Trouble TTC
calling PCOS LADIES..
Thought I would start a thread asking for PCOS ladies to share a little of their stories. I don't have any "friends" yet on here and would like to follow some of your stories.
Got my official diagnosis today: PCOS. Pretty much figured that. DH's first SA came back abnormal (low volume). Have done two cycles of clomid (mostly for Dr. to be able to do labs to get a diagnosis). About to start on a med (can't remember name) to help with estrogen level, and will start clomid and monitoring again next cycle.
A little discouraged today....(things never move fast enough for us, do they?). But remain hopeful that God has a plan. Anyone want to share their story?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: calling PCOS LADIES..
I was diagnosed early September, but my OBGYN told me that if I lose weight it and my diabetes will probably go away. So I have lost a little over 20 lbs, and plan to lose about 50 more.
I have another health issue going on...i have a tumor on my pituatary gland that is producing excess prolactin so I have to go back December 9 for more blood work and hopefully then I will get a good report from the OBGYN
Me: Oligomenorrhea (workup for PCOS turned out to be negative)
DH: 1st SA 11/09: good volume but only 20% normal
Cycle #1: Clomid 50mg=No O
1/10 2nd SA (this time at the fertility clinic): PERFECT!!!
1/10 My Tests: HSG All clear! B/W is normal!
2/10 Started Acupuncture
Cycle #2: 100 mg Clomid CD4-CD8 trigger TI Progesterone=BFN
Cycle #3: 100 mg Clomid CD3-CD7 trigger TI Progesterone=BFP!
Beta 1=144 Beta 2=359 Beta 3=637
My Scrambled Eggs
Surprise BFP January 2012!
Hi! My name is Ashley. I went off of BCP (on for 4 years) in May and we've been trying to conceive since June 09. I have not yet had a natural period (only a couple brought on by Prometrium & Provera).
I went to my OBGYN at the end of August and was told I had PCOS (based on my past history along -- I have a history of very irregular periods). She ran some basic bloodwork that all came back normal. We switched to an RE. I just finished a round of Provera, did baseline bloodwork today, and we will be having our HSG and SA next Monday. I have had an ultrasound showing possible polycystic ovaries in the past and the symptoms are all there. The RE believes it is PCOS but wants to rule out everything else before making a firm diagnosis.
If all goes well with our testing, we will be doing Clomid w/ monitoring in January as soon as the holidays are over.
We are really hoping that this will be enough to do it and bring us our little one.
Hey,
I was diagnosed two years ago. I have been controlling the symptoms with diet and exercise after having been on antiglycemics.
Before the dx AF never came without hormone treatments. After going to a naturopath and doing a lot of research I have been able to manage it with my diet to control the insulin resistance. After changing a lot of things in my lifestyle I have been able to keep a 36 day regular cycle. Losing extra weight really helped and watching my diet was the best thing for me!
It was a long road but you can get through it if you really try!!
Take Care
I have PCOS as well, it's pretty common. I would suggest heading over to the Infertility board, there's a ton of good infos from those ladies. Clomid is great for a lot of women, but it's definitely not a cure-all. I see from your siggy that the last two rounds you've done haven't produced any good follicles. In my first treatment cycle, we did one round of Clomid at 150mg and didn't see a response. At that point we did injectibles and I overstimulated. The cycle was cancelled, but I still got pregnant and now our baby is laying in my lap as I type
There does seem to be a link between PCOS and insulin resistance. Do you know if you have insulin resistance? If so, you should go on Metformin to control it. Met has some bad side effects (namely diarrhea), but it gets better within a few weeks and for many women it helps enormously with PCOS symptoms. Weight loss can also be a big help, but PCOS makes it harder to lose weight, so that can be a bit of a catch-22. I've heard that a glycemic index diet works best for women with PCOS, but I never managed to lose any weight, so don't quote me on that. A loss of 10% of your body weight can make a difference. There are some lean PCOSers, though, so if you aren't overweight, don't worry about that.
Just hang in there....I know it's hard. I remember those dark days so vividly it hurts. Don't get discouraged if the Clomid doesn't work, if/when you move to injectibles there is a whole different process at play with how they work, and injectibles work for the vast majority of women, though it may take a few cycles to figure out the right dosing.
Good luck!!!
A brief history is that I was diagnosed in May 2005, tried naturally for two years due to finanacial strain and then started on fertility meds May 2007. Done 4 cycles of clomid, and now it has been 8 cycles of femera, 6 of them with HCG injects, all with TI.
The PCOS check-in is on the Infertility board if anyone wants to join, twice a week. Lots of support and lots of gals willing to help.
*PCOS bio* *Cold Hands, Warm Heart*
You ladies are fabulous....give me lots of hope! I don't have all the symptoms of PCOS, just some slight "pearl necklace-looking" ovaries, no regular period (except on BC), and then the fantastic dark hairs on the chin that nobody ever mentions! Insulin is fine. My sister got pregnant on 50 mg clomid with slight PCOS. I think mine's a little more severe, and then there's the MFI with DH. sigh.
