Newbie in Denial ???'s

*Lovey* · 03-15-2008, 07:12 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago. PCOS was suggested last July when I went on Provera to start AF after a 3 month absence of AF. And then I skipped again Jan and Feb. I went to a doctor to get a physical and blood work and took my lab results to an OB. She looked at my LH and FSH levels and said it was completely "textbook" PCOS. I would like to discuss others' results if similar- LH (41.1) and FSH (5.9). I have always had a slightly irregular period, I may be regular for a while with cycles 28-38 days then skip a few months in a row.

I just finished having my induced AF. The doctor gave me a prescription for 1000mg of fortamet (I guess another form of metformin?). I have not taken it yet...but I was planning maybe to start it tonight. I hear it will make me sick and I don't know if I should get a second opinion first about taking it or not. I hate taking medicine. If my body really doesn't need it what will happen when I take it?

My DH and I haven't experienced any infertility since we haven't started TTC, but we are planning to start in May or June. Should I just take fortamet so when we do TTC it will be one less thing to worry about? Will it help me to have a normal AF and ovulate if I haven't been? Do I stop taking if I get pregnant?
I have been charting my BBT every morning. I am on CD 8 and each day so far it has been 97.7 or 97.5 F around 6am. Does this sound normal?

Well I think I asked enough questions for now. Thank you for any advice that anyone can give!

*Lovey*

Eva37 · 03-16-2008, 08:48 AM

i dont know the answer, sorry, but wanted to say hi and welcome to sc

eva

hmeshow · 03-17-2008, 12:26 AM

I wish I could help, I just want to lend some support and let you know that I am in the same boat.
I was just diagnosed and I am also so scared to take any meds...
Blessings to You...

Neena · 03-17-2008, 01:34 AM

I was diagnosed in 2003 (skipping periods for 2-3 months at a time) when we were not trying to conceive. I was put on the birth control pill-Ortho Tri-cyclen. I would suggest buying a book on PCOS, using the internet and ofcourse this site and learning what actually goes on in your body and how diet affects the severity of PCOS (the diet and exercise section was the most depressing part for me as I could never follow it exactly). Once I came off the BCP, my periods were in the 35-40 range, and with a lot of 'hard work', dieting and exercising (I was unable to lose weight due to undiagnosed hypothyroid condition-dx by Dr. Andrea Dunaif this January), we were able to conceive after 11 cycles without medication, however, we tried to get my OBGYN to refer us to a specialist, but they wouldn't do anything until 12 cycles (BTW I switched 3 doctors during this time as when they found cysts ,I was again put on the BCP it seemed like I would never reach the 12 cycle mark; another wouldn't acknowledge a chemical pregnancy). If there was one thing I could do differently was to take Metformin and lose the excess weight before and while we were trying to conceive (I was able to lose weight on the BCP as well, but gained it all in six months once I came off of it). My Endo- Dr. Dunaif suggested coming back to her after I finish breastfeeding and then she might consider giving me Metformin (she would not offer it to me during pregnancy). I would suggest talking to your doctor frankly about the implications of the medicines and any alternatives that you have. I am really glad I found this forum. We did not know of the alternatives to the BCP in managing this disease.

I apologize for such a long post. I hope you don't get the runaround that I did. Good luck.

Neena · 03-17-2008, 02:11 AM

Forgot to mention you need to be seeing a OB specializing in PCOS or an Endocronologist for proper treatment.

*Lovey* · 03-17-2008, 02:34 AM

Thanks for posting...I feel like I have a lot of the symptoms, but my fasting glucose was completely normal (isn't it usually off with PCOS?) and I am not overweight. I am about 10 lbs. where I want to be though. Did most people on here get a second opinion after being diagnosed?

Neena · 03-20-2008, 12:27 AM

I was originally diagnosed by an OBGYN (through blood work - extremely high testosterone, ultrasound and history). I was never Insulin Resistant, and I am not and never was obese. My endocrinologist - Andrea Dunaif, who is also doing intensive research in this area recently confirmed the diagnosis and repeated the Glucose Tolerance test and it was normal.

When I attained puberty, I had 28 day cycles for two years. Once I went to college and my fitness level dropped, I started to gain weight and that is when my symptoms started. Once off the pill (Jan 07), my cycles were regular (35-40 days) and so I was able to ovulate and get pregnant after 11 cycles (not incl. 2 cycles that we had to delay in June to dissolve cysts and get a chicken pox shot).

The weight creeps up on you slowly, so keeping it in check will also keep the symptoms at bay. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 25 yrs old. The hypothyroid condition (thyroid controls your metabolism, hormones and many other functions in the body) wasn't diagnosed until I was pregnant. Please get this checked before you try to conceive. Per my endo. it should be around 2 for pregnant women.

Good luck and hope this helps.