What questions should I ask gyno/obs 1st visit? 100days no period after pill

[chloee42]

Hi Ladies,
just wondering if anyone has any advice on questions I should be asking gyno/obs for a first visit? I am going on wednesday and I have no idea what I am supposed to ask.

Here is a summary of my situation.
Came off pill end of March and had my withdrawal period a couple of days after stopping the pill. Since then I have had nothing! I had really bad cramps the first 4 weeks off the pill and doc thought I was preg but ended up being gastro! :hair:

Then an ultrasound revealed I have polycystic ovaries with 32 cysts. That was a month ago - since then I have been having weekly accupuncture treatment, am on homeopathy drops and chinese herbs to try and regularly my cycle (this has been nearly a month and still nothing!) I have been taking folic acid for at least 9 months (as I was going to come off the pill last year - wish I had now!) and also been on conceive well gold vitamins for 2months and prior to that - women's multivitamin for 4 years +. All my blood tests reveal I have no problems or defficiencies!

I have asked the doc for a referral to Dr Chew as I am desperate to get pregnant and I want to get on top of things as early as possible. I eat very healthily, exercise at the gym or walk nearly every day and I am hoping I will be able to have kids. I am also 27 which I have been told is in my favour and I am not overweight or anything.

Please let me know what you would suggest I ask .... I am desperately wanting to have a baby. Let me know if you have experienced something similar or have any advice on what i should ask for e.g. tests/medication?

Thanks,
chloee

[Elestrial]

Then an ultrasound revealed I have polycystic ovaries with 32 cysts. That was a month ago - since then I have been having weekly accupuncture treatment, am on homeopathy drops and chinese herbs to try and regularly my cycle (this has been nearly a month and still nothing!) I have been taking folic acid for at least 9 months (as I was going to come off the pill last year - wish I had now!) and also been on conceive well gold vitamins for 2months and prior to that - women's multivitamin for 4 years +. All my blood tests reveal I have no problems or defficiencies!

I have asked the doc for a referral to Dr Chew as I am desperate to get pregnant and I want to get on top of things as early as possible. I eat very healthily, exercise at the gym or walk nearly every day and I am hoping I will be able to have kids. I am also 27 which I have been told is in my favour and I am not overweight or anything. ]

I would make sure to tell the Dr about any herbs you are taking as they may interfere with something he prescibes. I would ask whether he can give you something to give you a period, so you know you're starting fresh with him. Let him know your excerise routine - if you are excessively working out, it might impact on your period (think of proffessional althetes who may not get periods for years). Ask if you have polysistic ovaries or the syndrome and what difference that will have on your chances/timeframe. Ask about what he sees as the treatment plan and what steps you need to go through. Ask how long he thinks it will take, and how much it will cost (I know that one sounds very mercenary but you'll want to know that in about 2 weeks when the procedures/bills start happening). I'm trying to think what else... If I think of anything else, I'll reply again!!

[chloee42]

Thank you so much Elestrial :)

well I am in a bad mood. Was very excited about my appointment today with gyno/obs after waiting 6 weeks since being able to get appointment. I get a call an hour before my appointment saying that it will have to be rescheduled as dr. had to go and deliver a baby!
30mins later got another call saying that they will ring tonight to make another time. I asked if it will be within in the next 2 weeks and the receptionist said - probably not as she is fully booked and that these things happen as she also delivers babies! I told her I was a bit annoyed as I have been waiting 6 weeks to get in and don't want to have to wait another 6 weeks! :hair:

I got very teary after I got off the phone as I have been longing for this day and I was really excited this morning as I would have some questions finally answered. I don't see why I should have to wait again when it wasn't me who cancelled. I know you can't help a birth but I am hoping that they will fit me in within the next week or two. Luckily I am on holidays at the moment but I would be very ****ty if I have to take a day off work and be cancelled on again! It was hard enough to get this appointment.

