PCOS & CLOMID -NHS or Private Presc HELP Pls x

[Jacey]

Hi

Im new to this section so first of all would just like to say hi x

Im 31 and I've been having irregular periods for about 4-5 years. 12 months ago my GP offered to refer me somewhere for further tests. At that time I was more concerned about my weight spiralling out of control. I strongly suspected I had a hormonal imbalance which my GP disagreed with. I asked for a private referral to an endocrinologist who after tests diagnosed me with mild PCOS {dispite being tested for this several times by my GP}. I was referred back onto NHS and am due to see him next week for a follow up.

The endo prescribed metformin & I started taking it in Nov last year. He also asked me about children but I explained getting my weight back under control was my first priority. I took the met & I lost about 20lbs quite quickly and discovered I was pregnant mid Dec. The pregnancy was a shock as we wasnt technically TTC at that point as we didnt think it would be possible so quickly due to the PCOS.

Sadly I miscarried just before the New Year & I was approx 5w. Since the m.c we have had sex several times but sadly despite supposedly being most fertile I never fell pregnant and got my first AF yesterday.

Having the m/c made us realise we would like to TTC straight away but my cycles prior to the m/c were irregular so we would like to try clomid or something similar as well to ensure I ovulate as often as possible.

I know clomid has to be prescribed and cant just be purchased but Im not sure whether a specialist will prescribe it for me now as I recently fell pregnant without it iykwim???

I willing to pay for it privately but assume its too late to arrange and start in time for this cycle. Does anyone have experience of having this drug prescribed privately and how quickly I could get the ball rolling??

Thanks xx

 

[fairy1984]

Hi,

I dont have any advice on this subject but would be very interested in hearing what people have to say. I also have PCOS and am being referred to a specialist. i'd like to know whether to push for Clomid or if they'll put me on metformin. do you mind me asking if the metformin regulated your cycles at all?

 

[Jacey]

Hiya,

Thanks for your reply, I cant honestly answer about the met and my cycles as I started mid way through a cycle and then fell pregnant. It just seemed so coincidental that I fell pregnant after being on the drug for about 5 weeks.

I was told by A&E staff to stop the met when I first started feeling unwell and I often wonder whether that in anyway contributed to the m/c - thats another thing Im going to check with my endo when I see him next for future pregnancies.

Im certain he will prescribe clomid for me as initially he wanted to know if concieving was my main priority, I soooo wish now that my AF wasnt here as I know Im not going to able able to get any clomid prior to seeing my endo unless I could find somewhere private willing to prescribe it to me and I know that it has to has to be taken within the first few days of AF starting so to an extent its unlikely i'll get a BFP this cycle !!

BOO HOO .....just having a whinge lol x

 

[Mrs R]

Hi,

You're in he position I was in a few weeks back. I was referred to a gynie by my G.P due to long, irregular periods in July. I waied for my first NHS appointment which came through in November (waited 4 months!). This was only an initial consultation which consisted of blood tests and history/information gathering.

I was told my 2nd appointment on the NHS would be another 7-8 months after this! So I opted to have this 2nd appointment privately with the same consultant, and him a week after I booked it. I had an internal scan at this app. and was diagnosed with PCOS and prescribed Clomid (consultant asked G.P to write prescription so it would be through NHS).

So I definately recommend going private if you're in a hurry to be prescribed clomid. Your G.P will have to refer you, so just ask them to recommend a specialist, and get them to write the letter to the specialist at their private clinic instead of the hospital.
(This is how it works where I live so I'm sure it'll be similar for you).

Hope this helps x

 

[Jacey]

Thanks hun, I ve kind of already done a similar thing in getting the pcos diagnosis lol. I went private as my GP disagreed, the specialist made the diagnosis after tests etc and offered clomid and put me on NHS. As I wasnt tech TTC at my last apt Nov 08 I opted for metformin to help with my weight - My 2nd follow up NHS apt is next week but I cant get in earlier with this doc either privately or via NHS so unless I can obtain a prescription tomorrow its going to be way to late for this cycle from what I understand.

