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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Those with PCOS...
I was just diagnosed with PCOS and I'm trying to wrap my head around what this could really mean in terms of difficulty conceiving and time frames. Please take the poll and add any info you have come across that might be helpful. Thanks!
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Posted 4/23/06 12:16 PM  |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those with PCOS...
I answered one year but let me explain.
My First RE, and if you have PCOS you really should see an RE, was a waste of my time. I went there for 7 months and it turns out she never gave me the meds I should have been given for PCOS. It's a VERY long story and a lot of others on the boards have had problems with that practice so I don't recommend them. It took me 4 months with very high dosages of just clomid to ovulate... but clomid doesn't treat PCOS.
I just started seeing a doctor at NSUH. I learned more from the initial consultation than the other practice told me in 7 months. He put me on Metformin which is prescribed for many PCOS patients... no more Clomid did too many cycles on it (it builds up in your system) and well... I ovulated on my own with the Met Sometimes they will do a cocktail of Clomid and Met if you don't ovulate just from the Met.
<---------------As you can tell from my avatar I had an IUI yesterday (I surged yesterday) and they did another sonogram right after the procedure and I saw the egg Go egg go then I was back in this morning for another IUI, sonogram..and according to the image the egg released.
For YEARS and YEARS I would only get AF maybe 3 times a year. I told several ob-gyn's that there was a problem and no one would listen to me They said, "Oh, we'll fix that when you want to get preggos"... Yeah, well here I am, 35, trying for year but I'm keeping the faith.
Just remember. Got with your get and get second opinions.
Good luck to you
Message edited 4/23/2006 12:55:59 PM.
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| Posted 4/23/06 12:55 PM |
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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Re: Those with PCOS...
Thanks for the response. I'm sorry you had to deal with a crappy practice, but I wish you lots of luck now! I have a couple of questions:
What did you mean by RE? Your regular OBG, or is this a special doctor?
What is an IUI?
Well, so far so good. I came in on Friday with my charts and how I hadn't had AF in 2 months and I had a sono 10 years ago that showed cysts, but the doc then never told me what that could mean (I guess some of these docs just don't think it's important if you're not TTC). She put me on Metformin right away and did blood work. I have a sono scheduled next week and she wants DH to have a SA right away, so we don't hit that snag later on. I feel like she's on top of the situation. I just don't know if this is a setback in terms of months or years, or maybe never...I can't believe what a stressful experience TTC is for so many people.
Thanks again!
ETA did you have any of the side effects with metformin and, if so, did they go away quickly?
Message edited 4/23/2006 1:26:28 PM.
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| Posted 4/23/06 1:24 PM |
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calendargrl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 1686 total posts
Name:
jan
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Re: Those with PCOS...
Hi,
I actually have pcos and just started Metaformin 2 months and i ovulated for one month, I still am waiting to ovulate this month . I have not been taking the met regularly so I know it's my fault. My RE believes I could get pregnant so long as i'm ovulating.
The side effects for me stink! my stomach is always quizzy and I lived in the bathroom when I first started it. I'm suppose to take 1500 mgs, but i'm currently taking 1000mg and i'm trying to build myself up to the correct dosage.
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| Posted 4/23/06 3:47 PM |
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PupettaBella
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 538 total posts
Name:
Paula
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Re: Those with PCOS...
Posted by calendargrl
Hi,
I actually have pcos and just started Metaformin 2 months and i ovulated for one month, I still am waiting to ovulate this month . I have not been taking the met regularly so I know it's my fault. My RE believes I could get pregnant so long as i'm ovulating.
The side effects for me stink! my stomach is always quizzy and I lived in the bathroom when I first started it. I'm suppose to take 1500 mgs, but i'm currently taking 1000mg and i'm trying to build myself up to the correct dosage.
I was put on Metformin and just couldn't handle it. Like calendargrl, they made my stomach really sick. My OB put me on the pill, which at the time was fine 'cause I had just gotten engaged and wasn't thinking of TTC. I went off the pill in December and my OB wanted me to try on our own for a few months. So far nothin. I have to go back to her this June and she'll probably send to a RE.
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| Posted 4/23/06 7:06 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Those with PCOS...
Posted by kra5hnburn
Thanks for the response. I'm sorry you had to deal with a crappy practice, but I wish you lots of luck now! I have a couple of questions:
What did you mean by RE? Your regular OBG, or is this a special doctor?
What is an IUI?
Well, so far so good. I came in on Friday with my charts and how I hadn't had AF in 2 months and I had a sono 10 years ago that showed cysts, but the doc then never told me what that could mean (I guess some of these docs just don't think it's important if you're not TTC). She put me on Metformin right away and did blood work. I have a sono scheduled next week and she wants DH to have a SA right away, so we don't hit that snag later on. I feel like she's on top of the situation. I just don't know if this is a setback in terms of months or years, or maybe never...I can't believe what a stressful experience TTC is for so many people.
