Just diagnosed with PCOS. Please help!

[Pooley]

Hi there,

1 1/2 yrs after having my DS we decided to start TTC again. i stopped the taking the pill and decided to jump straight into it. After no AF 6 weeks after stopping it we thought we were lucky and had concieved already... 2 neg HPT and i was a bit worried and upset so we went for the usually bloods... Nope not preggas. oh well we thougt we'd just wait for AF... By the 3rd months still no AF... the GP said it was ok as i was on the pil for a while it may take a while. By the 4 months and more neg HPT we decided to investigate further. We did the US and found i had PCO... After bloods the GP told me that it would be unlikly i'd concieve without some help. Me being 22 was devastated at his diagnosis.

i suffer from weight problems and hair loss but GP said bloods didnt show any signs of PCOS.
My ovaries are covered in the small cysts and blood work showed i wasnt producing any progestrone which is why i dont release any egg. i was told that i would have great difficulty having another bubs without some kind of fertillity treatment. I decided to see another GP for another opinion who suggested a round of Progesterone pills
After taking the dose (which were supposed to make me have a period) one week later i had a small amount of bleeding that lasted a few hours (very minor, didnt think anything of it) we thought it hadnt worked. we were in the process of discussing options about a month later i was severly sick (throwing up) for a week and a half and doc not knowing why tested for all causes all coming up with nothing he eventually did a preg test and came up that i was preg. Shocked and surprised my DP and i were over the moon.

Not sure what ur situation is... Have you had bloods done???

I don't think they got as far as testing to see whether I was ovulating?
They only checked Blood sugar, FSH and LH. My FSH = 6 and my LH was 18. That's how the doctor proved the diagnosis.

Should I see another doctor/ gyno and ask them to do these tests?

[lyra stardust]

Hi there,thanks for posting this- lots I relate to! I too have PCOS. People are affected very differently by this, some overweight, some not, some have periods, some don't. etc etc. Basically if you have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound and either evidence of high testosterone (acne, hairiness) or on blood test, or irregular or no periods then you are definitely PCOS. You don't need all the bits together to make the diagnosis. Having said that if you have been on Implanon and only stopped in July it sounds like your lack of periods may be related to that- it can take a while for your bod to get back to normal. My advice would be to seek help from a specialist early you always have to wait for appointment anyway. I would try and find out if there's a fertility specialist who has an interest in PCOS in your area and get a referral. From persona experience though, PCOS isn't always obvious when you're younger. I had normal periods up until I went on the pill at 20 and it was only when I came off at 23 and had none for 18 mo that I was diagnosed. Now Im 30 and TTC and have again come off the pill and am not ovulating. It doesn't make sense to me that my body seemed fine in my teens and now I have PCOS but I am coming to terms with it and am due for 1st cycle of clomiphene in 4 weeks (very excited!!)
Wishing you all the luck in the world!
LS

[angie66]

I found out I had PCOS nearly 3 years ago. I went on Metformin (which helped regulate my cycles) and also did many cycles of Clomid. I did 2 cycles of fsh injections early this year- no luck. It was so frustrating. I decided to take a break from it all and kept taking the metformin and guess what- I found out I was pregnant in June! The ob couldn't explain why it happened now but just said it was 'our time'! Just hang in there- it will happen for you too!

[Pooley]

Well I'm hoping to go to my GP tomorrow and get a request to see a gyno. I had already been "diagnosed" by another doctor without going into details about my menstrual history and told to wait for 12 months. My GP had advised me to come back in a couple of months to him if I hadn't had AF yet so I'm hoping if I ask nicely and discuss what the other doctor said that he will give me a referall.

I just hate waiting to get AF, obviously us trying at the moment isn't worth it because as far as I'm concerned my body isn't working. I don't mind ttc if someone can tell me I AM ovulating for sure and then see what happens. Like, 4 months isn't long enough without AF after Implanon??? No spotting nothing!! I'm not asking to have IVF, I just want to give my body a helping hand.

Surely it won't be a hassle to get a referall, I don't think I should have to fight for it.

I will let you know tomorrow if I am successful or not

[tk1999]

Hi
Angie, thank you for the encouraging words and for sharing your positive story... it gives people like myself that glimmer of hope that I need at the moment. Congratulations on your pregnancy, I wish you a happy and healthy remainder!

Pooley, besh wishes for the GP, I hope they are more helpful then the wait and see approach they have taken in the past. Maybe you should lean on the fact that waiting 12 months when AF hasn't returned isn't going to help anyone because obviously you want fall pg during those 12 months because if AF isn't around you won't be O... sometimes doctors need to have the logic pointed out to them - I have worked with many senior doctors during my career and it sometimes amazes me that they don't think of these minor (but VERY important) bits of information! Yes the wait for AF is getting very stressful and you've got time on me!! I have been getting some pains that I remember from when AF was regular (it was 6 years ago!) but still nothing. I remember I used to get lots of headaches before AF was due and I have been getting headaches again (but I already suffer from bad headaches) but headaches are also a side effect of the Metformin also... so looks like I can't get a good AF indicator from anywhere. I have been on Metformin for a week tomorrow and have had some stomach upset (sorry if TMI) but it settles and as the info pamphlet says it gets worse with some foods so I have changed that foods I eat a little to fit in better with the Metformin. I hope you don't have to fight for the referral either... I have fingers crossed for a level headed GP!

