Any other ladies have PCOS?

goodbyefreshman15
goodbyefreshman15 Posts: 71
in Health and Weight Loss
Just curious how common it is. It makes weight loss quite a struggle!
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Replies

  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    I have it too, diagnosed when I was 20 and yes it makes it harder to lose weight. I've been 2 years and still not at my GW. Having PCOS in general just sucks! I don't know how common it is, I only know 3 people in real life that have it. I hate explaining to people, they just don't understand at all usually.
  • amosmoses88
    amosmoses88 Posts: 163 Member
    I have it. Have been diagnosed since summer 2010. It has slowed down my weight loss A LOT. I have been on Metformin off and on since then and it helps. But the stomach pains, the bathroom issues---shew. But I have IBS so it's hard to distinguish which is which. I know it hurts!
  • fmob31
    fmob31 Posts: 1
    I also have PCOS and have a hard time dropping weight. I tried Metformin and Actos, both made me very sick along with the abdominal pains and dizziness. I had to stop taking those medications in order to function.
  • goodbyefreshman15
    goodbyefreshman15 Posts: 71
    I have it. Have been diagnosed since summer 2010. It has slowed down my weight loss A LOT. I have been on Metformin off and on since then and it helps. But the stomach pains, the bathroom issues---shew. But I have IBS so it's hard to distinguish which is which. I know it hurts!

    I also have IBS! Such an..uncomfortable condition.
  • Jelise24
    Jelise24 Posts: 74 Member
    I do too. It does make it harder to lose weight. I have to be VERY strict with food choices if I want to lose weight.
  • goodbyefreshman15
    goodbyefreshman15 Posts: 71
    I have it too, diagnosed when I was 20 and yes it makes it harder to lose weight. I've been 2 years and still not at my GW. Having PCOS in general just sucks! I don't know how common it is, I only know 3 people in real life that have it. I hate explaining to people, they just don't understand at all usually.

    I asked because I don't know anyone in real life other than me!
  • goodbyefreshman15
    goodbyefreshman15 Posts: 71
    I also have PCOS and have a hard time dropping weight. I tried Metformin and Actos, both made me very sick along with the abdominal pains and dizziness. I had to stop taking those medications in order to function.

    I was on Metformin for a little while, but I felt worse on it. Don't have any experience with Actos.
  • Marcia315
    Marcia315 Posts: 460 Member
    I have it too.
  • littlelexical
    littlelexical Posts: 146 Member
    I have both PCOS and Thyroid issues :) It is hard, really hard - but you can do it - honest. I have heart issues, so no metaformin or other drugs for me that are often prescribed. And while i uise to be able to exercise HEAPS to manage my weight as a child/young adult - as my heart got worse - that got harder too.

    Explaining to other people is always difficult, but, in the end, its none of their business anyhow - so - try not to take their belief/disbelief/understanding/non-understanding to heart - until you go through it & have a reason to be interested in it, read up about it, research it & fully understand it yourself - you generally cant/wont... And it is a pretty complicated thing for someone who has no awareness of it to understand :)

    Try to eat a PCOS friendly diet - that means things that dont aggravate your condition (which is what most PCOS specific diets focus on) But also one that helps the whole endocrine system flourish & strengthen.

    Dont forget - PCOSers generally need a little more sleep than the average bear too. So if you have issues with sleep - try and look at this whole experience collectively & get on top of it all - it will only help in the long run :)

    Huge amounts of luck for your journey.


    One last thing (sorry for the HUGE post) I say this constantly... If someone tells you you should/shouldnt eat something for PCOS - always question why? And do your own research too. Ask the important questions - further than 'will it fill me up' - ask "what is it doing inside me?" - "what is it doing to my system that is good/bad?"
    Unfortunately there is a lot of PCOS information out there that only focuses on you 'feeling full' or 'having energy' but isnt so helpful when it comes to actually making you feel, or function any better inside :)
  • Miasen
    Miasen Posts: 31
    I do, and im kind of bitter about the fact that PCOS is such a neglected disease. I have had 3 different doctors diagnose it, and none of them went on to explain it or discuss possible treatments.

