First-timer Intro

Ginnybean8 · 10-19-2009, 11:07 PM

Hello everyone - This whole experience is new for me, I've never participated in any message boards, just read. Figured I needed some support from others going through the same things. Here's my story...

I've never had regular periods and went on BC pills when I was 16 to control severe cramps. I went off the pill when I was 25 and my husband and I wanted to TTC. Tried for a year and no luck, so we decided to wait and started using other forms of BC. After I went off the pill, my cycles were never normal and doctors kept wanting to put me back on the pill to "regulate" my cycles. We started TTC again almost 2 years ago with no luck so far.

Throughout Feb/Mar 2009, I was bleeding every day. The Dr found tumors on my ovary and I went through the whole ovarian cancer scare. A laparoscopy and hysteroscopy proved that I did not have cancer but did have Stage IV endometriosis. Went on Lupron for 2 months and started TTC again. After the Lupron, my cycles were still not normal and I went back to the Dr. They wanted to put me back on the pill or send me to a fertility specialist. I saw 3 different ones that told me I had zero chance of getting pregnant with the severity of my endo and I needed to go straight to IVF. I couldn't accept that. I saw a 4th specialist about a month ago who diagnosed me with PCOS. All my bloodwork is fine, but she's treating me as a clinical diagnosis - I have all the symptoms of PCOS (can't lose weight, body hair, abnormal cycles, the works).

So here I am, Stage IV endo and PCOS and, according to the 4 fertility specialists, a 0-1% chance of getting pregnant naturally.

I started metformin about 1 1/2 weeks ago, been reading up on low GI diets and pray every night that things will work out for us.

You can never plan for things like this to happen. I feel like I lost a part of myself and not sure how to get it back (if I even can). Good luck to everyone out there - I know we all need the support of others going through the same ordeals.

maranda · 10-20-2009, 12:07 PM

welcome ginnybean!
praying for you both!
im here if you would like to talk

blueyed52 · 11-09-2009, 08:32 PM

You can do it!

CameronsMama · 11-12-2009, 01:48 AM

I'm new here too... I was diagnosed in 1996 at age 13. I was told by my then OB/GYN that when and if I ever wanted to get pregnant, it wouldn't be easy and would definitely involve the help of a specialist and possibly some different types of medications. My husband and I have been TTC for 7 years. We have our first appointment with Kaiser to start the process of infertility treatments on 11/17 in Roseville, CA. Has anyone gone to one of their informational seminars? Anyone live around the Sacramento area familiar with Kaiser's Infertility/Reproductive Health Program? I think I need a buddy...

raechick7 · 11-12-2009, 02:13 AM

Welcome to the site!!

Thank you for your post. I will keep you and your husband in my prayers.

~ Rachel

callalily · 11-17-2009, 01:11 AM

I really hope your prayers will be answered. You are so courageous. I'm starting a low GI diet. Have you started yours after reading up on it? If so how is it going?

Ginnybean8 · 11-21-2009, 11:21 AM

Hi callalily - I have been doing the low GI diet. It's easy to follow but not quite sure if it's working for me. I haven't lost any weight since starting the metformin and low GI diet...

Thank you everyone for the kind words!

srlindholm · 11-22-2009, 06:39 PM

im new here as well. Heres my story
My name is Samantha and i got my first period when I was 12 i had normal periods and was regular and everything was fine. When i was 17 i went on the Depo provera shot and i was on it for 2 years with that shot i completely lost my cycle no periods at all which is normal for the shot. After 2 years i switched back to birth control and was on that til right before my 21 first birthday i was only actually on the birth control for 2 years. 2/28/09 i got married and we wanted to start trying to conceive right away. When i was on the BC i only got maybe 4 normal periods but the doctor said it would take a while for my cycle to come back after depo. so from february this year i only go cycles every other month til in june i had a cycle then 25 days later another period and then i had 2 cycles of 22 days and so in september i waited for my period but it never showed I thought i was finally getting back to normal after the depo and the BC so i thought i was pregnant went in to the doctor to find out oct 8th that I have PCOS. I currently weigh 182lbs i started metformin on OCT 30th and i went down to 182 from 186. I think i just had a period but it was super light/ almost just spotting and lasted 7 days. So who knows. But my husband and i want so badly to have a baby so we are trying to stay positive and pray and let god take care of us. But we've been trying 9 months and its really hard on me to just keep waiting to start ovulating i wish i would have known 9 months ago and have started treatment then so i would be almost to where i need to be now instead of just starting on the road to treating this.
Well thats my story. Oh and my older sister also has PCOS but she has had irregular periods her whole life and had a fluke 13 years ago when she got pregnant on birth control with my neice. She is 36 and is trying to conceive now with clomid

snuggler · 11-23-2009, 03:09 PM

Welcome fellow newcomer, see my newbie post also. Keep positive!

JaspersMum · 11-23-2009, 06:11 PM

Welcome! I can't offer much in the way of knowledge (not yet at least) as I was just Dx this past October, but I can give support. Welcome and enjoy this board and all the great women here!

butterfly3861 · 11-23-2009, 07:58 PM

Cameron's mom- I live in CO and go to Kaiser here and they are wonderful!

Ginnybean8 · 11-23-2009, 08:24 PM

Hi Samantha - I can totally sympathize. I was on depo for about 4 years in between regular BC pills. I wish I had gone to a fertility specialist sooner, but you never know...

Best wishes and good luck to you. I will keep you both in my prayers.

Side note - I've been sick my entire life and trying to get my body to "work" again...I've decided to try alternative methods rather than giving back in to the world of constant doctors and testing. So I've been seeing an acupuncturist and trying Chinese herbs. I love it - feel so much better and can definitely tell a different with my body and system. My acupuncturist is confident that I'll be able to conceive naturally and I believe her. We're hoping to see me ovulate properly this month so we can really try next month. I'm praying things will happen for us soon!

CameronsMama · 11-23-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfly3861

Cameron's mom- I live in CO and go to Kaiser here and they are wonderful!

Oh good! I've been looking to talk to someone with Kaiser... Yay!

I've never done fertility treatments, so I'm not really sure what to expect. I'm scheduled for my HSG on 12/4 and once I have the results of that test, I can follow up with the RE and hopefully get started on meds soon thereafter.

I'm sure Kaiser has a pretty standard method for how they start patients on meds... I'm so anxious to get started I'm afraid they're going to think I'm a little over the top or impatient. Do you have any suggestions for things I should ask about or do...?

butterfly3861 · 11-24-2009, 12:34 PM

cameronsmama- Well if you haven't had a test for IR I would ask about that.I was already taking met when I started with kaiser and my RE but he upped my dose and it really helped a lot. They are pretty cutting edge over there and really up and research. My RE lets me try what ever I wanted...after 5 rounds of clomid. I think that's pretty standard for what they start with. They are super good over there though. They usually give you your blood test results the same day you take it.

CameronsMama · 11-24-2009, 02:52 PM

Yeah, I just got those back along with the DH's SA. From what I can tell, his looks pretty normal and so does my b/w. We'll see when I finally meet with the RE sometime after 12/4.