PCOS and Hypothyroid - Double Whammy

swtCAgurl · 03-12-2004, 02:17 PM

Hi All,

I'm new to this site and find it VERY helpful as well as very encouraging. Yes, I have PCOS and Hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid back in 1996 but only been diagnosed with PCOS since Feb 2004. Funny how I was told that I have PCOS. I have no idea when the DRs realized I had PCOS but NOONE told me until one of my visits with the RE last Feb. After another failed attempt at IUI, I went back for my regular US after my cycle started. And the RE accidentally mumbled, people with PCOS should bleed this much. I was "WHAT??? I have PCOS??". Her reply "OH....you didn't know?"....OF COURSE not...nobody bothered to tell me. Now I know why I stopped responding to the clomid after the first cycle. Now I know why another RE prescribed Glucophage 6 months ago. I didn't take it cuz I read on the label...do not take if you're trying to get pregnant.

To make a long story short (as if it's not already long...sorry ladies)....I've already gone thru 6 injection cycles so insurance won't cover for more. Now I have to go back to Clomid. But this time I'm asking for Metformin cuz I heard clomid reacts better with metformin for some women. I also have Hypothoidism so needless to say, my hormones are out of whack. But luckily my TSH, FreeT4, FreeT3 are all normal.

Questions I have: Can someone tell me my chances of getting pregnant? I've been praying since the day I got married and disappointments everytime I get a BFN.

Also, if I start taking Metformin, will my hair return to normal? I have really thin hair on the top and sides. I'm already on a low carb diet (tho I do eat noodles and rice) ( I AM ASIAN...so can't help it...lolz).

Sorry for being so long. Thank you for sticking in with me.

Anne
Three furry babies: Buddie, Tinie, Masie - all mini doxies

bethers · 03-12-2004, 03:49 PM

Welcome Anne!
Sorry to hear of the trouble you had. At least now you know what is going on in your body. Many women have had success with Metformin helping their PCOS. Hopefully this will work for you as well. Many ladies on the Pregnancy / Mommy Board have mentioned that they continued to take their Metformin either during the first trimester, or continually through their pregnancy.

shenacat · 03-13-2004, 11:42 AM

Take the metformin. It's the only thing that normalized my menstrual cycle enough to get pregnant. I'm taking it throughout my pregnancy as well and my baby is healthy and strong.

So many ppl get pregnant after starting metformin that it's just about listed as a side effect!

You've got the dbl whammy w/the hair trouble. Hypothyroidism AND PCOS both cause your hair to thin and break easily... hair grows in 3-6 month cycles so it can take a while to see changes. The metformin should certainly help!

swtCAgurl · 03-15-2004, 03:31 PM

Thanks bethers and shenacat. I've requested for my REI to prescribe the Metformin. I was told to have a liver blood test before taking it. Anyone know why? I have a test in January that showed I had fatty tissue around my liver. I hope that won't prevent me from taking Metformin.

shenacat - hope your pregnancy goes smoothly and the birth pleasant and smooth as well.

shenacat · 03-16-2004, 06:36 AM

Well metformin like most ingested drugs has to pass through the liver. When starting any daily medication like metformin they recommend you get your liver function tested to make sure that using it daily won't stress your liver past its limits - it's basically a routine type test they'd use to make sure that your liver was doing what it was supposed to.

A lot of doctors don't test it because it is a rare complication, and getting back an abnormal result doesn't mean that you'll have any trouble. It's just that liver problems are not anything to sneeze about - it's not like you can just grow another one!

Fatty liver is usually nothing to worry about, I've actually heard from a few girls to said theirs got better after taking the med.