PCOS without the S!!!

[harri]

Hi guys, sorry haven't posted for a while but I had my consultation to see what happens next on Tuesday and have felt a bit of a misog and sorry for myself!
The appointment went fine and they recommended IVF (which we were expecting) which will start in May. I have felt really down since as i'm so worried it won't work and that they will overstimulate me as I hardly had any drugs on IUI and produced loads of eggs. When I went back for some tests today she said they had me on "high surveillance" and that they are reknown at that clinic for not allowing anyone to hyperstimulate and that my consultant in particular can be a right old woman about it! I will be on the lowest dose so i feel a bit better about that but here's where it gets interesting.....she then went on to say "and what with you having polysistic ovaries" WHAT?! i thought they had the wrong notes! Why had no one told me this? She explained that although i don't fall in the most obvious category (i.e spots, excess weight and body hair) these are the people with polysistic ovary SYNDROME and there is another category of people like me who look the complete opposite but don't have the syndrome bit! She explained that my ovaries are like bunches of grapes(??) and means I won't have ovulated very often i.e the problem!! She did say however that it's really good for IVF and therefore I stand a really good chance but I am still very confused!! she told me not to go home and go on the internet looking up polysistic ovary SYNDROME because it's not the same. So instead of asking Jeeves, I thought I would call upon you lovelies to help me. Does anyone else have this or have heard of this and in what ways exactly its different from the one with the syndrome!!

Thanks xx


Me 30, dh 33
3 unsuccessful IUI's
Starting IVF in MAY!!
Unexplained infertility

[LittleP]

Harri



Although I can't help with your query, I just wanted to send you loads of +ve vibes and hugs of encouragement.

It is never easy being told to go down the IVF route (even if you expect them to say it ) so we all understand only too well what that feels like.

I am sure you will get loads of helpful responses from others, but I just wanted to send you a cyber hug and tons of PMA.

When you feel up to it come and join us on the May thread - you'll be amongst a crazy gang, but we're good company

PMA and Hugs

Little P

[minnow]

hi there. sorry it's been a bit of a shock. i can imagine how it was to hear this so casually. i too have polycystic ovaries. they were discovered when i had an ultrasound at the beginning of my fertility investigations. i am not overweight, hairy, spotty (so far so good!) and in fact my periods are pretty regular too. apparently cysts on ovaries are pretty common and lots of people are perfectly able to conceive with them. i think i ovulate every month so that doesnt seem to be a factor either.

i too heard from my consulatant that people with polycystic ovaries can do well with IVF. unfortunately though my first cycle in feb was -ve. i responded well to drugs and had 15 follicles which provided 12 eggs for fertilisation. i think this is a pretty good response at 38. my EC came quicker than expected following a blood test which showed high hormone levels. they moved fairly quickly to avoid OHS.

so all in all, i dont think you have to worry too much. while there is a chance of OHS they will moniter you carefully to try and avoid this. the chances are you will produce lots of eggs which is a very positive thing in IVF. i was started on a low does of stimulating drugs (225 of Gonal F) with the understanding they might increase it. that was not needed.

i'm sure you feel worried at the moment but please dont be. the doctors at these places are very experienced and will have dealt with many people in your position. this first IVF will be an opportunity to find out the right does for you so even if it doesnt work first time they will have learnt lots about you.

best of luck.

[gailp]

Hi Harri,

Nice to see you back on the boards Im so sorry your appointment didnt go quite as you hoped. I cant believe you were never told of the polysistic ovaries problem before by your hospital / Doctor. Im sure they will be monitoring you very carefully when you start IVF, try and keep positive that it WILL work.

[harri]

Thanks everyone, I knew I could count on you all! i am feeling much better about it and thanks Little P for the invite to the May thread, i'm sure I will take you up on it. i am glad I'm not the only one who found being told IVF was th next step hard - even though I was expecting it! I felt a bit like a spoilt bratt - here I was being given the opportunity yet I was really upset!! I know PMA is good but it's hard sometimes! Dh bought me a big pink fluffy hippo after we'd seen the doctor (very unlike him!!) but we've called her Ivy Francis (Ivy F!) and i keep imagining that one day i'll give it to my little girl (or boy!) telling her how special she is and that we bought her the day we took the first step to making her. I keep looking at it and i know some of you probably think i've lost the plot but it's really helping with the PMA! I don't buy baby stuff as i think i'm tempting fate (even though after 4 years of trying i don't think there's much fate left to tempt! I know we've a long way to go but I am TRYING to stay positive. And you guys have really helped - thanks so much. I wish I hadn't been so much of an idiot and avoided posting because I was feeling so low! I should have known you'd all be there (or rather been there!) Thanks again you're all wonderful xx

[Tessa]

Hi Harri,

I must be honest, I have never heard of PCO without the S??? I've always known I've had PCO/S because my periods disappear for years and then months.... well they come and go when they feel the most inappropriate time is? (Like on my wedding day ) I was told it can't be POC/S because I don't carry weight, I'm not hairy and I don't struggle with my skin. They said I had it after a scan I had, 14 months after TTC, but nobody has ever said anything about 2 different types?
You are very lucky your clinic is so concerned about you getting OHS, it obviously isn't the clinic I used last year! They never mentioned the problems to me or bothered to give me more scans on both times they overstimulated me. In all fairness, your clinic sound like they know what they doing.

Good luck with everything
Tessa

[ogr1]

i am glad that you have posted.. sometimes it is hard to post but it is better if you do..
it is not ever good to hold things in..
and the only stupid question is the one that you dont ask..


i am glad that you got some answers...
i dont see why you cant look it up on line thou. surley they would have the different types and if you do still have questions then call your clinic back and let them know how you are feeling...

and bring on may