PCOS AND Endometriosis

[dusty]

We did all of the organic diet, supplements, no caffine, no alcohol etc for about a year... I ended up sending myself crazy worrying about making sure I was making my body the best possible environment for a baby to grow..... it was way to much pressure and I ended up crying for a day over it - and decided that enough was enough - I still need to live.

I have now taken a much gentler, no guilt approach - we eat organic when we can, because it is better for the environment - but I don't beat myself up if we don't... we take the viatmins needed for a baby, but don't spend a small fortune on supplements every month (after 2.5 years of trying it adds up!) I am now working on everything in moderation... and not stressing myself out about everything I 'should' be doing.

Hi Bindi
I really hear you on the above. Your approach sounds like such a sane and much more sustainable happy one for you. When LTers TTC for so long we sometimes forget what it was like to live without TTC being the be all and end all. I really admire you taking action to live your life in such a healthy relaxed way. I have been coming to the same realisation over time and I am the same about not beating myself up over not doing some or doing it better. We are only human, and it is such a happier way to live.

I wish you all life's happiness and really admire your approach to it all.

[Faith1974]

Hi,

I have both endo and PCOS (although not with the weight gain, so I'm a little different), but I also have a benign pituitary tumour that secretes prolactin. This means I have to be on medication to GET pregnant, but have to come OFF the medication if I do get pregnant (and risk the tumour growing). I can't count the number of medications I have been on, many with little effect. The thing I found most helpful though (and this may sound a little weird, but some Scandinavian research has suggested a link) was becoming a full vegetarian. My endo went from needing a "slash and burn" at least every year to 2 in 8years, with no other lifestyle changes.

I have had one miscarriage, and unfortunately am waiting right now to have another. It's my first successful ovulation with clomid, and I got pregnant strait away! But my poor little strawberry (about her size, hence the name) is not going to stay. After this it is probably more clomid, and then a step up towards IVF if that doesn't work.

Despite my doom and gloom, I think I'm trying to say "Have hope" - if I can get pregnant, I'm praying so can you. Pregnancy is also supposed to be very good for the endo. Is your weight within a healthy range? That's about the only other issue I can think of that you have direct control over with the PCOS.
Good luck to you,
Faith

[Faith1974]

Just a bit of hope for endo/PCOS sufferers (I hope!)...

I got my blood test results last night, and they were still going up but very slowely. The specialist had booked me in for an emergency ultasound for this morning, as she was thinking the pregnancy was either ectopic or getting ready to miscarry.

So this morning I went for the ultrasound, which showed A PERFECTLY SIZED SAC AND FETUS (exactly 6 weeks, 1 day, which is where I know I'm at) and a heart rate of 108-110! I could even see the tiny heart fluttering! I was crying like crazy!

My specialist is going to do another scan in 10 days, and she said a few women can have "strange" hcg levels but a normal pregnancy, so she is not going to do any more blood tests (which is a big relief).

Maybe there is hope???!!!!

[bindi13]

Hi faith that is brilliant news!! Congrats!!! That is great news!!! How is it all going??

My appointment with a fertility specialist is in 10 days - so hopefully that will go well.

I am one of the larger sized PCOSers, but I work hard at keeping it as low as possible, I watch what I eat (but am not a saint) and work out about 10hrs a week doing fun things - mainly dancing, but also other cardio and strength stuff. And funny you should mention vegitarianism - I have been over many months reducing the amount of meat I eat, and the last few weeks have been meat free and I really enjoyed it - I don't like the taste of meat, but had always eaten it as it was convenient to eat what everyone else was having.

And dusty thanks so much for your post! We only ended up settling on this after lots and lots of trial and error