My PCOS Story

Hi, I am Priya. Here is my story about PCOS. I know there are lot of you out there either struggling with PCOS or trying to beat the symptoms associated with it. This blog is dedicated for such people and I will be reviewing and discussing the variuos treatment options available for us.Below is my stroy in brief :) Just kidding, it is quite long...So, make sure you are ready for it....

I used to get regular period till my marriage since puberty. I got married to a Software Engineer and went as a happy housewife to USA.

US weather made me the laziest person in the world. I used to sleep for 12 hrs a day and have cornflakes for breakfast and some form of rice for lunch and dinner. We used to live in a single bedroom apartment and the only physical activity I did was cleaning the house.

All I did there was eating and sleeping without any kind of physical activity apart from the occasional shopping and library trips.

Problem Starts Here – First Meeting with the Gyno

After I went to US, I didn’t get my period for the first 3 months. Then the next period was delayed for more than 3 months and decided to meet a gyno. Now I feel really angry on the gyno.

All she did was a pregnancy test and charged me $140 and explained that it might be due to the change in climate. She prescribed me Provera (progesterone pill to induce periods) and asked me to take it for 2 weeks. I got my induced periods. I didn’t continue with Provera after that.

During the meeting she also asked me whether I am taking any contraceptive pills. As I always had an aversion towards it, I didn't take it. Now, this is another thing that makes me frustrated. Why does everyone promote using contraceptive pills if it had been proven to induce PCOS?

Even though only a small percentage of women are affected I feel it is really bad because none of the women at the time of taking it knows it might cause a syndrome like this.

Second Meeting with the Gyno

O.K. next phase. We came back from US to India in Jul 2003 and fixed an appt. with a doctor over here. I went to her, to consult about my main concern - irregular periods. She touched my lower abdomen and said I have retroverted (tilted backwards) uterus. She also explained that there is nothing wrong in having irregular periods and went on saying that some women will have a cycle of 28 days and for some women it is 60 days etc…
She also did manual repositioning of my uterus and made it normal(anteverted position).

She put me on a drug called regesterone(I think Indian version of Provera) and it induced my periods for about 6 months and then I stopped taking it.

Until now, I didn’t have any other symptom of PCOS apart from irregular periods.

Symptoms start here

In the meanwhile we came to Australia for his work in Apr 2004. I stayed at home for a while and started looking for work once my visa things are sorted out. I got a job in in Aug 2004 and then lead a happy living for nearly one year. After one year, I went back to India for vacation for 4 weeks and came back.

This is when I started getting severe acne. I tried lots and lots of products, went to a dermatologists and nothing seemed to work. She put me on Benzoyl peroxide and I hoped it would work. But, it started to get worse and worse.

I was really feeling helpless at this stage. My self confidence is at an all time low and as didn’t know the cause of it. I was trying so many things from avoiding dairy products to avoiding eating at some stage.

Meeting the GP

We thought of having a family since then and went to the GP for general check up. He prescribed a lot of test like Hep A, Hep B and Rubella ….

We went to the GP to get the blood test results and found I wasn’t vaccinated for Hep B and Rubella. So, he asked be to get vaccinated for Rubella and also suggested me to get my Pap smear done.

I got vaccinated for Rubella in Jan 2006 and had to wait for 3 months before ttc. My Pap smear results were ok by the way. In Apr 2006 I had to travel regarding my work for 3 months and again we postponed the ttc phase.

Starting the TTC journey

We have been TTC from August 2006.
I used to get stomach pain now and then and I decided to meet a GP to know the cause for it in Oct. 2006. When I went to the GP she analysed my stomach and asked me where the pain was. I had always felt the pain in the upper abdomen and that's what I told her. She ordered a pelvic ultrasound for me and found no issues with the ultrasound. After trying for nearly 4 months we went to the GP again for check up related to infertility. She convinced us by saying that it is normal for ordinary couple to take up to 1 year to be able to conceive.

No one knows the cause

Ok. What next. Still I am having severe acne and because I got acne at the age of 23 I read a lot on the internet and figured out it might be related to my hormones.

The weird thing I do get regular periods now and then and now I feel that I get regular periods when I do some physical exercise. During the 4 months of trying we tried the ovulation test now and then and got positive results for 3 months in 5. Not sure whether I got ovulated the other 3 months as I didn't test regularly and purely tested on my symptoms (pain in the ovaries).

I myself tried to figure out the cause

Though I had the symptoms of acne, irregular periods, pelvic pain etc. . .none of the doctors suggested ultrasound for my ovary. I read PCOS as being one of the reasons for adult acne; I started to do some research on it. Then I found these whole heaps of information in the internet and got terrified.

I rushed to my GP and requested ultrasound for my ovaries. My request seemed like fun to him and he said irregular periods and acne are common problem. It seemed to me that he kind of reacted as if I am overreacting. But, I was stubborn and requested the u/s referral from him.

Finally Diagnosed

Finally I got the appt. for ultrasound on Jan 18th 2007. I got the results from my GP and on 21st Jan 2007, I was found to have PCO. After reading the results from my ultrasound, my GP suggested me to meet a gynaecologist.

(PCO "Polycystic Ovaries" is a condition in which your ovary consists of multiple small cysts forming a pearl necklace shape - this definition makes my stress worse). When I was diagnosed with PCO the first thing I did was came and searched Google. Reading all the information from the internet, I was really worried. One other thing that bothered me was information such as infertility, no cure for PCOS etc…

First Meeting with Gyno after PCOS Diagnosis

Got appointment to meet a male gyno on 31st Jan. Though I was not convenient meeting a male gyno, I went to him because I got the appt. with female gyno only on 2 weeks later. I believed it was mainly due to laziness in US and I could really see a link b/w my exercise and regular periods. To confirm my theory, I started walking 1 km a day and went to gym for half an hour.

