Good luck at your doctor appt Michelle!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #1 October 29th, 2009, 09:51 AM

I almost forgot to post this. I hope your appt goes well.

I can't wait to hear your update.

TeresaSuperMama · #2 October 29th, 2009, 10:02 AM

Good luck Michelle! I can't wait to hear how it goes. I am hoping it was a morning appt. (If you get on before you go can you tell us what time it is so we have an idea on when to come stalk you, lol.)

forest · #3 October 29th, 2009, 10:26 AM

I hope your appointment goes very well today!

Arya · #4 October 29th, 2009, 10:30 AM

Good luck Michelle, hurry back

Shalyn · #5 October 29th, 2009, 11:16 AM

Hope your appointment went well Michelle! Can't wait for an update

DeepSouthMommy · #6 October 29th, 2009, 12:19 PM

Hi girls! Sorry I wasn't on this morning, but I just didn't have time.

Ok, so here goes. First, I LOVE MY DOCTOR! She's very willing to help and is already actively working to find out what's going on and fix it.

She gave me a RX for Metformin to bring on AF. She said it won't be a true "this is the end/start of a cycle" AF, but she needs to see if the Metformin will bring on bleeding and also WHEN it brings on bleeding. She also has DH set up for a S/A because as she said, 40% of the time it's the guy who has the problem, so she wants to either rule that out or get him working right away.

I go back to her in one month for an ultrasound of my ovaries and she'll decide then what the next course of action will be, depending on how the Metformin works as well as what she sees on the scan. She is definitely leaning to the thought that I have cysts on my ovaries. If so, she wants to put me on BCP (nothing like what I was on before though) for 3-4 months to shrink the cysts and then stop the pill so I can ovulate and hopefully get pregnant on my own. Again though, that is something we'll have to wait and see for sure.

She also ordered lab work to check my hormone levels and will be testing me for diabetes. I should have the lab results Tuesday I believe. Initially she was thinking diabetes, but then I told her about the pain I had a couple of weeks back around my left ovary. I told her it felt like someone had stabbed me with an ice pick. And I told her that for the last three days I've been having pain on my right side that feels like someone is pinching me. That's when she said to come back in after trying the Met. for an ultrasound.

I'm not too happy about the idea of going on to birth control if that's what it comes to, so I may talk to her about other options to deal with the cysts if they are there. It stinks because that means I may still be 4-5 months from getting a BFP, but at least something is happening. At least I didn't have to wait a year before finding out that I'd have to wait a few more months.

And that's another thing. She told me that you have to have been trying for a year for them to label you with infertility, but that no, there is no need to wait a year if you know that you have a physical/medical problem that's hindering you getting pregnant before seeking medical help. As long as they go through the steps of trying the lesser aggressive treatments first, they can then move on to more aggressive treatments sooner if you are seeking medical help.

So all in all it was a good visit and I'm VERY pleased with the things she's doing. So now I can sit back and relax and not stress over the fact that I haven't O'd yet because it's going to be fixed.

Oh, and one last thing. I printed out my charts from FF to bring with me and she was very appreciative of them, added them to my chart and told me to keep tracking things because it's such a great reference both for myself and for her. So yay for FF being of help with the doctor!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #7 October 29th, 2009, 01:14 PM

I am so happy to hear from you! Your doctor sounds wonderful. I am glad she is starting you on the metformin and really hope that makes all the difference.

I am not sure that I would go on birth control pills if it were me. I guess I am thinking you were just on them and it didn't seem to help you so what if you try this again and it still doesn't work. I wouldn't want to wait that long if it were me. Before you do the pill, I would talk to the girls on the TTC with PCOS board and see what they think. I honestly don't know enough about this to know if this is a good course of action or not.

I do think it is great you are starting on the metformin and that your doctor is so willing to help you. I am hoping that the metformin shrinks any cysts you have and you start ovulating!

Oh and I am also thrilled to hear how positive your doc was about charting. That is so refreshing.

TeresaSuperMama · #8 October 29th, 2009, 01:28 PM

That sounds like a wonderful appt Michelle. My guess is you were on a bcp before that's primary mechanism was to alter your lining to prevent implantation verses one that mainly works to suppress ovulation. I think the cysts develop from the corpus luteum so hopefully the thought is if you aren't Oing you won't develop cysts. I don't really totally understand PCOS though. If you should wind up needing to/deciding to do bcp I would ask if you could try just taking it one cycle and have a repeat u/s to see if one month was enough verses doing 3-4 months. I have read that some people's shrink right away and it seems stupid to be sitting it out if the cysts have shrunk enough with 1 month of bcp.

