Help with Pcos

Hi G.,

I personally do not have any experience with PCOS but I know a lot of the women on the What to Expect board may have some advice for you. Here is the link <http://www.whattoexpect.com/what-to-expect/landing-page.a...;

Good Luck!!

I would contact a reproductive endocrinologist ASAP! Dr. Samuel Chantilis is one of the best in the country and he's in Dallas. His office number is ###-###-####. I cannot tell you how wonderful this man is!!!!!

I have PCOS and have 3 kids now...the first and last were suprises. Following a low-carb diet (first Atkins and third time South Beach) helped regulate my cycles. I took Clomid 2nd child, and it worked well. I discussed Metformin with my OB after the 2nd, and she was going to prescribe it...but I never took it because I was already pregnant with my 3rd.

Hi G.,

I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 years ago. My husband and I have been together for 16 years now, and all that time we were so careful NOT to get pregnant, only to find out the difficulties when we were ready to start a family!

My OB/Gyn explained that there are really only two routes to take with PCOS- you're either trying to get pregnant, in which the first step is fertility drugs, or not get pregnant, in which the favored treatment is birth control.

When we started trying to conceive, my OB placed me on femara at first, which at that time was the treatment to do with PCOS & trying to get pregnant. It did not go over well with my body...nausea...all that fun stuff. The next try we did clomid, but it did not work, so my OB referred me to a fertility specialist- primarily because he did not want to keep putting me on clomid... you really shouldn't be on clomid for a long period of time, as it thins your uterine lining and if you do become pregnant there is concern for miscarriage.

My OB referred me to Dr Sy Q Le & Dr Derek Haas of Advanced Reproductive Care in Irving. They have a lot of information on their website you can go over if you like. ivfmd.net is the site.

After 3 months of their care, and 2 attempts on clomid, we were pregnant! Our daughter is now turning 3 next month.

In addition, we decided last year we were ready to try for baby number 2, after 2 attempts on clomid, we were pregnant with twins! So- we got a bonus! :)

Our baby boy & girl were born last month and are doing well.

Now, I am very careful & starting the pill because from what I know, it becomes easier to get pregnant (typically) after you've been pregnant before - even if you have pcos.

Also, my OB placed me on metformin 500 mg 2x a day to help with the treatment of PCOS, since your symptoms are similar to those of a diabetic.

What was nice with Dr Le & Dr Haas- they did all the testing to make sure that PCOS was the only issue- that I did not have any issues with my tubes & that my husband checked out ok... that way, they're able to treat & have greater (I think) success.

Have faith... it will happen... be sure to relax a little & not put too much pressure on yourself!

I am finding that there are more & more women like us out there than I thought! You are not alone!

Best Wishes,
V

Hi G.,

I have PCOS and now have a 10 week old baby girl!!

I was on 2000mg of Metformin for 2 years prior to conceiving. What I feel really helped was being on birth control pills for 3 months prior to conception. After the 3 months, on the 3rd cycle post BCP, we conceived our daughter.

We were actively trying to get pregnant for 3 years.

Don't hesitate to mail me if you have questions.

First of all...don't worry! I have PCOS and so do many of my friends. I'm a mom of two. My first advice is to see a PCOS speicalist not just a regular obgyn. I highly recommend Dr. DW "Dub" Howard in Carrollton. He taught me about my PCOS and answered questions I'd had for over 15 years.

I've known since I was 14 or 15 that I had PCOS (now 32) and this was a time when not much was known on the subject but I had a very educated mother who knew she had it, her sister had it and her mother had it(all of which had children).

Some PCOS women struggle to get pregnant and some do not. Also a pregnancy doesn't cure it since it is acutally a problem with insulin and not directly your ovaries although they get the symptoms with the cysts. BUT I have found as many others have too, that once your body gets pregnant once it some how is a little easier the next time.

My first pregnancy I was seeing a regular gyno and they started with clomid (my doc here said it shouldn't have worked, but God had other plans) - the clomid didn't really do what it was suppose to (because it's to be started after a period and not having had one it caused my period to start) and my ovaries were VERY covered in cysts (again it was God's timing). The gyno did tell me though that if I had tried for 3 mo. off the pill to come in because with PCOS you don't want to just wait and keep trying. I would say that taking my tempeture every morning was a huge help (make sure you take it before you even get out of bed).

After our first child we weren't trying and got pregnant because I had missed some pills (it turned out to be an ectopic rupture - possibly the result of scar tissue from the cyst they removed when I was 17).

Our third time (we were actually trying again) only took a month or so without help - like I said the body knew what to do.

My story isn't everyone's though and like I said I really like Dr. Howard. He had an aggressive plan and was only wanting me to try on my own for a month or so. The plan usually involves having your husband checked out too just to make sure everything is fine on that side (so prepare him for that).

I have a huge number of friends with PCOS and I can say that a very small percentage struggled for a long time. Good luck - look Dr. Howard up! After him I'd recommend Dr. Suzette Boyd in Frisco for when you are pregnant!

