Just diagnosed with PCOS. Please help!

Molly Cat - Thanks for your story. I think I have decide to see either another GP or a gyno, I don't think I'll be able to think straight until I'm told what I need to know about my hormone levels etc.

If that means blood tests etc, I'm up for it,

Thanks for your feedback.

Goodluck!!

Pooley - all the best with the testing. I think it's a great place to start. There's also a lot of books around on PCOS, fills in a lot of gaps and help explain the reasoning why and how.

i think its always best to get a second opinion. I mean i cant hurt to have things confirmed or like in my case a different diagnosis. i round of progesterone pills and a confirmed pregnancy 6 weeks after.

I have also had a friend mis diagnosed also. i'm not saying this is the case but its worth a second opinion and possibly the chance of more info and help then ur current GP

I agree!! I'm praying for a misdiagnosis!! I brought a thermomter today so I will attempt to start charting my temps even though AF has not arrived yet. Just track it for while I suppose.

I am booked in to see a new female doc this Wednesday so hopefully if I take all the info I already know, she will help me understand a little more and maybe request a blood test to see if I'm ovulating.

Probably not the best timing for being re-tested as hubby and I are off to Hong Kong next week (school hols! Gotta luv em' !!) for 10 days. Hopefully after a bit of relaxation(and retail therapy ) we can come back and get on track for success.

Keep you posted.

Thanks Twinkle.

Pooley
Hi, we have spoken in one of the other threads (Implanon) well I had bloods taken today. I went to see a GP I haven't been able to get into see for a while, he used to be my regular doctor, anyway, he asked how I was going after Implanon and we got to talking and he wants to check my hormone levels for PCOS (they thought I may have had it whilst the Implanon was in but couldn't diagnose properly as they couldn't get the hormone levels accurately). Anyway, just wanted to update you with my situation...

How are you going after your visit with your female doc?

Sorry, for late reply.

I am on holiday in Hong Kong so haven't been able to get to a computer for a while. :rolleyes:

The female doctor had a very strong opinion that she thought I DIDN'T have PCOS.
:dunno:
She thought it was too early to tell since I only had the implant out in June. She said the blood tests would be inaccurate because of the hormome levels etc. The other doc wanted to wait 12 mths before taking any action.

The female doc said to wait till xmas and if I haven't had AF by then that we would redo ALL tests and then try to help to get me ovulating. :D

So that was a big help in getting my mind settled a bit before I had to go away and try and enjoy my holiday!!

Let me know how you go with your tests, and if you're not happy make sure you go and see someone else, at least to get an opinion.

Take care, all the best ox

Hi Pooley,

Hope you are enjoying your holiday. Well I don't know how I feel at the moment... the blood test results are a strong indication for PCOS so I have been referred to a Gynaecologist for further investigation... GP says with the results and my history - apparently there are things from pre-Implanon days that indicate PCOS but it wasn't considered to be too significant then (age 19) - it would be best to start investigations now rather than after I had been TTC for 12 months or so. So I have my referral, details of US I have had over the years and results of my blood test and will make an appointment on Monday to see a Gynae.

DP says everything will be fine... he thinks things will just work out - he does with everything - and I am trying to not stress about it but it has started to consume my thoughts... I will wait to see the Gynae and then decide what my next step will be (ie second opinion).

Have a great time in HK

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

Hi tk1999,

I know what you're saying about cosuming your thoughts. My hubby also says the EXACT same thing, he thinks it will just happen for us. The holiday has helped a little, just being distracted for a little while but no doubt the thoughts about ttc will return when I'm home again.
I hope the gyno can give you some better guidance at what you should be doing and won't tell you you have to wait and see.

Some others on here have been telling me to temp,(I started a week before we went away and had to stop when we came on holiday cause it was all a bit hard :( ) but it's all over the place atm.

I am home in a couple of days so will be able to message more often. PLease let me know how you go at the gyno as I'll take any second hand advice to help right now. :dunno:

Try and keep yourself distracted if possible I know it's hard!!


Pooley

Hi all,
Today is the day of my Gynae appointment... I am not sure how I feel... I know that PCOS is not the end of the world and many people have still conceived but I still am a little uneasy. Anyway, just thought I would post my thoughts of today, will post again after the appointment to update you all on the progress.

