Can you give me any advice re: PCOS/Clomid?

[Gcross]

Hey all,

So a few months ago I got diagnosed with PCOS (polycycstic ovaries), was devastated because me and hubby are trying for baby #2. So since then I've been trying to help myself by taking vitamins/herbs that are supposed to help with PCOS and exercising 3-4 times a week also joined slimming world to help lose weight, so basically doing everything naturally I can but I do need a little help medically along the way! I know there is a drug called clomid that helps your ovaries ovulate so I was a little excited as it said that 80% of women get pregnant within 6 months of taking this! Obviously there are side effects with the drug. I've got my appointment tomorrow at the fertility clinic to see if I can get clomid I'm so nervous my stomach is doing cartwheels! I've been preparing questions to ask the doctor, I know I'll probably cry!

Has anyone else had clomid? Or been through similar experience with PCOS. What questions should I ask the Dr.?

Thanks
Xxxxx

 

[Gcross]

Wow 52 views and no comments. :sad:

 

[Melk]

I have pcos too haven't tried clomid. Best way to loose weight is protien diet. For fertility I cant help. It took 7 years for me to conceive viably. Good luck.

 

[Eyekandi]

Cant answer about clomid but i was diagnosed with PCOS while trying for 2nd baby..it took me 18months. I fell pregnant naturally while they were poking around and testing but i am now on Metformin to help with weight..however i have heard it makes you more fertile.

Metformin hasnt worked on its own but with combined eating and high impact exercise(Kettlecise..im hooked!!) i've lost 1.5stone so all symtoms are alot better. Still have alittle way to go but feel very positive.

Good luck for tomorrow

 

[Tracys Beauty]

Hi I had no trouble with my first but had clomid with my second and fell on the second month, and had a 3rd and 4th with no trouble at all, I was diagnosed with pcos just before my second but I lost 2 stone after my second so I reckon that helped,

 

[Lunarstorm]

Hi

I have PCOS and needed to have fertility treatment for my second child. I did get pregant after 3 and a half years of treatment. I was on Clomid AND Metformin. It's fair to much to put on here but Clomid alone was not enough for me. I also have IBS and it took a few trys before I could tollorate Metformin but I was fine on Clomid. When I was unable to take the Metformin, I was still taking the Clomid.

Best bit of advice I can give you is, try not to stress yourself out. The stress it's self can make matters worse.

I know it feels like it's the end of the world but there is still a lot that can be done to aid conciving a baby. As I said, I was on feritilty treatment for 3 and a half years before I concived my second child. I was at the point where I had 3 chances at IUI with daily injections, if that didnt work, then that was the end of the line for me as I did not quailfy for IVF as I already had a child (fair enough really with the limited funds they have).

I took a break in treatment as it things where stressful at that time and I did not want to waste my final shot. 3 weeks after a stopped taking my treatment, I felt really ill, went to my GP and she said it was likely to be my body getting used to not having the Metformin and Clomid. She said take a test just to make sure I was not pregant and that she saw not reason I could not contiune to take the Metformin as it would benefit me due to PCOS suffers having a high insulin tollorance level.

Thought the GP was nuts as NO way I could be pregant after trying for 3 and a half years on fertility drugs with nothing, so no way I could be when I had not taken any meds for 3 weeks.

Took a test and I was pregant (well I took 3 tests as I though they must be broken LOL) Got in contact with my fertility consultant and went in for a scan and I was 5 weeks pregant. I didn't believe it until I saw the scan.

My point is, even in your darkest days (and nights), there is always hope, even when you feel like there is none. You have so many options ahead of you and your consultant will go through all of them with you. Take it one step at a time. Don't expect to get pregant straight away, it will most likely take a little time and it's ok to feel upset when it does not happen that month. Also you might notice pregant women more and babies, that's also normal. If they offer you conselling, take it. I didn't until my consult made me (said she would stop treating me until I went) and it does help.

Keep an open mind tomorrow and remember tomorrow is just the start, so no reason to get worked up and make yourself ill.

