Robin! Hello! Yeah for going to to doc! Methydopa is the generic name for Aldomet! So what have gone to the docs yet? Sorry I was sleeping this am...till about 1pm..I have to work tonight! What did they say?
Robin! Hello! Yeah for going to to doc! Methydopa is the generic name for Aldomet! So what have gone to the docs yet? Sorry I was sleeping this am...till about 1pm..I have to work tonight! What did they say?
Originally Posted by rll4abcsoaps
Hello! Welcome to APA! Hope this helps!
General-
PPD- Post partum depression
DD- Due date
TTYL: Talk to you later
TTFN-Ta ta for now
BTDT- Been there, done that
AP: Attached parenting
NFL: Natural family living
NFP: Natural family planning
NPP: Not preventing pregnancy
BC: birth control
OP- original poster
OMG- Oh my gosh
LOL- Laughing out load
ROFL- Rolling on floor laughing
ROFLMAO- rolling on floor laughing my arse off
LMAO- Laughing my arse off
TMI- too much information
BM- breast milk
EBF- exclusively breastfed/ breast feeding
BCP- birth control pills
ITA- I totally agree or in total agreement
ETA- edited to add
EMM- expressed mother's milk
OALD (overactive letdown)
EP/EPing/EPer (exclusive pumping/pumper)
EBM (expressed breastmilk),
NAK (nursing at keyboard)
NIP (nursing in public)
WTDBOAFTB (whip the darn boob out and feed the baby)
CD- Cloth diapering
Fluff-also used to refer to cloth diapering (I know it isn't an acronym but I swear it took me a few minutes to decipher)
Sposies- disposable diapers (again, not an acronym, but commonly used).
LC- Lactation consultant
OT-off topic
SCDYD - Stop Causing Drama You Dinkalope
TTC
1ww- One-week wait
2WW: Two-week wait (until you can take a pregnancy test)
AF: Aunt Flo(w), your period (menses)
BBT: Basal Body Temperature
BD: Baby dance, sex
BFN: Big Fat Negative (test result)
BFP: Big Fat Positive (test result)
CB: Cycle Buddy (someone who shares the same menstrual cycle/ovulation dates)
CD: Cycle day
CF: Cervical fluid
CL: Corpus luteum
CLC: Corpus luteum cyst
CM: Cervical mucus
CP: Cervical position
CY: Cycle
DI: Donor Insemination
DH: spouse or significant other
DF: Sear Fiance
DBF-Dear Boyfriend
FOB: Father of baby
DPO: Days past ovulation
DTD: Doing the dance, sex
EW: Eggwhite (re: consistency of cervical mucus)
FMU: First morning urine
hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (pregnancy hormone)
HSG-hysterosalginogram; die test for tube defects
HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
IF: Infertility
IUI: Intra-uterine Insemination
IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
LH: luteinizing hormone
LMP: Last Menstrual Period
LP: Luteal phase
LPD: Luteal phase defect
O: Ovulation
OPK: Ovulation predictor kit
PCOS (POS): Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PG: Pregnancy, pregnant
S/A: Sperm/semen analysis
SHG-Sonohysterogram; saline U/S test for uterine/tube abnormalites
TCOYF: Taking Charge of Your Fertility (book)
TTC: Trying to conceive
Loss-
M/C: miscarriage
BO: Blighted Ovum
MM (or M/A, but it disturbs me) : missed miscariage, missed abortion.
CP: chemical pregnancy
Normal language
BTDT - been there done that
KWIM - know what I mean?
YK - ya' know?
IMO - in my opinion
IMHO - in my honest opinion
TIA - Thanks in advance
WWYD - what would you do
DH - dear husband
DSO - dear significant other
DF - dear fiance
DBF - dear boyfriend
DD - dear daughter
DS - dear son
DSD - dear step-daughter
DSS - dear step-son
FF - formula feeding
BF - breastfeeding
LOL! Good luck
well, I am back! She did the Methyldopa/Aldomet which sounded awesome to me. She wants me to be checking mhy BP at home (I have a cuff and I check it often) and to let her know if my bp stays high or goes higher and we will up my dose. I am to go back to see her in a month to talk with her about how it is going. So, YEA! One more step closer to a healthy pregnancy! (and, hey.... losing the weight will probably help with the BP too ;) )
Hurray! Oh...should have warned you before you got the script...you will be peeing a lot more on this med...least I do! ...prep for pg! LOL! Make sure you keep your BP cuff calibrated b/c that can cause false readings if it is not calibrated often.
