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Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Infertility

Hi guys

35 replies

Kathrobs · 30/09/2012 17:26

I'm new to this site but would really like your advice. I have had pcos for as long as I can remember (although I do have a 13 year old) anyway, last Saturday I found out I was pregnant- I cannot tell you all how happy I was. By Sunday night I was In hospital with pains and bleeding . I was told I was more than likely having a miscarriage, the docs told me to go back Wednesday to see if my hormone levels had doubled- which sadly, they hadn't. I only started bleeding yesterday and was never told that this was going to happen- I was pretty scared :-( I was only 4-5 weeks gone but I was and still am devastated. I guess I'm just asking if anyone has had the same issues and care to share? I have had regular cycles for the last 8 months- does this mean I'm cured and more likely to get pregnant now?? Thanks all for taking the time to read this xx

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Ginshizz · 02/10/2012 09:32

Hi,

So sorry to hear about your mc. How are you doing now?

I haven't had exactly the same experience but I have PCOS so I know a little about it. As I understand it, it is very possible to fall pg with PCO as many women with polycystic ovaries still ovulate every month and have just as much chance of falling pg as women without polycystic ovaries. The "S" bit of PCOS refers to women who have polycystic ovaries and don't ovulate regularly (or at all). That's when you start to need things like clomid to help the body ovulate.

If you are having regular cycles then the chances are you are ovulating normally (depending on how long the cycles are). You could always try opks or temping to check? Or see if your gp will do blood tests with you to check if you are ovulating or not.

In the end I had to have ivf but it wasn't because of my PCOS as I got that under control by following the most boring diet known to humanity and exercising like a madwoman ... Sadly DH's swimmers were a little on the lazy side so we needed help in making them take an interest in my eggs!

Hope you are doing ok after the mc and I am crossing my fingers that you have a sticky bfp soon


Smile

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Kathrobs · 02/10/2012 14:45

Hi Gin,
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm not doing too bad, still bleeding but keep telling myself it's just a period- it kind of helps (maybe I'm just weird!) I'm a little dubious about going to the doctor as when I last had a consultation, they said they wouldn't do any investigative tests as I already had a child- I would have to pay for it which I'm not particularly in a position to do so and I really don't think that's fair! I know I need to go and see what position I'm in now as it was years ago when I last had a scan on my ovaries. At the moment I'm just burying my head in the sand. I know I was only a few weeks but I just want a child so badly and I got carried away with the moment. Kinda feels like the rug got pulled from under me :-( thanks again for listening/ reading to my tales of woe
Kath xx

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Ginshizz · 02/10/2012 20:27

Oh I can only imagine how devastated you must be feeling. I am sending hugs and a large glass of wine.

The tests thing is a bit of a grey area if you ask me. PCOS is a medical condition that doesn't just impact on fertility so, even if the nhs isn't going to pay for fertility treatment, they should still do some basic tests to see if you do have it. Obvs it's totally your call and you might not want to go down the route of any investigations at all, which I completely understand!, but if you do want to know, it might be worth trying your GP again. I found not many of them knew much about PCOS but I was lucky that I got one really good one who understood that it's important to get a diagnosis regardless of what you intend to do re fertility (eg there's a lot of diabetes in my family and PCOS can be linked to it so knowing I had PCOS meant I could take sensible steps to cut everything interesting out of my diet!).

It's a very good sign that your cycles are regular though.

Hope you're still doing ok

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 03/10/2012 00:35

I had a bit of a teary day today- its weird, one minute im fine, the next I'm a mess! It doesn't help that my partner works away :-( I've decided (today at least) to make a docs app tomorrow. I want/need to sort it out! I'm also going to sort my diet out- its crap at the minute!- work too long and eat at the wrong times! What diet did you use? If you don't mind me asking- sorry if I intrude too much! I reckon pcos it's more of a mental thing-knowing that you can't have something you want is a mind bender!
Kath xx
P.S thanks for the wine:-) xx

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Ginshizz · 03/10/2012 14:25

Hello,

Sorry you've been up and down but well done for making the Drs appt. I don't know whether this was just me being odd or not Grin but although I was ovulating when I did all my ttc tests, my progesterone levels were low so, before we realised we needed ivf because of DH's overly chilled out swimmers, my Dr was going to give me progesterone supplements to help sustain a pregnancy beyond the first few weeks. Another reason why they should help at least work out whether you have PCOS or not.