I was eating only low GI bread and gave away white rice. I got positive ovulation test on 1st Feb 2007 (got my period on Jan 13th 2007-So think it was OK). In the meanwhile I met the male gyno on Jan 31st 2007 and he did an ultrasound and Pap Smear. From the u/s he told me my right ovary is enlarged. Started adding that, if we are ttc he would like to put me on fertility drugs.

I was bit upset because without even doing the blood tests and seeing which hormone levels are high/low… he was trying to put me on fertility drugs?. I do ovulate as per my kit.

Normal Blood Test Results

Pap smear was negative ( Thank God!!) and waited for by blood tests till 6th Feb 2007(to correctly measure my hormone levels). All my blood test results came out normal. I didn’t have Insulin Resistance- typical symptom of PCOS. The only issue I have now is PCO, acne and retroverted uterus.

Lifestyle Change

I continued my lifestyle changes in the form of exercise and the type of food I choose to eat. I started ovulating regularly and currently having a 30-38 day cycle. Not so perfect, but atleast I am happy that I am moving in the right direction.

Continuing TTC

In the meanwhile, we are continuing with our TTC journey and started taking Clomid 25 mg as per my gyno from Oct 07. This will help me predict my exact ovulation day and help me have a 30 day cycle. BTW, I am meeting a female gyno these days. I am taking Metamucil fibre supplement as it is supposed to naturally detoxify your body. If you are having digestion problem in the beginning of the cycle, I would suggest you to take fibre supplement. As most PCOS women are oestrogen dominant (few of them have oestrogen deficiency, so it is better to understand your situation), detoxifying your body will get rid of the excess hormones from your body. So, it might help you to ovulate regularly. I am also taking folic acid supplements.

Result Oct’07

I ovulated on 26th October and got my periods on 13th November (17 days after ovulation)

I am continuing with my ttc journey and will post my progress each month and the treatments and symptoms I am undergoing.

I feel like I had reached the end of the world sometimes. But, I believe, I can reach there one day and I am just waiting for that day.

Result Nov’07

This month as well I took Clomid and monitored the follicle growth through ultrasound. Had an IUI but got a BFN and periods after 21 days post ovulation.

Result Dec’07

Not taking Clomid this month and seeing what would happen with natural way…
Mainly because my gyno. is on a holiday. Will see what 2008 has in store for me...

Result Jan'08

Ok, I got my periods on 15th Jan. So, it is all regular and I am not planning to take Clomid next cycle as well. Meeting the gyno on Feb 5th as I couldn't get an appointment earlier.

Baby dust to all who are TTC!!

I am editing this post(in Aug'09) after a long time to post my progress...

Well, I didn't get pregnant in the natural cycles I tried from Jan'08 to Mar'08. My gyno categorised us as unexplained infertility, as I do ovulate regularly these days and my DH sperm count is in normal range as well.

Result Apr'08

I took Clomid this month. My gyno increased the dosage to 50 mg(God knows why?). To be frank, I hate Clomid cycles as it gets me on the nerve. The side effects are mostly emotional and psychological than physical which is the worst part. My acne was ok in the first half of the cycle, but during the midcycle it got worse. Forgot to mention, that I did IUI this month. My DH sperm count was 10 mil with 99% motility. Not great but not worse either. I was not hoping for much to happen these days. Just started the two week waiting game as usual only to find out after 17 days that I have my period.

Result May'08

Probably not worth writing about it as the story is pretty much same as the previous month. Only difference is DH Sperm count was far less than last month. Not sure why..It was around the 3 mil range this month with good motility.

Result June'08

I decided to go the natural way again. But, not completely natural. I started taking False Unicorn Root(also known as FUR) after I heard from one of my friend that it helped her get pregnant. I am not sure whether she had PCOS though.
Good thing about FUR is it made me ovulate slight earlier than usual(15days, usually it is in the 20 days range). Bad thing is I had severe breast pain while I was on FUR. It was more like someone pulling my breast from inside. The pain was really sharp and it was quite difficult to manage at work in front of others. I decided not to take FUR again even though it slightly made by cycle length better.
Needless to say I didn't get pregnant this cycle as well....

Jul'08
I am tired and hopeless. I feel like I want to get pregnant in no time. Pressure from families is mounting, and quite frankly I am sick of hearing their opinions and suggestions. I was depressed and wanted to try some treatments but my mind was not prepared for that yet. So, I decided to postpone my TTC for few months and decided to take a break. I didn't get pregnant this cycle as well. I was religiously doing exercise and eating healthy as usual. I got my period on day 35 as usual.
Aug'08

I was a bit relaxed and preparing to ask about IVF to my gyno this month. I didn't bother much to track my temperatures. This cycle I didn't do any pregnancy test for 15 days since I ovulated. On 15 th day of my luteal phase, i did my pregnancy test(just in case) and it came back positive. I couldn't believe my eyes. We were so excited and went to do the formal blood tests. It was all good and now as I am writing this I am the mother of my 3 months old son one year later in Aug'09.

Aug'09

I am currently BF so haven't got my periods back yet. I am very aware of the fact that I had to manage my PCOS symptoms after I stop BF'ing. Also, I am planning to have another bub in coming years. Will definitely try the natural path for atleast a 3 years before opting for any treatments.
I will be updating my TTC plan once I start it.