Catch up with you all later

[tk1999]

Pooley, I am dying to hear how you went at the GP... I just have to share this news because you like our fellow BB posters will probably be the only ones to appreciate this... AF seems to have arrived today (sorry if TMI) it is only very light but the pains are in full force. So it seems the pains I have had recently were amounting to something. I have been on the Metformin now for almost a week.

I have NEVER been so excited to see AF!! DP is working away at the moment and didn't seem to care too much when I rang him so I just had to get on here to share this great news... I am in SO much pain but I love it because at least I know things are working! I just hope I don't scare her away with how happy I am that she is here!

Ok, now that that is out of my system - I hope all went ok with the GP... talk soon

[Pooley]

You must have typed your message while I was typing, I'm soo jealous I just burst out into tears. Congrats to you, I'm sorry I didn't mean to put a downer on your news. I'm just green with envy

[tk1999]

Pooley, sweetie, I am so sorry... I didn't mean to upset you... after I had posted the message I thought how would I have felt reading that. Then after reading your message, I welled up...

OMG I am a dil, I should have been more considerate especially as you have been waiting 2 months (I think) longer than me... no downer on my news... I am just sorry to have been such a dil.

The GP sounds much more positive. I hate going to other doctors when your normal one is not available. Best of luck with the tests tomorrow... I will keep my fingers crossed for an answer.

xoxo :hugs:

[Pooley]

Well, success at last hopefully. Please note this doctor is my family's GP and he has known me since before I was born. The only reason I had went to other docs before is because he was on hols when this all happened a couple of months ago.

He is requesting that I have the bloods again for FSH, LH and also checking thyroids and a blood pregnancy test (Pffff, I wish!!) THEN from their if he thinks that the levels are the same as when I first had them done nearly 2 months ago, he will give me e referral to a specialist.

At least he was willing to admit that he is not an expert and said that I should be visiting with someone else who is better qualified to explain everything. AND he didn't think that I was being impatient with the arrival of AF.

So I will have my blood test tomorrow morning at 7am! and then hopefully see whether they show up anything new.

I have heard that Metformin can get PCOS sufferers ovulating regularly after 4 - 6 months of treatment. Maybe you won't have to wait that long. Must make the waiting a little worse now that you definately know AF should be coming soon. I suppose once you're ovulating, you don't want it to come!!!

I had a bugger of a day at work and am just glad that I'm getting closer to seeing someone that knows about my problems. Best of luck tk1999, hope AF visits you soon.

Keep me posted, xox

[Hansie]

Hi Ladies, sorry haven't been around for a while.

Good to hear tk1999 that things are starting to happen. Another positive note for you that it will happen for you is that I miscarried the yr before having DS and I had so many friends that were so sad, but I just looked at it as my body can do this. DH was always positive that it would happen and it did. I wasn't so sure until then. I found out I was having DS 9mths later.

Pooley hope your GP gave you the referral. I know it's the last thing you want to here but give your body time. It wll happen..... I came off the pill in Aug '03,diagnosed with PCOS Dec 31st '03 and didn't get pregnant until April 06 which ended in miscarriage. But I wouldn't take the medication I just new I had to loose the weight once they explained how PCOS worked. Stress is also a big factor with PCOS it means there are alot more hormones surrounding your ovaries.

My cycles were regular before going on the Pill and then when I came off it I didn't get a cycle for 6-9mths. I was told that PCOS usually rears it's ugly head after a lifestyle change. Mine they believe was due to moving to Australia and being in a different environment. Not eating the same, being homesick and not being as active as I was (found it a little daunting when I first arrived esp being 20 with no fam). The gene lies dormant, but they are not sure exactly what it is that triggers it.

Thinking of you both it is a very daunting time and it's the unkown that drives you insane!

[Pooley]

It's ok, it's not your fault I'm just super emotional atm. My hubby just left for work and won't be home til Thursday and I just hate being by myself because I just worry, worry, worry and make myself sick.

I can't talk to anyone else about it because I haven't told anyone in my family that we are ttc. I know the stress and worry is not helping me either but I can't help it.

Nights alone are just depressing. I was gonna go get off my arse and excersise my frustrations out but I can;t be bothered to get up. I just hope that soon,for me the tests and c.r.a.p will be over and I can start on the journey that you are on. Instead of the "someone help my body function normally before I go mentally insane" one I'm on now.

Really, tk1999,I'll get over it eventually it was just my initial reaction because I saw it in your signature first before I read your post

[tk1999]

Pooley, we must be living parralell lives... my DP is working away this week also! He is working about a 4 hour or so drive from where we live but is not sure what day (if any) he will be home this week. I too hate nights alone and HATE sleeping alone. I hardly slept at all last night just tossed and turned until I got his pillows and put them in the bed as though he was lying there. Sad I know but it got me to sleep... ok off to get some dinner organised.

[Pooley]

Hmmm, had my dinner but i should go and watch some telly. I don't know if I'll sleep much tonight but I have nothing much else to keep me preoccupied. My hubby was away in Mackay when I was first "diagnosed" that was an interesting couple of days.

At least when I'm at work I'm distracted. I hope you can sleep a little easier tonite knowing that things are going in the right direction. Everywhere I bloody turn there's babies, driving me madder than ever, again, probably only cause I'm jealous.

Won't be on again tonite, but will let you know what the tests say probably Fridayish. I don't think there will be much difference but then I can at least make another appointment for very early next week for that referral. Something to aim for I suppose.

Nite nite, (I won't say good incase I jinx it for you!)

Thanks for your support, it's funny how you can feel understood and connected to someone when you've never met them before. And there k's away.

Talk soon