melgp

Thanks for the info belrose!! What about raspberry tea, is it safe? I am being cautious, we just got our bfp on saturday, and I don't want to do anything to harm our chances of it sticking!!
Good work on losing the 2kg!! No doubt I will be gaining the weight again now, hopefully not too qwuickly or too much!!

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belrose

Thanks Mel, 2kg is a start... I just hope it keeps going in the right direction. Once it is headed down, I don't care how slowly I lose it... it's when I put on 5kg in ten minutes for no good reason that I freak out. But I'm sure you are all familiar with this story

Raspberry tea is a great way to take it. Much more preferable to tablets, it's just many people don't have the time. I would put one heaped tsp to a cup of boiling water, steep for 5 minutes, then drink. One cup a day for the 1st trimester, 2 cups in the 2nd and 3 in the third. The more you spread a herbal dose over the day, the more gentle and sustained an effect it will have and the less chance you will have of any negative effects. If you can sip the one cup all throughout the day, this will be best.

Best of luck to you ... I hope you have a sticky bean there.

monsta

Hi everyone! I am so glad i found this website, I am new to brisbane, and have had alot of trouble finding a good gp, so the task of finding a good specialist is a bit daunting. i've just been refered to Dr Fiona Dalzell, and was wondering if anyone had heard of her? I really don't want to waste my time going to specialists who aren't all that good. I have had my fair share of doctors who don't have much time or patience for you and it is so frustrating! I was also wondering if anyone could tell me if there was anything wrong with taking metformin and vitex together? i've been on metformin for 5 months and still haven't ovulated...

monsta

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had heard of or used a homeopath by the name of Inez Hanson, who is based in Hawthorn, Brisbane? her website states that she can get couples to conceive within 4 cycles, and her success rate is the same for women with PCOS – 87%. She says the program is ideal for PCOS sufferers. I was hoping there were people out there who could confirm that?

melgp

Hi monsta, I was taking vitex before I started seeing a fertility specialist, and stopped taking when I was referred to the fs, as I didn't know whether it would interfere with treatment. Then I began taking 1000mg met and something to bring on a new period to start my cycle fresh, then started clomid. Met & clomid combination was eventually successful for me. I would guess as vitex is designed to try to get you to ovulate, it would work similar to clomid, so I couldn't see why met & vitex shouldn't work together - but that is just my opinion, I don't know the pros & cons! Good luck!

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monsta

thanks melgp :-)
since we've decided to start ttc, i've started doing a lot of reading, and have realised that i should have done this reading a long time ago. i feel like there are so many things that i do not know! my other problem is that i haven't found myself a good gp since i moved to brisbane, so i don't feel like i have anyone to ask for advice... especially at this early on. this forum seems filled with knowledgable women here tho! :-)
do you (or anyone else) recommend any specific multi vitamin/s that i should be taking to prepare my body before being pregnant? there are so many on the market, i'm not too sure what to take??

belrose

A good quality multivitamin, Folic Acid, and red raspberry leaf tabs or tea to tone your uterus and reduce your risk of miscarriage would be a good place to start. I'd probably also start taking Apple Cider Vinegar as it has been shown to have an equal effect to Metformin in relation to reducing blood sugar ... have a search and look at the info on this forum re ACV it is amazing ... no side effects, probably cheaper than Met.

kimicandoit

My Doctor at the 'Healthy Women Medical Centre' in Indooroopilly (QLD) is a great advocate for PCOS treatments.

Dr Kim Morgan Short or Dr Fiona Haines are two doctors I have had experience with and have been really happy with the support they have given me.

If you are in the area and you are looking for a good doctor, I HIGHLY recommend the doctors at healthy Women!

melgp

The fertility clinic I was going to recommended "elevit" multi-vitamin - it is for ttc, pregnancy & breast feeding. They have heaps of diff vitamins in them & contain folic acid, so it's an all-in-one! They are quite expensive though, $48 for 100 tabs (take one a day) - I found they are cheapest from the "chemist warehouse". My dh had also been taking "menevit" a multi-vitamin which is for male fertility, about $55 for 90 tabs, and they recommend to take them for 3 months before ttc. Dh had been taking them for around a month & 1/2 when I got a bfp, so I'm wondering if they helped his swimmers along a bit! Lol!!
I think my gp had told me to take folic acid at 500mg for at least 3 months before ttc, but I had taken folic acid for about 3 years before I switched to "elevit", and I had been taking them since about July last year.
Hope that helps!

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cyster84

Hi melgp,

I was taking elevit but my naturopath said that it was a waste of money as most nutrients in it were too low. She prescribed be one that was cheaper ($34 for 90 tablets) and when I looked at the label compared to the elevit I felt really ripped off as most of the vitamins were way higher, like even 15 times the amount of some. When I started taking one a day my energy levels were way better and my cycle got better too. They are called Mutiessentials but I think that only naturopaths have them or something as I haven't seen them elsewhere.