I don't mind you asking about my dull diet at all! Although it will bore you to tears. Basically, I stuck to a low GI diet - so no sugary things Sad , no booze except the odd glass of red wine Sad , no white bread, pasta or rice, lots of pulses, nuts, fruit, veg, quinoa and wholegrain stuff.

I also ate 5 to 6 times a day rather than 3 times a day to stop my insulin levels going bonkers. It's actually not that hard as two of my 'meals' were snacks of fruit or nuts with yoghurt so that was quite nice!

It was a bit of a pain to begin with but I ended up feeling so much better and I could tell it suited my body as my cycles went from anywhere between 37 to 60 days to a much more normal 30 days.

There are lots of websites that tell you about GI diets; most of them say things like you can have one high GI and two or three medium GI things a day ... tbh I wasn't that exact about it, I just ate a lot of the low GI stuff and dipped into medium and high when I felt like it.

My Dr also advised me to do lots of exercise Sad Sad Sad !!!! She said because PCOS is often linked to irregularities in insulin levels, short, regular bursts of high intensity exercise is better than going for two or three long gym sessions a week. So my dog and I were out sprinting around our local park every morning! We just did 15 minutes but went pretty fast. I have to say it did work though ... I lost two stone in three months and felt much better.

It was quite hard work but I did have some excess weight to shift; it sounds like you need some help from the Drs in terms of determining whether you have PCOS or not and then, if you have, just a bit of tweaking to help balance out the old hormones. If your cycles are regular though, then that's a great start ... given you had a diagnosis before though, do push for tests even if your GP isn't keen. As I understand it, some people with PCOS have regular periods but don't always ovulate regularly and, as I said, I was ovulating regularly but my progesterone levels were very low (I had a very short luteal phase) so, even if i had fallen pg naturally, the chances are it wouldn't have stuck without some help.

Do let me know how the appt goes,

xxx

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Kathrobs · 04/10/2012 10:49

Hi,

Well I went to the doctors- he said that I should be positive in the fact that I can get pregnant and if he referred me on, it would be unlikely that they would do any kind of testing as I can get pregnant. He's also told me to go back to the hospital for a scan as I'm still bleeding and having pain- not looking forward to this at all! I also went and got some metformin and went shopping for lots of healthy food! So here's to the beginning!!! I will let you know how I get on- fingers crossed! Xxx

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Ginshizz · 04/10/2012 11:02

Great news! Metformin should definitely help as it sorts out any insulin issues and, I think, helps with regulating hormone levels.

Sorry you have to have a scan, not pleasant. But I hope it shows everything is ok. Can they have a quick look at your ovaries while they are doing it...?

Well done and do keep me posted!

Smile

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Kathrobs · 04/10/2012 22:09

Omg so today has gone like this- went to the hospital to check my serum levels were gone and found that the levels had increased (double what they wre last week) had my scan and they couldn't see anything but my womb lining was thicker and only have 1 small cyst on the ovary whereas last time I had a scan there was loads! I have to go back on Monday for more blood tests- its going to be a long weekend! God, I don't know what this means!!!! Xxx

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Ginshizz · 05/10/2012 10:17

Argh how confusing! Great news about there only being one cyst though, brilliant.

Fingers crossed you manage to have a good weekend!


X

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Kathrobs · 05/10/2012 23:06

I'm still in shock by the whole situation! I keep being told by everyone not to get excited but I can't help myself! They are still really low (157) but I'm just hoping that by some miracle my little ginger nut is clinging on! Xx

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Ginshizz · 06/10/2012 22:56

Well I reckon there is still hope ... My LO was a bit slow to get started and we had drs telling us it was game over and trying to get me to take a pill to end the "failed pregnancy" ... Not what you want after two rounds of ivf!

Turned out it had just taken DD longer than most beans to work out where she wanted to hang out for then next 9 months or so. Which figures as she is quite particular Grin

Fingers crossed you have a picky little bean too!

How are you feeling physically? Hope you're ok

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 07/10/2012 21:17

God in hoping so! I'm actually feeling terrible at the moment- kind of flu like. It's my first day back at work tomorrow and I'm definitely not feeling up to it :-; have you had a good weekend? Xx

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Ginshizz · 07/10/2012 21:38

Oh no sorry you are not feeling well ... Not what you need on a Monday!

I've had quite a good weekend thanks; DD has just learnt how to make a sound like a small teradactyl chick so we've been listening to that a lot!

Hope you managed to relax a bit?

