TTCAL PCOS thread

[hb1]

Hi Fellow PCOSers

I thought I would start a thread for those of us TTCAL with PCOS.

TTC is stressful for for anyone after a loss but the addition of PCOS does make the odds more daunting . So maybe having somewhere we can discuss the issues that PCOS throws at us, swap experiences, tips and rants would be a good thing.

If anyone thinks it's a good idea I could add a poll so we can get an idea of the different PCOS issues we face - eg Clomid, irregular cycles, metformin, hormonal craziness - not sure of the best way to split this up so any suggestions gratefully received!

So to kick off:

My tale in a nutshell is that I came off metformin in May under GP advice, got my magic BFP mid November then mid December very sadly miscarried. I can't say for sure it was due to PCOS but can't rule it out either. The specialist I saw advised to go back on Metformin and if I conceive to stay on till 16 weeks. I am lucky to ovulate naturally so hopefully TTC won't be the biggest hurdle for me - the stressful time will come after that!!

hx

 

[chocolate]

Hiya again - I will join too!

I have PCOS and had Chlomid, trigger and progesterone with my son now 19 months, fell pregnant on first cycle with metformin alone, but miscarried at 13 weeks (3/4 weeks ago). Have my specialist appointment on 24th Feb. but have tried again around ovulation and should know next weekend if I am pregnant again or not.
Hoping the mc was a one off and will not happen again ....... but atleast I will be under specialist care this time so should get some answers

 

[hb1]

Hey Chocs, How's it going? Am back on the ttc train too. Keeping my fingers crossed for you next week then!!

Keep thinking sticky bean thoughts!

hx

 

[natp18]

Hello Hun

thanks for the post on my thread. I was told last Monday by the sonographer who did my hycosy that I have lots of under developed follicles and that it was pcos. I also got bloods back which confirmed this too. Thr real joke of it all is no doctor as sat we down and gone through what pcos is and how bad it is. I have lots of questions to ask him and he won't see me until I loose the weight. Spoke to my lovely gp over the phone who had recieved a fax saying I have pcos, did mension metformin but wants to try me on weightloss drug called orlistat first. Not sure how the metformin will benefit me, this whole thing has gone right over my head, so worried and that doctor just dosent want to know until the weight is off.......I am confused I always thought pcos was cysts on the ovarys not under developed folicles! My periods always use to be normal until I had lillie my beautiful angel. Just need another 5 kgs off ....and I may at least get some help.how long have you suffered from pcos Hun? Omg I never knew the effects it has with mc s
so what have you been doing to get over pcos and concentrating on getting pregnant? Do you have a good doctor now?
Excellent thread to set up
nat xxxxx

 

[Lol78]

Hi ladies! Hope you are well. I am cautiously still pregnant (although as Chocolate and hb1 know after last month - that is very cautiously right now) so can I just chat with you girls for a while?

natp18. hb1 has some great information on her profile page. If you want more information, I joined a charity called Verity - they send you an information pack with lots of details in it about PCOS. The problem is it's not just fertility that is the problem - although that's all we're interested in right now of course.

The doctor telling you to loose weight may sound cruel, but really it probably is the best thing you can do. When I was diagnosed, I had no periods. I lost a small amount of weight and they returned. Then I started TTC a few years later, it didn't happen until I started a diet, again, lost a small amount of weight and fell pregnant. Unfortunately you know that didn't work out as it should have done. Anyway, it may be good advice but to not see you in the mean time seems a little extreme to me.

Anyway, in my experience, doctors are not very good with dealing with PCOS. They don't seem willing to discuss the implications for later life (higher risk of diabetes and other problems).

There are many treatments available, so don't panic, but I do really believe the best thing you can do is to try to loose even a small amount of weight - it certainly helped me before. Do you mind me asking, did you put on weight during/after your last pregnancy? It may be that putting on that little bit of weight tipped your body from working fine before, to now not having periods. In which case, it's really likely that if you did loose a little bit that ovulation and periods would return to normal quite quickly.

It's alot to take in - this website has a lot of information if you want to see and also hb1's profile. https://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/

 

[natp18]

Hello Hun

congrats Hun fingers crossed it goes well.
I have always been over weight since the teens, but carried my weight exstremely well. However my weight did rocket by 3 stone in a 26 week pregnancy. And with loosing lillie I did alot of comfort eating the month following her death. And now to find out I have pcos I am really scared

nat x

 

[chocolate]

Hello Hun

congrats Hun fingers crossed it goes well.
I have always been over weight since the teens, but carried my weight exstremely well. However my weight did rocket by 3 stone in a 26 week pregnancy. And with loosing lillie I did alot of comfort eating the month following her death. And now to find out I have pcos I am really scared

nat x

Hiya, I remember you from a few other posts, Im so sorry for your losses
It is scary suddenly being disgnosed with PCOS as there is a lot of confusing info about it.

As for Metformin, this can help people ovulate in the majority of people taking it, and also helps with weight loss and regulates insulin which is at the base of PCOS. It drops the rate of miscarriage by a lot by continuing it into pregnancy, so ask your doctor if they will let you do this. Some wont as its not had that many trials in the uk, but loads in the US.

I am on the Met. 100mg a day, and if I eat too much fat/carbs then I get the runs so that's enough to put you off eating the wrong foods straight away lol! A word of warning, a lot of people get bad cramps when getting used to taking it, Ive heard avoiding carbs can help stop this, so soups etc. and just less carbs whilst you begin.

Atleast the doctor is offering you something to try to help you with the weight loss - a lot would just say 'follow a healthy diet' blah blah blah, which isnt as easy as that!