Sam xxx

 

[Gcross]

Thank you. X

Yes I have heard about metformin as well, I'll will be asking dr about this tomorrow as I knew it help made you fertile but didn't know it helped with weight. well done on your weight loss, I've been looking at that kettlercise DVD am going to buy it, I'm hooked on Zumba at the moment! Love it. Hoping it's good news tomorrow xx

 

[Gcross]

Thanks Sam. I do really stress myself over it, become a bit obsessive with it, my mum tells me not to let it rule my life which I know is true but it's hard when it's all I can think about. I don't know why I have suddenly got PCOS I never had any trouble before falling pregnant and my periods were normally ok. And your right, I seem to notice pregnant women every where I go lol!

Thanks for the advice about counselling, I'll see if he brings that up tomorrow. Just can't wait to see the consultant now!


Xxx

 

[Pinkbunny28]

Just wanted to say good luck!! x

 

[Lush-Lash]

I had clomid for 4 months, then a 2 month break then had it again for 2 more months so 6 months in total. It didn't work for me.

I didn't have any side affects apart from a bit of spotting blood 1 cycle thought I'd got lucky that month & that it was implantation bleeding but was it heck!!

Other than that I was fine. I thought I'd be a hormonal wreck but honestly I didn't feel any different. Plus I use to suffer migraines at the time so thought it might bring these on, but it didn't.

I had 100mg for the first couple of months then my consultant had it increased to 150mg.

What days you taking them on in your cycle? I had to take tablets day 2-6 but some ladies have days 4-9 etc.. Just depends on how your dr wants to do it.

My consultant is a looney really because I don't even have pcos, I have mangled Fallopian tubes, so it wasn't the smartest move he could make prescribing me clomid was it!!! but anyway it didn't work.

I've had fertility treatment 3 times now, neither time has worked but each pregnancy I've had previously has been conceived naturally. weird isn't it, oh might I add each time I have fallen pregnant has been when I've lost weight so weightloss really does help

Good luck xx

 

[Lush-Lash]

Sorry just read you havent actually got tablets yet. (hopefully you'll get them)

Another quick question sorry to ask I feel really rude asking this but is your bmi below 35? Because if it isn't you'll struggle to get clomid (unless you have a nice dr, which is quite rare these days lol) the nhs state bmi under 35 for clomid & such drugs & bmi under 30 for Ivf etc.. x

 

[Lush-Lash]

Hey all,

So a few months ago I got diagnosed with PCOS (polycycstic ovaries), was devastated because me and hubby are trying for baby #2. So since then I've been trying to help myself by taking vitamins/herbs that are supposed to help with PCOS and exercising 3-4 times a week also joined slimming world to help lose weight, so basically doing everything naturally I can but I do need a little help medically along the way! I know there is a drug called clomid that helps your ovaries ovulate so I was a little excited as it said that 80% of women get pregnant within 6 months of taking this! Obviously there are side effects with the drug. I've got my appointment tomorrow at the fertility clinic to see if I can get clomid I'm so nervous my stomach is doing cartwheels! I've been preparing questions to ask the doctor, I know I'll probably cry!

Has anyone else had clomid? Or been through similar experience with PCOS. What questions should I ask the Dr.?

Thanks
Xxxxx

You should also really think about having accupuncture & reflexology, ive attached some links for you to look at

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00744510

http://www.livestrong.com/article/549720-reflexology-for-pcos/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110207101026.htm

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/487-acupunctureceusmenstruationpcos

 

[ginahhrose]

hijacking this thread, sorry!!!

i got diagnosed with pcos at the start of the year and i know it can cause things to do with weight, but does anyone on here now what it does to it? Ive tried reading it on the internet but its making no sense and my doctor wasn't much help when i asked him either.

since i came off the pill and released i had pcos i have gained a lot of weight and really need to do something about it so if anyone could please explain this to me it would be appreciated! xxxxx

 

[Gcross]

Thanks Lush-Lash. Well went today and he wouldn't give me clomid, he said to lose weight (could see that coming :/ ) and come back in 6 months....so I started crying lol, had got my hopes up too high! But....,he did prescribe me with metformin, which I'm pleased about it'll help me lose weight and have been reading that it also make you more fertile. He has put me on 750mg twice a day, start them tomorrow, worried what side effects I will have but hey ho! I also suffer with migranes so hope it won't make them worse!


