Successful Slimmers

Dear Norah

I just wanted to let you know of our baby news...Our little baby girl arrived on Monday March 17th at 11:09pm after a speedy 4 hour delivery. Maria Constance weighed 6lbs 6oz and is absolutely gorgeous. I have attached a picture to introduce her...

Having her here with us finally after all this time is so overwhelming and once again highlights just how much all you have done means to us and our family. Thank you for our baby girl, I know she is here now because of your work and your support and I cannot express my gratitude enough. For all you have done and continue to do thank you...

Please pass on our news to Kacey and my sincere thanks to her also for her support.
All our love
Melina & Jeff

Robert James Dalby born 23.4.07 weighing 5lb2ozs with Mummy and Daddy, Amanda & Martyn.

Well this is going to be a long one, so grab yourself a drink!!
 
I am Sasha the moderator of our PCOS support group, I am 38 and married to Andy. I met Andy when I was 16, engaged by 18. Married when I was 22.
 
I always had irregular periods from an age of about 14. Started to suffer with blonde facial hair and it was very noticeable in the light. My mother took me to the doctors, he prescribed the contraceptive as pill, at the time I was having a period every 5 weeks, but looking back the doctor knew nothing about PCOS or what it even was.
 
I started gaining weight when I was 17, My mum really thought it was Andy's fault, buying me chocs and eating out etc But I was having the worst mood swings ever, and my stomach would swell so bad, I sometimes wouldn't be able to put the same skirt on I had on an hour before.
 
By the time I was 18, Andy and I became serious in our relationship, I stopped the pill, as it made my weight out of control, and never saw a period for over 6 months. We done pregnancy tests month after month and the results was always negative, it was only when I was 6 months I went to the hospital and they discovered I was pregnant. I was 5 1/2 months. Unfortunately I miscarried and was taken in for surgery to remove the baby, I was so distraught.
 
I tried so hard to carry on as life went on, it was hard, we decided to buy our first house, the mood swings, acne and also irregular periods were here in force, also brown patches under my arms, between my legs, neck area. I always felt tired, unmotivated and so depressed.
I began to have  various tests and scans after pleading with the hospital for help and pcos diagnosis was confirmed in 1989.
 
Andy and I married when I was 22, I weighed 15 stone, and wanted to start a family instantly, it never happened, and when  I did conceive, I always went on to miscarry at approx 6 - 8 weeks. I could not cope, my weight was out of control by now, I was 18 stone. I suffered a mental breakdown, I could not cope anymore with the feelings of failure, desperation and overbearing passion to become a parent.. People would ask, when was we starting a family etc I was so depressed, I never wanted to go out and would for days sit in the same spot out of it, my mind often drifting and the moods of not being able to cope would take over.
 
I went to see a Fertility consultant at the end of 1994. I was met by a young experienced male doctor who told me, to go home and accept the fact I would never have children. I was devastated, coming from a close family, I was mortified. Why us? Would I never experience motherhood? Would I ever receive the phone call Are you ok mum? I could not take this at all and fell into the deepest depression I ever suffered.
 
By 1996, I had, had a hysterogram, and having to wait 3 years to qualify for Ivf, we endured the emotional rollercoaster  ivf, it never worked due to the fact the success rate with pcos ladies is very low anyway, plus my ovaries over stimulated, Plus being over 15 stone, the chances of success were less I was told. Nothing prepared me for the decision to have this treatment suspended. I was devastated, I never even remembered coming out the hospital. I was so uncontrollable. Andy just did not know where to go or what to say. We were devastated.
 
By 1997 I had suffered a further 2 miscarriages, so it was 3 in all, 3 of my babies not here, why? What was the problem,? The hospital would never investigate until you have lost 3 babies. How awful? I would then sit and think, why am I a woman, why cant I give my loving husband a child, committing the love we have for each other, my feelings of failure would take over my every thought, from morning to night.
 
The end of 1998 we tried Ivf twice again, and it failed, I could not take anymore. And by the beginning of 1999 I was told my sister was pregnant, who was 8 yrs younger than me. I was in complete devastation. I was told to deal with it by my mother, in the nicest possible way of course, I did need to accept it but it was so hard, watching her tummy grow and the family so excited waiting for the new arrival. My sister was so disrespectful to me and never spoke about her pregnancy to protect me, and It made me realise how close we were, she so was in a difficult situation but yet would always consider my feels, personally I felt like I could not cope with life,  I would sit and sob if I would hear another person was pregnant. Then my brother announced his girlfriend of 6 weeks was pregnant too.
 
I was beside myself. My brother was no longer with the girl, but my sisters was such a sweetheart, often supporting me and again not once did she ever talk to me about the child unless I asked.
 
