

SarahLou - Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. As far my NHS trust is concerned, the GP can't prescribe Clomid, that can only be done by the consultant so you may have to be referred to get the clomid. I'd be surprised if they opted to recommend you straight for the OD because sometimes a few cycles of clomid is enough.
Your BMI sounds fine to me, I have a high BMI (at worse it was 37 ). I'd recommend starting a good prenatal multivitamin such as Pregnacare conception if you're not already taking something in preparation. My DH took Wellman Conception too As Cridge said, confirming ovulation is a good way to start so that you know what's going on with your cycles and you can present your findings if needed to your fertility specialist. Let us know how you get on at your appointment.

 

[heres_hoping]

Wonderful news Shardil! Congratulations

 

[Tella]

huge congrats Shardil!!! so tell us more. Did you have any obvious symptoms?

 

[MariaF]

Oh Shardil, that's fantastic news!!!!! Congratulations!! Happy and Healthy 9 months!!!!

 

[Cridge]

Yay Shardil!! Congrats! Another one that OD did wonders for!!

 

[Shardil]

Hi ladies....well I am still in shock but very happy...i must thank you all sine I would not have had the courage to do this surgery if it were not for this thread

I believe I have entered my 3rd week of pregnancy.....went on Friday for the post-op check up and when I told my doc I was pregnant he was so shocked! he did the u/s and ofcourse it is too early to see anything but he said my lining is thick and he saw the tiny amniotic sac.....i have to go bk in two or 3 weeks for a next scan.....how long before u get the baby's hearbeat?

I am being very cautious..how do you all think having pcos and pre-diabetes will affect this pregnancy? also, how long do you all think i can continue on the metformin.....doc said up until first trimester.....I am just trying to be cautious but hopeful....a co-worker recently had a miscarriage at 3 1/2 months and also a friend with twins at 6 1/2 months .

As for symptoms, some nausea and morning sickness here and there, feeling tired too sometimes....will keep you all posted on the progress....have a great week ladies

 

[SarahLou372]

Shardil - Congratulations!!! That's so amazing! There's no pics attached though. You must be feeling shocked and elated. Wishing you a H&H 9 months. Do keep us posted on your progress.

SarahLou - Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. As far my NHS trust is concerned, the GP can't prescribe Clomid, that can only be done by the consultant so you may have to be referred to get the clomid. I'd be surprised if they opted to recommend you straight for the OD because sometimes a few cycles of clomid is enough.
Your BMI sounds fine to me, I have a high BMI (at worse it was 37 ). I'd recommend starting a good prenatal multivitamin such as Pregnacare conception if you're not already taking something in preparation. My DH took Wellman Conception too As Cridge said, confirming ovulation is a good way to start so that you know what's going on with your cycles and you can present your findings if needed to your fertility specialist. Let us know how you get on at your appointment.

Hi Kyla

Well my appointment didn't go as well as I wanted it too. When I got there the doctor couldn't find my letters/notes from my Gynaecologist from last April!!!

So he said he cant prescribe me with any metformin or refer me back to my gynaecologist until he has chased these up!

So we can't step forward yet, but he has asked me to go back in two weeks time so I will be going back on the 14th March to see him, so its not that long and we still got 2-3 months before we start ttc anyway. Plus he said there are other things that can help with ttc not just metformin. So I know I went early to the doctors but im glad I have gone 3months early because it looks like its going to be a long journey

Well my af arrived on Saturday after finishing my pill last Tuesday, so its going to feel strange not starting it again on Wednesday. Im going to start writing everything down as far as my cycles are concerned and start using OPK'S on day 9 of my cycle to. Im currently on day 3. And I have been taking prenatal vitamins for about 3 weeks now and have started a diet and apparently I have lost 3 pounds! Im taking seven seas trying for a baby. And my OH also taking well man

Shardil - congratulations on your news!