I would also encourage you to work on your diet and exercise as well. Getting to your ideal weight can really be beneficial with people getting pregnant with PCOS. Anyhow, I hope the metformin does the trick for you and there is nothing else needed.

jenine · #9 October 29th, 2009, 04:45 PM

So glad you got some good feedback from the doctor, Michelle!! Hope the metformin works for you and soon

Tammyms · #10 October 29th, 2009, 04:52 PM

Michelle, sounds like a great appt! I wish I had your doctor

Check out the PCOS board, Mandy has posted a ton of info and some stickies about PCOS and it's symptoms and whatnot. That's what I'm being tested for and I know Metformin is a common prescription for it.

Good luck with everything and I really hope you don't have to go on BCP!!!

DeepSouthMommy · #11 October 29th, 2009, 06:14 PM

Thank you all for the support and advice...it really means the world to me! I agree about not going on BCP for 3-4 months. I don't like the idea of putting something in my body that's going to STOP ovulation when that's exactly what I'm trying to get going! LOL My mom told me that if I have a lot of cysts that I should push for surgery to remove them because it's quick and relatively easy with a quick recovery time. In less than one month of taking BCP I could have the surgery and be back at TTC. My mom got pregnant RIGHT away after having surgery to remove the cysts on her ovaries. So we'll see...I still have some time before getting to that point, so I can research and think about it.

Teresa, that's another thing that my mother (she's so knowledgeable!!) suggested...diet and exercise. I know that fat absorbs hormones and without the needed hormones, your ovaries won't function properly. I decided today that since I know I'm not pregnant and haven't O'd at this point, that I'm going to throw myself into exercise and completely revamp my diet. I did it before and managed to loose 15 lbs. in two weeks and a total of 65 lbs. over the course of 9 months. (I realize that may not sound healthy, but it's amazing what can happen when you REALLY change your diet and commit to working out at least 5 days a week for a minimum of 1 hour.) So please, please, please, wish me lots of luck and also, please, please, please do me a favor...remind me to get off my butt and work out each day!! Since it's not habit yet I am worried I will get side tracked and not remember. So please feel free to PM me a reminder! Seriously!

Mod-LilSunshine · #12 October 29th, 2009, 06:21 PM

I'm so glad that you had an awesome appointment! Your doctor sounds fantastic!

I'm glad you're getting some answers.

TeresaSuperMama · #13 October 30th, 2009, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouthGirl

Thank you all for the support and advice...it really means the world to me! I agree about not going on BCP for 3-4 months. I don't like the idea of putting something in my body that's going to STOP ovulation when that's exactly what I'm trying to get going! LOL My mom told me that if I have a lot of cysts that I should push for surgery to remove them because it's quick and relatively easy with a quick recovery time. In less than one month of taking BCP I could have the surgery and be back at TTC. My mom got pregnant RIGHT away after having surgery to remove the cysts on her ovaries. So we'll see...I still have some time before getting to that point, so I can research and think about it.

Teresa, that's another thing that my mother (she's so knowledgeable!!) suggested...diet and exercise. I know that fat absorbs hormones and without the needed hormones, your ovaries won't function properly. I decided today that since I know I'm not pregnant and haven't O'd at this point, that I'm going to throw myself into exercise and completely revamp my diet. I did it before and managed to loose 15 lbs. in two weeks and a total of 65 lbs. over the course of 9 months. (I realize that may not sound healthy, but it's amazing what can happen when you REALLY change your diet and commit to working out at least 5 days a week for a minimum of 1 hour.) So please, please, please, wish me lots of luck and also, please, please, please do me a favor...remind me to get off my butt and work out each day!! Since it's not habit yet I am worried I will get side tracked and not remember. So please feel free to PM me a reminder! Seriously!

Michelle, I have gained 20 lbs since starting to ttc and that's what since August? Um, I woke up this morning stepped on the scale and said "it's time to do something about this". I will give you a kick if you will give me one. I am really quite down about what the stress of ttc is doing to me. I know Jennifer (momeejenjen) lost 20 lbs right before this cycle and she got a bfp. Since I also hang out on the Mommy Weightloss board I have seen a lot of ttcers come over there and lose 15-20 lbs and then voila get a bfp. I am not saying that it is the only factor, but it is something proactive you can do while you are sitting around having to wait anyways. At least you will feel like you are doing something to get pregnant. I am high risk for gestational diabetes so as I was shopping this morning I thought I need to get a grip on this. Leo was 10+ lbs because of my GD and had a lot of health problems at first and I promised myself I would do better with my blood sugars this time around. Anyhow, long and rambly I feel your pain. I'll give you a kick if you give me one.

