the 18 week wait... (aka I hate the pill)

I don't know whether I should be starting a new thread on this, as there is one similar not too far back... but I guess it's more about *me* so I can be selfish a little.. can't I? :)
I took my last pill on 1st October 2006, after being on it for over 4yrs, and I am still waiting for either AF or BFP... in the first 6-8 weeks I was silly enough to think that I would go straight to normal cycle (had been on the pill for 1 1/2 yrs when I first started, went off for 6 months and had gone to regular cycle in between) and got very very upset that nobody could tell me what was wrong with me (or just tell me I was pg!)..
Took a big long break from bellybelly, I just couldn't stir myself up even more than I already had, and every day had a new mood or personality even..! I wasn't even coming here to read except once or twice, but not for very long, in the past few months..
Now over the past few weeks I feel a lot more normal, like the evil hormone demons have pretty much all gone, so have logged on to bb...
And so i'm playing the waiting game. Tis so frustrating not knowing exactly what I'm waiting for..! But i'm trying to take it as it comes and not think too hard.. and every now and then do a pg test...
So... is anyone here alarmed that it has been... 120+ days and not one faint sign of AF?
I would love to report pg symptoms, but, I think all I have is a craving for coffee. (I don't drink coffee!)
I'm going to check in again with the doc if nothing by the end of this month..
Any thoughts?

xx Kate :)

Hi Kate,
I had been on the pill for 7yrs when I came off to TTC DS. It never occurred to me that AF wouldn't just return to normal! Well I didn't see any signs of AF for 6 months (and got through plenty of HPTs in that time too!). Anyhow, at 6 months I went to my GP who referred me to a gyno/ob and she diagnosed me with PCOS and started me on a cycle of clomid. I concieved on the 2nd cycle (the first didn't make me O).
So when we wanted to TTC#2 I went straight to see my gyno/ob and she got me started on clomid again. I assumed it would happen first time again (as I started on the higher dose - the one that I O'd with last time). But 5 months later, no luck.

So I guess my point is that I have no idea what happens! I just reckon my body does weird things.

Good luck. If I were you, I'd be making a GP appt and asking for a referral to a FS. The sooner you work out whats going on (with BTs, scans etc) the sooner you can be on the right track to TTC and sorting out any issues if there are any.

I would got to your GP and get a referral to a Gyno/Obs. When we were trying to conceive I had a 54ish day cycle and thought this is such bulls**t, there is surely something that could be done. I was referred to get an u/s to see what was going on and then referred to gyno. Whilst waiting for gyno appt, I fell pg.....

ah, I hate to think about it but PCOS is always in the back of my mind.. :( as it drags on longer and longer I am more and more inclined to think there's something wrong..
I have moved around so much in the past few years, that I haven't got myself settled with one GP, I always just end up at the medical centre, which is always pretty hit and miss as far as getting a good doc. The last guy was ok, he said it is normal to wait a while after being on the pill for so long but it's getting close to the time they should start delving further, he's kinda left it up to me for sometime late this month or early next to drop by and organise some tests..
Can a GP handle things like prescription of Clomid etc..? I know i'm probably jumping the gun a bit, but was more just wondering if you *have* to see a specialist.. am I right in thinking it is kinda expensive to see specialists..? (I know, I know... I sound like a complete tightarse... but I kinda think if I can get the same results thru a medicare based doc I would be better off...)
Another part of me feels like if I see a specialist, it makes everything all the more serious... and makes me more upset... it's a stupid way of thinking that I will have to get past, but that's how I feel nonetheless.... :(
*sigh*

your GP can arrange a lot of the testing for you, without having to see a specialist. i know i was diagnosed with PCOS by my GP through referral to have b/t's and untrasounds. once he had diagnosed me, he had to refer me to gyno for treatment as GP's can't prescribe clomid. when i didn't respond the way i should have to the clmid, i was referred to FS. i had minimal out of pocket costs to get to a dignosis - it's just been the treatment that's gonna cost a bit now! and i really wish i'd gotten on top of all of this earlier - 12 months of stressing that "maybe" there was something wrong just didn't help at all

Hey hun I know exactly hwat you're going through!

