Calling Successful Post-Op Mommies

  To all lucky Post-Op mommies... Wondering if you could provide your special recipe for baby dust Post-Op despite PCOS. I was so lucky to have my DS five years ago (was 260lbs at conception) but was infertile after that.  Diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 when he was three.  Tried all kinds of things to TTC (Metformin, Clomid, BBT charting, OPK's, late cycle Progesterone blood tests) but never definitively ovulated. After trying everything to lose the 30lbs my OB-GYN said I needed to lose to regain fertility, I decided to have the gastric by-pass last June. I have had periods "regularly" (meaning every month but ranging from 26 to 34 day cycles) since being on Metformin in March 2005.  Went off it in March 2006 and continued to get my period (even at 300lbs). Have lost 109lbs since my surgery and I'm getting my info together to hopefully start TTC in the next couple of months.  My current weight is 196lbs (at 5'7"). When I reach 185lbs I'm going to request an ovary ultrasound and an insulin resistance test to see what I'm currently up against.  My six month blood tests all came back perfect (weighed 207lbs at the time).  My good Reproductive Specialist passed away in December and now I will be forced to go back to my OB-GYN who is quite anti-fat which is causing me a great deal of stress.  Here in Canada (especially up North) we don't have the luxury of many specialists and rarely have the chance to get second opinions. Along with these tests, I'm going to start BBT charting again and do the OPK's for a few months before seeing the big jerk again (OB) then I'm thinking I should request whatever form of Metformin I can take Post-Op even if my insulin seems OK.  If this doesn't work, then I was going to ask for Clomid again even though it didn't work last time (even after six cycles on it). Sorry this is so long-winded but basically I don't get much informed advice up here and was wondering what had worked for other women in my position.  Any wonderful and encouraging stories would be greatly appreciated.  I'm 33 years old already and I won't keep trying once I hit 35.  My time is limited and I would really love your success stories!  Thank you so much in advance!

I don't really have a success story for you...yet. I am currently TTC #2. I take Metformin 1000mg, this cycle took Clomid 100mg CD 3-7, and will also be using OPKs this week. I got pregnant with my son on Clomid 50mg, but that was 4 years ago and I had not had lap-band surgery at that point.

I had lap RNY on 8/3/04 and in 8/05 (at goal of 140lb at 5'3) went off the birth control patch.  I found then that I had regular 36-37 day cycles with ovulation (as detected by charting my BBT).  After 3 cycles of seeing what my body was doing we decided to go without protection in 11/05 and got pregnant that 1st month.  I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy & healthy baby.  Now she's 18m and we're getting ready to ttc#2.  I had an IUD placed when she was 3m old and had that removed on 1/31/08.  AF started on 2/2 and is still going...I guess making up for lost time.  Anyway after my next natural AF we're going to start trying again. Prior to surgery we'd tried for 8 years to get pregnant with no luck.  I just wouldn't ovulate.  When I did get pregnant...all we did was get busy when I was Oing and that was it!  I got my BFP the day I was due to start AF. I haven't had any u/s since surgery to check for cysts but have had my fasting insulin level checked a few months ago and it's normal.  So...we're hoping for a quick BFP again! Good luck! Kristy

Thanks so much to both of you for your replies. Best of luck to you Ali, I'm sending you any baby dust I can muster. Kristy, thanks for your reply.   How did you know for sure based on BBT charting that you were ov'ing?  Were your temps textbook?  I ask because during our last long bout of TTC, my temps were all over the place.   It's good to know that with the fasting insulin OK things turned out great for you.  Mine was good a couple of months ago so here's hoping. Is your BMI still similar to what it was during your last success?  It must have been quite good at 140. Just wondering. Thanks for the help and best of luck at quick baby making again! Alison

Yes...the cycle I got pregnant on was 'textbook' triphasic.  I was in the 96s pre-O, 97s after O and then towards the end of my LP they were in the 98s.  Plus I had a clear dip and spike timed with EWCM.  When I got prego at 140 my BMI was 24 and now my BMI is 25...so pretty close.  I'm about 5-7lb above my goal weight now. If you like, here's a link to my chart (the one now and then below that one is the chart where I got pregnant)... http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/22a33 Kristy

Thanks so much again. You have been VERY helpful. Best of luck to you again. Alison

Okay-Hubby and I ttc'd for ten years and nothing. I didn't have a non-medically induced period from July of 2006- 28 days after my RNY. I could never take metformin because I get lactic acidosis from it. Welllll- even using double barrior method birth control, I got pregnant. I am six weeks along now. It is sooner than they want, but I am only 26 lbs from a normal BMI. I had a son when I was 20...who we thought was our miracle baby- now we'll have another miracle. In about 32 weeks I will be a success story. Good Luck, Angie

Thank you for your story.  Best of luck! Alison

I don't really have advice.  Just know it can happen.  I had RNY in August 2007.  At 5 months post-op I became pregnant.  I've stuggled with my PCOS since 2003 after my first child.  Failed attempts of clomid a few months prior to my RNY.  All I can say is, RNY helped me become pregnant.  Good luck and best wishes.

Best of luck to you too Ashley. By the way, you look terrific! Congratulations all around. Alison