What Is Your Bp
How is everyone?
confused
i wanted to know if anyone here would be able to offer me some advice. i have always had irregular periods and when my husband and i ttc it took us a year and half ( i also took clomid during the time, but it didn't work.), we now have our son. we are ttc again but my cycles have been extremely irregular, about 70 days, 45 days, 34 days, etc. i just went to the doctor and he said that i have polycystic ovaries. however, he took blood work (previously when i came in after my 70 day cycle) and everything is normal. are there any suggestions on how to conceive with this difficulty?
Have you sought the help of an RE? I can tell you that my cycles were irregular (23-32 days...apparently not normal to vary that much....which I knew...but 2 GYNs did not think so) and they were REALLLLYYY SHORT...may as well of not had one a period at all. Anyway, my first GYN said that my labs were normal and my 2nd said that I possibly had poor ovarian reserve. I asked another GYN I worked with and she said yeah your labs are a little off but not indicating PCOS. This is why PCOS is often underdiagnosed. My very first visit with RE....guess what I have PCOS.
Sometimes if you have a mild form of PCOS you can be "normal" for a couple of months and other months be off. I would either get a second opinion or go see a specialist. But you can have polycystic ovaries and not have PCOS and vice-versa. If infact you do have PCOS it is very important to get help since it is not only the leading cause of infertility, but if left untreated it can lead to cancer and heart disease. ...did you read the links on the very first post of this tread? You might find them more helpful!
If you do have PCOS you can take metformin to help regulate your hormones and cycles (you do not have to be insulin resistant to take this...there are lots of us who take this med and do not have insulin resitance...like me!
This is not meant to be medical advice...but to help you advocate for your health!
Good luck and keep us posted!
Michelle
I am reading this very informative book about PCOS...more medical based rather than for lay people.
Also, I am mailing Paula a book called "Polycsystic Ovary Syndrome A woman's guide to identifying and managing PCOS". There is another person after her that might be interested in reading it....so let us know who wants it next and we will get it to you...we can call it the "cysterhood of the traveling PCOS book" ...LOL!
Last edited by Xevy; 06-06-2008 at 10:17 PM.
So I have not been to the dr to even be tested to see if anything is wrong but I figured I would ask you gals since you seem to know what you are talking about.
With PCOS, do you have any pain in the area of where your ovaries would be?? Also, with the whole hair thing, like how much hair and where would the hair be??
With the irregular periods, HOW irregular would they be? My periods are not REAL irregular but they tend to not always be the same. History of periods is :
Nov 12
Dec 10
Jan 8
Feb 28
Mar 24
Apr 19
May 19
I finally started to write them down because before that they were kind of crazy. I got married on July 28th (and started my period the same day) and then I didnt get my period again until Oct. So I was without it for 2 months.
My periods used to be SO normal before I started the DEPO shot! I have been off of it for almost 2 years now. I only had one cycle of it.
If someone could give me some info that would be great! THANKS!!!
Last edited by SaraJP0804; 06-09-2008 at 11:17 AM.
Sara-26*Lee-26* STC our daughter for 3 years. DX with PCOS 05/10*11/21/09
Well, it looks like you have cycles anywhere from 24-35+ days. Some say that cycles shorter 26 and longer than 32 days are considered irreguluar and indicate that you may not be ovulating. How long do you bleed for?
I would go to your OB and have them draw some CD3 labs (FSH and LH) and CD21 (progesterone). This labs will help with determining if you are ovulating and if your hormones are all coo-coo. Also make sure they do a pelvic U/S to look for cysts and at endometiral lining. Also have them check your thyroid, testesterone levels and fasting blood sugar and HA1C.
