Unmarried, 27 and diagnosed with POF

vanessa7 · 09-02-2009, 08:52 PM

Hi there,
I wrote my story as a response to another persons thread, but when I went to look for it, I couldn't seem to find it. So I thought I would start my own thread and share my experience with you all to get some insight, support and understanding of what is happening. My story is quite similar to many of you, but a bit unique also.
My medical history begins with always having irregular periods. I would have them for 8 days, be off for 6 days and then have them again for 8 days. I was told that it was common for your periods to be irregular when you first begin having them and so I 'waited it out'. Two years later and I was severly anemic and not improving. I was put on BC at this point and haven't really been off it since.
This is where my story may differ from others. I decided to be an egg donor for a couple that are friends of mine at the begining of this year. It required a screening process to see if I was mentally prepared to do this in addition to the blood tests and ultra sounds. During the meeting with the social worker, she asked me "are you prepared to find out that you can't have children?", because apparently with EDs undergoing tests for the first time, they have found out they have their own fertility issues. I didn't think that was a possibility at all and said I was prepared to deal with it. I was asked to come back in some time after the tests were conducted. The doctor told me that my antral follicle count was 4.9. I had no idea what that meant and it really didn't sink in. He began to explain that this was troublesome...yadda yadda... forget about having kids in my 30s with the rest of my friends. Everything else was a blur after that. I remember it being cold and rainy outside (of course) and I was in a cab just balling my eyes out on the ride home. I should mention that my long term boyfriend had broken up with me less than a month before than (unexpectedly). So I've never felt more alone in my life. I didn't know how I was going to cope with both this news, my relationship issues and then get myself together to get into the dating world. Well... I tried. I had 4 dates set up the next two weeks after finding out this news. I had to find the father of my child before I 'lost' all of my eggs. Well these guys were all perfectly nice guys.... but I didn't know if they were 'father-material'. I didn't even feel like I was on a date, it was a screening process. I ended up returning from each date to cry alone. Then on my last 'father' date, I went out with someone about 10 years my senior. I asked if he normally dated women that were younger than him and he said that he did because he could feel the desperation of women who were closer in age and needed to have children soon. I truly hit rock bottom. I was a desperate infertile wolf in a young sheeps clothing. I decided there would be no more of this dating until I was able to come to terms with this. I came to realize that I'm not prepared to have a child right now, husband or no husband. I also don't think I would ever have the relationship I wanted, even if I met the right person, if the relationshp was based on my own hidden agenda.
Back to my medical situation- the doctor had referred me to an endocrinologist and it was about 5 months before I could get that appointment. I was hoping that they would have something more to tell me (as well as tell me that the first doctor was an absolute lunatic and knew absolutely nothing). Instead they confirmed my few years remaining to have children, but also told me I had a 1 in 10 chance of conceiving naturally leading up to that time. So I was devastated once again. They said I would have to get off the BCP for a month and do some bloodwork a month later. I also had to do some bloodwork that day and I will be receiving the results in 4 months time. And so I have another 3 months before I know more. I noticed that a lot of women were writing about their FSH levels and I was not made aware of mine. I called the first doctor asking if I could be told this. I was told that if I wanted to know, I would have to pay them $10 to have my medical file sent to me. UGGH. I recognize that it was only $10, but I really think that it's tacky to profit from someone's misfortune. I just needed a simple number. So now I'm waiting for those to arrive in the mail. Since I've been off the pill, I've had my period three times. It's basically gone back to the exact same way it was when I was 14. Am I loosing the little eggs I have each time I have one? I really don't know much about this at all. Also, I had my physical 2 months ago and was told that I had a pretty severe B12 deficiency and have begun taking shots for it. From what I've read up on, one of the causes of POF is Pernicious Anemia (B12 deficiency). Could this be what's causing this? Does anyone know more about this?
I hope I hear from you. It would be really great to have some feedback on all of this. I don't really have anyone that 'gets it', so your opinions matter a lot.
Thank you,
Vanessa

**BC-tnahope** · 09-09-2009, 12:33 PM

vanessa, I am so sorry about your situation, keep us posted on your b/w results. It will be easier to figure out what is going on once you know your FSH level. In the meantime you should check out the High FSH board. there is more ladies over there that can chime in and give you advice. Also check out the welcome thread on the High FSH board, it is full of info. So you can start to understand all this a little more.
Welcome to the High FSH/Premature Ovarian Failure Board

Feona · 09-19-2009, 01:35 PM

Vanessa,

Have you gotten a full work up to test for antibodies, other issues, deficiencies? I was diagnosed with POF a few months ago. I also have had hypothyroidism for the past 13 years. I didn't know how the 2 were connected, but it's starting to make sense now.

I just found out last week that I also have Hashimoto's disease, which means I have thyroid antibodies that attacked my thyroid and damaged it in the first place. When I researched it, I found that the cause of these antibodies for many people is a deficiency in the mineral selenium or other minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

So, I don't know if your B12 deficiency caused the POF, but it may have caused anitbodies or something else to occur in your body, and then that caused POF. I'm not a doctor so I don't know, but I wanted to share with you what I have found out for myself. BTW, my FSH was 17 on day 3 and 33.7 on day 10. I have always had irregular periods but never missed one. My antrical follicle count was 4 and 5 on each side.

Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

09-02-2009, 08:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
vanessa7 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 2	Unmarried, 27 and diagnosed with POF Hi there, I wrote my story as a response to another persons thread, but when I went to look for it, I couldn't seem to find it. So I thought I would start my own thread and share my experience with you all to get some insight, support and understanding of what is happening. My story is quite similar to many of you, but a bit unique also. My medical history begins with always having irregular periods. I would have them for 8 days, be off for 6 days and then have them again for 8 days. I was told that it was common for your periods to be irregular when you first begin having them and so I 'waited it out'. Two years later and I was severly anemic and not improving. I was put on BC at this point and haven't really been off it since. This is where my story may differ from others. I decided to be an egg donor for a couple that are friends of mine at the begining of this year. It required a screening process to see if I was mentally prepared to do this in addition to the blood tests and ultra sounds. During the meeting with the social worker, she asked me "are you prepared to find out that you can't have children?", because apparently with EDs undergoing tests for the first time, they have found out they have their own fertility issues. I didn't think that was a possibility at all and said I was prepared to deal with it. I was asked to come back in some time after the tests were conducted. The doctor told me that my antral follicle count was 4.9. I had no idea what that meant and it really didn't sink in. He began to explain that this was troublesome...yadda yadda... forget about having kids in my 30s with the rest of my friends. Everything else was a blur after that. I remember it being cold and rainy outside (of course) and I was in a cab just balling my eyes out on the ride home. I should mention that my long term boyfriend had broken up with me less than a month before than (unexpectedly). So I've never felt more alone in my life. I didn't know how I was going to cope with both this news, my relationship issues and then get myself together to get into the dating world. Well... I tried. I had 4 dates set up the next two weeks after finding out this news. I had to find the father of my child before I 'lost' all of my eggs. Well these guys were all perfectly nice guys.... but I didn't know if they were 'father-material'. I didn't even feel like I was on a date, it was a screening process. I ended up returning from each date to cry alone. Then on my last 'father' date, I went out with someone about 10 years my senior. I asked if he normally dated women that were younger than him and he said that he did because he could feel the desperation of women who were closer in age and needed to have children soon. I truly hit rock bottom. I was a desperate infertile wolf in a young sheeps clothing. I decided there would be no more of this dating until I was able to come to terms with this. I came to realize that I'm not prepared to have a child right now, husband or no husband. I also don't think I would ever have the relationship I wanted, even if I met the right person, if the relationshp was based on my own hidden agenda. Back to my medical situation- the doctor had referred me to an endocrinologist and it was about 5 months before I could get that appointment. I was hoping that they would have something more to tell me (as well as tell me that the first doctor was an absolute lunatic and knew absolutely nothing). Instead they confirmed my few years remaining to have children, but also told me I had a 1 in 10 chance of conceiving naturally leading up to that time. So I was devastated once again. They said I would have to get off the BCP for a month and do some bloodwork a month later. I also had to do some bloodwork that day and I will be receiving the results in 4 months time. And so I have another 3 months before I know more. I noticed that a lot of women were writing about their FSH levels and I was not made aware of mine. I called the first doctor asking if I could be told this. I was told that if I wanted to know, I would have to pay them $10 to have my medical file sent to me. UGGH. I recognize that it was only $10, but I really think that it's tacky to profit from someone's misfortune. I just needed a simple number. So now I'm waiting for those to arrive in the mail. Since I've been off the pill, I've had my period three times. It's basically gone back to the exact same way it was when I was 14. Am I loosing the little eggs I have each time I have one? I really don't know much about this at all. Also, I had my physical 2 months ago and was told that I had a pretty severe B12 deficiency and have begun taking shots for it. From what I've read up on, one of the causes of POF is Pernicious Anemia (B12 deficiency). Could this be what's causing this? Does anyone know more about this? I hope I hear from you. It would be really great to have some feedback on all of this. I don't really have anyone that 'gets it', so your opinions matter a lot. Thank you, Vanessa

09-09-2009, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
BC-tnahope High FSH and POF Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,208 Blog Entries: 73	vanessa, I am so sorry about your situation, keep us posted on your b/w results. It will be easier to figure out what is going on once you know your FSH level. In the meantime you should check out the High FSH board. there is more ladies over there that can chime in and give you advice. Also check out the welcome thread on the High FSH board, it is full of info. So you can start to understand all this a little more. Welcome to the High FSH/Premature Ovarian Failure Board __________________ Me 33 DH 33 IVF 1&3 Cancelled, IVF 2 BFN IVF#4 BFP m/c IVF#5 converted to IUI BC of the High FSH board

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09-19-2009, 01:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Feona 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California Posts: 15	Vanessa, Have you gotten a full work up to test for antibodies, other issues, deficiencies? I was diagnosed with POF a few months ago. I also have had hypothyroidism for the past 13 years. I didn't know how the 2 were connected, but it's starting to make sense now. I just found out last week that I also have Hashimoto's disease, which means I have thyroid antibodies that attacked my thyroid and damaged it in the first place. When I researched it, I found that the cause of these antibodies for many people is a deficiency in the mineral selenium or other minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and calcium. So, I don't know if your B12 deficiency caused the POF, but it may have caused anitbodies or something else to occur in your body, and then that caused POF. I'm not a doctor so I don't know, but I wanted to share with you what I have found out for myself. BTW, my FSH was 17 on day 3 and 33.7 on day 10. I have always had irregular periods but never missed one. My antrical follicle count was 4 and 5 on each side. Good luck and keep us posted on your results.