    Now I want to get pregnant, and atleast I have a great fertility doctor that takes me trough those steps. At the same time im working with the weightloss. Going good so far :)
  • Skarlet13
    Skarlet13 Posts: 146 Member
    I have PCOS and celiac. Interestingly, when I went off gluten my period resumed. I also get a tonne of sleep. I started at the end of November and have lost 10 lbs.
  • sophie_wr
    sophie_wr Posts: 194 Member
    PCOS too...
    as somebody said, the Drs are kinda bad with that... if you dont want to get pregnant, they dont do anything (and I have experience with Drs in two different countries, well that's the same BS everywhere)

    I lost the 20 first pounds easily but have been struggling since....
    Good luck and add me as a friend if you want !
  • lmhbuss
    lmhbuss Posts: 282 Member
    I have it also! It's a pain in my a**! I honestly don't know nearly enough about it, considering that I HAVE it though. I was on metformin for awhile but often had episodes of mild hypoglycemia as a result (shaking, feeling a little confused, etc) and that was the end of that for me. It apparently runs in my family as my sister and mother also have problems with it.
  • bribrijean234
    bribrijean234 Posts: 90 Member
    Hi everyone. I am 26, i have iron and b-12 deficiency anemia and was just diagnosed with PCOS, which frankly has been somewhat of a relief for me - just knowing what it is. I've steadily packed on a couple pounds a year since I was in high school, but within the last 4 months I started gaining weight at a ridiculous pace for a total of about 35 lbs even though I was exercising like a nut doing MAXXOUT for 1-2 hours a day and eating fairly clean. I've been getting blood work once or twice a month during that time and finally at the beginning of the this month my doctor caught the insulin resistance, connected it with my extremely long, heavy, painful periods and inability to lose weight or inches and the outcome - PCOS. It certainly explains a lot of the problems I have had for the majority of my life. Ive been on BC since I was 16, still have heavy periods, but at least they don't last 2 weeks at a time anymore. With that part already under control, my doctor added Met, started me out taking 250 mg for two weeks, and today i switch over to 500 mg. I've actually lost about 7-8 lbs in those two weeks alone, which after months of gaining 1-4 lbs a week, seeing the scale go down has put me in a very good mood. Hoping that the weight loss will continue, but I know better than to expect the fast rate to continue. I read up on the insulin-resistance diet and I am slowly adjusting my eating to follow that method.

    So far i've been a bit frustrated when sharing with friends or family. Many keep trying to tell me that it's just an excuse and that i must be cheating when i say im eating healthy and exercising otherwise i would obviously lose weight. I also shared with my best friend and when i mentioned that it could mean difficulty having a child someday either getting pregnant or carrying full-term (the anemia is gonna be an issue already) and how upset i was about that possibility, she just shrugged at me and said oh no big deal you can just adopt then. I get the impression that if you don't have PCOS its impossible to understand. I rejoined MFP to find support and inspiration because I am not getting any from the people closest to me. Feel free to add me!
  • MommaSherryB
    MommaSherryB Posts: 79 Member
    Glad you joined MFP, I am sure you will find plenty of support here. Is there any type of food plans that you have tried? Lower carb?

    The lower carb has helped alot of my symptoms and helped me to lose the last bit of weight and maintain current weight.
  • kristilynnhales
    kristilynnhales Posts: 14 Member
    I have PCOS. I didn't start gaining a lot of weight until puberty and shortly after high school I was diagnosed with PCOS. PCOS makes losing the weight very hard. I tried calorie counting alone, but it wasn't working for me. I am now counting carbs and keeping myself under 25 carbs a day. I avoid potatoes, bread, corn, and rice. It seems to be helping the weight come off.
  • tospaa
    tospaa Posts: 8 Member
    I have PCOS, along with insulin resistance of course. I tried Atkins 2 years ago and I've lost 33 pounds in about 4 months. Low carb is definitely working, but I don't find in sustainable. So I'm trying to lose the rest with good old calorie restriction and exercise now. I might also add, Atkins caused my cholesterol to rise significantly, but it also helped me with my insulin resistance.

    And metformin, it really helps! If you can't use the regular version (I know it's terrible), use the extended release version instead. It makes side effects less of a problem.
  • goodbyefreshman15
    goodbyefreshman15 Posts: 71
    Glad you joined MFP, I am sure you will find plenty of support here. Is there any type of food plans that you have tried? Lower carb?

    The lower carb has helped alot of my symptoms and helped me to lose the last bit of weight and maintain current weight.

    I do try to eat fewer carbs..however, I am in college, so my food choices are often limited.
  • sbcrook
    sbcrook Posts: 1
    I have PCOS too. Glad to see there are others who have had some success on this website. I've had mild success previously on WeightWatchers, but moved and there are only terrible leaders here so I'm going to try this site out. I'm on metformin ER and it's been much better than the regular. Used to make me really sick, but now with the ER and taking it at night, I don't see many side effects. Here's hoping I have some success this time.
  • ChelleSC
    ChelleSC Posts: 49
    I also have PCOS. Was diagnosed after gaining 50 lbs while following weight watchers and not having a period for 9 months. That was in 2009. I have had 2 children since then (both needed clomid to be conceived). We wanted a 3rd, but this time even clomid isn't helping me to ovulate. My doctor said to focus on weight loss and diet, so that's why I am here! Does anyone know or or want to start a PCOS support group on MFP? I'm looking for PCOS specific support friends on here because our journey moves in much smaller steps than most. It's a bit discouraging seeing the rapid weight loss that friends without PCOS experience. OF course, great news and I celebrate with them, but it's hard when I eat healthier, exercise more and don't have the same rate of loss.

