PCOS Support

[KeiraYvette]

Hi, just thought I'd post my history as I also have PCOS. I only found out I had it after a year of trying to conceive.. The thing that worked for me was going on Metformin, and a complete lifestyle change.. I ate a Low GI diet and exercised my heart out.. after a few months we conceived our daughter. .. just wanted to share what helped with me as we were told we would most likely have to try IVF, Clomid etc..

[Swah]

Hi all,

I am new to this, and have been TTC for a little while now with no luck as have PCOS. GP suggested I may have luck with Clomid, but gyno said must lose weight ( well duh) before she would prescribe. As I said to her, trying to lose weight with PCOS can be a hard and long process, and as I am over 30 I don't want to wait any longer for pregnancy. Am in ACT, and have heard that Dr Armellin is more understanding of girls who are carrying weight, and may prescribe assistance without making me jump through hoops. Obviously am trying to lose weight at same time, but would love to know of Dr who will assist without making me wait ( weight? LOL) any longer. Keeping a brave face, but am feeling sad and useless.

[belle75]

Hi Swah,
Just wanted to give you a I am over 30 as well and feel the same as you. My Gyno is reluctant to prescribe clomid as well. Sorry I can't help you with any Dr recommendations as I live in Melb. However, I just wanted to reassure you that you've come to the right place with your questions. There are some great ladies on BB with heaps of knowledge and experience. Everyone is so beautiful and supportive. Hope you find your answers soon.

I agree with KeiraYvette, a low GI diet (don't have to limit yourself too much, I know the word "diet" sounds really dramatic ) just watch your carbs no added sugar, no processed food try to eat as much fresh, homemade food as possible and regular exercise ( just a 30min walk a day is enough to stimulate ovulation). I just walk the dog with my DH every night after dinner or go early morn now that the weather is so beautiful . Have started ovulating regularly after 12 years of irregular periods.

Also, I read in one of the other threads that transfats will impair fertility. Try to watch out for these (in packaged food, pastries, cookies, marg/butter, chicken skin etc). Transfats helps processed food last longer. Hope that helps.

for a for you soon hun.

[Swah]

Hi belle,

Thanks for your words, encouragement and prayers. I haven't even told my close friends we are trying coz I don't want the ' so are you pregnant yet?" questions, so to be able to talk about it here is wonderful. I am joining Curves tomorrow, so hopefully that will get things going, as I so badly want a bubba. Already losing with diet, so maybe I won't have to end up taking anything, as I am getting more regular. Your story gave me hope, so nice to hear from someone in the same boat, as all my GF's fell first go, or soon after.

[tk1999]

KeiraYvette, how much of a change was the switch to low GI? My problem is that I work full time and study at uni part-time so try to eat as well as I can but sometimes it can be too hard to eat well... and I hate cooking so DP does most of it and he likes his certain meals... would love to hear a bit more about your experience with eating low GI to manage PCOS.

I am already going to the gym three times a week and seeing a personal trainer for one of those sessions - it is all I can manage with my life at the moment...

[tashgoode@hotmail.com]

Hi all well i havent been on this site for so long....all i can say is stick to your guns the low gi diet is really great..my first thoughts on this diet were a bit grim but its so easy i just bought a book that shows most of the supermarket foods and it tells you if they are low, med or high gi after a week i pretty much new what i could and shouldnt eat. my dh has the foods that he likes but its really not that hard to even chage his diet without it causing to much fuss..... i mean there is still some foods that i cook for him that i dont eat but hey thats fine with me..I was on low gi (very strickly) for 3 months after being diagnosed with pcos because we really wanted to start a family and avoid using fertility drugs and to my suprise i fell pregnant!! im am now 20 weeks yay!!

Good luck

[tk1999]

Tash, what is the book called? I went looking in the book store yesterday but found it all a bit too confronting so thought I would do a bit more research first.

[Pooley]

tashgoode

I too am confused about my diagnosis. I did have PCOS then I didn't. The only thing I had was the cysts on the ovaries, then they did a blood test to confirm. I have not weight to lose either. It has taken me 3 1/2 mths for my AF to arrive and now after temping this cycle its looking pretty grim, I don't think I ovulated. A different doctor says that I don't have it so am waitingfor my next AF and if that doesn't come am going to see a specialist.

I think you need a second opinion especially since you were diagnosed so long ago.

Good luck

[KeiraYvette]

KeiraYvette, how much of a change was the switch to low GI? My problem is that I work full time and study at uni part-time so try to eat as well as I can but sometimes it can be too hard to eat well... and I hate cooking so DP does most of it and he likes his certain meals... would love to hear a bit more about your experience with eating low GI to manage PCOS.

I am already going to the gym three times a week and seeing a personal trainer for one of those sessions - it is all I can manage with my life at the moment...

Yeah I understand how hard it can be, I was working shifts so was very hard to not just grab some takeaway instead of having something like a salad. I brought this book called 'The low GI guide to managing PCOS" by Pro Jennie Brand-Miller, Prof Nadir R.Farid and Kate Marsh. It has a list in the back of many different foods and there GI levels, which helped me managed my intake.