Tell them you suspect you have PCOS. If they blow you off....find a new doc!
Anyone can have pain (mittlesmertz) where your ovaries are. Typically this pain is caused during ovulation. How servere is the pain and how often do you get it during your cycle?
The hair thing can be on your face, breasts, belly, back...anywhere a women would not want it. Your hair on your head can thin out too.
Good luck and keep us posted
Things that make you go mmmmm
Okay so this is some info I got from a book I am reading about PCOS....this is in reference to follicle #'s...
Of course we all know that as we age our follicle #'s decline therefore leading to decreased fertility. However, during this time of aging (late 30's) a polycysitc ovay may actually start to normalize = may regulate cycles and may lead to increased fertility in those of us w/ PCOS.....
I found that to be verrrrrrry interesting
Last edited by Xevy; 06-09-2008 at 10:20 PM.
I usually bleed for about 4 days. My periods are pretty normal. Not to heavy. No cramping during them.Well, it looks like you have cycles anywhere from 24-35+ days. Some say that cycles shorter 26 and longer than 32 days are considered irreguluar and indicate that you may not be ovulating. How long do you bleed for?
I would go to your OB and have them draw some CD3 labs (FSH and LH) and CD21 (progesterone). This labs will help with determining if you are ovulating and if your hormones are all coo-coo. Also make sure they do a pelvic U/S to look for cysts and at endometiral lining. Also have them check your thyroid, testesterone levels and fasting blood sugar and HA1C.
Tell them you suspect you have PCOS. If they blow you off....find a new doc!
Anyone can have pain (mittlesmertz) where your ovaries are. Typically this pain is caused during ovulation. How servere is the pain and how often do you get it during your cycle?
The hair thing can be on your face, breasts, belly, back...anywhere a women would not want it. Your hair on your head can thin out too.
Good luck and keep us posted
The pain is not severe. Its nothing something that would stop me dead in my tracks! I just feel it sometimes randomly!
I think if my DH and I are not prego by our anniversary, then I will go the doctor and have everything checked out!! Thanks so much for answering my questions!!!!
Sara-26*Lee-26* STC our daughter for 3 years. DX with PCOS 05/10*
I have PCOS.
I have always been a skinny girl. Sick skinny. I was 110-115 pounds from the time I entered high school, until right before my sophomore year of college. That is when things went wrong.
I had always eaten what I wanted without regard for carbs or sugar or portion size - not that I ate a lot - quite the opposite, I ate like a bird - but I was never careful about food. Then, almost exactly on my 19th birthday, I started gaining weight, and fast. I met DH shortly after my weight gain started, and from Sept 2004 to Oct 2005 (we got married in that year), I gained 50 lbs. My periods had never really been "regular." Sometimes 4 weeks apart, sometimes 6 or 7 - there wasn't a real pattern.
After much discussion, DH and I agreed we didn't feel right, given our religious convictions, to be using birth control. I had been on the pill for 6 months and it made me horribly ill - nightly vomiting, insomnia, fatigue during the day, and I was getting 4 or 5 migraines a month. When I went off of it, I expected things to change.
They didn't.
I went off BCPs in November of 2005. It is now June of 2008. I am not and have never been pregnant, despite wanting it so badly (granted, DH was deployed for a year during this time, but that's still a long time to be without child).
In March 2006, I thought I might pregnant (I was not) and found APA. Someone on here saw my symptoms and asked if I thought I might have PCOS. I had to research it more. I saw that I had the frequent urination, rapid unexplained weight gain, irregular periods or not getting them at all, extreme fatigue, dark facial hair, and acne. I went to two doctors in Virginia, and neither was willing to help me. We moved shortly after, and I visited a doctor in NC, who was much more helpful. She ran some blood tests, determined I DO have PCOS, and put me on an introductory dose of Metformin, with instructions to see her colleague, as she was retiring in two weeks.
I saw him, and he said I did NOT have PCOS. I had not had a period in 72 days. He refused to give me more metformin, or anything to start my cycle.
