TTC first baby with PCOS

[Daisy1883]

Hi all,

I'm new here so let me know if in posting things in the wrong place etc. The OH and I haven't told anyone we are TTC because I know it may take some time with PCOS and I really don't want the pressure of people along about it!

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 21. Luckily I don't have too many severe symptoms - a bit of acne and have always been a little overweight (except when I managed to lose 2 stone a few years back but just couldn't maintain eating 1000 calories and working out every day!). I have huge difficulty keeping my weight down but other than that the PCOS hasn't really affected me.

I've been on the pill since I was 15 (to control the acne, to begin with) and I'm now 30. Had a break from the pill at 21 and had no period for 9 months, which is what led to the diagnosis.

I came off he pill (Yasmin) a few weeks ago. Had a normal withdrawal bleed, and used the clear blue ovulation tests this month. Went straight from the 'low fertility' circle to a 'peak fertility' smiley face on day 14. We've been actively trying since coming off the pill -more so on day 14 and 15- so to speak!

After so long on the pill I have no idea what my cycle is, how long it may take, or really a clue about any of this! I was just wondering if you ladies had any words of wisdom for me or experience to share of similar situations. I am already taking pregnacare vitamins to make sure I'm getting what I need should I be lucky! Currently on day 30 with no period and 2 negative home pregnancy tests at the weekend. Been feeling a bit peaky, mainly tiredness really and a bit sicky but I've heard the Pregnacare vitamins can make you feel nauseous so it could (and probably is) just that.

Thanks for reading! Apologies for the essay

[shoegalclaire]

Hi Daisy,

Welcome to the boards. Sorry to hear your pregnancy tests were BFN.

Any pill or contraceptive that you come off can remain in your system for months - it's good that you've had your withdrawal bleed already but bear in mind that any effects of the pill could still be working. Also OPKs (ovulation tests) can be very unreliable for women with PCOS - as some have higher levels of the hormone the tests detect. This means that a lot of women get false positives - just to make you aware to not rely on them solely. I'd suggest you charting your temperature as this is more reliable to detect ovulation - you can buy a cheap Basal thermometer (about £5 from Amazon) and use software like Fertility Friend to track your temps. This way you'll see a clear rise in temp if you have ovulated.

As you have already had a diagnosis have you thought about asking the GP to refer you to the hospital or fertility clinic? It can take months to get an appointment so it's always worth following it up and getting your name down on the waiting list. They usually start you off with something like Clomid if you aren't ovulating naturally and they do tests etc on you and your partner/husband's sperm to rule out any problems with him which can affect your fertility as a couple. They might also prescribe Metformin if you are overweight.

Good luck and hope your stay here is short xx

[Daisy1883]

Thanks so much for your response and the useful information. I will have a look into the temperature checking. I've made a doctors appointment for 4 weeks time (takes ages here for non emergency, but thought I'd be a few weeks further in to this process and something - AF or a BFP - may have happened by then anyway) I'd not thought to even consider asking about referral or drugs at this stage as I didn't think it'd be possible but it's useful to know that they may be good options. I'll discuss it with my GP. I promised myself I wouldn't get stressed out about this but I do find myself thinking about it a lot!

I had my diagnosis nearly ten years ago but to be honest I'd never really thought about the PCOS as up until now it hasn't affected me hugely. I'm still a bit spotty but not to the extreme and as I said I could do with shifting a bit of weight but again not to the extreme - I'm around 1 and a half stones overweight for my height. I am desperately trying to lose weight but it's so tough! I have quite a restricted diet (resulting from being an exceptionally fussy eater as a small child - I am far better than I was but still don't eat 'normally') I'm forcing myself to eat fresh veg and salad but it's not easy when most of these foods have made you vomit when you chew them for the last 30 years. I'm not allergic, all in my head I'm sure but still a challenge. Also rejoined he gym with my best friend - who somewhat ironically is trying to lose her baby weight from her third child in four years, two of which were happy surprises for her and her husband - so hopefully the gym and swimming will help lots if I can go a few times a week.

Im so glad I found this site. It's nice to know it's not just me!

[Daisy1883]

Just seen your signature too - congratulations on your pregnancy!

