PCOS??? I've got a lot to learn!!!

[Fallen Angel]

Hey ladies, just signed up here as we've been struggling to conceive and tonight I was in for my scan which has confirmed I have PCOS.

I was just reading up on the NHS site about symptoms, treatments, etc., and thought some of you might find this site useful, if you haven't already come across it:-

https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Polycystic-ovarian-syndrome/Pages/Treatment.aspx

It talks about NICE recommending ovarian drilling after not responding to Clomid.

I've briefly read some of the other posts but I will spend some more time reading them as I have a lot to learn as this is all very new to me.

I'm a tad gutted at the moment and hoping this forum will perk me up a bit and raise my hopes.

Just going to try and find out the difference between Clomid and Metaformin now as when I seen my consultant the last time, he talked about if it was confirmed I had PCOS after my scan he would put be on Metaformin.

So much to find out.

Incidentally, I know weight is an issue if you need to go as far as IVF, so I put myself on the Cambridge Diet 2 months ago when I was 15st 10lbs and I'm now 12st 13lbs. I'm hoping by chance that the weight loss might help with conceiving also.

Anyway, sorry for the long introduction post, if you've got this far, well done.

 

[fitzy79]

Welcome from a fellow PCOS sufferer! So much reading and information to take in on the subject. Congrats on your weight loss..you must be very proud and I'm sure it can only help when it comes to conceiving. I do carry excess weight around my tummy but thankfully BMI is under 25. Still no BFP though!! Loads of great women on here with plenty of info and who have all been through the mill. I like to think of us as an elite minority group or the "wonky ovary" club as my OH calls us!!

 

[Fallen Angel]

Thanks and hi!

First thing I'm trying to get to grasp with is the acronyms!!

BFP????

There's a whole lot of knowledge here which is inspiring.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Sorry Fitzy, I meant to ask, have you been through the Metformin / Clomid route then?

 

[fitzy79]

Oooh sorry...BFP = Big Fat Positive(on a pregnancy test!) There's a section for abbreviations in the Trying to Conceive(TTC) forum. I'm not on met but am on clomid at the moment. Only had first cycle last month and 50mg dose didn't make me ovulate so am currently taking 100mg on days 2-6 of cycle. I have to go to hospital next week on Day 10 for an ultrasound to see if follicles and lining are developing and hopefully will ovulate within week of that. That's if everything goes as hoped!! Any other questions just shout!

 

[UK Sarah 33]

Wishing you the best of luck and hope you get your BFP very soon hun xx

 

[DragonMummy]

Hi hun - another pcos gal here. I've just finished months of metformin but that didn't work for me as I don't have problems with insulin resistance. I have just been put on clomid.

To clear things up on that front for you, they are 2 completely different drugs that do different things. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug. It is used to treat the insulin resistance side of pcos which in turn should restore some natural balance to your hormones and start you ovulating again or regulate your cycles. You take up to 4 500mg tablets a day. Side effects include nausea and diahorrea.

Clomid is a straightforward fertility drug, designed to trigger ovulation. you take 5 tablets one a day during your period and hopefully in 10 or so days you ovulate. Side effects are mood swings, hot flushes and headaches.


It's not a gripping read, but I have detailed my whole pcos journey in my journal so if you have a flick through there it might prove helpful.

Look forward to chatting more xxx

 

[Fallen Angel]

So how or when do they find out if there is a problem with insulin resistance.

My brain and eyes hurt, I'm going to bed and will catch this thread up, hopefully with a clearer head tomorrow.

