Possible PCOS - Going for Ultrasound *updated*

[KnitWit]

Hello ladies, this is the first time im posting in this section. Ive been TTC our first for over a year and have never seen that fabled second line on a HPT.

A recent blood test at my GP indicates I have PCOS, apparently my LH level was quite high but my testosterone level was fine. Im being referred for an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis but I just wanted to know what I should expect to happen if this is the case. Im a bit clueless and the more I read the more freaked out I get but it would be nice to hear from you ladies who have been through it.

I hear alot about Clomid but I don't really know what it does. I want to be prepared and know what questions I should be asking etc.

 

[HoneyWright]

Welcome Hun

Firstly lucky you for being refered to have further tests to confirm, I have never been offered this.

IF you do have PCOS the first question that should be discussed with you, is whether you are ovulating. If you are you maybe asked to continue trying for a bit longer on your own or you could be given clomid for a bit of a boost (clomid encourages you to ovulate).

If you are not ovulating you may be offered Metformin or clomid or both to help you ovulate.

Hope this helps hun.

Sarah

 

[misskat29]

Hi, sounds like I'm a few weeks ahead of you down the pcos diagnosis path.

I had blood work done first wk of dec, where my results showed high prolactine levels - mine are 640 and should be 500. Also showed high testosterone levels - mine are 4.7 and should be 2.9 I think. I'm having more bloods done next week, as they want to be sure they aren't high from mc in oct.

29th dec I had the ultrasound scan - results came last wk saying I have several small cysts on both ovaries.

Think the plan is for them to get my second bloods done, then sit down and discuss the next step.

I have no other symptoms of pcos other than irregular cycles, and I no I do ovulate due to pregnancy last year - but just don't know how frequently.

Keep me posted on how you get on and I will me - sounds like we'll be doing this trip together x

 

[MillieMoo]

Hi KnitWit.
I was diagnosed with PCOS last May. I had blood tests which pretty much confirmed it but I also had an ultra sound scan which showed cycts on my ovary's.

When i came off the pill my cycles were all over the place but did settle down to about 45days but it was then that i knew something was wrong. My fs told me that it was likely that i was ovulating however my eggs weren't developed properly so weren't strong enough for pregnancy. This was due to my hormones being all over the place.

As women with PCOS have an insulin resistance they give you the same drug they use for diabetes which is Metformin. I was given this to help rebalance my hormones etc which in turn was supposed to help my cycle length. I tried this for 3 months but it didn't really help so the fs put me on clomid. This has helped my cycles as now i have a 30 day cycle and ov on pretty much the same day each month but still haven't had our BFP.

Clomid does work wonders for some and there's so many women on here that have gotten their BFP's on clomid so it's definatley not the end of the world.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Good luck!

 

[KnitWit]

Thankyou for your posts ladies, gives me an idea of what to expect! I thought I wasn't ovulating for a long time so I bought a clearblue fertility monitor. I get peaks when i use it which would indicate that im ovulating but the monitor detects a rise in your LH level and since mine is high anyway it could be giving me peaks when im not even ovving. LH is nothing without FSH right?

Thankyou for the warm welcome to this section of the forums, the relentless optimism of the TTC section was starting to get to me.

 

[Dancingkaty1]

hi i got diagnosed with polycysts on my left ovary last june after a ultra scan i had done. I was referred to see a fs...had bloods done while i was waiting for the appointment ....saw her in aug & and she said the bloods were fine, i appeared to be ovulating ok so they wanted a sperm test done & she booked me in for a hycosy. she explained she couldnt give me clomid til we knew that my tube was clear. the hycosy went fine, clear tube so i was put on clomid in oct...currently on my 3rd cycle & should be having a laparoscopy in 2/3 weeks time. x

 

[KnitWit]

Hello ladies, I had my ultrasound today and it wasn't a very pleasant experience at all. I was sent some info ahead of time advising me about the whole full bladder thing so i was bursting for the loo all the way there. They left me lying on my own on a table with my stomach exposed for ten mins.. I could hear the nurses talking in the next room and was about to go look for someone when one of them came back. She casually said the doctor was on her way and she knew i was waiting. Then she said, your not bursting for the loo are you? Well of course I flipping was! So I told her so and lo and behold this doctor appears from the next room.

