My Personal PCOS Page

This page is dedicated to all women who struggle with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

As I build this page I hope to tell my story of infertility and success as well as treating my syndrome after having children.

This page is under construction so please check back to see the updates. Thanks!

This page is dedicated to all women who struggle with PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
As I build this page I hope to tell my story of infertility and success as well as treating my syndrome after having children.

I'd always had irregular periods from puberty till I was 16 and my doctor suggested Birth Control pills to help make my periods regular. I went on and off Birth Control pills for many years. I had always been a very thin young woman and then at the age of 20 I began to gain weight. I tried all kinds of things to lose weight but nothing worked. Several of my family members were slim as children and became overweight as young adults – so I just thought that this was the way it was going to be for me also.

In March of 1991 I married the love of my life, Darrin. Since he was only 21 (I was about to turn 25) we decided to wait on starting a family. We had no idea what a tortuous adventure we were about to embark on. In May of 1991 I did not have a period. My first thought was “oh no I am pregnant”. Little did I know it would be years before I would say those words again and the tone of those words would be entirely different. I took a home pregnancy test, which was negative, then we waited. No period – so I took another home test – still negative – so I called the doctor.

My doctor did a blood pregnancy test – still negative. She prescribed Provera to make my period start and then we waited to see what would happen next. Next month no period – so another round of Provera – and then the test began. My doctor, who had no idea what was wrong with me, (which was scary enough) started testing me for thyroid irregularities, diabetes, and worst of all for cancer. My poor husband was a basket case. We had only been married a few months and the doctor suspected I might have some sort of uterine cancer.

The doctor found nothing wrong with me and for a few months we just lived with that. I was so tired of being poked and prodded that I did not care if I ever found out what was wrong. Then one fateful day in early 1992 I went to the nurse where I worked and described what she said sounded like and appendicitis. She called my doctor and I rushed right over to the office. My blood work showed no infection and I did not have a fever so they sent me to the hospital for a high-resolution ultrasound. This wonderful test showed fluid behind my uterus – but no appendicitis. My doctor reviewed the ultra sound pictures and referred me to an OB/GYN.

My new OB/GYN looked at my history and said those words I will never forget – You have POLYCYSTIC OVAIRAN SYNDROME. Wow – I had been searching for a name for almost a year and now I had one humdinger of a name. She gave me some information to take home and ask me to come back with my husband so she could talk with both of us.

When I walked into her office at our next visit I could tell it wasn’t good news based on the look on her face. She proceed to tell me how difficult it could be for me to get pregnant and suggested we start trying right away. We left her office in complete shock – our entire life plan had just been thrown out the window.

Darrin and I decided to take some time and think all this through. After about two weeks of talking about nothing but babies, we decided to go back to the doctor and start infertility treatment.

The roller coaster ride started with a dose of Provera to get my cycle started and then CLOMID (50 mg.) – all I can say is I was a different person on that stuff. We tried that for 6 months with no results. Then one afternoon I was crying on my mother's shoulder about wanting a baby soooo bad that she grabbed me by the shoulders and said, “do you want a baby?” of course I said yes - she said, “then lets find a specialist and get a baby”. My mother called a friend who had been an infertility patient – she referred us to her doctor – this doctor was in a town about 1-½ hours from our town.

We meet with this doctor who was very informative. The bottom line was there were treatments for my infertility but it would require lots of time and money. He recommended we see a doctor closer to home because of the time commitment. That’s how we ended up seeing Dr. Richard Wing. He will always have a special place in my heart.

Our initial visit with Dr. Wing was unlike any consultation visit we had ever experienced. Dr. Wing had reviewed my charts and had developed a treatment plan. After explaining PCOS and reviewing his treatment plan he said he wanted to examine me and run some blood tests. For months when I was examined Darrin was excluded – one time even asked to wait in the waiting room. This time he was expected to be with me. He was included in every step of my treatment. When we left the doctors office that day I had been poked, prodded and stuck until I was sore but we were more hopeful than ever.

A few days later we got a call from Dr. Wing himself. All my test results were in and not only did I have PCOS but I also had problems with my mucus. He also wanted to test Darrin and he wanted to check me for a tubule blockage. Darrin’s sperm test came back fantastic – he was so pleased. Then I had the dye test for my tubule blockage – which was the most painful procedure I had been through so far. Most of the pain came from – you guessed it – a blocked tube. Then I was really depressed. Not only did I have this infertility disease but I also had several other problems.

At my next visit Dr. Wing was very reassuring that all these problems could be fixed. I continued to take Clomid as well as medication for the mucus problem and he scheduled surgery to remove the blockage.

