Where in VA are you

[Sarah]

Hi there-
I have just recently been diagnosed w/PCOS. I live in the Hampton Roads area...
I was wondering if anyone else lived in the area.....

[lyndalyons]

Hi sarah My name is Lynda. I was dx'd in may of this year with pcos. I live in williamsburg. I am on met 1500mg PNV and HCTZ for my BP.

[Sarah]

Whoa! I live in Newport News! Do you find that PCOS is effecting you a lot emotionally? I have been an emotional roller coaster for the past week. Also, when I'm on my period it's VERY uncomfortable. I am now on BCP's, and thought that would help minimize my discomfort during my period, but no luck so far. I was on BCP about 3 yrs ago and never had any problems with discomfort during my period, now it's almost as if I'm not even taking anything.

[karenh]

I am in winchester top of va. Are you all going to be able to make the PCOS in VA get together on Aug 6 at Great Falls VA?

[Sarah]

I don't know if I'll be able to get up there. I'm actually not even sure where Great Falls is...

[lyndalyons]

I have no idea where great falls is either. I was on BCP's for years and had some breakthrough bleeding. But otherwise I felt better on them. Now we are TTC #1 so I am off them. I am having a terrible week. I have been nauseous and my boobs are killing me. Yeah I got excited too until I got my period. I am still nauseous and crampy and miserable. Emotionally I am a wreck. I'm not sure if its PCOS or what but its like a roller coaster. If your back on BCP's or changed meds it can take your body up to 3 months to adjust. So stick with it. They helped me with the acne and hair growth also. I'm back to amazon/zit girl again. Well sorry I just had to vent. I feel like I need to vomit all the time. I know, TMI but my husband is sooo tired of hearing it. He got all excited when I threw up. He thought I was preg. Thats all. I love this board. It's great.

[Sarah]

First off - don't be sorry for venting! That's part of what this board is about! We all have to do it sometime, and it makes ya feel better to get it out!
And yes, this board does rock! I love it. I have learned so much in the past few days (I've only been a member for a few days lol).
Oh yeah - how do you get your location by your name?

[karenh]

to get location in your name go to profile and there is a place for it.

[Christina M]

WOW I guess there are a few of us down here. I am also in Newport News!

[Christina M]

Lynda~ Hi there Dh and I are also TTC#1. :D I am on 2000mg Met and Femara.

[Sarah]

That's cool! There appears to be quite a few of us in the area! At some point we're going to have to meet up!

[karenh]

you all will have to come with Christina to the 2nd annual VA pcos get together in aug.

[Sarah]

Stupid question here, but what does CD stand for?

[Christina M]

Sarah~ Thats not a stupid question at all...it stands for Cycle Day. It took me forever to learn all the abbrev. and Im still learning. :D

[lyndalyons]

Hello all fellow virginians (whatever) . I went back home to NY for 10 days(my DH had some leave) Well we are back in VA. Stupid ques. John remembers the RE saying that the ovulation kits wont work if you are on met. I don't remember anyting about that. But the experience was a little overwhelming so maybe I missed it. Can my LH surge on met :?

[Christina M]

I have never heard of met having an effect on the OPK's I just know that alot of women with PCOS already have a high LH so the OPKs dont work for them. I did opks on met and was fine.

So is your DH military? I am a Navy wife. Us "virginians" down here should get together sometime for lunch or something :)

[Sarah]

Thank you Christina for your help! They need to have a page that tells us newbies all of the abbreviations lol! :lol:

[Christina M]

Here is a site that has them all(someone posted this on another topic) HTH
www.fertilityplus.org/faq/acronyms.html

[lyndalyons]

Christina-my husband is in the army. Stationed at Fort Eustis. It will be 2 yrs fourth of july weekend that we are here. Sure I would love to do lunch or something.

[Sarah]

Christina! YOU ROCK! :) :D Thank you!!

[nurse2be]

I am in Fluvanna County. Out in the middle of nowhere really lol ... but its close to Charlottesville.

[Christina M]

Nurse2Be~ Are you planning on attending the VA get -together Aug. 6th? If you need more info just email me :D

[IntermodalChic]

Hey there girls!

VA Beach here ----

I haven't been here for a long time, glad to see a form with our states broken down... Where was this 5 yrs ago, when I really needed it... Well some days I still do!

-Jessica

[robo]

Hi, I am in Chantilly area. I plan to go to the August 5 event. I am also trying to get 2 other PCOS friends that I have know on the Mom's list to come too. They both live in MD.

I was diagnosed in 1985, but was only treated for cysts at that time. Won't go into long story here, but really only found out about the entire spectrum of PCOS problems in past 5 years.

