Journey Towards Conceiving a Baby With Pampered ChefOS

[kayleigh]

To make a very long story short, I have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) which makes conceiving a child naturally harder than those who do not have the syndrome. Most with this disease are not able to conceive naturally and need the expensive help of fertility treatments. This disease affects your entire life. From male hair patterns, absent or sporadic menstral cycles, weight gain, insulin resistance, etc, just to name a few. Needless to say my body does not react normal.

5 years ago my husband and I started trying to have a baby which is when I was diagnosed with this. Being young and newly married, telling you, your chances of having a baby are less than normal is something hard to swallow. As a sat across the room from the doctor telling me this, my heart started to shatter. I felt (still feel) like I have let my husband down. I know how bad we both wanted kids. Fertility is expensive and something we are not able to afford. Emotionally; this disease drains you. Due to my emotional state we decided to stop trying after trying for about a year and focus on other areas of our lives; but are now ready to try again. We are limiting caffeine, I have joined a zumba class and exercise reguarly now. This week I have lost 3 pounds. The more I lose the more my chances increase.

I am asking for your thoughts and prayers for my own emotional frame of mind during this process. When you want something so bad it consumes you. I just want to be able to have a baby; something many take for granted. All prayers are appreciated as we go through this "long" journey ahead of us for understanding, patience and of course the end result of a baby.

 

[thehaleykitchen]

Lots of prayers are being said for you!!!!*HUGS*Karen

 

[minirottie]

Prayers! Have you looked into a website called Fertility Friend? I met some amazing women there years ago as I struggled with fertility issues. Many friends with PCOS and other issues! They can be strict about attempting communication outside of the board, thru private messages, etc. but there are specific boards/buddy groups there where people are dealing with exactly what you're going through and you may find some solace there! Misery loves company essentially. It is not a free site, but you may get some additional tips and hear success stories to help encourage you!

 

[kayleigh]

I have checked out alot of websites that deal with PCOS and infertility. I have found that I soak up way too much information which starts to consume me. This is what happened with we first tried. Its a great idea but if something works for someone I find myself becoming desperate and will try anything. Even if it would say to stand on your head and do 3 blackflips. LOL. I have a friend who had alot of my same symptoms so we went to the doctor together and she was also diagnosed with PCOS. She started dieting, exercising and just making life changes and she is now expecting. I see hope in her story. I hope this will happen for me.

Thanks for the idea. I will check it out though and see if it is something that will work.

 

[minirottie]

It's hard..I know. Wishing you all the baby dust I can!

 

[tammym]

I completely understand what you are going through and would like to tell you that miracles happen when you least expect them. I too was diagnosed several years ago with PCOS. I was completely devastated. It consumed every single aspect of my life. I felt like it was all my fault. That I too had let my husband down. After 3 long years and lots of medication and tests, we ended up blessed with a child-- at a time when we were taking NO meds!!!! The dr's told me this wasn't possible! It can happen. Just don't lose hope and don't let it consume you. If you need someone to talk to that has been there, feel free to message me at [email protected]. Prayers are with you! I know it's a tough road.

 

[pamperedbybarbara]

Prayers for you....sending showers of "baby dust" your way!!

 

[krisPC]

prayers for you as well. I too have PCOS and have tried EVERYTHING including IVF. We are no longer trying but i wanted to make sure you know there is a link between PCOS and insulin resistance. My fertility specialist tested me and then prescribed metformin to get blood sugar down.This REALLY HELPS you lose weight and if you can lose just 10% you greatly increase your chances of concieving. Good luck!!!

 

[kayleigh]

Thanks for all the kind replies. It is a very emotional journey and I am glad to know I am not the only one on this road or that some of you have been down it too. This disease consumes you and every aspect of your life, for those who have it or know someone who does, you know exactly what I mean. When friends become pregnant; as much as you want to be happy, you are jealous, envious, etc. I have strained alot of friendships because of this. I felt everyone else was ahead of me. My doctor had prescribed me Metformin and once me and my husband stopped trying I was so discouraged I quit taking everything. Not probably the best decision but I was giving up. I had lost all hope. Now that we are starting again, I am getting a new family physician because I do not believe or feel my current practioner understands all that is involved with PCOS. I know I am overweight, I am trying to change that, but each time I would go in to the dr for a unreleated visit I was told that I had what I was there for "because I was fat."

I have done alot of research and soul searching in the last 4 years. I am in a better frame of mind and added new "tools" to help me along the process. I've added chiropractic care to my regiman. I know this sounds crazy but she has regulated my cycle to every month on the same day. I know this is something many people take for granted, but I have not had that for 5+ years. Small steps. I believe I have a great support system and knowing I have people I can talk to helps me out during the emotional process. Me and husband are stronger now too.

I will be going to the new doctor here soon and starting those meds again and hopefully that with the addition of diet, exercising and prayer, will be able to conceive a child "naturally".