Here you go Gina - this is why it causes weight gain.

With PCOS, the body has more difficulty using the hormone insulin, which normally helps convert sugars and starches from foods into energy. This condition -- called insulin resistance -- can cause insulin and sugar -- glucose -- to build up in the bloodstream.

High insulin levels increase the production of male hormones called androgens. High androgen levels lead to symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods -- and weight gain. Because the weight gain is triggered by male hormones, it is typically in the abdomen. That is where men tend to carry weight. So instead of having a pear shape, women with PCOS have more of an apple shape.


Xxx

 

[Steph86]

I have read that a low GI diet is good for pcos, I was diagnosed with PCO-which I assumed was pcos, (it isn't) but I looked up low GI food online and made a few changes to my diet anyway xx

 

[Easydry]

It's great to see so many responses & such support to your post.

Good luck with your treatment.

 

[ginahhrose]

Thanks Lush-Lash. Well went today and he wouldn't give me clomid, he said to lose weight (could see that coming :/ ) and come back in 6 months....so I started crying lol, had got my hopes up too high! But....,he did prescribe me with metformin, which I'm pleased about it'll help me lose weight and have been reading that it also make you more fertile. He has put me on 750mg twice a day, start them tomorrow, worried what side effects I will have but hey ho! I also suffer with migranes so hope it won't make them worse!


Here you go Gina - this is why it causes weight gain.

With PCOS, the body has more difficulty using the hormone insulin, which normally helps convert sugars and starches from foods into energy. This condition -- called insulin resistance -- can cause insulin and sugar -- glucose -- to build up in the bloodstream.

High insulin levels increase the production of male hormones called androgens. High androgen levels lead to symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods -- and weight gain. Because the weight gain is triggered by male hormones, it is typically in the abdomen. That is where men tend to carry weight. So instead of having a pear shape, women with PCOS have more of an apple shape.


Xxx

ohhh thanks its making a bit more sence now! xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Eyekandi]

I bought a book which has become my bible called 'The Ultimate PCOS Handbook' by Colette Harris&Theresa Cheung

This book is fantastic as covers weight, fertility, skin and state of mind. It does suggest things that aren't practical like cutting out all chemicals from life like not drinking from plastic bottles and only drinking purified water as well as lots more but i cried when i read it as some of the statements in there related to exactly how i felt and thought no-one else would understand.

Good luck it will happen you just need to stay positive and stress-free x

 

[Gcross]

Will def be buying this book, just read the preview on it and all the reviews are great. Thanks for suggesting it! X

 

[missty25]

I also have PCOS and it took 2 years for me to fall pregnant with first baby, seen the fertility specialist in the January to discuss IVF and he said to give it another 6 of TTC naturally and he also said he didn't think he would see me again as he had every faith I would be pregnant by the June. Found out the week before appointment in June that I had actually fallen pregnant. It was very strange to say the least but think that I kept the specialists words in the back of my mind and somehow this done the trick,lol.

Now 4 years later trying for baby number 2 but also am 2 stone heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant, so not holding out much hope, I really am my own worst enemy as I know I need to lose at least 2 stone but don't know if I should go And talk to my doctor or not as I know I'll only get sent away and told to lose weight😪, it's been almost a year already of TTC and find myself desperately hoping this will be the month that it happens and then when it doesn't I go off on a proper binge.

If only I could take my own advice, such a vicious cycle, depressed, eat, depressed, eat, lol. Doesn't help having the hugest sweet tooth in the world.

Sorry for my rambling post but it's made me feel better knowing that there's others in the same/Similar position❤