I came off the pill at the end of August and still no period to date... that's like close to 140 days. I went to my GP and she said it was normal to have a long wait for AF after going off pill and that nothing is usally done until you have been trying for 12 months etc!! She also said that I will just have to take preg tests every 3 weeks until Af arrives! WEll I wasted enough $$$ on HPTs and wasn't happy with her response. So I got a referral to a friends fabulour gyno/ob and am so glad I did it. He said I did the right thing and that obviously there is something happening if I hadn't got Af yet. He also reassured me that he will make sure I get pregnant!! Anyway, he ran a whole lot of bloodtests to see what could possibly be causing it. Turns out that the BTs idicated 1/ that I'm not ovulating and 2/ that I have mild PCO tendancies. That is by no means a horrible thing, just tells us what we're dealing with a for me a reason for why I haven't fallen PG yet etc! The next step is to have a laparoscopy to clean out the piping (as my gyno puts it) and then get everything in order for my body to accept an egg and hopefully catch it!

After my long msg, I would highly recommend seeing a FS about it and getting some answers so that you can be that little bit close to getting ultimately what you want - a BFP!! Yes it can cost you a bit - but as far as I"m concerned it's not just your reproductive health you're looking after but your health in general which is so important!!!!

I hope I've helped!! :redface:

Thanks smuggle :)
What do they actually test for in the blood tests, do you know?
I've had 2 separate doc's tell me to just wait, the first one was a complete twit, but the second guy was not so bad, and at least seemed like he understood, and said I can pretty much go back for tests if I get worried again.. and seeing as the second guy seemed so rational that I haven't had a huge problem waiting this time.. but yeah, it's only been about 2 weeks..
I've gotta stop freaking myself out, but at the same time I read stuff that freaks me out :o I've especially read some more things about the pill that make me just NOT want to go on it ever again. DP doesn't want me on it either, he thinks it makes me numb.
I don't even know where to start with finding a specialist...! I'm fairly dumb at this stuff coz I don't really get sick much..
Better start googling around for something..

p.s. any recommendations in the inner west of Sydney? I'm in Marrickville...

Hey again, and so sorry for the long wait for my reply! There is so much on the internet that is helpful and then there is all that stuff that completely freaks you out and you wish you'd never read - I know believe me! My Gyno said to me straight up 'there's a lot of misinformed information on the net and that you shouldn't worry about something until you have the evidence to back it up! I think what they basically test for is your hormone levels which indicate what's happening with your body and reproductive systems etc. I really hope you get the answers you're hoping for - I'm only just beginning to find out what's happening with me. And I completely undrerstand the frustrations you are feeling - especially when you're body isn't doing what it should be doing after the 'pill'. I too hate the damn pill.. if I was off it earlier I would have picked up my issues a lot earlier. Sorry I can't recommend anyone in Sydney as I'm in Melbs. If you put a new thread on this site, there's bound to be plenty of girls to help you with finding someone to help. I hear you when you say you're hopeless with all this stuff coz you're rarely sick! I have no idea when it comes to hospitals, private health, rebates, anaesthetics, surgeons etc - It's bad enough that I'm blonde let alone someone who's never been in hospital before. If you want to talk to me about anything don't hesistate to contact me...I've added you to my MSN contacts!

X

Hi katey84,
You've probably read my recent posts as I'm in the same situation as you and Smuggle - except I've been waiting since JUNE 06 for AF after BCP.. and yep, still waiting!
You've been given some great advice - definitely find a GOOD doctor who is willing to look into this for you now.
I've just had my gyno appt today so will post separately on that. But I would be asking for a full blood test on all the hormones etc, they will check to rule out things like early menopause and a tumour affecting hormone release (worst care scenario type things!) and you can also have a pelvic ultrasound to check out your ovaries and rule out PCOS.