    As far as how common it is most literature says it's estimated that 5-10% of women between 20 and 40 have it.

    I've learned that just counting calories does NOT work for me. Avoiding processed foods, eating higher protein and higher fat(healthy fats) does help. I just had a lack luster week. Look back and saw I hadn't been eating as many raw veggies and had slipped into eating lower calorie junk foods.

    If you are looking for a PCOS buddy, too, send me a friend request!
  • getfitgal123
    getfitgal123 Posts: 267 Member
    Hi I was recently diagnosed with PCOS and have started Metformin. (and Femara -- for TTC) Like many of you, I have been feeling like I was going crazy -- gaining weight despite calorie restriction/weight watchers/exercise, etc etc. My doctor said PCOS women basically have to work twice as hard to lose weight. Honestly it feels 100 times harder. lol. Frustrating for sure to put in SO much effort for so little results. Feel free to add me. I have been experimenting with lower carb and the 5:2 diet.
  • katnotfat
    katnotfat Posts: 58 Member
    Hey ladies! Yuuuuup, PCOS here too! I've tried Metaformin and hate it, but I need to try it again before I totally give up on it. I also need to change my settings to do more of a low carb high protein diet like the doctors suggest. It's tough! Please add me! We can support each other! :)
  • ResaBoBesa
    ResaBoBesa Posts: 20 Member
    I have PCOS and celiac. Interestingly, when I went off gluten my period resumed. I also get a tonne of sleep. I started at the end of November and have lost 10 lbs.

    I have PCOS and Fibromyalgia, when I did some research on my digestion issues, I cut out gluten immediately. After two days my stomach bloat deflated and within two months not only did I get my period, my fibromyalgia is gone, all my digestion issues have gone away and I've dropped 17 pounds and I've never been able to lose the weight like this before. I don't want to say that all ladies who have PCOS should stop eating gluten, but it's definitely something to look into! Good luck!
  • lizz2013
    lizz2013 Posts: 331 Member
    I've just been diagnosed with pcos and feel really low about it but at least I now have an answer for my symptoms. Definitely think we should set up a support group on here for it. Feel free to add me :) I comment a lot!
  • kazzsjourney2goal
    kazzsjourney2goal Posts: 56 Member
    I have PCOS and gave managed to date to lose 156 pounds
  • kattbell
    kattbell Posts: 2
    I too have PCOS. yes its hard to lose weight but the craving food or carbs is horrible too. i have had success using natural herbs for the insulin resistance which is part of it. Try gymnema herb it works good for balancing sugar levels. try hard to stay away from carb stuff, bread, chips, cookies, deserts. my greatest success was eating a lot of veggies and protein. the protein will crave your appetite and carb cravings. Exercise helps with balance hormones too. Sugar and carbs are our enemy.
  • kattbell
    kattbell Posts: 2
    how did you loose the weight.
  • Tinakittykins
    Tinakittykins Posts: 8
    I too have PCOS. I was diagnosed 6 months after giving birth to my baby girl 3 years ago, I managed to lose a large amount of weight once after the diagnosis but ended up putting it back on due to stress and Now I am having problems losing the weight again. Any help and support would be lovely, and I am willing to give support and help back :smile:
  • Artemis_Acorn
    Artemis_Acorn Posts: 836 Member
    I've had PCOS for decades. I spend over ten years just trying to find out what was wrong, and finally, after exhaustive research, I diagnosed myself, printed off tons of information and took it to the doc for confirmation. He was clueless and sent me to a specialist. Since I already had children, nobody was interested in addressing my fertility or menstrual issues, and my body reacted badly to the synthetic hormones (they nearly killed me) and to Metformin (chronic, explosive and uncontrollable diarrhea for over three months) that they did try.

    I found my answers in alternative medicine. Herbs and other supplements regulated my cycles and have helped me - along with diet and exercise - to manage the associated insulin resistance. When I got it under control enough that I wasn't sprouting new whiskers, I had the old ones lasered so I no longer have the tell tale chin shadow.

    You may think you're alone, but the odds are that you know a number of people who have it - some undiagnosed, others who don't easily reveal it or discuss it. People get that way after a couple of failed, unsympathetic or downright painful conversations trying to explain it. I know I did.
  • Charlenex91x
    Charlenex91x Posts: 7
    Hi,

    I have pcos too! Only got diagnosed a few months ago after having an ectopic pregnancy, now on a weight loss mission b4 ttc again.
    Feel free to add me

    xxx

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