[shoegalclaire]

Aww Daisy, we've all been there. I know you don't want it to take over but unfortunately it does and we all start off in the beginning feeling hopeful that it wont take long and that we'll get a BFP before we've even started trying. I think you're making all the necessary steps but it might be worth asking your GP for a referral anyway as they can take such a long time - plus they can do all the tests and scans and stuff to rule anything else out and treat anything that needs to be treated. I had double trouble as I also have endometriosis as well as PCOS but it was not ovulating that is the major part of my TTC issues. In the end we ended up with IVF/ICSI but it may not need to come to that for you.

I'm lucky as I've never been overweight but I am conscious of managing it and use MyFitnessPal to count calories. Have you ever tried? You can add exercise to it too so you get extra calories. I know a few PCOSers who are overweight who use it too. Might be worth a shot? Otherwise I know loads who have lost stones on Slimming World which is apparently excellent.

You should definitely try and chart your temp though hun, especially if you're overdue for a period. The doctor can also give you something like Provera to induce a bleed if you don't get them regularly.

PS - thanks for the congrats!

xx

[Daisy1883]

Hi,

Happy Bank Holiday! How nice to have an extra day off work this week

Well here I am on day 36, no AF and another BFN yesterday. Argh, so frustrating!

I do have the Fitness Pal app, I've found it really useful. Also have a Fitbit which is great. The app is very similar to Fitness Pal except it charts your steps/exercise and sleep. It hasn't been working properly for about 2weeks though so I'm going to try fixing it today or send it back for a new one if I can't get it working. Need to get cracking on the weight loss. I am lucky it's not a huge amount to lose -maybe 1.5/2 stones. I have read threads on here where people are unfortunately 5 or more stone overweight due to the PCOS so I'm trying to be positive and count my blessings! I checked and my BMI is 29 so need to get it down to 25 really.

I have also been reading up on here and other forums - seems even ladies without PCOS can have randomly funny cycles after coming off the pill. Makes me feel a bit better. Been having what feels like mild period pain all week so fingers crossed AF will put in an appearance in the next few days. As I don't know when my ovulation is at the moment or even if it's happening me and the OH have just been getting down to it whenever we feel like it - though the thought that we may catch has encouraged me to be a little more active than usual... The OH is delighted!

Have a great weekend,

Daisy xx

[funkle]

Hi Daisy,
I'm in a similar situation to you, i started ttc last October and have only had one period since then (unfortunately my ovulation time coincided with DH being away for a week) and that took 4 months after I came off the pill. I have been charting my BBT and it is a good indication of changes in you hormones. I havent actually used ovulation predictors as I have heard they are unreliable with PCOS. I would definitely recommend getting the ball rolling with the doctors as I had my first GP appointment in February and am still waiting for my specialist referral. Don't let them fob you off, they might tell you that you have to wait a year for a fertility referral but this isnt the case if you already have a diagnosed condition. They also might want to repeat your tests as it was a while since your diagnosis. I would try and get a blood test and a scan if you can. It might also we worth reading the NICE guidelines on fertility and PCOS because I have had some bad experiences with GPs and it helps to know the guidelines! I hope it all goes well for you and good luck ttc!

http://cks.nice.org.uk/polycystic-ovary-syndrome

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156

[Daisy1883]

Thanks for your reply funkle! Those links were very informative. Feel well prepared for dr's appointment in a few weeks now.

Well, I'm at day 40, still no AF or BFP! The niggly period pain feeling from last week has gone, I just feel normal really. No symptoms, may hopefully mean my body is getting used to being off the pill. My skin has actually cleared up, it was awful last week but looking better the last few days. Possibly TMI so I'll apologise in advance, but I did notice a lot of egg white cm yesterday so I made sure we did it last night just in case!

I bought the OPKs when we first decided to try, I hadn't read up and realised that they could be useless in women with pcos. Wish I'd have known, they were expensive and it would have saved me the excitement of thinking I'd ovulated when I probably haven't.

I must stop being so impatient and silly. After all it's only been a few weeks. I shall give myself a virtual slap and get a grip!