Coley · #14 October 30th, 2009, 05:19 AM

I'm so glad you had an awesome appt and that you've got a really great doctor!

I hope the plan she puts together gets you that BFP

DeepSouthMommy · #15 October 30th, 2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teresarunningmommy

Michelle, I have gained 20 lbs since starting to ttc and that's what since August? Um, I woke up this morning stepped on the scale and said "it's time to do something about this". I will give you a kick if you will give me one. I am really quite down about what the stress of ttc is doing to me. I know Jennifer (momeejenjen) lost 20 lbs right before this cycle and she got a bfp. Since I also hang out on the Mommy Weightloss board I have seen a lot of ttcers come over there and lose 15-20 lbs and then voila get a bfp. I am not saying that it is the only factor, but it is something proactive you can do while you are sitting around having to wait anyways. At least you will feel like you are doing something to get pregnant. I am high risk for gestational diabetes so as I was shopping this morning I thought I need to get a grip on this. Leo was 10+ lbs because of my GD and had a lot of health problems at first and I promised myself I would do better with my blood sugars this time around. Anyhow, long and rambly I feel your pain. I'll give you a kick if you give me one.

Teresa, I think I will head over to the Mommy Weightloss board if it's ok that I'm not a Mommy yet!

For me, besides the obvious reason of health issues (because that's my number one concern), another reason I want to loose weight before pregnancy is because I want to look pregnant...not just bigger than I already am. And I know that might sound silly to some, but I've always dreamed of having a baby bump and that's just what I want it to be, a baby bump. Not another fat roll. LOL I am totally with you though about giving each other a kick! We've both lost a lot of weight before, so we can handle this! (Of course I have a lot more than 20 lbs. to loose, but 20 lbs. is a good starting goal for me!

)

And thank you, Nikki!! I can't wait for you to have your appointment! I hope that they have some good news for you when you go!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #16 October 30th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouthGirl

So please, please, please, wish me lots of luck and also, please, please, please do me a favor...remind me to get off my butt and work out each day!! Since it's not habit yet I am worried I will get side tracked and not remember. So please feel free to PM me a reminder! Seriously!

Er you may regret posting this. Teresa can be quite good at nagging. She doesn't bug me anymore about exercising because she knows what a sloth I am. I try but I usually don't last very long.

One of these days I am going to work on this.

DeepSouthMommy · #17 October 30th, 2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattyandthemoos

Er you may regret posting this. Teresa can be quite good at nagging. She doesn't bug me anymore about exercising because she knows what a sloth I am. I try but I usually don't last very long.

One of these days I am going to work on this.

ROFL!!! Well because I am incredibly bad about this whole exercising thing at first, I WANT to be nagged because I know it will get me off of my butt! I have this thing about lying...even when it's something as small as, "Oh yeah sure I exercised today!" when I know darn well I've been sitting on my butt watching tv and munching snickers minis like they'll never be made again. LOL

DeepSouthMommy · #18 October 30th, 2009, 10:59 AM

Btw, since I'm completely dumb...I kept saying I was taking Metformin for 10 days and I'm not, I'm taking Provera for 10 days and will be taking Metformin later on. Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. LOL

Arya · #19 October 30th, 2009, 11:12 AM

Oh Michelle! hehehe so funny, but I'm glad that you have a plan! Every time I go to my doctor, she tells me if I lose a little bit more weight, my periods will get normal. I used to weigh 200 pounds and then I had my periods like every 6 months. Since then I've lost 40 pounds and now my periods are every 40 to 50 days, which is so much better. If I can lose these last 10 to 15 pounds, my cycles should get shorter, that's what my doctor says at least. So I'm working on it and hoping that I get my bfp next year. So, I'm the proof that it does get better with weight loss and you have all my support. Good luck

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #20 October 30th, 2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouthGirl

Btw, since I'm completely dumb...I kept saying I was taking Metformin for 10 days and I'm not, I'm taking Provera for 10 days and will be taking Metformin later on. Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. LOL

I was wondering about that because I had never heard of Metformin to bring on AF. I am hoping that the provera does the trick to get you on to your next cycle and the Metformin works wonders!