At first I found the change hard, but ended up getting use to it. id make most normal meals but where my husband would have carbs Id have vegies or salads. If your trying to loose weight as well, maybe try something like the Tony Ferguson Diet..as its a low GI based, might be easier for you too with your schedule.

I have to say I found it very hard first few weeks as I love my carbs but I ended up getting use to it and found I didnt need as much food as I use to eat so my portions got alot smaller.

Hope this helps!

[tk1999]

KeiraYvette, thank you for the info... I have been on TF in 2006 and found it really easy as we were working towards my best friends wedding but now I have found it hard to get back into but I am thinking about giving it another go now that I have a TF centre close to me rather than just the Terry White Chemists. I know I need to do something but I am just scared of failing.... I stopped TF after my friends wedding and am now so scared that I won't be able to keep up with it.

Thanks again for the info... I now know that I can manage this PCOS through other methods other than just a lot of medication.

[tashgoode@hotmail.com]

i found "the low gi shopper's guid to gi values 2008" book very helpful it has a wide range of supermarket brands and foods it even helps you to recognise/understand low gi food on a resturant menu. I found this book at a collins book shop.(it is hand bag size so it lives with me and i use it as my bible).

i hope this is helpful for you

[KeiraYvette]

KeiraYvette, thank you for the info... I have been on TF in 2006 and found it really easy as we were working towards my best friends wedding but now I have found it hard to get back into but I am thinking about giving it another go now that I have a TF centre close to me rather than just the Terry White Chemists. I know I need to do something but I am just scared of failing.... I stopped TF after my friends wedding and am now so scared that I won't be able to keep up with it.

Thanks again for the info... I now know that I can manage this PCOS through other methods other than just a lot of medication.

If you have success on TF before Im sure you will be fine being on it again espec if your trying to conceive. Gives you a goal at the end. I was also on metformin myself to get my cycles back, found the combination of both the healthy lifestyle and the meds helped for me.. best of luck!

[mellybelly81]

Hi girls

I have just stumbled on this site and must say I am so happy to have found somewhere to find out a bit more about this thing I have.

I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 and a half years ago and at the time, as I wasn't TTC, the gyno I saw put me on the pill as this apparently might have "reset" my ovaries and get them back to normal after I came off it.

I went off the pill in late April 08 and DH and I have been TTC since. I know that its not long, but the longest cycle I ever had before going on the pill was 3mths and since going off the pill in April, my first cycle was 16 weeks and I am still waiting to see how long the second one will be. 100 days and counting!

I saw a gyno in Oct and she told me my weight was "a large number" and told me to lose weight. SHe also put me on Metformin which made me feel so ill for 2 weeks straight and after ringing my doctor and being told if that's the case, I should just go off it, I stopped it, but after reading thise forum I have decided to go back on it until I finish the script. I'm not due to go back to see her until Jan 09 .

To top things off I have issues with my thyroid, which my GP said he will probably send me to an endocrinologist for.

Sorry for such a large post but I have been feeling very isolated. Can anyone recommend any good specialists in Perth?

thanks for listening!
Mel

[Namoita]

Hello everyone, I am one more PCo friend, and just started with FSH injections. In the first cycle there was no lead follicle, I was on a 50 IU dose. Now I am hopeful that in my 2nd round I am successful, so we really cross our fingers....
I wish good luck to all of you and hope to here from you..

[Namoita]

I also have similar problems, so don't feel that u are alone..

[neane]

Hi There all,
Well first and foremost Merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year for everyone, My news is that i haven't been on here for a very very long time and i have missed this site. My excellent news is that i finally had my beautiful healthy baby girl on the 25th Oct 8pd 10.5 ounces. I too have pcos had been on metformin and off it becuase it just didn't agree with my body and I'm not diabetic so.. i had tried clomid didn't work then went onto FSH injections which after two or three i think very very long cycles had a lead follicle and viola have now a baby. please don't give up hope keep trying and your dream of having your own baby will come true. I really want to say thankyou so much to all of you women on belly belly who have helped me through my darkest hours with your stories of hope and trying also your advice. neane.

[beetle]

Hi, I'm a fellow PCOS gal and this is my first time posting on Belly Belly. I was diagnosed 10 years ago at age 19, and was told by an endocrinologist to just stay on the pill at the time, and try to have babies before the age of 30. Now I'm 29, and the same endo said I'll most likely need IVF because after 7 months off the pill I still hadn't been visited by AF.

But then I saw a fabulous gyno who thinks it'll be much easier than that, and has put me on metformin. It's great to hear so many met success stories. I've been on it for 3 and a half weeks now, following a low GI diet and no sign of AF. How long did it take you other met girls before AF made an appearance?

[dusty]

Hi Beetle, Welcome to BellyBelly. You may also like to post in the LTTTC/AC Metformin thread which may be more active and have more advice and support. It is HERE.