[Christina M]

Hey everyone August 6th is approaching and we are hoping for a good turn out at the get-together. Here is a link to Great Falls Park http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa/ if you plan on attending or need more info please email me cmcgowan_79@yahoo.com Hope to see you there!!!!!

[tashas]

hello everyone! My name is Tasha and I just found out that I have PCOS. I am so confused because my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant and now I'm just lost. Please help me.

[robo]

Tahsa,

I am new to this discussion board, but I am sure some of the ladies here can help you. Also, the PCOSA has a ttc board and e-mail lists that would probably be of great help. I didn't know about the ttc sites when I was trying to get pregnant and actually am lucky enough to only have needed minor "intervention" to have 2 babies. So, I am not very well schooled in all the methods and terminology. There is a lot of information out there, but you have come to the best place PCOSA is a great place to learn about PCOS in all areas of your life. Good Luck!

Rolanda :)

[robo]

Tasha,

ttc = trying to conceive. Sorry to throw abbreviations at you...

[lburns]

I live in Newport News. I was diagnosed w/PCOS back in the 70s when I was around 14 yoa. I was never told anything about the symptons. What I was told was that my weight was the cause and if I lost the weight the problem would go away and since I had problems losing weight I was told that if I didn't put the food in my mouth I wouldn't gain the weight. I was put on birth control pills. I'm just now finding out about PCOS. The symptons and I at this point have full blown on all the symptons. I'm finding out that there were a lot of needless things I've had to endure. I'm experiencing a lot of low back pain and dull pains in my ovaries. I have this year gotten a wonderful gyn dr (Dr. Napier). He's the one who got me started at finding out more information on my problem. I go to an Endocrinologist October 12th. This is because of the diabetes and not being able to get the bs down very well. I plan to talk with her about PCOS, but I'm a little afraid she won't know anything or much about pcos since I'm only being sent to her because of the type II diabetes. Is there anything special I should ask her. This is all overwhelming to me right now. Does anyone have any suggestions on Doctors in this area that know what they're doing when it comes to pcos.

[Christina M]

Hi there! I dont know if you are TTC or not...I skimmed your post. But I see a Dr. Paulson he is a reproductive endocrinologist but I know he treats women not TTC. He is wonderful Ive been seeing him since April and I couldnt be happier. If you would like more info you can PM me or email me. G/L

[redneckgrl]

hey yall I am live in Virginia, Near Chincouteague Island..... and I have just been dignosed with pcos after years of being told it was in my head.....I have been told I have had cancer and lupus drs around herre dont want to dignose PCOS for some weird reason..... but anyway we are on our way with treatment 1500mg of metformin a day ,and due to some other problems we will be doing ivf hopefully around the first part of 2006 but we will see, I know it is uncommon for a woman with pcos to do IVf, but there are some genitic problem that can be stopped with it.... So thank you for such a wonderful board....... :D :D :D :arrow: :mrgreen:

[VaBusa]

I'm in the Northern Neck area...above Newport News/Yorktown area...

[karenh]

I was told I had lupus too but they were wrong.

[allora1979]

I am living in Newport News, VA myself and I was told that I had PCOS when I was 16. I recently got married and now would like to have children. But I am worried about what is to come. For 10 years I was told that my chances of having children were really low. Can anyone help to tell me what to expect now? My new doctor is telling me one thing at a time, but I would really like an idea of what I can expect. Thanks

[lil96]

I am in Blacksburg (VA Tech).
I have been diagnosed with ltos of different things, but my most recent is PCOS, which makes sense and puts everything else together. I feel so frustrated, because for years I thought I had HPV, I would go to the dr and gets these tiny bumps removed, one dr told it wasn't hpv and he wasn't going to remove, so I went to another dr, who said she would remove my hpv, but no one ever did a blood test to confirm it. Now when I see those same bumps growing on my neck and armpit area, I realize, that it wasn't HPV it was skin tags due to the PCOS. And the different blood tests I have taken along the way never showed up that I had HPV, now I think, hmm maybe I shouldn't have accused my bf of cheating, oh well, I have a much better wonderful husband now.

[karenh]

I am a few hrs away from you in winchester, I have family in Roanoke, and they are huge VT fans

[lil96]

well, I am from Front Royal, but I have lived down here most of my adulthood.

[karenh]

I go to church in front royal, how funny, small world.

[lil96]

cool! I went to riverton UMC and St Johns. where do you go?

[karenh]

First Assembly of GOD in Front Royal. And my MIL lives there too near browntown

[lil96]

I had some friends who went there when I was a kid! so strange small small world!