I tried ring a few other gyno/obs nearby and they are fully booked until end of August/September! :banghead:

Fingers crossed she has a heart and can squeeze me in soon - I am desperate to find out what is going on.

Just thought I would vent!

[Elestrial]

I would be making lots of phone calls to your FS because that way your in their mind if there is a cancelation or maybe just annoy them enough that they MAKE you a spot.And you have to be happy that you have an FS who'll be around for the whole process from conception to delivery.

[lemonpancakes]

How frustrating! What city are you in? If in Melbourne, I recommend Mac Talbot in Erin St, Richmond. I too have PCOS (age 29) and he put my mind at ease and I'm back to 'normal' after me not having periods for up to 7 months at a time (and always being of a healthy weight too).

The 2 things that have given me back my periods are 1) Metformin and 2) low-GI diet. Do you eat much hi-GI foods? Even though I'm thin, I used to eat a lot of sugar and white bread products, and they're the culprits because I have insulin resistance. Your doctor can get you tested for that. It's a major contributor to PCOS.

So whichever doctor you see, I'd ask to be tested for insulin resistance. It's a 2 hour blood test...they take your blood after you drink a glucose drink, then take another blood sample after 1 hour, then after another hour.

[chloee42]

Thanks ladies.
Well I had a crap time at the doctors this morning - just went to a bulk bill place and the guy mademe cry!

I went in requesting a referral for a different gyno/obs as I still haven't heard back from the one i was supposed to see yesterday and I have managed to get an appointment in 2 weeks at a different one.

So he was happy to give me a referral and then I mentioned that my naturopath/accupuncturist had requested that I try and get another ultrasound done to see if the cysts have moved/altered as a result of the accupunture. The doctor then got really cross and said I am wasting my money and there is no real research on the effects of alternative medicine!

I then told him I have been given chinese fertility herbs to take and homeopathy drops. He then got ****ty and said you said you weren't taking any drugs, now I have to rewrite your referral. You have no idea what these drugs could be doing to your body! He said it was too soon to do another ultrasound but he could do a urine test now. I said what for and he said to check for pregnancy - I told him I know I am not pregnant, that I'm prob not even ovulating and home tests are negative!

Then I burst into tears and said I was just so frustrated with waiting 6 weeks for an appointment and then it being cancelled that I just want a period or know what is going on with my body. He said 105 days isn't that long without a period and that I need to relax, enjoy sex and just be patient!

I said it's already for him to say that but think about how hard it is when you get your hopes up and u are willing to try to fix your problem and you get mixed messages from everyone you speak to!

He apologised for making me cry and told me I needed to stop taking the alternative medicines and just wait it out!

I was so upset- bloody doctors won't even be supportive until at least 12 months, they have no idea! I feel I am lucky that I know I have a problem now and I am willing to do whatever I need to to solve it - surely that means something.

Let me know if you have ever had bad experiences with doctors.

Sorry for the rant - I am just sick of not having the answers, I know it has only been 3 months but it is so hard to not think about it, I am scared and I just want help! I want to know that things will be ok.

[bub4rosie]

:hugs: that's awful! Doctors should be understanding, especially about such an emotional subject.

I went to a doctor after about 3 months of no period and she basically laughed at me and told me if it hadn't returned after 6 months then to come back ...:confused:

Since then I've been to see a Chinese Herbalist who gave me a concoction which made my period come back once, but I'm now day 37 and no sign of AF (and no sign of BFP!!) - so it's still not back to normal.

Sorry to :ecomcity: I just wanted to let you know you're not alone and to hang in there ... I would definitely ask around for recommendations for a Doctor / FS who is good but also who you feel comfortable with - that is the most important thing.

Take care, and remember that every day is a day you are closer to your BFP!

[lemonpancakes]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with that doctor - he sounds very insensitive. I've read on forums like this that if you have evidence of PCOS, you don't have to be trying for 12 months before doctors will investigate infertility.

