Hi from another PCOS'er

Hi my name is Julie and I am a PCOS sufferer, was diagnoised in October 2000, but looking back had symptoms since 1995.

My story so far..

Periods consist of 90-120 day cycles...

Diagnoised, and put onto clomid, did three months of that..and we stopped because it was affecting our relationship..(between depression and mood swings we were just about ready for divorce)

Tried again 3 months later on two tablets..did that for 3 months and had to stop because it was affecting our relationship..

Moved 3 hours away from the gyno and decided to take a small break..We went back on clomid 2 tablets for 4 months and had to stop due to relationship issues...

Went on the tablets again 4 months later and went totally beserk they really stuffed up my hormones..I was depressed, crying, mad, skitsophrenic (sp) on them really...Did that for 3 months, and the last month nearly killed me..I thought that I was going to have to be put into the ward at a hospital...

We are looking to try again but this time I really want to get better informed and have more options, and also try to shift the 40/60 extra kgs that have packed themselves on since 1995...

Some of the information that you ladies have already suggested are just great and I would love to hear from you if u have had or are having similar problems...and what u are doing or have done to help...I have other friends who also suffer but they have had no troubles with the clomid....

Looking forward to hearing from you all and getting to know you...

Julie

Hi there Julie sorry to hear about all the struggles you have/are having. I can sympathise with some however I haven't had to go down the path of clomid yet so I can't help you with that one.

Feel free to vent away as you feel the need to as there are quite a few of us here now who can commiserate with each other.

I am off to see a gyno (the first real visit since I was diagnosed in 1997) in the next couple of months. His office hasn't reopened from xmas break yet. I am starting to get a bit anxious, mostly because I feel like my body is deteriorating if that makes any sense. I started getting my *mid cycle spotting* yesterday, and its a bit depressing as I was told by a dr recently that unlike what I had first thought in most cases its a bad thing. SO I am starting to worry about that. I really need to shed those extra Kg's, am currently trying WW to help me along.

Anyway enough about me, just thought I would say hi ;)

Here's to a *lighter* and more *positive* ;) year for the both of us!

*hugs*
Cailin

Hi Guys,

I am also a PCOS sufferer. I found out in 1998 when trying to get pregnant. I was put on clomid & fell pregnant first month. Very lucky!!

6 years later I am trying again on clomid & it is not working. We have been trying for a year - on clomid. I am ovulating but just not falling preggers.

Emotionally I am up and down all the time but my husbands just lets it slide - thank god!

The weight loss is a big issue with me. I put on 20kg having my boy & have lost 10 of that (straight after birth) but have not been able to lose any more.

I have been told that the best thing for PCOS is weightloss & to do that cut out carbohydrates?? I have tried but I love potatoes, rice, bread, pasta & all that I shoudn't have.

If I haven't fallen by march the gyno wants us to look at artificial insem or IVF & wants me to have a laproscopy (sp) which scares the hell out of me.

I wish everyone lots of luck with their endeavours

Thanks for sharing your story's. I am a PCOSer and started to ttc #1 7 months ago. I really appreciate reading about other women with PCOS in the sameboat as me. I dont feel as alone anymore! Good luck to all ttc, and I hope i see :bfp: around here soon!

Hi everyone, Im new to the forum as well. I was diagnoised in 1990 but the docotrs didnt know much about as you all already know. Fast forward to today and I was given metformin (glucophage) in Oct. 2003 and have lost 15 lbs. :smt023 . The only thing is that my cycle did not come on in Jan. This month has been rough. I feel deep down in my heart that I have had a m/c. :smt022 I have been shedding dark brown blood for 2 and 1/2 weeks. Went to the doctor and the test was :bfn: . He said the hormone levels had dropped and there was a posibility that it was a missed m/c. I truly feel that it was. It still leaves a lump in my throat to know that I was pregnant and lost it. I just [-o< that the next time i'll be :bellyrub: just as i will [-o< for everyone else. :pinkdust: , :bluedust: :happy4u: . Please if any of you have had a first trimester miscarriage please let me know what your symptoms were and how dealt with the emotional set backs.

Thanks Alot

Deeva Doll,

You should go to the forum of TTC after m/c & loss. I'm sure the girls in there can help you out & they are very supportive.

