Afraid and Angry

mossytangle · 02-01-2006, 10:02 PM

I came across a website about PCOS last Friday. I had never heard of it before. I am certain I have it, and I have an appointment with an OB/GYN on Monday.

I am afraid because I have been going through a phase of wanting children very badly, and now I don't know if I ever will. I'm trying not to focus on the fear though, and my thoughts are turning instead to anger.

I am really frustrated because I have been showing symptoms of this since I was 12. I had these symptoms treated, yet no one put them all together. They are doctors and the condidtion is prevailent. I should have been tested for this years ago.

I am also frustrated because I know that infertility and many of the other symptoms run in my family. I will be shocked if I am the first to be diagnosed with this condition and I am angry that no one told me that I should be checked for this.

I have 2 questions. I have been unable to find a solid answers in the literature:

1. If I had been diagnosed with PCOD and treated early, could I have avoided infertility?

2. Is it possible for PCOS to just... go away? I had more of the symptoms up until about 2 years ago. I'm sure part is due to starting birth control about a year ago, but my periods began to be more regular almost 2 years ago. So is it possible that it could have just "left" or is it just going to be dormant for a few years?

(I should mention that we have not been TTC yet, so I don't actually know about my fertility. But I wanted to start soon... which is how I came across the PCOS website. However, I am fairly certain that babies will be difficult to come by if they come at all, considering the family history.)

MommyJenny74 · 02-02-2006, 05:00 AM

Hi, welcome to SC! You will feel so supported here!
Your questions:
1. I don't know if infertility can be avoided by early diagnosis. Perhaps the sooner you know, the longer you treat it, your body doesn't have so long to get messed up. That might help, but I'm not sure if infertility can be avoided altogether.
2. As far as I am aware PCOS does not go away. However, the symptoms can pretty much disappear. For example if you are on meds which help you, or if you lose weight, that usually helps a lot.

I know it doesn't seem like it now but if you are diagnosed with PCOS it can be a blessing in disguise (not to HAVE it but to KNOW you have it). You can start now to do things that will increase your chances of conception, and help you to feel better too.
Good luck and feel free to email/pm me if you need to talk.
Jenny

wvchic1979 · 02-02-2006, 06:45 PM

There is no real way to know if it could have been prevented. If you wre showing symptoms back then, a doctor may not have know that much about pcos. It has only been the last several years that there has been so much attention brought to it.

BUT bc pills can have a positive effect on PCOS...so yes, if you are taking bc pills, it is possible for your symptomes to disapear.

Hope this helps!

Melissa

DMK417 · 02-02-2006, 10:15 PM

I know how you feel, but you have to remember that dr's knew even less about PCOS back then, and trust me, they don't know it all now. It's very frustrating. I was diagnosed 1/12, but I knew before that. I have been searching for answers since I was 15, and no one would help me.
I want kids so badly, too. We can do it, its just a little more difficult for us. Don't give up hope. My sister has PCOS and has been diagnosed for years. She has a wonderful 2 year year old boy, and it was easy once she found a dr who would listen. This SC board can help you a lot, too, and if you need to talk, pm me! It sounds like we have some things in common! Goodluck!

CathyWood · 02-03-2006, 07:29 AM

Welcome to SC. I am glad you are here. You know we all have been afraid at one time or another. IT may be easier or hard to get where you want to go..just takes time and patience. I hope you have found us to be helpful. If you need someone to talk to I am around.

Eva37 · 02-03-2006, 09:01 PM

hi

welcome to sc. It's natural to be so worried at first. All the best for your appointment.

Eva

TN Butterfly · 02-03-2006, 10:17 PM

Hi!

First of all, let me tell you that unfortunately there are still ALOT of docs who actually know very little about PCOS...even though they "think" they do know. That is what I've had to deal with. Hopefully your doc will be up-to-date about PCOS.
Second, even if you do have PCOS, you are not doomed to never have kids. There are lots of options. Metformin, Clomid, etc.
Don't think so much about "what could have been" cause that ain't gonna do you any good now. Just think about taking control and doing whatever is necessary to get you to where you need to be. PCOS does not mean hopeless or helpless. It just means extra determination.

joyblack · 02-03-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossytangle

I should mention that we have not been TTC yet, so I don't actually know about my fertility. But I wanted to start soon... which is how I came across the PCOS website. However, I am fairly certain that babies will be difficult to come by if they come at all, considering the family history.

Don't cross too many bridges before you come to them. Of course it's a pity that you hadn't been made aware of these things before and it's almost always a good idea, as far as ttc is concerned, to do it sooner rather than later if there's any possiblity of difficulty. But in the end of the day, some of those you would have thought would have no difficulty end up with no children and others who you'd never have imagined would have any end up with large families.

The girls I was in high school with never imagined I'd marry and certainly that reckoned I wouldn't have children. If I'd avoided shaving for a few days, put on a cap to cover my hair, worn a shirt that wasn't skin tight and worn short pants I'd certainly have been taken for a boy. No breasts. A heavier moustache growth than any of the boys. Infrequent and irregular periods. Hairier legs than any of the boys. Yet I ended up with more kids than any of the girls I was in school with.

Don't despair!

LaurAnnHere · 02-03-2006, 11:12 PM

Being diagnosed pretty early doesn't mean you get proper treatment or that you can prevent problems. I began having PCOS symptoms (namely irregular periods) at the age of 12. I went on birth control before I turned 13. It didn't help me that much. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15. It wasn't until I was 23 that I actually started learning about what PCOS really is and methods of treatment. I really found most of the treatments myself through research. I did have an awsome RE who was open to all kinds of treatment options and who was very familiar with PCOS.

I definately had fertility problems. For a long time I thought I was doomed to spend my life without getting to experience a full pregnancy, giving birth to a living child, or breast feeding my baby. All those things were very important to me. Now I have my little miracle. He's 18 months old today. PCOS made things more difficult for me, but not impossible.