The doctor walked in without introducing herself and proceded to tie up her hair and wash her hands in complete silence. The first thing she said to me was that she was going to put some gel on me. So I grinned and beared the pressing on my extremely full bladder while she muttered at the screen when finally she spoke to me again. This time to tell me she would have to do an internal scan if that would be acceptable.

In the stuff they sent me in the post the explained that a trans-vaginal scan would only be performed if they couldnt get a clear picture. So i queried whether she had been unable to get a clear picture. Se told me an internal scan is standard procedure.. Is it? Thats not what the leaflets said..
So i went and relieved my aching bladder and came back to undress. The internal was as uncomfortable and she appeared to be focussing on my left hand side. At one point pressing hard on my stomach to that side. I expected this since i get pain on that side but she didn't explain anything to me.. like why she was doing that or why she took more images of the left. So she said I should get dressed and left the room.

I asked the nurse if she would be coming back to talk to me. The nurse just said she would send stuff to my GP which I expected. So I asked if I could speak to the doctor as I had been very concerned and she said she would find out.

When I was dressed she returned and said the doctor would not see me.. the nurse was very nice and said it wouldnt take long. I was so furious I told the nurse that at the very least the doctor should have told me her name and I went to walk out the room. The nurse tried to give me a questionaire but I just kept walking and cried all the way home.
Ive never encountered a doctor with so few skills in actually communicating with people. I didnt even feel like a person.

Is my experience the norm? Did you have an internal scan too? Are all NHS staff so unfriendly and rude?

 

[DragonMummy]

Hello ladies, this is the first time im posting in this section. Ive been TTC our first for over a year and have never seen that fabled second line on a HPT.

A recent blood test at my GP indicates I have PCOS, apparently my LH level was quite high but my testosterone level was fine. Im being referred for an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis but I just wanted to know what I should expect to happen if this is the case. Im a bit clueless and the more I read the more freaked out I get but it would be nice to hear from you ladies who have been through it.

I hear alot about Clomid but I don't really know what it does. I want to be prepared and know what questions I should be asking etc.

hey hun. I was diagnosed with PCOS last year. I have a journal in ttc journals which details the diagnosis, the tests I've had (pelvic ultrasound, hsg) and medication (metformin and hopefully clomid at my next fs appt!)

I'll stick a link in my siggy so you can get to it and have a good read so you'll know what to expect. You can skip to end of september though!

As for the ultrasound, i think the reason they tried external first is because it's less invasive and they sometimes try that first, but the internal gives a much better picture and clearer idea of what is going on. Although sounds like the doc could work on her bedside manner! Mine was lovely. She had pcos as well and told me that she got preg on third cycle xx


Best of luck hun xxx

 

[misskat29]

HI Knitwit, sorry to read of your unpleasent experience at the hospital - some are so insensitive aren't they.

I posted on here about 5 posts up from this - we're going through the same thing at the mo' i think i'm a little ahead of you on the diagnosis front.

I had a ultrasound scan on the 29th Dec - it was an internal scan, and i was expecting this. I called my docs on the 5th Jan and they gave me the results, so it wont take long before you hear the results.

I#ve had my second bloods done to check my prolactine levels, should get the results friday morning and the doc should decide what they want to do with me next.