What city are you in? I'm sure there'll be some bub hubbers with recommendations for good doctors who know what they're doing.

Before I saw my miracle gyno who put me on metformin after the other one said she wouldn't, I saw a chinese medicine/acupuncturist for about 6 weeks and it didn't help at all. My GP also said that it's a bit risky taking the herbs because who knows what's in them - they're not regulated by any medical body and might have high levels of something known to be toxic etc. I haven't made my mind up about that but I stopped taking them. I don't think acupuncture can hurt though!

But I cannot stress this enough - see if you can get put on metformin. It's done wonders for me and some other PCOSers I know.

[Elestrial]

So he was happy to give me a referral and then I mentioned that my naturopath/accupuncturist had requested that I try and get another ultrasound done to see if the cysts have moved/altered as a result of the accupunture. The doctor then got really cross and said I am wasting my money and there is no real research on the effects of alternative medicine!

I then told him I have been given chinese fertility herbs to take and homeopathy drops. He then got ****ty and said you said you weren't taking any drugs, now I have to rewrite your referral. You have no idea what these drugs could be doing to your body!



Then I burst into tears and said I was just so frustrated with waiting 6 weeks for an appointment and then it being cancelled that I just want a period or know what is going on with my body. He said 105 days isn't that long without a period and that I need to relax, enjoy sex and just be patient!

What an *******!! I wouldn't be going back to him. Doctors are supposed to encourage you to tell them about your life/symptoms/habits. It's good that you told him about your herbs & stuff because he is right that is could interfere with what he prescibes. And I'm really glad you've got a new referal for a FS, so thinks can get started sooner.
And just for the record - 105 days IS a long time to not a have a period - this Dr's an idiot. And if his best advice for infertility is "enjoy the sex" he should get ****ed. (:laughing: get the pun?)

[chloee42]

:yelclap: Thanks for cheering me up! This was a normal doctor, not a FS - had to go to him for a referral.
Like he would know what it is like to not have had a period for that long - or any understanding as to how emotional it can be.
Yeah i'll keep enjoing BD'ing in the hope of TTC whilst there is prob. no chance of getting preg!

My FS appointment with Dr Chew is now 21st July, fingers crossed.

I am sick of being told I am young and shouldn't be in a rush! Just because I am only 27! I know there is a problem so shouldn't I be supported in the fact i actually am being proactive?

I have cancelled my accupuncture appointments and stopped taking homeopathic drops and chinamed fertility support tabs from the naturopath - so now I am just taking a daily folic acid and the blackmore's conceive well gold.

With the money I am saving on naturopath, I will spend on facials, massages and things to de-stress my life and feel good about myself. Hopefully this will bring on my period! or get preg before aunty flow ever shows up!

Thanks for your attitude! You bought a smile to my face! Made me laugh for the first time in 2 days! :thumbsup:

[Elestrial]

With the money I am saving on naturopath, I will spend on facials, massages and things to de-stress my life and feel good about myself. Hopefully this will bring on my period! or get preg before aunty flow ever shows up!

Sounds like a great plan!! Relax and enjoy the things about NOT beoing pregnant! Get a really intense massage - once your pregnant you'll have to go to someone who has been trained in pregnancy massage. Get your hair dyed - don't want those chemicals around while preggers, and splurge and go to the fancy hairdresser who charges a fortune and gives you a cup of tea and has recent magazines. :yelclap: Get your nails done! All the fumes won't be good when pregnant! Um... buy a tonne of camembert and blue vien cheese and eat for all your worth - no soft cheese during pregnancy!! Spend the money doing one of those action things that people (not me) like doing - it's hard to go rock climbing or skiing when 6 months pregnant! :smiliedance: (I can't think of anymore fun things about not being pregnant but I'm sure there are lots more!)
Revel in non pregnancy things and relax!! :wave: You'll be enjoying yourself so much you'll be shocked when your FS appointment comes so soon. (In theory)