Good luck on your weight loss, and I hope the Metformin is the answer to the problems xx

 

[natp18]

Hi Hun

thanks for reply, I hope my insulin levels are low as I have been on atkins so limited carbs. It's only been over a month though. I really hope doc will prescribe metformin, I'll find out tomorrow

hugs
nat x

 

[chocolate]

Hi Hun

thanks for reply, I hope my insulin levels are low as I have been on atkins so limited carbs. It's only been over a month though. I really hope doc will prescribe metformin, I'll find out tomorrow

hugs
nat x

Good luck for tomorrow

Maybe also ask the doctor if the atkins diet is good for PCOS - I know that a low gi diet is the recommended for PCOS - so wholegrain bread/pasta, slow releasing carbs, porridge, and I heard cinamon each day really helps insulin levels I think.

What sort of things are you eating on the Atkins? Isnt that mainly proteins and fats or something?

 

[Lol78]

Good luck tomorrow nat. I really think that even loosing a little bit of weight may well kick start your body into ovulating again - it definitely happened for me and I've read that that can be the case. I don't know much on metformin as I don't take it (I've never actually been tested for glucose tolerance/insulin levels, etc - it's something I'm going to do if and when I have this baby) but these guys are a wealth of knowledge!!

Good luck again, let us know what happens.

 

[natp18]

Hi Hun

thanks for reply, I hope my insulin levels are low as I have been on atkins so limited carbs. It's only been over a month though. I really hope doc will prescribe metformin, I'll find out tomorrow

hugs
nat x

Good luck for tomorrow

Maybe also ask the doctor if the atkins diet is good for PCOS - I know that a low gi diet is the recommended for PCOS - so wholegrain bread/pasta, slow releasing carbs, porridge, and I heard cinamon each day really helps insulin levels I think.

What sort of things are you eating on the Atkins? Isnt that mainly proteins and fats or something?

Thanksf or post/advice hun

I mainly eat fat/proteins with 5 gram carbs each day......................................This concists of meat,fish and cheese and my carb allowance is used on veg/salad.

No sugar stuff,potatoes,bread,pasta,rice or any junk food filled with empty carbs.

Hence why I was hoping my insulin wouldnt be a issue now,still waiting for gp to call me back

hugs
Nat x

 

[natp18]

Good luck tomorrow nat. I really think that even loosing a little bit of weight may well kick start your body into ovulating again - it definitely happened for me and I've read that that can be the case. I don't know much on metformin as I don't take it (I've never actually been tested for glucose tolerance/insulin levels, etc - it's something I'm going to do if and when I have this baby) but these guys are a wealth of knowledge!!

Good luck again, let us know what happens.

Hello Hun

Thanks for post,hope it does get me ovulating soon. Off to the dreaded gym tonight arhhhhhhh hopefully that will boost the weight loss too

hugs
Nat x

 

[hb1]

Hi Natp - Just a note on orlistat - it isn't pleasant if you eat any amount of fat containing food ( trying to post without far TMI!! ) If you want TMI just PM me.

hx

 

[bumpyboo]

Good thread I got diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago, been TTC for the last 2and a bit years. Had a Lap & Dye September 2009 got my BFP October 23rd 2009 and had a natural MC November 28th 2009. Im at the gynae to discuss the next steps on wednesday, praying to god that he dosent turn me away for being overweight..im really trying to lose some but it just dosent want to go!! Hello to you all

 

[bumpyboo]

Hi Natp - Just a note on orlistat - it isn't pleasant if you eat any amount of fat containing food ( trying to post without far TMI!! ) If you want TMI just PM me.

hx

I was on some tablets once a while ago to try help with weight loss,I cant remember what they were called but i think there what you are on about. They are horrible Ive asked the Drs for something again and im not allowed anything as i am TTC!

 

[hb1]

PS. I too am not convinced that Atkins is a great diet for PCOS sufferers as you really need to balance out insulin levels and this is where the theory of the GI diet comes in and it seemsto lead to a much more balanced diet which would be more sustainable in the future - interesting link on womans health:

https://www.womens-health.co.uk/pcos6.asp

Also - personally find weight hard to lose by diet alone and have just lost 10lb in the last using the wii fit plus!!! am chuffed to bits! My BMI was 33 ( seems to be half a stone per bmi point for me - so overall I need to lose 4 stone so am on my way to my goal! )

hx

 

[hb1]

Hi again

I thought maybe a few interesting links would be good so here is goes :

A link re GI diet and PCOS :
https://gynecological-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_pcos

PCOS and rapid weight gain :
https://womenshealth.suite101.com/article.cfm/polycystic_ovarian_syndrome_rapid_weight_gain

Clomid overview :
https://www.womens-health.co.uk/clomid.asp

Soulcycters :
https://www.soulcysters.com/

Great Metformin link:
https://www.soulcysters.net/faq-about-metformin-48708/

General PCOS info:
https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealth/facts/pcos.htm

Hope these are handy, if you find some handy links then post them here - knowledge is power and all that!

hx

 

[hb1]

PS Bumpyboo - good luck with the Gynae, surely they can work alongside your weight loss mission!!

 

[bumpyboo]

PS Bumpyboo - good luck with the Gynae, surely they can work alongside your weight loss mission!!

thanks!! I hope so too, ive read a few ladies comments though that the gynae has said get some weight off before he will help fingers crossd they wont xx

 

[natp18]

Hi Natp - Just a note on orlistat - it isn't pleasant if you eat any amount of fat containing food ( trying to post without far TMI!! ) If you want TMI just PM me.

hx

Hi Hun

Thanks for the information ,I have noticed the nasty side effects already
lol

It makes you wonder how much fat we put in our body when you see it in its form,because you dont really see it when your eating the food. All very gross I know lol

How did you do on the Orlistat?
Nat xxxx