When she had my niece she named after me, what a token of love.  I was in India and sobbed and sobbed, I dreaded coming home to the fuss of a new baby, and when came home, sobbed when she was placed in my arms, to the point I was in despair. My sister was fantastic, and I bonded with my little name sake, so much she is the sunshine of my life, how caring was my sister to involve me in her babies life from the start.
 
My sister went on to have another child, a boy! I again was devastated and felt I was being left behind. I was 30 and felt this is never going to happen, I then lost my grandad, I suffered a breakdown, In the meantime we had contacted Social services, as I felt that my life and marriage was not complete without a child. Andy felt different, he thought we were complete, some people had children and were single parents, we had a fantastic relationship and others envied us, Andy felt we should be grateful, it was enough for him.
 
Not for me though, I needed to nurture, I so wanted a child. I had ovarian drilling done in 2000. I ovulated two months later, my consultant was delighted. But still no pregnancy.
 
So 9 months of going through adoption process, we were finally matched with a 2 1/2 yr old little girl called Sarah. In 2001. She was a dream come true. Finally I became a parent, but I still yearned for my own pregnancy, to be able to look into a childs face and see some part of me.
 
In the meantime Andy and I had been to a seminar who had told me that my metabolism was effected by pcos, I was in shock, no dietican had ever told me that, Realising obviously they treat all women the same, I was so angry. Why had no-one ever told me.?
 
So finding Norah was easier than ever, she held a clinic in my sister in law's shop. Louise spoke to Norah and she kindly rang me. We discussed my past etc Within 6 weeks we had began treating my metabolism and I had lost nearly 3 stone. I was amazed. Norah will back me up when I say, I told her that her scales were faulty. Ha ha ha My metabolism was in reverse, even Norah was shocked and had to have it checked. We thought we would give it a go, after all what did I have to loose only weight. We began doing research together and I had asked over 100 of my other pcos Internet friends to help with the research. The results were amazing.
 
I happened to concieve when I was on the plan, treating my metabolism which was in reverse was unbelieveable and the fat cells around my uterus had shrunk. My consultant was delighted.
 
The day we collected Sarah I noticed I had not had a period, and had to purchase a test as my consultant would never prescribe something for me to have a period without me doing one. I was shocked, horrified, frightened, excited, you name it I felt it. It was positive. I went to see Norah the day after I found out I was pregnant, we were thrilled, both in tears, we had achieved so much. After 13 yrs of heartache, I was still frightened as I had miscarried before, and every time I called a member of my family they would say what’s the matter?
 
The next 6 months were stressful, I checked every time I went to the loo, I remained on the plan, and luckily Libby arrived 6 months later, she was a month early and I was 2 months pregnant when I found out about my pregnancy.. The pregnancy was fine, thanks to Norah and the Dietcare team looking after me, telling me what not to eat, plenty of rest.  Libby was born by caesarian on 17th April 2002.
 
I held her in my arms, and sobbed uncontrollably, I could not believe she was here. I never truly believed I was pregnant, often asking the midwife was I really pregnant, everyone thought I was mad!.
The first time I saw her, I was in awe, such a little thing, that meant everything to me, there is not a day goes by that I do not consider myself a lucky person, I never take my girls for granted and never will. I only know the heartache too true.
 
I became a mummy to two children in 6 months, It has been very hard but worth it. I would not change a thing, not a second.
 
Libby was diagnosed with spina bifada, she is doing far well then expected, looks and acts like a normal child,  she has severe learning difficulties and deafness, but as a family we are getting through it, the love we have helps.
 
I do at times feel very guilty knowing spina bifada and the pcos had caused my miscarriages. I suffered postnatal depression for over a year.  I still have hospital appointments every month. And even though I am told not to live in the past, I will never ever forget the journey that we had to endure. This is why I am so passionate about supporting women like yourself, I can truly empathise and understand the heartache each day can bring.
 
Even though I had Libby and I am more than grateful for having that chance, I do suffer with pcos to the extreme, I shave each day and have lost a massive amount of weight. I have been on Metformin but it disagrees with me, so I have stopped it and currently taking dianette to help relieve the symptoms of facial hair and sticking to a healthy eating plan with dietcare.
 
I decided a few years ago, there is not enough information and support for us pcos women, and after doing tons of advertising for Dietcare and pcos, Norah and I agreed to set the group up. There are now 260 babies here, Libby being the 1st ever.
 
Our Pcos mummies cover the world, even USA, Dubai and Greece, all from doing the dietcare pcos plan and following the hints and tips.
 
 
So as you can see I do understand about the feeling of not being able to produce a child, the desperation, the loneliness and isolation. No-one understanding how I felt etc etc
I am here for each one of you, I got through the storm and with the help of each other here, holding each other hands, it makes the journey less painful. Welcome to Dietcare, if you would like to email me at anytime, feel free. I am always here to listen.
 
Hugs