Good luck with ur BFP will be interesting to see how you get on with clomid x

 

[Impetusangeli]

This post is a few months old so I don't know if it's too late but I actually do know the answer to quite a few of your questions. I also have PCOS. I was diagnosed in January by my gyno. A few years ago I was seeing a different gyno and with the test results she told me I told her I thought I has PCOS..she disagreed, with the gyno I started to see last year as soon as she got all of my test results, she knew immediately that I had PCOS. I have all symptoms except one lol I was put on Metformin at the time, it did not work for me and I had side effects from it so they had to take me off. However, she did tell me and i've read numerous times before that for people that take Metformin and it works, it does tend to straighten things out and make it easier to get pregnant. Which makes sense because the frequency and length of ovulation, or just ovulating at all..makes a significant difference in whether or not you get pregnant. NOW as for Clomid. In general you have to first try getting things normal with Metformin. For some women that's all it takes. If Metformin doesn't work, the Dr will generally require you go 6 months with trying to get pregnant or complete instability with your cycle before they will prescribe Clomid. That's what has happened with me and I was today prescribed Clomid. Once you're prescribed Clomid there's a whole different set of instructions to follow because you have to be very exact with what days during your cycle you take it and whether or not you will require progesterone to start your cycle so that the days can be properly counted. You've mentioned irregular cycles which is the same as it is for me. So it may be that you will have to do it the way i'm being told to do it. Also, I don't know that a regular family physician will prescribe Clomid but a Gyno will. They also have to do a pelvic exam and pregnancy test every month you're on Clomid as it can over stimulate the ovaries and create multiple births (unless u want twins or triplets lol) Anyway, i'm a few months late in responding to this post, but I hope the info helps.

 

[chele]

this has helped me thanks as I am contemplating the private route depending on what happens this next couple of weeks with my GP. I would like to try Metformin before i try clomid

 

[jlewis]

Hi all,
I've just registered as I've read a number of posts for months now but never shared my thoughts or experience.
I am currently going down the route of trying to get prescribed clomid on the nhs. I came off the pill in August 2007 and one year later went to see a consultant privately and was diagnosed with pcos. I was prescribed Metformin last October and found out in March 09 that I was pregnant. Hubby and I were over the moon! Unfortunately I had a 'blighted ovum' which is when I had my 12 week scan and found out that I'd had a missed miscarriage so had to be admitted and was given a drug to make me miscarry . Since then nothing has happened other than I'm still taking metformin. I've now been referred by my GP to another consultant who I am due to see this Thursday and more than anything I am hoping I'll be prescribed clomid but am just really worried that they will say that because I conceived at the beginning of the year I should just keep trying. That'll be going into my third year!!
Has anyone had any similar experience or got advice about how they made sure they were prescribed clomid? Does anyone else feel that different consultants will prescribe different drugs as my first consultant appeared to be against clomid and was even hesitant about metformin!
It's really starting to get to my husband and I now as we just want a baby more than anything!!

 

[Kiki09]

Hi jlewis, I have had similar, I have pcos and we did get pregnant naturally, no help, sadly we lost our angel at 15wks, anyway, long story short, I stopped ovulating and my gp prescribed me clomid in August, so started my first cycle of clomid on the 8th.. you can get it prescribed on the NHS as long as your GP is understanding of the drug I guess, my GP is very forward thinking and has prescribed it in the past, successfully he says, but he was cautious initially, made me wait a month and then called me to say "come in and lets get you started"! I recommed you sit down with your GP and talk it over, really open up and tell him you have done your research on clomid etc, this is what I did.

Good luck

 

[jlewis]

Hi Kiki09, thanks for your reply!
Saw my new consultant who was very supportive and said that they would prescribe clomid however my previous consultant never did any tests to make sure my tubes weren't blocked, etc. Just waiting now for day 5 of my next cycle then I'll go in for some investigation and if all is well, I should come away with Clomid! So cross fingers it all works out!!
Good luck to you too!!!