[karenh]

How old are you now and who were the kids?

[lil96]

I am 29. Ddid you know the Logies or the Funkhousers?

[karenh]

I will ask around about them, we have family groups there so i will ask about them and see if they are still around, I know there are some who grew up there like Sharee (Jennings now) but dont konw her maiden name.

[Purplepooki]

Hi, I just joined this board, I am 29 and I live about 20 miles outside of Roanoke in Franklin County, is there anyone else from that area here? I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1998 and have been ttc for 10 years. Its been very heart breaking but we just keep trying. I look forward to getting to know everyone or at least everyone I can get to know! :D

[karenh]

HI, welcome I ahve family in Roanoke area.

[Purplepooki]

Thank you for the welcome!

[karenh]

lil96, did you know Shree Powell from First Assembly in Front Royal?

[lil96]

That name sounds in credibly familiar, but I am not definite.

[kelleymcginnis]

I was diagnosed with pcos 2 yrs ago. I have been trying to have a baby for a long time. I have been pregnate twice, lost one to a miscarrage, the other was born prematurely and he didn't live longer then 2 hrs. so I have a goal to lose some weight, and I am having a hard time getting motivated and I need a work out buddy. I would love to get pregnant and stay pregnant. I am to the point with pcos where I don't even have a period anymore. And the military limits what they offer, I have done clomid and metaformin..didn't help. And portsmouth Naval hosp. told me they won't help me pursue more infertility treatments unless I lose 40-60lbs. so well I have a choice loose weight or I get no help.
Anyhow anytakers!!!?? hehe.

Current wt. 185 Goal wt. 130

[medic_632]

hi i am in bloxom, VA...on the eastern shore...most people don't even know we are here...but we are I promise...i was Dx a few years ago...

[karenh]

Hey medic, I am former EMT, (we moved away from station and local station was to smokey from bingo). I am top of VA te very tip.

[medic_632]

hi karen...i am a paramedic...i love it even though sometimes i could pull my hair out...but i am also a firefighter....ems is where the money is around here though...my volley station used to be like that too wih the bingo and smoke...that is until it burnt down this past january

[karenh]

We really enjoyed running but after move and station change it was just dead all the time, we stopped sleeping at the station cause we never ran any calls, and finally after a few months of no calls, and our schedual changing we decided to stop. I think now that the area has grown there is alot more calls (esp fri and sat nights) but the station has moved, no more bingo, but the crew is nothing but a few really old men and a bunch of young stupid cocky guys who think they can run the entire call alone. Around here ems is nothing and fire is everything. I liked ER duty but around here the ER is way different and I think the nurses are even more angry.

[medic_632]

god i know the feeling...my station is pretty well rounded and managed but all volley systems have their problems...and we have had our share of them recently...i love it though and it has given me valuable experience and resources to further my career and knowledge...

[JessicaH]

Good morning ladies! I live in Utah right now but I'm from Fairfax, VA and go back home at least twice a year. I'm planning on being home for about a month in Dec/Jan and would love to be able to meet up with some of you if you're close by!

[karenh]

Jessica, where in fairfax are you from? I grew up there too. Spent most of my time in chantilly but have been all over, oakton, herndon, centerville, fairfax, reston, annandale, fairoaks, I know Im missing more.

[JessicaH]

Karen - I'm really from Burke Centre, right on the Fairfax Station border. I went to Robinson HS which is in Fairfax. My DH is from Clifton, right on the Centreville border and he went to Centreville HS. I miss VA!!!

[karenh]

WOW I know exactly where that is, but its very different from when you were last here. My brother went to centerville high for 2 yrs, he was there the first 2 yrs the school opened up, then he dropped out, he didnt like it and got into drugs.

[JessicaH]

Karen - It's not too different from when I was last there. I just barely moved away last summer! I graduated HS in 2000! :D

[karenh]

OH OK, well its changed since 16 yrs ago from when I was there.

[cynthiahammonds1985]

:cry:
Hello! I live in Amelia area and am 40yo. I have had PCOS since I can remember; yet the doctors just admitted I have it and agree I have had it over twenty years. I told them for years. Either way I am sick of this and I hope they can help us.
Thanks!

[bbmk2]

Hi Cynthia and welcome to the VA board. I can't believe that it took your doctors 20 years to diagnos you...I was diagnosed in '96 and no one had ever heard of PCOS or they thought it was some fad. I was at UVA at the time and I was in all kinds of studies about it because it was so "new". I think it's always been there, but they finally decided there were too many of us for it to not be real. How are you being treated now?