I am now 8 weeks pregnant and I think that its thanks to my naturopath, her name is Katherine Thomas and shes in Woolloongabba now. before I was pregnant she made me take this herbal mix that tasted awful but at least it got me ovulating and pregnant!!

She said that it was safe to start having raspberry tea in my second trimester and then all the way through for those ladies who were discussing it!

I hope that is of some help!!

melgp

Cyster84 - thanks for the info re: elevit, I feel ripped off now too!! Considering the fertility clinic was selling them for $75 I think when I bought my first pack from them!! The rogues!! I will keep taking the elevit for now - unfortunately I have only just started taking a new pack - then I will see if I can find the "Multiessentials". Do you know the brand name, or is that just the whole name?
Congrats on being 8 wks pg, I am about 7 wks, although I think closer to 6 wks as my cycles were around the 35 day mark. H&h 9 mths!!

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belrose

Hi Ladies,

I thought you might like some information on the Bioceuticals Multi Essentials multivitamin someone recommended. It is a practitioner only product, so you will need to see a naturopath or other practitioner in order to get some. If you don't want to pay for a consultation, some health food stores which have a naturopath or nutritionist on staff may stock it and be able to sell you one.
Bioceuticals Multi Essentials


Bioceuticals Multi Essentials is one of the most comprehensive and powerful supplements available. Bioceuticals Multi Essentials contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
This potent daily multivitamin and mineral supplement establishes a foundation for optimal nutrition. Bioceuticals Multi Essentials is a potent multivitamin and mineral formula that makes an excellent dietary basis for overall health.
Bioceuticals Multi Essentials is formulated to add vital nutrients to the diets of busy seniors, adults and teenagers to provide a comprehensive range of nutrients including a high ratio of B vitamins, antioxidants, (mixed tocopherols and Betatene carotenoids), and a broad mineral base including chromium, calcium, magnesium, selenium and boron.
Supplies a balanced vitamin B complex with extra B12 for healthy methylation and homocysteine metabolism. Provides a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium with boron for healthy bone support. Features a break-bar for those who have trouble swallowing larger tablets. It is an iron free formula.
Bioceuticals Multi Essentials is an excellent base when used in conjunction with other remedies to aid their absorption by providing the necessary nutrients and mineral co-factors necessary for a great therapeutic outcome. Think of it as a "nutritional poly-filler" - it fills in the gaps in your diet.
Active ingredients

• Mixed Tocopherols - 14.7mg
• Betatene - 4mg
• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) - 100mg
• Natural vitamin E (as succinate) - 100IU
• Vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate) - 1250IU
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 50mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 50mg
• Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) - 200mg
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) - 50mg
• Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate) - 100mg
• Vitamin B12 - 400mcg
• Folic Acid - 395mcg
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) - 100IU
• Vitamin K1 (phytomenadione) - 30mcg
• Calcium citrate - 237mg
• Manganese amino acid chelate - 1mg
• Zinc amino acid chelate - 10mg
• Copper gluconate - 200mcg
• Selenomethionine - 26mcg
• Magnesium oxide - 25mg
• Chromium nicotinate - 50mcg
• Biotin - 100mcg
• Choline bitartate - 50mg
• Inositol - 50mg
• Molybdenum trioxide - 75mcg
• Boron (as Borax) - 1mg
• Bioflavonoids - 50mg

Dosage
Take 1 tablet daily with food in the morning. Please note that due to the strength of this formulation, it must be taken with food or you may feel nauseous due to the B group vitamins. For people with Chronic Fatigue (CFS), long term debilitative conditions, poor digestion, post operative patients, athletes and highly stressed people etc. consider taking one tablet in the morning and one tablet at lunch time. Do not take this at night as the B group vitamins may keep you awake.
Precautions
If symptoms persist consult your healthcare practitioner. Vitamin supplements should not replace a well balanced diet. The recommended daily amount of vitamin A from all sources is 2500IU. When taken in excess of 8000IU vitamin A can cause birth defects. If you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, do not take vitamin A supplements without consulting your healthcare practitioner.
This product contains selenium which is toxic in high doses. A daily dose of 100µg of selenium from dietary supplements should not be exceeded. Selenium containing products are not suitable for use by children under the age of 15 years.

melgp

Hi Belrose, I have another question regarding a supplement. I was just wondering about olive leaf extract - my dad takes it and wanted me to take it coz he thought it might help lower my bp, even though I am on prescribed bp medication. I was taking 5ml twice a day, then had asked about using it in pregnancy at a health food store, and they told me it is a herbal supplement and said they usually don't recommend using them in pregnancy unless prescribed by naturopath. I am starting to fret that maybe it played some part in my miscarriage - I know I probably will never know for sure, but I just wondered what you knew about it - any info would be great! Thanks!

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kat13

Hi I'm in Melbourne as well. What kind of results did you get, where you able to regulate your cycle with the herbs? Did they know about PCOS, where they helpfull?

Bailz

hi, did anyone have any recommendations for a doc in South Australia for dealing with PCOS? Cheers