I cried and cried and cried. I saw another doctor. She said I did have PCOS but refused me medicine or help. She said if I'd "just lose weight" the PCOS would get better. She didn't seem to know that without metformin, a PCOS brain believes it is starving, and will not allow weightloss to take place. I was devastated.
Finally, I got a referral to a REAL OB/GYN (frickin military!!!). I showed him some pictures and the blood tests the first diagnosising doctor had done. He said there was NO QUESTION that I had PCOS. He even explained it to my skeptical and bewildered husband. He prescribed me metformin. I was elated.
DH deployed not three weeks after that, and I started the metformin, and also the Nutrisystem diet. I was finally able to lose weight! I lost 22lbs, and noticed that while my cycles were not ideal, they did seem to be settling into a nice 7 week pattern. Predictability is better than nothing.
Then, I started taking Vitex in Oct 2007. My migraines FINALLY went away! I can now go MONTHS without them. Better than that, the vitex started shortening my cycles, bringing on ovulation by 2-4 days sooner each cycle. I was down to 32 day cycles when DH returned from Iraq in Jan 2008 - nearly normal.
When my Jan AND Feb cycles turned out to be a complete bust, I visited my OB/GYN again. He gave me clomid. Little did I know that clomid was the WORST thing for me. I'm already going blind, and it turns out that a side effect of clomid is temporary vision loss that sometimes becomes PERMANENT. Luckily for me, it was just temporary, but that is not a risk I can take again.
Before my first cycle on Clomid ended, we were to find out that DH is deploying AGAIN. He was supposed to be home over a year. Instead, he will only be home about 8 months, with one month of that being spent away on a training mission.
I gained back 11 of the pounds I lost while he was gone. I am determined that PCOS will not defeat me. I may not be able to take ovulation inducers, but I WILL become pregnant. I started Weight Watchers last week and have already lost 4.4 lbs. I am hoping the reduction in weight will correlate to an increase in fertility.
Either way, I will not PCOS dictate who I am, and I will not let it rule my life.
Of course and good luck! Are you using OPK's to see when you are Oing?
Ashleigh thank you for sharing your story! You have been through so much over these last couple of years. ITA with your last sentence! We have PCOS...PCOS does not have us!
Hey, I had visual problems on Clomid so my RE has me on femara (not FDA approved for O induction-but it works)- less side effects! Also, do you have high blood pressure? I used to get migraines before I was put on BP meds!
Michelle
Thank you! I am not. I tried to chart for a little bit but I got to stressed. So I am not real sure of when I O or if I am even O'ing. When I had my anual pap back in feb my gyno said that right now DH and I could have a harder time getting prego and that my periods could be really wacky due to the fact that I am overweight. She said that if my weight got under control that I would have an easier time getting prego and my periods would be a little more normal. So right now I am trying to lose some weight in hopes that it will help me!
Sara-26*Lee-26* STC our daughter for 3 years. DX with PCOS 05/10*
One of the ladies on here lost wt on the South Beach diet. She also has PCOS.
a question about diagnosis
Hi.
I just miscarried and am afraid that I have PCOS. I had a hormone imbalance from my early teens. The hormone comes from my adrenal gland. My cycles are really long. I didn't ovulate till day 30 of my cycle this past time. My doctor isn't the best - I am currently shopping for a new one - and she isn't all about testing me. I need to ask for specific tests.
How did you get diagnosed?
I told 3 GYN's that I suspected I had PCOS and all 3 so no. I sought the help of an RE and my first visit with him he dx me with PCOS. They will drawn a panel of labs such and sometimes they will want them drawn on certain cycle days. They will also do a pelvic ultrasound to look at your ovaries.
Typical labs are FSH, LH, progesterone, testesterone, HA1C, fasting blood sugar to name a few.
How old are you and how long have you been TTC?
Yeah I read about that! It gave me great hope!
Sara-26*Lee-26* STC our daughter for 3 years. DX with PCOS 05/10*
Hi ladies,
I was just recently diagnosed with PCOS. Does anyone know if there is any connection to long term pill use?