I'm in WA so no advice of a good local doctor for you from me I'm afraid!

Don't be afriad to insist that it gets checked out NOW! You have a right to look into things and ease your mind.

So, it took me a while... but I took the day off work today and went to the GP..
Strangely enough I hardly had to say anything.. I just came back to the same doc, (it's a medical centre) he asked me a couple of questions, then sent me to the little room to get a blood test to check my hormone levels.
He also asked if I had a family history of PCOS.. so I think my thinking is on the right track...
I was so psyched to ask the *right* questions, in order to get the right answers, coz I thought that it would be the usual story with medical centres, and that they would have no idea, but he really surprised me.
I'm kinda bad with doctors, quite often break down in tears for no reason, it's not exactly a phobia, just finding it hard to talk about things... even if I only have a chest infection or something!! I think it's due to my mum continually calling me a hypochondriac..... ANYWAY..
It took me that long to actually get my butt into the medical centre again... but i'm so glad I have.. I feel a whole lot better... I mean, it's bad that I am broken in the first place... but I'm on the right track to fixing it now, at least. :)
I think the biggest thing was thinking that nothing would get fixed, and they would make me feel like I was worrying about nothing...
So yeah, I go back on the weekend to see him about the results.. then he says he will 'investigate' from there..
Thanks for all of your comments thus far :)

Katey, you have done the right thing getting your hormones checked. It is not normal for your cycle to be absent for that long after coming off the pill. Generally, the pill is out of your system within a matter of days and you should have a return to normal cycles very quickly. Use of the pill often masks any underlying fertility problems and these don't become apparent until you stop taking it. I would say if you go longer than two months without a period, it is definitely worth checking what is going on. I hope these blood tests give you a few answers and you get back on track soon.

Oh great news Katey! I hope you get some answers and your ttc journey becomes smoother!

Aggh... i've been trying to get myself to post all afternoon/evening, but just can't get there..
I got my blood test results this morning.. kind of... he was quite reluctant to tell me much at all... I had to prompt him for a lot of things...
I really didn't get that much out of it.. he wrote me out a slip to get an ultrasound, written on it "amennhorea, worried about polycystic ovaries"
I'll have to book and go in and get it done sometime this week.
I asked him what he thinks, and if he can tell me anything. He says, "It could be PCOS, but I can't diagnose it, after the ultrasound will have to refer you to GYN"
He was dancing around things as if he was worried about something but couldn't say.
Of the actual blood test results, I managed to find out prolactin levels normal, so that's good,
only things he mentioned weren't normal actually, were FSH which he says is "low" (didn't get figures, and he didn't mention LH so can't figure out ratio :/ )
and oestrogen which was "low" (113) - which is what has really stumped me. And maybe that's what stumped him, and stopped him from really suggesting anything...
And of course, me being me, I'm now more paranoid coz I don't know what the oestrogen thing means..!
All I keep thinking of is the rib I think I broke in the surf a few months ago, and haven't gotten checked out coz *surely* it's not really broken even though it was clicky and painful for a long long time, coz geez it wasn't a hard blow, and DP had said there's no way I could have broken a bone like that coz I drink so much milk!! :/ Now I'm freaking thinking noooooo maybe I have oesteoperosis or something!!
AGGGH I know I am probably overreacting and paranoid, but I am driving myself nuts and have to vent...
To top it off DP just left/got fired from his job so I have nooooo money at the moment. I get paid monthly so I'm not going to be able to see anyone non bulk-billing til the 15th! And I'm just waiting for everyone (IRL) to start criticising me for TTC with no money, but I really just want to get my body sorted out right now! I don't think I can handle any responses along the lines of "why do you need to sort out fertility issues - you shouldn't be going and getting pregnant now!" -- here I go again getting more frustrated... ggrrr..

Can anyone give me some solid answers on this, as I don't have the energy at the moment to make a new thread about it ---
How much does it cost to go to a specialist??

Thanks in advance for any help you might offer - i'm going to go have a lie down :(