Hi G., I have had PCOS since highschool and am now 40. I have two wonderful sons (8, 13)to give you a little hope. I went the alternative route to deal with my PCOS; diet, exercise and supplements from my awesome doctor, Anne Coleman in Richardson. Here also is a great website that I receive newsletters and support from. http://www.pcosupport.org/

I would also suggest Accupuncture. Dr. Lin Zhou at 75 and Campbell is very good and deals with PCOS patients. My friend started seeing Dr. Zhou after several failed IUI's and a non regulated cycle. After two months with Dr. Zhou her cycles were regular and did not require medication to start her cycle. She had her baby boy yesterday!

Hi G.,
I now have 2 sons after being diagnosed with PCOS about 4 years ago.
Definitely seek the help of a reproductive endocrinologist if it's been 3 years with no results, you need assistance. It will probably be with drugs and/or diet changes. An endocrinologist will get you on the right track more than a standard ob/gyn will. There will be a lot of monitoring of your hormone levels and ovulation etc which helps pinpoint the exact problem and what the PCOS is doing to your body and regulates your hormonal cycles.
My first son was conceived via IUI with the help of an endo and clomid and the second naturally but somewhat unexpectedly. I later found out with my second son that when you have PCOS you are most likely to conceive within the 1st month or 2 after stopping birth control because your hormone levels are typically still well regulated by the pills. So it will happen, it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you.

Hi G.,

I just wanted to let you know that I have a client with PCOS and I have been able to help her substantially. This is a very complex condition that moderm medicine doesn't offer much for in the way of treatment. There are however many things you can do nutritionally to support your body through this and increase your chances of concieving. Please let me know if you would like to try a natural approach.

Kind Regards,
C. Marocco, ND
____@____.com
www.360medspa.com

If you haven't already I would see a reproductive endocrinologist. I do not have PCOS, but I have been seeing Dr.Douglas in Plano and really like his office. They seems to be on top of their game, and hopefully we will be preggo soon.

You are in my prayers, I know how emotionally draining it all can be.

G.,

I was diagnosed with PCOS after trying to conceive for almost a year. Now I have a 5 year old and a 3 and half year old. Don't get discouraged. There is a lot of help out there.

When I first got diagnosed they told me "Well thats what you have and nothing can be done about it". I didnt give up and did my own research. Turns out most people with PCOS have insulin resistance which in turn screws up your hormones and thus affects your chances of conceiving. Glucophage/Metformin is a miracle drug which is used by diabetics and controls insulin resistance. I was on it for 3 months before I conceived. I had to change several doctors before I found one that would prescribe it.

Nowadays there ia a LOT more knowledge about PCOS and most doctors will prescribe Metformin straightaway. Try your best to go on a low carb diet. Reduce your stress levels and take your mind off the issue at hand. Live healthy, take your meds, have fun and give it time.

Wish you all the best !!!

Dear G.,

I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 years ago, the symptoms were newly onset and I had no idea what was going on. It took two years to have a baby (I had two miscarriages before that), including injections, medications, and IUI's. I would STRONGLY recommend having your OB/GYN refer you to a Reproductive Endocronologist.

Good luck,
H.

I was diagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago. I had two children through inter-uterine insemination, with drug help to ovulate. I wouldn't bother with an OB/GYN. Go straight to a specialist. There are many gyns that are trying to help with fertility, but they just don't have the expertise. It might be a waste of your time, money, and heartache.
However-- I was put on synthroid by a new endocrinologist (who is not a fertility specialist) last fall. I had a very small dose temporarily while doing fertility, but was never on it regularly. So, thinking I can't get pregnant on my own, I didn't attempt to prevent a pregnancy. Well, within 4 months I was surprisingly pregnant! I called my dr. and he said, "didn't I tell you? if you've ever had a problem getting pregnant, once you get on synthroid it'll happen. I have MANY patients that become pregnant". Well NO he didn't tell me but I am excited to have my third child in November.
It would also help to follow a nutrition guide for women with PCOS, which I was attempting at the time. Good luck.

I had problems for years with PCOS, obesity, and infertility as a result until I started working with naturopathic physician, Kimberly Wilson, NMD. No medications needed, just proper nutrition, a little exercise, and some herbs. She's at Innovations Wellness Center. www.innovationswellness.com

G., I also have pcos, but was not diagnosed until after the birth of my first child (she was conceived on Clomid...I knew I wasn't ovulating, but the OB I was seeing then didn't bother to try to find out why I wasn't). My then-OB's incompetence was further evidenced when it was time to deliver, so I found a new doctor when it was time for my next exam. Friends referred me to a wonderful GYN who diagnosed me with pcos (after taking my history, doing an exam and ultrasound), and she prescribed progesterone a few days each month. I conceived VERY easily on the progesterone, and all of my symptoms improved. Good luck to you!!

Dr. Robert Kaufman is a great fertility speicalist. He is in Ft. Worth. He was not able to help me because I was too old and already perimenopausal, but he did help me life with the PCOS.

Praying for good results for you!