PCOS and trying to lose weight

ambermabee

misskate ~ Metformin was originally used for diabetics, but is now prescribed for PCOS patients with insulin resistance. I was prescribed it years ago and had trouble with it, but I'm thinking about asking my doc for the XR version of it. Glad your doctor listened to your concerns and is doing something about them!

kabrown ~ Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! It is always nice to hear success stories!

Shana ~ My husband and I have been trying for ten years with no luck. You are definitely not alone! Seeing how Metformin has affected your mood makes me want to bring it up to my doc even more! I get so crabby with my hubby..I don't know how he puts up with me sometimes.

PearlMarie_3gen_11484

Hello I'm 27 years old, and I too have pcos. I have found out that the more weight I lose and keep getting closer to a healthier bmi. The pcos has 'slowed down'. I also have two children that are my pride and joy. One took two years to conceive and the other took three years. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Now I am working on a healthier me so I am there for them. :happy: Best of luck to you.

shanamalena

Yeah I was horrible, and I have noticed to that he has done things that would normally make me mad. But I haven't even threw a fit one time since I have been on Metformin. lol Its crazy, but its true. I didnt even realize I was so crabby. We just get along so much better now, only if he could take some metformin!! hahaha

Now I dont think it has helped me on my weight. I have put myself on a strict diet and I exercise alot now. It just seems like it dont wanna come off!!! lol Yeah if I become pregnant.....OMG!!! I will wanna cry and cry and cry....lol I told my husband if i get pregnant I dont wanna hear any lip from you at all. I just want to make sure I dont lose the baby....lol I know I will be googling up a storm if I do get pregnant, just to see of anything to prevent miscarriage. lol

I know....I ramble on and on........lol Best wishes....!!

ambermabee

Crowlover ~ Thank you for sharing your success story with us!

Shana ~ Yes, unfortunately we do run a much higher risk of miscarriages. But as long as you and your doctor are on the same page, many preventions can be put in place when the time comes.

azeria

Hi Shana,

I too have PCOS. I've been trying desperately to get pregnant. I was taking metformin, but recently I was referred to a fertility clinic and was told that metformin is no longer recommended in dealing with PCOS. I find this all overwhelming at times and am trying my best to get pregnant, but have to lose weight first... It's not easy at all. Good luck to you, I don't know what the reality of metformin is, but thought I'd share with you what my specialist said.

shanamalena

Hmmm....Im a member of the military spouse support group (website) and there are people on that website that is seeing a RE now and is currently taking Metformin. So maybe that is what your specialist chooses.......??? Idk...but what is kinda weird...

But I know it has helped me so far, and also I have talked to a bunch of women before who had gotten pregnant on Metformin, and they believe it was the Metformin that allowed them to get pregnant.....So i dont really care if they still recommend it or not, but obviously it has worked for many of women. So if it has worked then I am willing to take it.... lol


Maybe your RE is wanting people to spend thousands on other options, instead of using metformin......lol

But best wishes to you. :-)

ajl2

I'm 29 and have 5 kids (thanks to Clomid). I have 2 sets of twins. I've never officially been diagnosed with PCOS, since my previous doctor wouldn't look into it for me. But I know without a doubt that it is the cause of my problems. I've gained about 40 in the last year. My periods have never been "normal" and after the birth of my second set of twins I stopped having periods. I've been taking progesterone seasonally to "start" my periods. My body hair is completely out of control! My legs are so hairy you wouldn't believe it. I've got chest hair...which is really embarrassing. And my facial hair is getting pretty thick and coarse and dark. it's gross. If it weren't for the fact that I DO get a period after taking progesterone I would think that I was going through menopause prematurely. I get hot flashes and night sweats. It sucks.

I'm not wanting to have any more kids, but I'm pretty sure I'm at a point where Clomid could never help me.

ajl2

Hi Shana,

I too have PCOS. I've been trying desperately to get pregnant. I was taking metformin, but recently I was referred to a fertility clinic and was told that metformin is no longer recommended in dealing with PCOS. I find this all overwhelming at times and am trying my best to get pregnant, but have to lose weight first... It's not easy at all. Good luck to you, I don't know what the reality of metformin is, but thought I'd share with you what my specialist said.