Thanks again!
ETA did you have any of the side effects with metformin and, if so, did they go away quickly?
'
RE= Reproductive Endocrinologist. They are ob/gyn's with additional training (years) in reproductive issues. Actually, most ob-gyns have little experience with reproductive issues. You really should be under the care of an RE.
IUI=Intra-Unterine Insemination. This is when DH (or anonymous for those that do sperm donation) drops off a "sample" it is analyzed by the lab and "washed" which means they remove the seminal fluid. The majority of semen is made up of seminal fluid... the milky colored stuff that provides the nutrients that can allow sperm to survive the so called 3 days. They remove the seminal fluid for a few reasons but mostly because it is not needed in IUI due to the fact that the sperm has less distance to swim as it is inserted passed the cervix. All of the extra fluid is to help the little guys swim and make it to the egg in the hostile environment of the cervix... see my avatar...LOL. A speculum (that horrible device they use to open us for vaginal exams ) is inserted and the doctor takes the washed sperm (which looks clear like water), inserts it into a syringe and a very thin cathedar which in turn is inserted beyond your cervix into the uterus, closer to the Fallopian tubes. It takes about 2 minutes and doesn't hurt... maybe a slight, dull cramp afterwards. The average success rate for each IUI is about 10-15%... not great but it is less invasive than IVF and requires less meds and monitoring.
For my individual experience you can check out my posts on the Infertility board.
There are several women on that board who have PCOS and/or know a lot about it. I, rarely, come over here because, unfortunately, after trying for a year, I've really out grown the TTC board It's hard seeing posts about how immediate some people get pregnant so I just spend most of my time over there.
We are a very friendly bunch and you will definitely get more information over there.
I am very good when it comes to meds... little side effects. I was actually put on a pretty high starting dose... 1500mg. My doc said to take it at bedtime. I do remember feeling very lethargic after the second or third day (not sure if that was the Met or my exhausted self) and it might have been the adjustment of my blood sugar... don't know. I'm fine now on it. You do have to take it regularly and NO drinking... and trust me with the frustrations of TTC I sometimes feel, with each BFN, like I need to drink now more than ever...LOL.
Good luck and I hope I answered your questions
Message edited 4/23/2006 7:30:41 PM.
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| Posted 4/23/06 7:27 PM |
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leighla
Support Cancer Research
Member since 5/05 16353 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Those with PCOS...
We've been trying for over a year, but I went to a regular OBGYN for the first 9 months of that and was put on Clomid for 5 cycles.
When I got sick of my OBGYN not having any answers for me, I went to an RE.
They finally definitively diagnosed me with PCOS and started me on the Metformin.
I went through one cycle of just the Met and ovulated late, but on my own for the first time in a year.
This cycle we did a met/clomid combo and an IUI.
I have very few side effects with the Met - I've been really lucky. I seem to have a cast iron stomach!! The Clomid makes me moody and gives me hot flashes, but it's tolerable.
We also have sperm issues, which are contributing to how long it's taking to concieve for us as well.
If you have any questions, please feel free to FM me.
Good luck!!
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| Posted 4/23/06 10:26 PM |
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july0105
My three little miracles
Member since 4/06 2628 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Re: Those with PCOS...
I was diagnosed with PCOS several years ago and was "treated" with the pill. Now that we are TTC I am dealing with the reality that PCOS is making things pretty complicated. I switched doctors recently and was put on Provera to get a period... I'm still waiting... then some more tests and clomid.
I am trying to stay patient and positive... Good luck! 
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| Posted 4/23/06 11:29 PM |
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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Re: Those with PCOS...
Thanks for sharing ladies. I have a whole lot of other things to talk to my doc about when I go back next month.
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| Posted 4/24/06 7:07 AM |
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LizD
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/06 763 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Those with PCOS...
I did not get to vote because we went a whole other route.
I have PCOS and DH has low sperm, so we had 2 major whammys against us. We did 2 IUI's which were unsuccessful and decided we did not want to do IVF at all.
We adopted our beautiful daughter from China. We had spoken about adoption before and for us that is where our hearts were.
Definetly see an RE. We loved ours, but just did not want to go the whole 9 yards on that front.
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| Posted 4/24/06 1:18 PM |
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krashnburn
I am Batman!
Member since 5/05 4093 total posts
Name:
I'm Batman, I tell you!
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Re: Those with PCOS...
I did not get to vote because we went a whole other route.
Adoption is a great option.  I'm glad everything worked out for the best for you.
Message edited 4/24/2006 2:38:44 PM.
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| Posted 4/24/06 2:37 PM |
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