 

[Fallen Angel]

And thanks laydees x

 

[DragonMummy]

blood tests should help and should show the problem.

if you want a good book to help clear the fog, I got "PCOS For Dummies" - its about £8 from Amazon. It's very simple and clear and doesn't get bogged down with techcalities and just explains it all in English which is nice!! x

 

[ineedaseed]

Hi
I have just had a scan and found cysts, waiting for my results to get to the Docs. Met only works if your bloods show you are insulin resistant. My doc is planning to put me on it too.
I know what you mean about feeling gutted, I am sure we will feel better once we see the right Docs and they put us on the right paths.
Well done on the weightloss it will certainly help you along. It is reccomended you follow a low gi diet with pcos as we tend to have blood sugar problems!
Look forward to following your journey xxx
ps the pcos for dummies book is very good!

 

[Fallen Angel]

Thanks again guys.

I'm already seeing an endocrinologist as my doctor referred me, because she rulled me out as my blood test results rulled out PCOS, but, the scan says otherwise. The reason she referred me to the endocrinologist was because my blood tests were showing prolactin levels were higher than they should be.

I'm seeing the consultant on 6th May, and he's taken lots more blood, but going to try and not worry about things too much until then as we get married on 24th April and I don't want to put a dampner ont that.

I got myself a bit worked up and into a bit of a tizzy about it last night and ended up really upset, but that's not going to help anything and it's not all negative, so where there's hope eh!

Good luck to all you ladies too

 

[annmc30]

hi and welcome i also suffer from pcos been ttc for 14 yrs i also lost weight nearly 4stone i mc last yr i was heartbroken but im now on my first cycle of ivf, dont give up hope ul get your bfp soon x

 

[ACLIO]

HI, I have PCOS too. Lots of Women get a BFP with PCOS though.

We have just been referred for ICSI as DH has a low count we've just got our appointment for the assisted unit next month so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

I've started to give the GI diet a go I'm 9st 8lb and want to lose a couple of pounds which I've been struggling with. We are also looking into Chinese medicine and acupuncture as well. We will get our BFP

 

[Fallen Angel]

My consultant said there is no evidence that low GI diet helps conceive, however, he did say, when you have PCOS whatever method works for you losing weight, is the one you should use.

I'm chuffed with my results on Cambridge Diet, so I'm going to stick with that.

What's ICSI ACLIO?

 

[DragonMummy]

I don't think it's conception it helps, I think that eating low GI food prevents women with pcos putting on weight - its all down to the insulin/glucose thing again. Food with a high GI is harder for the body to break down so we just store it....


I've been doing Cambo as well... it's like torture....

 

[Fallen Angel]

Are you finding it difficult DragonMummy? I've found it to be the easiest diet I've ever done. Not having to make a choice and being restricted whilst on Sole Source has been a blessing in disguise for me, I have no choices to make.

In saying that, I think the motivation of my wedding has helped tremendously.

 

[ACLIO]

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg in order to fertilise it. The fertilised egg (embryo) is then transferred to the woman’s womb.

The major development of ICSI means that as long as some sperm can be obtained (even in very low numbers), fertilisation is possible.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Well, got myself into a bit of a tizzy looking into stuff too much, wedding planning, etc., etc., so didn't come back on here for quite a bit, went off and got married in April, came back, went to docs, waiting for referral to fertility clinic, went to fertility clinic on Wednesday just gone, left waiting for an apt for laparoscopy to check my tubes, went home, felt a bit funny on Thursday, dizzy, light headed, sore boobs, had a test in the cabinet - did one - BIG FAT POSITIVE

Went to supermarket and bought two more.

TWO MORE BIG FAT POSITIVES!!!!

Went to doctors on Friday, she didn't even test me as she says they're so accurate, there's no need to

I have my first appointment with the midwife on Thursday night.

I hope this gives some of you ladies some hope because I know there were times when I got myself a little stressed about stuff and wondered if it would ever happen - well it has.

We don't know how far I am because of irregular periods, etc., but possibly, 6/7 weeks. Hoping to get an early scan to confirm all okay and date very soon.

Good luck to you all, relax and just be kind to yourself and have positive mental attitude, I think we give ourselves too hard a time sometime and our body just gets stubborn.

F
x

 

[MrsRH]

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