I dont understand why everyone keeps sending me some where else. I was already there in that forum and they told me to come here. I have PCOS and I thought that I would be able to get support here. I really feel like crying because I feel like I'm getting the run around just to talk to someone just like me. It was the same way with the doctors. You may not mean anything by it but it really does hurts me. :smt022

Sorry sweetie! I have been awol lately, so I haven't been able to catch up on many posts. I would love to chat to you :) I have PCOS too...and have just been seen by a fantastic gyno who is known for his work with PCOS'ers. How was the metformin if you don't mind me asking? I am possibly due to start on it in march and am trying to round up as much info as possible. I am so sorry to hear about your MC :( How awful for you! Feel free to post wherever you like on the BB forums, there are no rules, and you can get support from more than one forum at once! I am here for you no matter what. I am sure the others didn't mean to offend you, they were mearly trying to be supportive. If that makes any sense.

When it comes to the miscarriage though I would recommend the other forum, the girls there are great. But us PCOS'ers stick together here too so feel free to chat with us too. We are one big happy family here at BB:)

Hope to get to know you better!

*hugs*
Cailin

Hello deevadoll!

I don't have PCOS but I just wanted to jump in for a minute - Cailin is right - the girls meant no offence and weren't trying to handball you at all. We're all so chatty and I know they'd all love to talk to you, i'm pretty certain that what they meant was that if you'd also like support for PCOS to join in here. It doesn't mean you can only come here!

There are so many sections on BellyBelly that if everyone just went to one area I don't think we'd get much talking done ;)

Anyway, I do hope you are able to chat to lots of us girls - feel free to have as many favourite forums as you want and chat to anyone - we love chatting ;)

I have to apologize for my rudeness. :shock: I have just been so topsy turvy lately that I'm snapping at the wrong people. Please forgive me.

:oops:


Ya know, you ladies are right and thanks alot. I do have one question...Is anyone taking Metformin to regulate their cycle. I have been since october and I had a cycle lasting 1m1w (from late oct. to mid dec.) and then nothing for Jan. or this month. does anyone know how long it takes to regulate to a normal cycle?

Hi Deevadoll,
I was really sorry to read about your m/c. I am also taking Metformin and have since Oct 2003. But i was under the impression from my dr that it helps with insulin resistance, which then helps you to lose weight which in turn helps pcos symptoms, one being irregular cycles. I have had regular cycles despite the PCOS, and i'm not sure if this is due to the Metformin or not. Goodluck with ttc, and we are all here for you.

It is slowly helping me. I only take 500 mg and it has been okay. How many milligrams are you taking? Has it changed your appetite at all? I have a better out look on life now since I've been taking it. :D I'm going to try and talk to my doctor about increasing the dosage. I have lost about 15 pounds because of the :sick: and lowering the amout of high carbohydrates that I ate. Have you tried changing what you ate.? The Metformin does help with the insulin resistance. You might want to purchase a monitor to check your blood sugar. I did have a regular cycle for a month.but as you know the m/c occurred :( . I too hope and [-o< feveryones endevours. God bless you and :dh: on your TTC.

Hi deeva,
I take 1500 mg in a day. In the begining it did change my appetite, and i got used to that so i don't eat as much. Over the four months since i started it, I have been following a low GIdiet and have lost about 3 kg, which isn't much but i know lots of women have done better. I am really lucky cos i have regular cycles and i ovulate despite the PCOs, but i have as yet to fall pg and i am supposed to start Clomid in April and i'm not sure what it'll do seeing as i already ovulate. Maybe someone can help me out with this?

Hi Cat81,
My doctor put me on 500mg because he says he always starts low to make sure the person can get use to the medication being in your body. My body has adjusted some what to it.

I called my docotr's office again to see if there were any openings and he has one for next friday :D . Now I don't have to wait a month for consultation for a D & C.

To answer your question on the Clomid, I have heard from a number of women who have taken it and have gotten pg within 3 to 6 months of taking it. The Clomid is suppose to make you fertile but the fact that you are ovulating, you may become pg easier than most. My doctor told me the same thing, because I had the same question. Great minds think alike?! ;) . I [-o< that it works well for you and dh. A :baby: in the near future ;) . How many mg of clomid will you be taking? I had received only 50mg but due to the m/c I'll have to wait alittle longer.

Keep me posted on your results and side effects while taking the Clomid.
Not to be gross, but my nipples continually hurt while taking it 2 1/2 years ago. At that time I had a different ob\gyn and she gave me 100mg of it.

Let me stop talking. Chat with you all later.

Ok girls! I want to hear about any side effects with taking metformin????

I have heard diarrhea is really bad for the first 2 weeks, and also when you eat too many carbs? Anyone else had this?

Any information would be muchly appreciated!

