Dh and I were married in April of 2000. I was about 145lbs when we met the previous July (after loosing about 30lbs on Atkins), and over the course of a year and a half had gained the weight back, and then some.

About a year after we were married, we wanted to have a baby, and I wanted to get healthy. I lost 30lbs again, doing Atkins...and at the end of summer we just decided one night not to use bc.

I found out I was pregnant in early August. We were thrilled. I'd never been pregnant before, and wasn't having many symptoms. I stopped Atkinsing completely. At 10 1/2 weeks, an u/s showed a 7w3d gestational sac and some placental tissue, but no baby. A week later, I had a D&C for a missed miscarriage/blighted ovum.

I was devastated, and felt so empty I wanted to get pregnant again right away. I was also deeply depressed, and started gaining the weight back yet again. I gained all the weight I'd lost back, and then some. *Sigh*

We tried for 1 1/2 years to conceive, with no luck. I don't think I'd really put it together yet that eating low carb really affected my hormones in a good way and helped my cycles become more regular and allowed me to ovulate...and the extra weight and all the sugar were likely why I was so irregular (as I had been since hs).

In December of 2002, I talked to a midwife who mentioned PCOS. I came home, got online, and started reading about symptoms and treatments. Then, I made an appointment with an OBGYN to enquire about Metformin/Glucophase.

Instead, he prescriped a low dose of Avandia. I was pregnant 1 1/2 cycles later, and thank goodness-it stuck! I had a wonderful pregnancy and only gained about 12 lbs, ending at about 196.

My son is now 2 1/2 years old, and we aren't planning anymore children. My pregnancy weight came off as soon as he was born, but even with breastfeeding I managed to...you guessed it...gain it back, and then some ending at 204lbs this time.

I realize now that this WOE needs to be permanent. I have an addiction to carbs, and I let it get out of control and before I know it I'm big and miserable. I want to be the best mommy I can be to my little boy. I want to be able to run and play and keep up with him. I want to have more energy. I want to be happy...not depressed/ashamed.

So, here I go again. And this time, I'm playing for keeps.

Jen

Jen, congrats on finally conceiving.

What is Avandia? I am almost certain I have PCOS (took me over a year to conceive). I went to an endo, who did full hormone testing, and said everything was normal.

My 'diagnosis' was just based on some symptoms, not bloodwork as far as I remember. Avandia, like metformin/glucophase, is a diabetes medication that impacts insulin resistance (as does the Atkins WOE). I'm not diabetic, but that low dose tricked my body into ovulating.

HTHs,

Jen

I just did a quick google for "Avandia PCOS" and found this, which might be helpful:

After 3 years of infertility I had twins. Then after an additional 10 years of infertility issues I did glucophage and avandia both. GYN gave me clomid and I FINALLY got pregnant again. These are both great drugs to treat PCOS.

Thanks for that info, Jen.

I am going to talk to my OB/gyne about PCOS. The endo didn't want to even discuss PCOS after all blood test results were normal. I still have all the symptoms, but apparently that doesn't matter if the tests say you are normal.

Ciao Bella,

My OBGYN told me there was really no 'test' for PCOS, that it was based on symptoms, so he was comfortable prescribing the Avandia for me. And, it obviously worked! :-)

Maybe change practitioners/get a second opinion?

Best Wishes to you,

Jen

This is such an interesting thread! I have PCOS and went through 3 years of fertility treatments, up to and including in vitro. None worked, and we finally adopted

I had never heard that Avandia could be used for PCOS! How cool! Glucophage was horrible for me. No effect other than chronic stomach pains and diarhea. Fun!

My endocrinologist did a lot of bloodwork before diagnosing me with PCOS. She said that lots of diagnoses are made with just symptoms, but that blood work needs to be done to confirm it. Hormones need to be at certain (abnormal) levels, etc. She sat me down and went over my results, showing me what was considered "normal" and what was within PCOS guidelines and where I fit. She was AWESOME!