Am sending lemsips and a large G&T!

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 08/10/2012 23:19

Haha your message made me laugh with the sounds!! How old is DD now? Well, as we speak, I'm currently in hospital on a drip- they think I have an infection- makes sense why I'm feeling so lousy- first day back at work and I'm having a malfunction!! I hope I'm not in for long, I hate hospitals! Oooh A large G&T would go down a treat right now!! Xxx

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Ginshizz · 09/10/2012 09:52

Ooooooooh nooooooooo, on a drip??? Awful for you.

How are you feeling this morning? Better, I hope?

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 09/10/2012 19:35

Finally got home today with the drugs they've been feeding me! They've told me its the miscarriage plus the infection coming out now- where's the justice in me bleeding for the last 3 weeks for it only to be coming out now?! I feel like I've gone 10 rounds with Nike Tyson! Xxx

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Ginshizz · 09/10/2012 19:59

Oh that's just rotten. I hope you are feeling ok-ish given what you've been through.

Would this help Wine Grin

Seriously though, what a rough ride. Well done for getting home, hope you are taking it easy and looking after yourself

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 09/10/2012 21:18

Thanks so much- I don't know what I would have done without your support the last few weeks :-) :-) I'm having the anti biotics for the next 6 days- means no wine :-( apparently I'd be sick if I had any alcohol- could do with a big glass of red! I'm off sick again as I've been told not to work- did not go down very well- infact, I had my manager ring me at 9am to have a go at me for telling the wrong person I was in hospital- sooo not sensitive!- I'm so mad about it- they're having a go at me at the same time my baby is coming away from me:-( Xxx

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Ginshizz · 10/10/2012 10:58

Oh that's horrid. More than insensitive, just plain mean. What does it matter if you tell the wrong person you are in hospital just as long as the message gets through? And you were in hospital, not a time when our brains are at their sharpest...

Maybe when you are feeing better, you could have a word with HR?

I am even more sad to hear you can't have any wine. That's barbaric! Seriously though, I hope the antibiotics are doing their job and that you are feeling better physically. Obviously the emotional side can't be fixed with a few pills but there's lots of handholding here and an ear to bend whenever you need xxxx

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Kathrobs · 10/10/2012 14:42

I know, my partner said I should concentrate on getting better and not think about mindless, insensitive people- I dwell on things that's my problem!
The tablets are working- not to be crude but the clot situation is scaring me- it's just pouring - I know that's not what you want to hear its just scaring me:-; at least if it ever happens again, I'll know what to expect if that makes any sense?!
Xxx

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Ginshizz · 10/10/2012 22:05

Makes total sense although not the kind of thing you'd want to have experience of. Great that the tablets are working though; I hope it's not too exhausting. I had a chemical pregnancy a few yrs ago and that just wiped me out, I was only about 6 weeks though.

As you can't have wine, I am sending chocolate cake instead! Hope your DP is taking good care of you xxx

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Kathrobs · 10/10/2012 22:21

I'm going this bit alone- he took time off the first week- he couldn't keep taking time off- it would be nice to have a hug but it can't be so im just getting on with it! I was talking to my mum earlier and I said I can't remember what life was like before all this happened. I wonder if life is ever going to be the same again. It's my daughters 13th birthday tomorrow- I still haven't got her anything! It's hard enough dragging my ass off the couch! Xxx

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Ginshizz · 11/10/2012 21:32

Hi how are you doing today? Hope your DD had a lovely birthday and that you had the energy to enjoy it too. Sorry your DP can't be with you during the day. I think you're doing marvellously FWIW.

Sending hugs and non alcoholic wine (when you can you have the real stuff)?

Xxx

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Kathrobs · 12/10/2012 09:43

Hi
Yes, she had a great time- I managed to get her presents In the nick of time! I actually felt ok yesterday and was hardly bleeding until last. Ought when I was bleeding quite heavily (just when I thought it was coming to an end!)

I can't have any wine until next Wednesday- 48 hours after I finish the anti biotics :-( but hopefully my DP will be home and I'll get to spend a day with him- fingers crossed! Have you any plans this weekend? Xxx

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Ginshizz · 12/10/2012 17:04

Hi, glad the birthday went well and well done for getting pressies!

We aren't up to much this weekend - just hanging out at home, possibly going for a walk in the country with th baby and the dog. I plan to have a few naps and a long bath!

I hope the bleeding has stopped or at least slowed down a bit?

Xxx

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