*hugs*
Cailin

Hi Cailin,

It's Deevadoll and the Metformin is great for PCOS. The major side effects are what you mentioned and last for 2 to 4 weeks. Yes, if you don't watch your "HIGH" Carb intake then you'll continually have diarreha.

I've lost 15 pounds from taking it. As you know, Carbs are in everything. So just watch out for the High Carboyhadrates. Check with your doctor to see if seeing a nutritionist is right for you. I honestly reccomend it.

Hi Cailin,
Many people say that the side effects are nausea, vomiting, sometimes headaches and diorrea. But I didn't really have any of that, only a tiny bit of nausea (not much) and maybe a couple of stomach aches, but that was only in the first 2 weeks. Most dr's start you at 500mg so you get used to it, then increase it, thus minimising the side effects.

Hello ladies, I hope all is well with everyone. I'm progressing. Along with the metformin, I'll be taking provera then clomid. So now the TTC an begin. Anyone else that is TTC can read my thread in trying to conceive.

I wish everyone good health and good luck!!!!!!!!!

Hello to all!!!!!
I hope everyone is well. I see there is little activity here. I'm Starting to worry.

No :bfp: yet, but I'm hoping after the ultrasound DH and I can start :bd: alot more. This week he is on a business trip and I've been cramping off and on during the day for the past 5 days. :mad:

Hope all is good with everyone!!!!!!

Good Health and Luck to everyone!!!!!!!!
:baby: :baby: :bfp: :bfp: :pinkstick: :pinkdust: :bluestick: :bluedust:

hi Deevadoll and everyone else,
This forum is pretty quiet lately, although maybe everyone is busy. I know i am, which is good at he moment as i am on the tww. AF is due today, or it could be late like last cycle. I know i'm not pg though cos i can feel AF coming (I had a headache last night and tiny cramps on off for the last coupla days). But it has been good to be preoccupied with somethingother than babies! Hope you are well,

Hi everyone,

I hope all are well.

I have just finished my last cycle on clomid & thought I was Preggers. I normally have 29 day cycle & this time it was 35 & my temp stayed up. Boy was I dissappointed when AF came.

I am not trying again on clomid. We have been trying for past year & I really think something must be awry in my body. I have appointment with Gyno in April & we will be looking at artificial insem or ivf or something!! who knows! He wants to flush my tubes & that sounds pretty scary. Has anyone had that done?

It seems everywhere I look someone is getting pregnant or having babies even on TV!!

Good luck to all.

Jodster

Hey Jodster,
How many miligrams of clomid are you taking and how long have you been taking clomid?

I guess I'll have to call me doctor again. These past 3 months have not been good to me.

To see what I'm talikng about, check out my thread in TTC after m/c

Good Day To All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there girls, Goodluck to you both for BFP's! Well I saw my gyno yesterday and all the tests came back showing signs of PCOS, which we already knew but had to have it documented and the last tests I had in Sydney I don't have anymore. I have my metformin and will probably start taking them on monday.

I go back to see him in 4 mths so fingers crossed I will have my :bfp: by then ;)

Goodluck to you all!

I will keep you updated to let you know how the metformin goes.

*hugs*
Cailin

I have been on clomid (2 tablets) I think that is 100mg for a year now.

My emotions are absolutely crazy. I am yelling at my poor 4 year old son for no reason & crying for days for no reason at all.

I am pretty relieved to have a break.

While on the clomid I was ovulating very high. You need to have a level of 15 to ovulate & mine was 180 most of the time. So that makes me think there is something else happening.

My gyno is an hour away from our small town & that makes things difficult as I have to have time off work & then every finds out what you are doing & then they keep asking whats wrong & on & on!!

What is this metformin others are talking about?

Jodster

Metformin is a drug used to regulate insulin levels in women with PCOS. The reason being is that insulin resistance (Web Def: n. State in which the body does not respond to the action of insulin hormone although enough insulin is produced.) is often the cause of infertility in women with PCOS.

Its also used by Type 2 Diabetics for the same reason, to regulate insulin which will also regulate blood sugar levels.

They were able to find out my insulin levels by doing a fasting glucose test, and thats why I have only just been prescribed this medication. My Dr also told me that one of the reasons women with PCOS stay on metformin (not just when trying to concieve) is to reduce the risk of Diabetes later in life.

If anyone wishes to elaborate feel free.

HTH's

*hugs*
Cailin

Thanks for the info Cailin, I should probably get my insulin levels checked.