In early August 1993 I arrived early at Presbyterian Hospital to have a laporoscopy to remove my blockage. My surgery was successful and I recovered in a few days. I saw Dr. Wing 2 weeks later and we discussed changing to injectable drugs, specifically Metrodin. Darrin and I attended classes for him to learn how to give me injection and for me to understand what these drugs would do to my body.

On Friday, September 3, 1993 Darrin and I went to see Dr. Wing for one last exam before I started the new drug. Unfortunately (or so we thought at the time) I had a cyst on my left ovary. Dr. Wing explained that he would rather not start the new drug under those circumstances. He suggested we go away for the Labor Day weekend, relax, and forget about all this until my next cycle. Oh and one other piece of advice he gave was to have lots of sex. His parting comment was you never know when a cyst might have a viable egg inside.

We took his advice and went to the mountains for the long weekend. We also took his advice about the sex as well. After our trip we tried to just live a normal life before we started the new drug. Our whole lives had become so wrapped up in this treatment it was a welcome break. When it became close to time for my period I went to the doctors office for a blood test because before they give someone Provera to start their period they have to make sure they aren’t pregnant. As usual I was told to call back that afternoon for the results so I went on to work. That afternoon I decided that I could not stand to get bad news without Darrin with me. So I left work early and went to his office. I don’t think I will ever forget standing in his office asking the nurse to repeat what she just said. After having heard “I’m sorry it’s negative” so many times I had to ask the nurse to repeat it three times before I believed her. Then Darrin and I were hugging and crying. I was so glad I was with him.

On June 13, 1994 I delivered a healthy baby girl, Carson Blair Bridges. Right before Carson’s first birthday I received a phone call from Dr. Wing. He wanted to know how we all were and what kind of symptoms I was having. After a brief discussion of my symptoms he asked how far apart we wanted our children. I said we would like to have them about 3 years apart. He suggested that we start trying again soon. He felt it might take about 1 year for me to get pregnant again. He wanted us to try for 3 months on our own and if nothing happened to call him.

After much discussion Darrin and I decided to follow Dr. Wing’s advice and I put my diaphragm away. During the month of July I felt a cyst building so I knew we were in for a long haul trying to get pregnant again. I did not have a cycle in August but that was not unusual for me so I didn’t think anything about it. Over Labor Day weekend I began to feel really tired but with a 14-month-old I didn’t think much about this either. We went to my parent’s house for dinner and while helping my mother set the table I fainted. My mother asked me if I was pregnant and I just laughed. I couldn’t have gotten pregnant on the first try.

When we got home Darrin and I began to discuss the possibility that I might be pregnant. We decide that the next day I would pick up a home pregnancy test. I paced around the house waiting on that test to have time to finish. It was the only time in my entire infertility ordeal that home test was ever positive. I just couldn’t believe it. Darrin and I were just overwhelmed.

First thing on Tuesday morning I made and appointment to have a blood pregnancy test. I was still in shock when that test came back positive. It took Darrin and I awhile to adjust to this news. Although we were very excited about another baby it was a lot sooner than we had planned.

On May 4th, 1996 I delivered a healthy baby boy, Maclean Alexander Bridges. We have decided that two children are just right for us. I continue to struggle with my PCOS. Most people think that once you have had children your infertility syndrome problems go away. Well it’s just not true. I will have to treat this syndrome for the rest of my life.

The symptoms I currently have are:

No periods for an extended period of time (4 or more months)
I take the birth control pill Zovia for this

Adult acne
right now I just use acne medication but at my next doctors visit I am going to discuss some other form of treatment

Excess facial or body hair, especially upper lip, chin, neck, chest and/or abdomen
I take 50 mg of Spironolactone twice a day

Skin tags
currently I am not being treated for these

Dark or discolored patches of skin on your neck, groin, under arms or in skin folds
this is a new symptom for me that I will discuss with my doctor at my next check up.
My first dark patch of skin has appeared under one of my breasts

Excess weight
I am supposed to be following a low sugar and carbohydrate diet but I hate to diet!

Shaking, lack of concentration, uncontrollable hunger and/or mood swings 2 or more hours after a meal
I am supposed to eat six small meals a day to prevent drastic drops in my blood sugar but it takes a lot of planning.

I am insulin resistant I take 500 mg of glucophage twice a day

My biggest concern is the long-term health risks associated with PCOS such as: increased risk for endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

I know that I have to do more to take control of this condition. I must take my medication on a consistent basis, watch my diet, and start getting some exercise. I will continue to update this website as I learn more about my own condition.

I you think you have PCOS and need someone to talk to please do not hesitate to e-mail me!