My story: As a teen I had horrible cycles, vomiting, migraines, etc. At 17 my doctor decided to put me on the pill to control/regulate them. After 12 years I was finally ready to start a family, so I quit 12/07. Each month the cycles got longer: 33, 37, 43, and 50 days. I initially attributed the length to stress; I internalize everything and often have difficulty relaxing. Then in June 2007 I got pregnant. I was elated, and strangely enough, felt great. To make a long story short during my first sonogram we learned that there was no heartbeat (11 weeks). To make it worse, I had no indication that the pregnancy had ended. Fetal development ended at approx. week nine. My new ob/gyn thinks the pregnancy was luck.
Since then, the cycles have been as follows: 54, 37, 37, 42, 56 days. Currently I am on cycle day 63 with no end in sight.
My weight has been a factor too, consistently creeping upward regardless of the healthy choices I have been making. I want to get the weight off and I am quite discouraged by my appearance. Other than the South Beach diet any tried and true methods?
My new ob/gyn is going to start me on 50mg of Clomid whenever this cycle ends. Based on my history, will the OPK's give me a good indication of the "O"? I can't chart because I am an inconsistent sleeper. Maybe if I had been able to chart I would have found out earlier I am not ovulating.
Any thoughts, suggestions, and information are greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance,
Maria
Last edited by MChap; 06-11-2008 at 08:47 AM. Reason: typo
First of all to all the new ladies on this thread WELCOME
Maria,
I am sorry for you loss
Okay, not 100% sure if long term BCP correlates with PCOS. PCOS is a dysfuntion of the endocrine system. Typically patients are treated with BCP to regulate your cycles (esp. of you are trying to prevent pg). PCOS is something that we are born with, but it may take years for you to present with symptoms if any. I am not sure that BCP exacerbates it or not, it is possible.
Have you read the previous posts about how it is treated esp for those that are TTC?
Exercise and eating a balanced diet are important to help lose wt. I am fortunate that I have not had the struggle of wt issues as some of the other ladies on here with PCOS have. I do hope that someone is able to help you with that. I can tell you that I would avoid your simple carbs like (candy, cakes, etc.), stay away from fast food places, try not to eat out, eat foods that are processed (frozen meals, canned foods, boxed foods as they are loaded with tons of salt and calories). Drink plenty of water, eat lot of fresh veggies and fruits. Try to eat fish at least once a week (if you do not like fish you can eat flax seed or other foods that have omega-3's in them or take a supplment). If you drink pop...stop...even the diet stuff is bad for you (I have heard that if it had Splenda in it is is supposed to be okay). I did gain some wt (10lbs) about 10 years ago after I had to have surgery and I lost it just by cutting out pop.
What are some things that you like to eat?
Some say that depending on the severity of the PCOS OPK's can give you false readings. The best way to know that you O'd is have a 21 day or 7dpo progesterone test done. You can still use the OPK's just be wary. I was getting false results before I started taking fertility meds, but now I know they are accurate b/c of the u/s I have a couple times throughout the month for follow-up. But I also have a milder form/aytpical PCOS.
When you say you are dicouraged by your appearance are you referring to the wt or other physical signs that PCOS can cause?
Okay, I think I have bombarded you with enough info now and hope that you're not wanting to dothis to me!
Let us know if you have any other questions! This info is also not to take the place of medical advice! I hope what ramblin I said helped some! (Sorry I work nights and had little sleep and am still very :sleep
Good luck and keep us posted!
Last edited by Xevy; 06-11-2008 at 04:11 PM.
Xevy,
Thanks for the fast post!
Since BCP's can be used to regulate hormones, I wonder if I would have presented symptoms sooner had I not been on them for so many years? I also found out that as a young woman my mom had hormonal imbalance issues and could not get pregnant. They put her on the pill for two years and when she got off she got pregnant. PCOS was never mentioned, but with the often missed diagnosis, who is to say she didn't suffer from it too?