Jodster

Cailin is correct. I've been taking Metformin since Oct. and it not only helps with the insulin (which regulates your metabolism) and infertility but it also helps to regulate your menstrual cycle, which unfortunatly for me it works because :af: arrived today.

REALLY BAD CRAMPS

My mother takes it a 1000 mg a day (2 times a day) for her Diabeties.
My glucose test showed a moderate increase in my blood sugar but nothing to be worried about.

Test are still being taken to see if Metformin can decrease the chances of m/c in women with PCOS and if it has any effects on breastfeed children.

I hope this gave just a little more to add to what Cailin stated.

Have a great weekend ladies!!!!!!!!

Hi Jodster,

To ease your fears about getting your tubes flushed, I had this done to me yesterday and am off work today recovering. It was fine! I have PCOS and I tried clomid for 1/2 a tablet, and a whole one both which didn't make me ovulate so now I am seeing a naturopath.

But my gyno recommended a laparoscopy which we did to make sure I didn't have blocked tubes or any other complications. I was worried as I've never been to hospital other than being born myself! but after a long wait in the day surgery unit (which was the worst part of it), they put a needle in my hand and next thing I knew I was waking up. Had a bit of pain but it was fine. It was also good news as she said I had a very good looking pelvis (oh, blush) with no problems and that my PCOS had got better since my ultrasound diagnoses about middle of last year. So the naturopath probably has something to do with that.

WAs it you who also asked about diet? My naturopath recommended a low-GI (glycemic index) diet which i've been following and have lost some weight, although weight isn't a problem for me. You don't have to cut out all carbohydrates, just the "bad ones" which are ones that are easily absorbed into the blood stream (usually the yummy ones!) The book says pasta is OK, and to eat Basmati rice and high fibre stuff etc. I recommended getting a low-GI book or cook-book to find out about it.

I recently confessed to a friend about my problem ( which I always find difficult) and she said she had a friend with PCOS who improved her diet and got pregnant reasonably quickly. I wish that had happend for me! I have about a 7 week cycle which is soooooooo long to wait. Cycle before last my husband was sick the time we think I ovulated and we didn't do it right when we should have. Last cycle we thought we won't miss it so we'll do it every 2 days from day 14. That continued for 5 1/2 weeks and I had a non-ovulatory cycle!!! Sometimes I think someone is trying to punish me.

I know how you feel about everyone getting pregnant. We know so many people who got pregnant either without trying or the first month. And yes, pregnancy on TV is also annoying - Kate Lanbroek, KAte Ceberano, Naomi WAtts etc. Even bloody Chopper Reid's wife is (I've stopped watching Enough Rope as he started having all these people on who were pregnant or talking about children). :mad:

Wow, what a blab. Well it is my first post!

Best wishes and good luck to every one!

C

Thanks for your post Caz. It was very informative. Why did you get your tubes flushed? Was it just in case they were blocked? Can you tell from an ultrasound if your tubes are blocked?

That's enough questions for now. I sound like a big sook being scared to undergo anything as I had a Ceasar with my first child, with an epidural so I have never been under - that's what scares me! The worst part about that was the drip!!

I have another month before I see the Specialist so I am not going to thing about it & try & relax until then.

It's great to be able to talk to others about these things!!

Jodster

Hi again Jodster,

I know how you feel about going under. I felt scared too as I'd never been put unconscious by anyone before (I've done it myself plenty of times though as I often faint with injections!). But the staff at the hospital were so nice and put me right at ease - the anaethetist came and said exactly what he would do, and the nurse who accompanied me to the theatre was really nice. They just kept reassuring me the whole time and they would look after me really well, and they did. They put a needle in my hand, the anaethetist asked me how I felt and I said 'a bit dizzy' and the next thing I was waking up. Piece of cake! I didn't have any nausea either some people get.

Yes I got my tubes flushed just to check that they were ok and she checked for endometriotis and for anything else that might get in the way of a pregnancy. I'm not sure if an ultrasound can check for blocked tubes. I'm glad I had it done, it's good to get it checked out and to know that it's all fine down there, or if there is something wrong it's good to know too so you can do something about it. It's also important to feel comfortable with your specialist. We first saw a guy who we weren't happy with at all - he didn't give you much information and was quite insensitive. So we were recommended to another one and she's much better. So be fussy!

Hang in there Jodster! If I can do it you can.

Best wishes,
Caz

Thanks Caz,

As we are in a small town I don't have much choice of specialists, but as I have been seeing him for a year I feel pretty comfortable (or as comfortable as you can get with a gyno).

I'll let you all know how I go. O:)

Thanks for the info.

Jodster