[atticus]

I am new to this list on PCOS and was thrilled to see a space for connecting with others in my own area. Anyone else out there from VT? I think I saw one person? I would love to pick your brain for a bit over the state of treatment/support in our area.

I am just now heading back to revisit my own PCOS diagnosis from 2000. I have not been as aggressive with my own treatment as I probably should have been. Just getting the diagnosis was an ordeal. I literally sat down in my doctors office and told her I had been getting the old, "Sometimes, a woman's cycle is irratic" dodge since I was 14 years old. Enough was enough. She was welcome to drain me dry for whatever tests were needed, but I had to know. Why does my weight cycle by 20 pounds? Why am I growing whiskers at 24? Why do I only menstruate 2 times a year? The list went on.

Her answer? "I think you might have something called PCOS. You don't have cysts, but something is going on. Here's the pill. Call me if you are in pain or would like to get pregnant." She handed me a perscription for the pill and a pamphlet on PCOS. No lie. That's it.

In 2003, a general practitioner put me on gluc because he had read a journal article about PCOS. It was the first time I had anyone recommend anything other than "PCOS is odd. Here's the pill". Unfortunately, he really didn't have any good reasons for WHY I was going on this pill that made me sick to my stomache all the time.

It's amasing what a few years sans treatment and a much more clear idea of the WHY will do. I'm looking forward to meeting with a gynocologist who actually has some experience with PCOS. I am also hoping to get a less fuzzy diagnosis.

I am heading back into the PCOS deep end and would love any advice from those of you in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg/Roanoke area. Are there any local resources you would recommend? I am ready to visit several doctors if need be this time around. Did any of you seek out second and third opinions on treatment and/or diagnosis?

My first appointment is in October. Looking back, are there any questions you wish you had asked right off the bat? Were there any red flags you missed while choosing a doctor? Is there a practice in this area people feel is more focused on the why to PCOS instead of the "let's get you menstruating and pregnant when you feel like it" response some doctors fire back with automatically when they hear PCOS?

Any insight on choosing a doctor who will be committed to helping me find a way to treat the symptoms AND the actual syndrome would be much appreciated. I am really hoping to get more than a mumbled response on fertility and hair removal methods this time.

p.s. - I do not mean to downplay the fertility fears. I had a pretty scary conversation with my husband (then fiance) before I would set a date. I had an incredibly stressful year on chlomid before conceiving my daughter. I feel for everyone out there wrestling with that particular PCOS experience and anxiety. However, I am determined this time to find a doctor to help me find a way take care of my body regardless of when I might or might not be using it to have another baby.

[Ishall]

atticus, welcome to the boards. i live in martinsburg, wv, so not actually va, but it's close enough to some parts of va. anyway, i'm not really sure where you are in Vva, so not sure i can be of any help in the refferal dept. plus, i was going to a RE in baltimore, and totally focused on fertility issues. but, i wanted to tell you that the ladies on here are great resources on everything. there are other forums, other than fertility and hair loss. good luck with everything!

[Sapphireaura08]

Hello there,

I am new to the board also. My name is Dawn and I reside in Alexandria, VA. Like it in Virginia...don't exactly love it as I am originally from Toledo, Ohio.

I was diagnosed in 2001 with PCOS, but have just recently taken an interest in bettering myself. Probably because my husband and I want to start TTC in the next year or so.

If anyone is close to Alexandria, I would love to chat.

Have a great day and talk to you later.

[aprilmartin]

I am a 29 yr old and I live in South Boston, VA. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001. I can't remember exactly but I know I was devastated at the fact that I might not be able to have children. I was miserable. So miserable that I wouldn't even date. I met my DH in 2003 and he kept asking me out and I kept turning him down. We eventually started dating and then he asked me to marry him. I explained to him that I had PCOS and the possibility of not being able to have kids and he said we'll buy them if we have to but we won't need to b/c God will provide and he did. We were married in Sept of 2004 and I found out I was pregnant in Dec of 2004. What a wonderful Christmas gift huh? LOL My little miracle baby, Brayden is now 2 years old and the apple of our eye. We are now TTC since May with no luck so far but we will continue to try. I hope to learn more about PCOS from this group. I am on 1000 mg of metformin. The only symptoms I have are missed periods, oily skin and acne that I know of. Well glad to be here and look forward to being apart of this forum.

April

[Mrs.T]

Hi, I am new. I am in the Hampton Roads area. On the peninsula :D

[allora1979]

Hi Mrs. T I too am in the Hampton Roads area.

[karenh]

ishall, im just south of you, by about 20 min, we should meet up some time.
atticus, welcome, I was also not given much of a dx even when I asked a dr one time about pcos was told not to dx myself from a magazine.