 

[Kyla]

Shardil - So exciting. You won't be able to pick up baby's heart beat for several weeks yet, probably closer to 8 or 9 weeks. I found this site really useful for keeping a check on what was happening each week
https://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-tools/articles/how-big-is-baby.aspx?MsdVisit=1
Having PCOS or pre-diabestes shouldn't impact on your pregnancy at all other than you'll have to have a Gestational Diabetes fasting blood test as you're more likely to develop it during pregnancy. This will be done about week 28-30. I have had 2 babies and I didn't get diabetes.
Re Metformin, the advice differs between specialists and girls on this thread have been given different advice. Some are advised to take Met the whole pregnancy, but almost all are advised like you have been to continue to week 12. We are all individuals, so I don't think there is a one rule fits all regarding Met.
In my case, I was given the choice to stop at week 12 or continue. My consultant said there is no evidence is causes harm to continue, nor that it is particularly beneficial beyond 12 weeks but I chose to continue to take it as I felt it might help me not gain too much pregnancy weight - I already had a high BMI to start with so for me it was about balancing extra fat gain - not baby weight gain. Once I got past the Gestational Diabetes test with the all clear, they told me I could stop taking it as it was unncessary to continue it and I think I dropped down to one pill a day then stopped just before Jude was born.
There isn't any reason why you won't have a happy and healthy pregnancy, you're bound to stress as the first trimester is a worrying time, but try to think positive

SarahLou How frustrating! Still 2 weeks isn't so far away now and I think you're doing absolutely everything you can with the diet and the prenatals for you and your OH.
When I had my first son, I went on the South Beach Diet before ttc so I effectively cut out sugar and carbs for phase 1, then slowly introduced a few carbs. I think that helped my insulin levels and if I was actively ttc again without metformin, I'd be aiming to get onto a diabetic eating plan to keep my insulin levels down naturally.
Fingers crossed your cycles normalise quickly, sounds to me like you're starting with a really good plan and the more info you can give them about your cycles now the better I think.

 

[SarahLou372]

Thanks Kyla

Im just hoping and praying myself. And I brought myself a little dairy to right everything down for every cycle day. Im even counting and adding up my calories a day so I know where I am with that. And I weigh myself every Monday

There is not much more I can do until the 14th. Or even until ttc time arrives. But im aiming to have lost and maintained my weight and diet b time it comes to ttc and also would of had the prenatal vitamins in my system for three months.

 

[Cridge]

Shardil - I took metformin until I was about 20 weeks. I would definitely stay on it for your first trimester, as the metformin should help keep your hormones more stable, lowering the chance of miscarriage. But I think you're fine to stay on it or go off after that point. You should be able to see a heartbeat on ultrasound by about 6-7 weeks, and hear it on doppler after 10/11 (I could hear on doppler at 9 weeks, but that was a bit early).

SarahLou - good plan to write everything down! I kept copious notes while I was ttc, and if nothing else, it just calmed my nerves to read over it every once in a while.

 

[SarahLou372]

Started writing things down today!!

Also I brought some OPK testing kits. And im starting them on day 9 which is Sunday When is the best time to take these ladies any advice?

Anyway im happy today as its my birthday And after my birthday is gone I can focus a bit more

 

[Tella]

https://www.rvceupdates.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Nirthday-cake-happy.jpg

Hope you having a fabulous day and that your bday present will come quickly once you start TTC.

Im always confused with OPKs so i buy the cheapies so i can do them everytime i pee But im also using the CBFM that takes all the guessing away as you pee once in the morning and that is that.

 

[Cridge]

Happy Birthday!

I hated OPK's because they never worked for me. In fact, the cycle I got pregnant, I got a + the day after I ovulated (confirmed by ultrasound), so…. So use them if you want, but don't get too obsessed over them and don't let them stress you out!

 

[SarahLou372]

I used to take them with my pervious partner in the past, with my first morning wee And I got negatives but on like day 15 I got a positive. But we had regular too just in case. Sorry TMI I might do it that way again

Thank you ladies for the lovely birthday wishes

And for the big birthday picture Tella!