Daisy xx

[funkle]

Hi Daisy,
I'm the same,when we started ttc I kept telling myself that we were just seeing how it would go and werent going to stress about it but it is really hard. I seem to go through spells of just shrugging it off and then times of feeling very sad. I think that is normal though. It starts to feel better when the ball starts rolling. Have you started doing bbt? It is a really good way of looking for hormone changes and it gives you evidence when you see a specialist.
Good luck

xxxx

[Israa]

Hey.. I am almost in the same boat as you are.. I was diagnosed with PCOS a while ago and now I'm trying to conceive #1.. My problem is not being able to ovulate on my own without the help of medicines.. I suggest you talk to your doctor about taking clomid.. I was actually not ovulating at all since I had my first period ever but have never known that about myself because the ovulation predictor used to always show I was ovulating.. Turns out it was not detecting ovulation, it was merely detecting the presence of the hormones responsible for ovulation which misled me all these years. I went to the doctor after having miscarried and not being able to conceive for five years afterwards and he told me that I had no eggs being released in the first place.. Maybe one egg a year if I'm lucky but that's it. I'm currently on Clomid 50 mg.. Still BFN for a couple of months now but at least I started to ovulate. So have a chat with your GP and get all your hormones checked.. Also try to have fun and relax during the whole process.. Ttc is very hard I literally avoid going out to shops or to specific family gatherings where I know a lot of children and mothers would be present.. I cry myself to sleep almost every night during the tww period. It's mentally and physically ver exhausting so try to relax completely and keep busy do anything to keep your day full of activities that you have no time to overthink fertility issues. I myself have panic attacks when I'm too stressed out which does not help at all.. So yeah I think I know how you must feel haha but I came to this forum hoping to find friends (I'm sure you did too) and share my experience with people who can really understand.. Just think it's gonna happen one day.. I'm gonna fight this til the end.. And keep strong my darling.. All the best and baby dust to all xx

[Daisy1883]

Thanks for all of your replies! It is so nice and comforting to know that there are others in the same boat as me and that when I feel like I'm going a bit mad you ladies probably feel the same! I do feel like I've been going a bit crazy recently - my mood swings have been awful, been so irritable and snappy. Poor OH! He has been very good though I am so very lucky.

So, after a 47 day wait, AF arrived yesterday. Which I am delighted with. I know, when someone is TTC it's normally the last thing you'd be happy with but I am very pleased that with my PCOS I've managed to have a real period on my own not linked to the pill after 47 days. Last time I came off the pill (ten years ago) it took me nine months, which is what led to tests and my diagnosis.

So, no actual baby news from me but a bit of a positive change anyway. I do have a quick (and probably very stupid) question. Have I definitely ovulated, because I've had a period? Or can you have a period but not ovulate?

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, lots of luck to you all.


Daisy xxx

[Daisy1883]

I completely forgot, I have some other news! I have managed to quit smoking for eight days now, and I've just been out and bought a decent pair of running trainers to start my new keeping fit and losing weight plan. I WILL get lovely and healthy so that I'm all ready to go when I manage to fall pregnant!

Hope you are all doing well.

Daisy xx

[Daisy1883]

Well it's Dr appointment day today! Not sure what to expect. I did think of cancelling it after AF showed last week however I thought best to go along and explain everything to see if there is anything I need to do. I suspect I will be sent away, told to lose weight and keep trying - but at least if this is the case I'll have put the wheels in motion. I haven't been to see my Dr about the PCOS for ten years so it's about time regardless.

Been running and doing long walks to try and kickstart the weight loss. Having a rest day from running today because I'm stiff so will go for a walk later instead. Amazing how exercise can start to make you feel better so quickly before you've even had any actual weight loss! Still not smoking too.

Daisy xxx

[Daisy1883]

Well, Dr's appointment went better than I expected. He was very pro-active and offered me the choice of Metformin or Clomid. He explained both and I chose to start taking Metformin for now and see what happens. I have to increase my dosage up to 2000mg a day over 2 weeks and go back to the Drs in 3 months. So far so good, no real side affects as yet but only on 500mg a day at the moment.

Anyone got Metformin experiences to share?

Daisy xx

[crazyDiane]

If you have a baby having PCOS my big congratulations! My sister has got PCOS, since she was 16 and now she is 25 and she still doenst have a baby. I am very sad because of that because I know she will be the best mother ever. Las week we have been to the doctor and he said that she had to try someting new in Uk -http://www.inofem.pl/en/. He told us that this is something good for PCOS