As far as my food intake, I do prefer the fresh items like salad, fruit, lean meats, and fish, but at times they are not convenient. I have to laugh because I gave up soda in February, began drinking tons of water, started eating salads for lunch and yet I gained 7-8 pounds, go figure? I even use the wishbone spray dressing so I can accurately monitor the amount. I do enjoy sweets as much as the next person, but my DH doesn't eat them, so we don't keep them in the house unless I bake a homemade cheese cake.
Pizza is a weakness too, but we don't order it too often because only one place delivers out here. Overall, I don't think I eat badly. I do need some help with portion control, but when I cut back I am hungry two hours later, just like now. Guess I'll drink another glass of water.
Thanks for the OPK info too. My earlier results were less than stellar too, and at least now I know why. I will be speaking with my doctor tomorrow to discuss DH's SA results. I imagine at this time she will tell me how often I will need monitored.
My appearance issues are predominantly weight related, but I am getting more dark hairs on my chin. I need to get sugared again. My hair seems more dry and brittle than usual too, making it a frizzy mess(you have to love naturally curly hair). Plus, I break out now and I never did as a teen. Some factors are probably related, some are not.
I guess I will just have to wait and see where this journey takes me.
I appreciate all your insight and I hope to be in touch frequently. Thanks so much for being such an active member of this thread!
Maria
STC MC #1 8/07 New PCOS diagnosis Clomid 50mg to follow.
Maria,
Hello again! Yeah, I thought that saaaaame thing about the correlation of BCPs and PCOS symptoms being "dormant" while you're taking them!At least the hormone imbalances can be treated with meds other than BCPs. Esp if you are TTC. I take femara (I also did 3 cycles of Clomid) to help me O and I also take glucaphage (metformin). And yes...I am the poster-child for misdiagnosis of PCOS....that would be 3 GYNs....yes 3 told me I did not have it.
Anyway, sounds like you eat like me. I love sweets and Pizza. Not a big soda drinker...I crave them every once and a while. OMG that would figure that you would gain rather than loose. DOH! We do not usually keep a lot of sweets in the house either. Every so often I will have some junky things to eat just b/c they sound good! Ohh homemade cheesecake sounds wonderful right now!
You will have to keep me posted on what the doc says tomorrow ...or rather what they said today for your DH's S/A!
As far as the wieght ck with some of the other gals that have PCOS. Like Paula would be a good one! I would also ask your doc about putting you on glucaphage (this can help decrease chances of m/c [ despite what other's might say] and also help regulate your hormones). Crap...I wished I would have read this last night before your appt.
And you are most certainly welcome. Glad I could help!
Talk to you soon
Michelle
Last edited by Xevy; 06-12-2008 at 06:48 PM.
Hello all, I am sorry that I have been away for so long. I have just started a new job and do not have any time for myself. Well from my last post I can honestly say that I am a little bit more at ease and that I feel more confident. My RE has put me on Femara, finally!!! I am so excited...I start my first doses tomorrow. I just hope that this frug does the trick. It would be nice to know just how long some of you have been on Femara (like how many cycles) because I don't want it to drag out again like with the Clomid.
Oh and thanks a bunch Xevy, you are always there to help and give advice to all of us TTC'ers. I really do appreciate all of you here and hope that one day we will all have out BFP!
Below I will enter my info for this month:
Prometrium 100mg CD31-36
AF 6/11-My guess is 6/13
Femara 2.5mg twice daily CD3-7
Also, I don't know if anyone cares but I have had a bad month so far...I have had both food poisening and a Urinary Tract Infection. For those of you who are religious, please pray for me. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for all your support, goodnight!
Last edited by AndreaDay; 06-12-2008 at 10:43 PM.
Me and DH happily married since December 18, 2004
7/18/08 - The day our little angel went to heaven.
Hurray for femara! I am on my 2nd round of it and it is way better than Clomid! I hope you get your BFP soon and sorry you have had a rough month! Get better and take good care of yourself...your lil baby will need it too!
Also you are very welcome! Glad I can help!
Michelle
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