[puca]

Dear all,
I am writing this post because I am hoping that my experiences with infertility, PCOS, the NHS might help someone else.
I had my first child in 1999 with no treatment and developed gestational diabetes. After my first child (a beautiful boy - now 5 years old) I did not have a period for about 18 months. Out of concern for this, and in the knowledge that I anted more children, after 12 months the doctor refered me to my local NHS fertility clinic.
At every appointment i mentioned my gestational diabetes, but the specialist did not seem interested. They diagnosed PCOS, i had Clomid, no effect, tamoxifen, no effect, I even had one course of IUI and the drugs did not work! In the end after listening to the "experts" for 4 years with no joy I insisted the consultant prescribe me Metformin. He said that he only prescribed this for his obese and  insulin resistant patients. I reminded him (once more) that i had had gestational diabetes, an indication that i could be insulin resistant and he relented and signed the prescription. After only one cycle of Metformin I am pregnant! I have a long way to go yet, PCOS means that miscarriage is always a possibility, but I wanted to pass on my experiences, and thay are this:
1. don't assume your specialist has the facts of your case at his/her fingertips, always push for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment - I didn't and ended up stagnating in an NHS clinic for 4 years.
2. If you have PCOS an a history of disbetes in the family, or large birth weight babies (my nanna was 11lbs!!), then push for tests.
3. don't let a doctor tell you that a glucose tolerance test will diagnose insulin resistance, Fasting insulin levels also need to be taken. My fasting glucose is normal, but I am obviously infertile due to the effects of insulin resistance.
4. Don't give up hope after 4 years I thought I would never get pregnant again, and here I am!

to you all
Puca xxx

 

[Juli]

Congratulations on your pg..hope you have a healthy one.
As i'm sure you can see there are several people on here who have been placed on metaformin. I took it for a while but found that it did not work for me. I suppose different things work for different people depending on their circumstances.

Good Luck in the coming months
Ju x

 

[Mrs Nikki]

Congratulations Puca and thank you for that message, always nice to hear of someone with PCOS pg, really does make me smile broadly and warm my heart.  .

 

[MrsR]

Great story Puca and congratulations 

I have been for a scan last month after I told the doc at the fertility clinic that I have some cysts etc. So to believe she sent me for a scan and the scan showed cycts as I mentioned. I was expecting a letter from her since then but received nothing. All i got is 3 months worth of Clomid and 21 day test. they don't know if I am insulin resistant and I don't know either.

I decided that after my 21 day test result come back and show that i haven't ovulated then I will whinge to my GP.

It seems like doctors don't care. I am also on 9 month waiting list to check my tubes. Last time they were checked in 1994 they weren't blocked. I thought this clinic will want to know first if the tubes are intact before giving me clomid 

All the best Puca, really pleased it has worked for you  
                       

 

[saraD]

Congratulations Puca, my Dr told me today that based on the build up of data he is now considering metformin as a first line fertility treatment for women with PCOS who are trying to conceive even if they do not have obvious insulin resistance as it seems to help the biochemistry of egg development in cystic ovaries which can lead to better quality embies, so good on you for insisting and all the best for your pregnancy

 

[MrsR]

How do they check insulin resistance? is it through blood test? I went to see the nurse today and asked for insulin blood test and she said she doesn't know what to do as she never did insulin blood test

Good info Sara So it does work, now we need to get that info across to our doc's I am off to see my on 25th April and will be interesting to see if he will say the same thing about Metformin when I mention it to him

Love to you all xxx

 

[Tweetiepie]

Puca -  congratulations.  Your message is very encouraging indeed.  Im sorry that you have been messed around by the NHS.  I am a normal weight for my height and the first time I saw the consultant I mentioned Metformin and he dismissed it saying that they only prescribe it to people that are overweight.  I was put on 3 cycles of Clomid alone which failed.  I recently went to see the consultant for a review, this time I saw another consultant.  We talked about the options I could try next which included Metformin for 2 months and then to add the Clomid after for 3 more cycles.  So - it just goes to show you how opinions differ among consultants within the same hospital. 

Now I have been on Metformin for 3 wks and I can already feel some changes within my body - my breasts are tender ... So hopefully this means that it is working.

Also - are you going to be kept on Metformin for the 1st 3 months of your PG - I have heard that this would lower the risk of having a miscarriage.  Let me know.


Welldone Puca. 


Mrs R - the insulin resistance test is called GTT - Glucose Tolerance Test.  They give give a fasting blood test and then 2 hrs or so later give you a sugary drink and then take another bllod test.  But as Puca said - it may be irrelevant.

 

[Helen1]

Hello! I also have fallen PG again on my first cycle of Metformin. I started taking it in Jan this year and fell PG on Valentines Day! Hooray!
Love
Helen1 xxx
(9wks)

 

[Mrs Nikki]

Major congrats hun  and on Valentine's Day - how romantic.
x

 

[Tweetiepie]

Helen1 - wow!!!  Congratulations. I wonder what will happen with me? I dont want to get my hopes up but I have sore boobs and had some browny discharge which may be implantation bleeding but surely at CD17 its too early 4 that.

T xx

 

[Mrs Nikki]

Tweetiepie I have everything crossed for you hun 

 

[puca]

Dear all,
Thanks for your replies. So far good, although its very early days...
In response to a few questions....
My consultant has recommended that i do not take metformin now I am PG. Opinion seems to be divided. There is evidence that metformin can reduce miscarriage in PCOS patients and reduce the occurance of gestational diabetes. However its not been fully tested for pregnancy. I am taking my consultants advice. I have only been pregnant once before and that resulted in a healthy pregnancy, so I do not have a history of miscarriage. If the worse happens this time & I am lucky enough to conceive again I may think about continuing with the metformin.

Metformin is not a 'silver bullet' god knows there are many of us trying to find it. My case history and symptoms mark me out as an obviuos candidate for isulin resistance and it is for that reason I think it has worked in my case. I wanted to let others know who might have a similar history.

Insulin resistance tests consist of a number of tests, and there is no one indicator. the glucose tolerence test measures the levels of glucose in the blood stream after fasting and then again after a Lucozade drink (and lots of it!!). This can show you are diabetic and sometimes can show border line results in those that are insulin resistant. In my case it came back normal. Other tests can be performed. An insulin test can measure the levels of insulin in the body on fasting and also after a lucozade drink. I never had this test, but it has shown to indicate high insulin levels when a person is insulin resistant. Finally they can also test for the leel of androgens in the blood, which are typcally elevated in PCOS and insulin resistant patients.
If you have PCOS, gain weight, predominantly around your middle, find your figure is "straight up and down" or are hursuit, have difficulty loosing weight, put weight on easily or have a family history, all these things are worth pointing out to the consultant.

Hope all of you are well
Pucaxxx

 

[MrsR]

Yet again great info Puca thank you very much for explaining  I hope your pregnancy will go well, wish you lots of luck 

Tweetie thank you too for explaining 

I am off to see my doc on 25th and will pressure him to check my insulin  I want to know if I am insulin resistant as I have all the symptoms mentioned