We'll just keep trucking along though, knowing God has a plan. I will jump over to the Infertility board as suggested. So thanks for that! Can't wait to keep following all of your journeys!
KaraMay,
Would you mind sharing your diet/eating habits, as well as workout info. I just wonder what you learned about controlling PCOS with diet & exercise. How does it differ from other diets?
I'm not overweight, but I had gained about 10-15 pounds after going off BCP even though I was exercising regularly and eating well. Very frustrating to see the scale keep going up! I was dx PCOS in July. I started Metformin October 1st and I've lost 15 pounds since then.
If you are looking for a specific diet check out South Beach or any that are geared toward low glycemic index to help with PCOS. That seems to help, even those not insulin resistant.
I also highly recommend you check out soulcysters.net It's an entire website and message board for women with PCOS. It's very helpful. And also the check ins that Katie mentioned on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You are definitely not alone! Good luck.
DD's Food Allergies: Peanuts and Rice, Outgrown Dairy!
8/09 Dx PCOS & Hashimoto's
BFP #2 12/13/11. Missed M/C at 11w5d, measured 8w6d. D&C 2/1/12
Never in my arms, but always in my heart.
i was dx with "mild" PCOS, with no real insulin issues showing in blood work. Although my RE said wanted to do a fasting glucose to double check. Before we got to that though I started eating Low-GI (essentially what a diabetic should eat) and exercising. I lost 10 lbs, cut out a lot of sugar, and started ovluating. I got pregnant on my own a few months later. A bit of luck, maybe. But i reallly think the diet and working out helped *tremendously*
PCOS and IR diagnosed last January. Have lost 18 lbs through diet & exercise and metformin. Had a couple of periods at the begining induced by provera then they kicked in naturally every 3months, every 2 months and then the last 2 were about 32 days apart. Had to reduce from 2000 met. to 1500 met. because it made me feel nauseous too much. I'm bummed now because I'm (23 days) overdue for a period that was close to getting regular. I assume because I lowered the met. See RE dec. 4 so we'll see. I thought yesterday, "Maybe I'm pregnant?!". Cheap store test said "no".
From the research I've done it seems that a low glycemic diet aka a diebetic diet or the South Beach diet is best for PCOS/IR. Low carbs and low sugar is the key. Try to give up all refined sugars if you can (I'm still struggling with that. I have a major sweet tooth) or reduce intake as much as possible. I even try to avoid fruits which have fructose as their sugar (bananas are bad-high in carbs and sugar) and vegetables that are high in sugar (carrots, onions, beets) even though they are natural sugars.
I'm 5'8 athletic and overweight at 220lbs. On a good week I get about 1-1.5 hours of running in and 40 min of lifting. I have to admit that, that isn't as much as I should do. I think I should be exercising for 30+ min 5 days a week w/lifting in there but that is really something for me to work up to. (Have read that lifting weights is very important for people w/PCOS.) I have been bad the last couple of weeks because I have been very down but that's another entry.
Sorry to jump in here, but this is really good book: New Glucose Revolution Guide to Living Well with PCOS
Hey, I would love to share.
I am insulin resistant so I watch what refined sugars I eat. I don't eat many carbs and when I do they are complex (whole wheat, etc). Also I try to balance my protein intake with my carbohydrate intake. I work out regularily to maintain a healthy weight. I could probably, according to text book, lose about 30 more but I am 5'10 with a hx of eating disorder and have been at lower weights that are definitely not healthy for me.
I did a lot of reading about PCOS and into fertility diets. There are books that focus on diet for PCOS suffers. I have founf it to have helped alot. Like you I only had regular periods on BC. When I stopped it I did not see AF for about 2 years. When I started changing my diet and lost some weight and became healthy my periods started again on their own and I was able to control other symptoms like acne. Since my diagnosis I have been having regular u/s to keep status on my cysts. At my surgery in Aug for my ectopic the doc said the ovaries were clear!
So as far as I can tell I am doing something right!
Hope this helps.
Take Care
Hey there. I have PCOS and found an INCREDIBLE website that is just for us girls. and the board there is AMAZIMG!! Tons of support, WAAAAAYYYY more than what you would find here!
go to www.soulcysters.com
the best place to learn more about pcos, and talk with women who are ttc with pcos, as well as diet, exercise, medications, and other things that go along with PCOS.
Good luck!!!!
I'm the same way... I also do not have weight issues so a lot of the info on PCOS out there doesn't provide a lot of insight.
I've been seeing an RE since early summer 2008 and before that my gyn had me on clomid (unmonitored!!). After starting with RE we did clomid some more but with monitoring, other meds (progesterone, estrogen, etc) and then the regular b/w. We were on a break for the last few months and are very excited to start up again here shortly! This time it is purely injectables
but whatever we can do!
Good luck everyone!
I am Krystal and I officially went off of birth control in April 2009. I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids in June of 2009. I just had to switch doctors because my doctor moved and I went to my new doctor today who told me that I have all of signs of PCOS. She did some blood work today and I am scheduled for another ultrasound in December 2009. If the diagnosis of PCOS is correct, I will begin with Clomid...etc.
Hi Krystal. I am Krystle
Nice to meet you.