I will keep you posted - keep your chin up x

 

[Dancingkaty1]

sorry you had such a bad experience...

i was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease by an a&e doctor last may so had to go & have a scan of my womb....the male doctor did an external one & said i didnt have the pelvic inflammatory disease & thought he found a left ovary as well as my right one...i said thats impossible as i have had the left one removed when i was a baby.....he said he would do the full report & sent me packing....

my gp phoned me within a few days & said that i needed to have an internal scan to get a better picture.....waited a mth 4 the scan.....

had the same male doc....i said oh i remeber you from my 1st scan, he said oh really ( he obviously couldnt remember me!! lol) he didnt have my notes or report from the 1st scan so i basically had to tell him what he found & what he had told me!!!! i wasnt impressed!!! i found the procedure of the internal scan very uncomfortable!!!!!!!! he pushed the probe so far up me it really hurt....he told me that the left ovary he thought he saw was in fact just a bit of my bowel!! and that the right ovary had polyststs on!! he said that was prob the reason for me not conceiving.....i was sooo upset and remember leaving the hospital crying.....i got home & layed on my bed & couldnt even really talk to my dh as was crying so much..got the full report about a week a later...

had bloods done in aug & to my delight it should i was ovulating anyway had a hycosy in sept & have been on clomid since end of oct 09.....due to have a lap & dye on 2nd feb!!

xxx

 

[KnitWit]

Results came back.. Definately numerous cysts on both ovaries so my gp is referring me to the fertility specialist.
Feeling a bit numb. I kinda expected it but I just wish things could just be straightforward and easy.

 

[misskat29]

Results came back.. Definately numerous cysts on both ovaries so my gp is referring me to the fertility specialist.
Feeling a bit numb. I kinda expected it but I just wish things could just be straightforward and easy.

Sorry to hear you news of pcos hun.

BUT on the up side they are planning on doing something about it and not leaving you to try for longer on your own!

There is a 55 day waiting time where i am to see a fertility specialist, and i'm not even on it yet as they want to sort my prolactin probs out first.

 

[UK Sarah 33]

Hey hun - I went private for my ultrasound (cost £100) and everything was explained in detail. The procedure was okay and apart from the shock of being diagnosed I found it quite comfortable.
Sorry to hear about your scan - Doctors can be so insensitive sometimes.
Anyway, please don't give up hope - I have fallen pregnant a month after I was diagnosed and only 2 weeks on Metformin.
Try and keep positive hun, eat healthily and you will get your BFP very soon! Keeping my fingers crossed for you! xxx

 

[Carrie29]

Hi knitwit... just wanted to let you know i know how you feel!.. there is a big plus in that they now know what's wrong.. it certainly doesn't make us infertile and some ladies with PCOS get pregnant without even knowing they have it.. at least treatment can start soon to speed things up a bit!

 

[Nathyrra]

Hey chick, I'm sorry about your recent diagnosis and the lack of 'care' from your doctor. It certainly is alot to take in. I've been there myself and it's not easy

I've always had Trans-Vaginal scans when going to the doctor tbh, Obviously I'm getting treatment in another country but I believe it gets better pictures and after a while you do get used to the lack of modesty

Hopefully your doctor will now refer you for a glucose intolerence test (this see's if you need Metformin) Not all women with PCOS are intolerant; I'm not. I was put on Clomid shortly after my diagnosis but it didn't do anything for me at all. I'm now on Injection ovary stimulators and they're working wonderfully.

At this point it's daunting but there are so many doors still open to you. Some women do go on to get pregnant on their own, some do with a little help. The plus side is now they know what's wrong they can find the treatment that suits you and gets you on your way to being a mama.

Have you considered changing your diet slightly to accommodate your PCOS? I'm not overweight but I made alot of changes to my diet that appeared to make me more regular with my cycles. Things like, wholegrains, more fruit, more water. I also switched from normal potatoes to sweet potatoes in my meals as they are low GI. Just mentioning it as it seemed to make things a bit easier for me. Felt like I had some power you know? As PCOS can make you feel so powerless sometimes!

 

[mrs C]

Knitwit, I am sorry to hear about this cruddy doctor. I was diagnosed with PCOS in Dec. and now am on metformin and clomid. The diagnosis can be shocking. I had regular cycles and my labs were good. I also had a pelvic us which I think is almost always done. As far as how clomid works it works by suppressing estrogen which causes other hormones to react in response. Basically all this does is encourage ovulation. Clomid is a very successful drug. Good luck with your fs appointment. I find it helps if you have a list of questions prepared before the appointment.