After 9 blissful months with no symptoms my PCOS has come back with a vengeance. I literally have a beard. It is so bad I'm waxing every 4 days. Its not just a few, it is every pore if you know what I mean. My belly fat is back, despite losing it post delivery, hair is oily, have bad acne. The works! The thing is I can.t take metformin or estelle while breastfeeding and I'm not ready to give that up yet, my baby is only 16 weeks. Have any of you tried anything else? Anyone who has experienced heightened symptoms post pregnancy?

I'm sorry I can't help - just from me

Thanks HiJ I am so grateful for my boy that I should really just suck it up while I breastfeed.

Well I think you're doing really well - you are continuing with the feeding at your own expense, just asking for possible suggestions which sounds sensible to me

I hope that someone has some advice for you, I just wanted to say that you are doing awesomely

Thanks fel!

oh no you poor thing!!! for what its worth, you CAN take metformin right through pregnancy and breastfeeding! i did, and i know of many others who did and they and their bubs are just fine some doctors say you cant for some reason, but i know of more people who have been given permission to continue taking it than not.. so maybe its worth getting a 2nd opinion?

hugs hun!

oh and YES my DD is a year old and i get worse skin/hair etc now than before i was pregnant not quite to the extent you are by the sounds, but yes ive definitely noticed a marked difference. guess its just those good old hormones ay? gotta love em
sounds like you are doing an amazing job with bubs too i must say x x

http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-3b4c8521-1f31-435b-a81d-4b2cf1c34c37.aspx

sorry- thread hogging lol but just found this- on our very own EBB site so id say its pretty reliable- a table of medicines likely to be safe whilst breastfeeding

ok will get off the computer now hehe

I stopped at 20 weeks. You *can* take it while breastfeeding but I get terrible terrible GI upset for the first few weeks even with weaning back on slowly and I know that bub can get those side effects through the milk too and I can.t risk doing that to him. Well i can but I won't! If I hadn't stopped I'd be more than happy to keep taking it but haven't taken it for almost 9 months now. Maybe if I took it very very gradually Roman wouldn't get sick? Sorry,I actually hate when people ask for advice on here then argue with the nice people who come and offer some. I am grateful for your reply tin

Oh cross post typing on my phone while feeding lol! Sorry to hear you suffer it too! And thank you for finding that list!

oh i know about the tummy upset thing- totally sucks ay! i had it for a good month when i went back on it..i think my DD was about the same age as your bub when i started too?? cant remember- baby brain haha. i was thinking about that side of things too when i went on it, and decided to stop the second DD had any effects but DD had not a single side effect which was great, and i continues to BF until she was 10 months old so i totally understand where you stand on this. if it is really that bad for you tho, maybe its worth a shot- even starting off with half a tablet a day and upping it very slowly if you are worried? the amount babies get is so tiny its unlikely to affect them. but at the end of the day you need to do whats best for you are you allowed to take Evening primrose oil while BF? cant remember...that might help a wee bit? let us know if you find anything that works- would be keen to know!

the tummy upset is good for weightloss hahahah! I will let you know if I stumble across anything else. I think I will start takimg my metformin again and keep an eye on side effects! thanks for the great advice

good luck hun! x x

Best of luck MB, sounds like you are doing amazingly

I'm thinking about going back on metformin too but haven't taken the leap yet. Must go see my GP, I always got it through specialist but guess GP can prescribe?

I can absolutely recommend Anna Fenton, endocrinologist if you're looking at seeking a specialist opinion though.

Are you in Chch? I'll see what the GP thinks anyway as have realised today that it is also affecting my moods and making me act irrationally!

Yes MB I am in ChCh, I was referred to Anna Fenton via GP and saw her at ChCh Womens gynae outpatient's a few years ago when ttc, she also has a private practice I think. Hope your GP is supportive, sending you hugs.

I have heard v good things about Anna Fenton too - i have resisted going because i was wondering if there is anything they can do really??? And thus it would be throwing good money after bad?

I went back on metformin after about a year but not OCP but i can't have it anyway cause i have a clotting disorder I am still feeding T in the mornings and she is (OMG) 4. Unfortunately i am terrible at taking it and don't take it regularly at all - like i remember to take it for a couple of days and then forget for a month - whoops. So now that i think of it i haven't had AF for about a year

And I am pretty much turning into a man!

I don't get my AF either and I would only have to stop waxing for 2 weeks and I'd be a bearded lady at the circus. There is loads they can do for pcos but not alot when breastfeeding. I-ll let you know how I go!

Would you consider seeing a homeopath?? My sister had quite bad PCOS symptoms, but seeing and following the advice of a homeopath (which did include being gluten free) made her symptoms much better, and well, pregnant. lol

sorry to hear you are having a hard time with it.