 

[katem51]

I also struggled with infertility over 20 years ago. There have been vast improvements so with your life changes you've made and science, you have a very good chance in my opinion.Speaking of the expense; when I was taking super expensive drugs, daily utrasounds, etc. my Dr always put the medical code for ammenoreah ( I know I'm not spelling that right.) So, anyway, my insurance always paid. My husband and I didn't make a lot of money and could never have pursued the treatments if the insurance didn't pay. Ask your DR how they will be coding your bills. Worth a shot. Good luck to you. And by the way, after 7 years of trying finally had a daughter and a son...28 ad 24years old now.

 

[kayleigh]

I just wanted to give everyone an update. The prayers are working. I have been "dedicated" to exercise and better food choices then I ever have. To date I have lost 6.5 lbs. I know that doesnt seem like alot but I can feel the difference. I also got a new physician and see him on Friday for med refills. Thanks to everyone. I apprecaite the continued support. : )

 

[krisPC]

Thats GREAT!!!!

 

[minirottie]

Wonderful update! Continuing to keep you in my T&P's!

 

[winklermom]

Just a bit of encouragement. A young lady in our church was diagnosed with this about a year and a half ago. She's supposed to have her baby this Friday!!! :balloon: God certainly does answer prayers and I will be agreeing with you for this.

 

[Sheila]

BIG (((hugs))) to you girl! Infertility is the worst thing EVER. I wouldn't wish that on anyone! I don't have PCOS, but it did take us 22 cycles to get my first pregnancy. Age was NOT on my side & I worried constantly that I had waited too long. She was threatened miscarriage the entire first trimester. I was having all kinds of issues & kept being told that the pregnancy wouldn't make it. Somehow, it did. Preeclampsia, 33 hour failed induction, rushed c-section & complications in the c-section. I ended up spiking a fever & was in the hospital for 6 days ... but I got my baby girl ... 6 weeks before my 40th birthday. A nice boring pregnancy would have been nice, but it was all worth it in the end. A miscarriage later, we did some alternative things to get my son. Lucked out the 2nd cycle trying!

I'm glad you are doing the Chiropractor! I've heard some wonderful things about increasing your odds with that.

And Kristen's right ... FertilityFriend.com rocks! I was on there too. You'll of course find some people who fuss & complain and try to shoot everyone down, but for the most part it's a lot of very supportive people.

TMI alert ~ not really a "spoiler", but this will prevent the ones who don't want to know THIS much about me from being exposed to it. Would have sent it in a PM, but I figured there's probably more than just the one poster who might love to know more about infertility. (hover over the below to read what we did to get our son):

Spoiler

Go to a drug store (Eckerd's, Walgreens, CVS, etc) and pick up some Instead Cups. Get on eBay & buy a 100 pack of ovulations stick. There's a company out there that sells them by the 100's for like $32.99. SOOOO worth it because you WILL become a POAS-aholic (peeing on a stick). If you use a lubricant. Stop! The only one that's sperm friendly is preseed. If you are using anything else, you are hindering your attempts. You can find that on eBay too. Keep up your Chiropractic regiment & use 1 ovulation stick a day until you see that the lines are starting to get close to the same color. When they match, you've just ovulated. Hubby needs to refrain from any extra curricular activity without you and according to our Dr. it's best to DTD (do the deed) every other day vs every day or multiple times a day. He'll have a higher sperm count that way. If you need lubricant, be sure to use your preseed. DTD with you on bottom (if you "finish" your cervix throbs making it easier for his little guys to get in there). Without moving from your position, insert an instead cup, scooping it across the bottom to try & collect as much of his "boys" as you can and make sure it fits firmly around your cervix. Their intended purpose is in lieu of a tampon or pad, but they keep the "boys" where you need them to increase your odds of conceiving. Leave the instead cup there for at least 5-8 hours, then remove. Each time you DTD around ovulation, use a new Instead Cup. I didn't use it the 1st month, but did the 2nd month & conceived on that cycle. I also demanded progesterone suppositories which alleviated all the issues that I'd had with the 1st 2 pregnancies. I really think low progesterone was why I had those issues. My friend who had been trying for 7 years called me & I walked her through the insert & removal on the phone. She conceived that 1st cycle and has a sweet baby girl now. I have another friend who just got all this info from me to relay to her friend who's dealing with IF. Not sure if she's had luck yet or not. But once you get that ovulation ... this is your best way to increase the conception odds! I wish I'd known about the instead cups when I was trying for #1. I think it would have saved me a LOT of sad days looking at the negative pregnancy tests. And I totally get the "jealous" feeling. We moved to Okinawa, Japan. That base has the highest birth rate of ANY military hospital around the world. Every where I went on that base I saw multiple baby bumps or newborns being carried. It was rough!!! I wish you LOTS of luck in your attempts. I hope you get your positive test VERY soon & that it's a very sticky bean!

 

[scottcooks]

My wife and I prayed and found our answer in adoption. There are thousands of children in state care who need loving homes. If you want information about this path, PM me - it is not for the faint-hearted nor a path of whimsy, but if you are focused and understanding it can be an answer to prayers.When you think about it, we are all adopted - by God, by our spouse.

 

[freebyrdz]

I, too am praying for you and your husband.

 

[rchamelin]

Prayers sent your way...don't give up hope, my friend was diagnosed with it and has a 5 year old with it