Hi Everyone - Newbie Intro

j&j620 · November 2014

I've been lurking for a while. I'm actually pretty active on TN and created a new account to post over here. I'm just not ready for everyone there to know, which might be lame...but oh well. Anywho, here's my story:

My older sister was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago. She called me to let me know, saying there was a good chance I had it as well. I let that sink in for a bit and then decided that maybe I should see what would happen if I went off BC. I had been taking the pill since I was 16 and wasn't at all surprised when my period didn't immediately show up. I rather enjoyed the convenience of being period free for a few months...which then became a few more months. Interestingly, I have IBS and saw a remarkable improvement in my symptoms after I stopped having a period. So it might have been a combination of that and fear of finding out there was a problem that prevented me from calling my GYN to fill her in on the situation. Cut to my annual and my pretty much being yelled at for not having a period for a year. I was prescribed Provera and told to call in 3 months if I didn't have a period on my own. I expressed an interest in being tested to determine if I had PCOS, but was told no as my H and I were not hoping to conceive at that time. I did have blood work done that indicated I was not ovulating, however.

The following year, we were on the verge of being ready. My GYN simply told us to have sex every other day and take a pregnancy test every month. I didn't really understand this, especially since I apparently wasn't ovulating on my own, but we just rolled with it for a while. We knew we were going to have to see an RE, but felt like we had some more time before we got "serious."

Well, things are serious now. We started seeing an RE in July and went through the whole battery of testing. Everything was fine, excluding my textbook PCOS ovaries. Our doctor said that it looks like I may have a very mild case of PCOS. I find it interesting that no one has come out and said, "You have PCOS." Anyway, we discussed our options and decided to start with a monitored Clomid cycle with timed intercourse. I started on 50mg, but showed no response so I was prescribed 100mg and started taking it immediately. I ended up with one mature follie and was given the go ahead to trigger. Unfortunately, the pressure of the situation really got to H and our attempts at intercourse the first night were not successful. It is for that reason that we have opted to try IUI for this upcoming cycle.

H and my BFF are the only people who know about all of this. I really have no idea why I am so hesitant to talk about it with other people. Maybe because I don't want to make them feel awkward? Or I know they can't emphasize? Unfortunately, I don't really have a relationship with my sister, which really stinks because she knows exactly what I'm going through right now.

So that's why I'm here. I'm sorry that any of us are here, but I am looking forward to being a part of the community.

kistra · November 2014

Hi and welcome, sorry you ended up here. I understand about not telling people. It took me a long time after our diagnosis to tell anyone and I have still only told 3 people. It isn't something that comes up in casual conversation on a regular basis. I tend to be a private person overall so I am okay with just telling a few close people. Finding this forum has helped me a lot, I hope you also find the support here that you need. There are other people that are out about IF and they can probably help you more with that than I can.

meredithcarole · November 2014

I hope you find the support and knowledge you are seeking here. Welcome.

ShellyR · November 2014

I'm sorry you landed here, but welcome

I definitely understand the hesitancy with telling people about IF. I'm still mostly in the closet myself for self-protective reasons. That's why boards like this are so awesome. Good luck with IUI!

j&j620 · November 2014

Thanks so much ladies.

BlueFairy5 said:

I expressed an interest in being tested to determine if I had PCOS, but was told no as my H and I were not hoping to conceive at that time
Unfrigginbelievable! How can a medical doctor not recognize that PCOS has health implications aside from issues TTC??? I want it to be Throat Punch Thursday again so I can tag your GYN. Grrrrr.

Yeah, I am not very pleased with her. She said, and I quote, that I "do not look like a typical PCOS patient."

Methinks it's time to find a new GYN.

SND1231 · November 2014

@BlueFairy5 your OB sounds ignorant! How insensitive. I am so sorry.
@j&j620 welcome. I am sorry that you have to find yourself here. Hopefully your stay is short and sweet!
ETA tag fail.

redandblue · November 2014

Welcome and sorry you find yourself here. This group is a very supportive bunch and can be a good place if you don't have people IRL to talk to about this stuff. I know it really helped me and DH when I first found this board, so he didn't have to always hear me obsess over he whole situation. Hope you stay is short and sweet.

dancerspose · November 2014

I'm sorry you find yourself here, but welcome and good luck!

We're finally getting our first monitored cycle next month and I actually asked DH if he wanted me t keep him in the dark about the monitoring/triggering so he wouldn't know when I was initiating sex because it was "time" because I'm worried about putting too much pressure on him. He said he didn't care, but I'm still not sure...

Anyway, all that's to say that I'm sorry to hear you had a difficult first cycle, but glad you have a plan with IUI moving forward.

SND1231 · November 2014

@BlueFairy5 I tried and tried to get it to tag and finally gave up. I figured it was just my work computer. Thanks for letting me know that it isn't just me!

deelopi9 · November 2014

Welcome and I'm sorry you find yourself here. Hopefully your stay is short. For the first couple of years I kept IF to myself. One thing I've learned with doctors you have to be your own advocate. No one knows your body like you do. Good Luck. Good luck with the IUI.

BunnyBerry · November 2014

Yuck, I am so angry with these OBs!! Do they hate women or something??

I'm so glad an RE is taking good care of you guys now. IUI sounds like a great plan.

BKAlyssa · November 2014

Welcome. I'm fairly new here too, but these ladies are awesome. I also am pretty private about all of this. I've only shared info with my mom, and my MIL just knows we are seeing an RE but nothing else.

Sorry you found yourself with a doctor who didn't listen to your concerns. Good luck with you next cycle and IUI.

nikiswimr · November 2014

Welcome! I'm new (or newly returning) here as well. Sounds like your RE has a good plan, but I'm not sure what your Gyn was thinking. My DH had the same problem our first Clomid cycle. Second cycle I just didn't tell him what was going on

j&j620 · November 2014

BlueFairy5 said:

@SND1231 Yeah, I can't get it to tag j&j620 correctly either. I'm guessing because of the ampersand?

Oh boo! There's a girl on my TN home board who had a period in her name and we could never get it to tag. It didn't occur to me that other "special" characters would be a problem, too.

Sorry for the confusion!

And thank you again for the warm welcome:-)

kef21287 · November 2014

Welcome and good luck with your IUI cycle!!

I can't believe your gyno just blew off your concerns about PCOS like that, ugh!

sunshine412 · November 2014

Welcome! I have a similar situation where I have some signs/symptoms of PCOS, but my doctor didn't want to label me as such so he's treating me as anovulatory. I'm not sure it makes a difference unless you have insulin resistance in which case something like metformin might help (other ladies can correct me if I'm wrong on this). Good luck!