Well tk 1999,

I'm back home now :( So how did you go?? :pray: I think we all realise it's not the end of the world but you just wonder why it can't happen for you like it does for everybody else.

And you feel like you've gone from never giving children a second thought really, to total obsession about ttc!! Now I'm back home, I'll be starting to settle down and getting into thinking non stop about it.

Please let me know how you went, as for me, 12 weeks on Monday still waiting for AF.

Pooley

Hi Pooley, this is now the third time I have typed this response... my computer keeps refreshing and I lose the text!! Argh!
Anyway, the Gynae went well, at first he was surprised that the GP had referred me given that we have only been on the TTC journey for 8 weeks rather than 12 months but after we had discussed my history he agreed with the GP. I am not sure if I have mentioned this previously but DP and I have fallen pg twice before when we first got together, I was on the pill at the time. The pg were both unplanned so we decided to terminate both (not sure how the members feel about this but from what I have read in the forums I presume our decision will be respected even if it differs from others views). The Gynae said that it was good to know that we were a fertile couple and that he believed the Implanon has put my ovaries to sleep. He took some further bloods as the GPs bloods did not have some things that he wanted to see so I will get the results on Tuesday and depending on what the results are I will likely start Metformin (one tablet per day) and continue that until December/January. He also did a pap smear and an internal US, he saw small follicles and cysts but said it was less than the last US I had had. If we have not conceived by Dec/Jan then further tests on both myself and DP. I feel more positive than I did the other day!!
I wish not only yourself Pooley, but the other posters in this thread and forum a short TTC journey.

Well tk1999,

Sounds like your gyno had a very positive outlook on your situation. :p I didn't realise that you had fallen pregnant before and that IS a very good indication that your body is working. Pregnancies aren't always welcome and you're probably already making yourself worried about your previous terminations if you think that NOW it isn't possible for you to become pregnant. I'm sure others in these forums will understand that everyone's situation is different and not judge you on your past. :hug:

I am however very jealous that your gyno would request that you go on medication and that my doctor is still "giving it time"! I hate to not doing anything about it, it drives me insane. :wall: My 2nd female doctor also mentioned the fact that my previous doctor didn't look for other things in my blood test too, I'm not sure what it was but she said she would test for everything next time, not just PCOS indicators.

I'm hoping that your tests come back positive (as in not PCOS) and you can start moving forward with ttc. :pray:

Can I just ask, did you need a referral to a gyno?? I don't really want to go to another doctor but I would like to know if the option is there. Also are you getting any pain around where your ovaries are, dull but definately nothing you've had before having Implanon out?? The 1st doc said that this would not be related to the PCOS and I forgot to mention this to the next doc.

All the best, Pooley

Hi Pooley, thank you for your well wishes. I have to ring the Gynae's office tomorrow to find out the results. I know that in NSW you have to have a referral to see a Gynae as they are a specialist... I presume it would be the same in QLD... when we first started talking to the Gynae he asked if I was just having a check up pre TTC so that might be your avenue in... but in any case you should be able to just ask your GP for a referral - they shouldn't question your reasoning for wanting to see a Gynae (and if they do you could go for the pre TTC check which I suppose there are things the Gynae can check that a GP cannot).
I have been getting pains for the last week and a half or so... I thought it might be AF on her way but when the Gynae said that he didn't expect her for some time I figured maybe it was ovulation. I never had these sorts of pains whilst the Implanon was in. Whilst the Implanon was in though I did have a VERY sharp pain that they put down to the cysts bursting but this is so much duller than that pain and is reminscent of my pre-Implanon ovualation and pre-AF pain... but I am still not 100% sure what it might be... I also forgot to mention it to the Gynae or even the GP.
I will update after work tomorrow!
I hope AF visits us both soon, at least then we will know where we are up to and what is happening!

Update: No results thus far... the lab forgot about the public holiday yesterday so have to wait until tomorrow! Will keep you all posted!

Update: I have just updated my signature... confirmed diagnosis of PCOS and commencing Metformin tonight (Gynae already wrote out prescription in case of confirmed diagnosis). So the plan atm is to take Metformin until Dec/Jan and then a visit to the Gynae again to see what's changed etc.

Hope you are all doing well!