So is there anything special that your doctor recommends? or is it just to loose weight?

azeria

Who knows what the truth is. I'll just do what I must. I am going to trust this specialist for now and see how things go. It did shock me to hear that he didn't find it to be useful for PCOS. Everything else I read, everyone I talk to, takes the metformin. Weird.

dreamc08

I was recently, officially, diagnosed with PCOS as well. A few years ago, I insisted to my gyno that I thought I had it, but she wouldnt agree. I had ultrasounds done and no cysts were found. I have many of the other symptoms though (facial hair, stubborn belly weight, acne, irregular periods, etc). Aside from the weight, the hair under my chin has got to be the worst. When I was having the previously mentioned ultrasounds, I asked the tech if she thought all my problems could be directly related to my excessive weight. She responded that "it's amazing how your weight can effect everything else."

FINALLY, I found a women's care specialist who tested my hormones and thyroid and actually listened to my symptoms. She said to diagnose PCOS, a woman just needs to have at least 3 of the common symptoms, with or without cysts. She prescribed metformin and said that should help my symptoms. I've been on it almost 2 months, and if anything, the facial hair is getting worse :sad: :mad:

I'm hoping that losing weight will help! Good luck to all of us!

laurawright

Hello everyone! I too have PCOS and have had it since I was 12, that is when I was diagnosed.:blushing: I am 27 now and nothing worked for me. I have used everything. :grumble: The specialist I had seen all through High school told me my symptoms would get better if I took the pills and it never did. It really upset me when they told me I would never have kids. Guess what, it took a while but I have 2 and they are great. I have the hair on the face (like a beard), one the stomach and lower back and also on the back of my arms and on my chest and breast area. It is really out of control. :sad: I am always irritated and it sucks. I have the weird periods which come when they want to and last for however long that they want to. My longest period was 23 days. :grumble: They are normally between 17 and 20. I was just wondering if anyone knew if you had a hysterectomy if anything would change? I figure if you take the ovaries out then it should. But thats just a guess! I only need to lose about 20-30 pounds and it seems like the heavier I got the worse it got! But when I was thin and in high school I had the same problem just less but still really noticeable. Irritated that nothing has worked! I just want to feel normal and maybe someday actually wear a bathing suit. Sorry to everyone who has PCOS, it really does suck!

WickedCowgirl

I have PCOS as well, I dont have all the symptoms but the excess hair growth is a pain in the butt, I also dont have periods after losing 70lbs the first time they started again, they were light but I was never so happy to have to buy tampons.

SweetMelly88

I am a 22 year old female that suffers from PCOS! I hate it and it is hard to live with. The hair and the fear of not being able to have children. It all scares me. But I know that we all can get healthier if we try and work hard at it. We can do. I believe in all of us. It may be hard but we have to put our foot down and take control. I will be praying for you all. If you need a new friend to talk to add me I will always be here. We can do this together, I know we can. We are all beautiful. I love you all. : )

AmyNVegas

I see others have said it but I wanted to encourage you, too!:bigsmile:

My older sister had PCOS so badly that she had to have cysts removed several times- once she had one the size of a grapefruit. The doctors told her she would never get pregnant again and to have a hysterectomy (sp?). She read somewhere that low carb diets like Atkins would help and she did Atkins and Carb Addicts and lost the weight and got pregnant. Her cysts stopped until after she had the babies and stopped eating lower carb. I use Primal Blueprint which is not as strict as Atkins and easier to live with. The website for the diet is free and has great recipes, too. Msg me if you have any questions. And good luck!:flowerforyou:

lilwednesday

Hi I am new to MFP. I have PCOS and I have all the symptoms the unwanted hair growth, the unwanted hair loss, the excess belly weight. everything. I am struggling with this weight loss thing and I need support from this community. I am looking for serious accountabilty partners. I stopped taking the metformin because it was making me sick. Would love to share stories.

There is a new generation metformin available. Slow release, not the same side effects, maybe you could give that a go.

lilwednesday

I see others have said it but I wanted to encourage you, too!:bigsmile:

My older sister had PCOS so badly that she had to have cysts removed several times- once she had one the size of a grapefruit. The doctors told her she would never get pregnant again and to have a hysterectomy (sp?). She read somewhere that low carb diets like Atkins would help and she did Atkins and Carb Addicts and lost the weight and got pregnant. Her cysts stopped until after she had the babies and stopped eating lower carb. I use Primal Blueprint which is not as strict as Atkins and easier to live with. The website for the diet is free and has great recipes, too. Msg me if you have any questions. And good luck!:flowerforyou:

I think you are confusing PCOS with ovarian cysts. PCOS is the production of immature follicules which don't develop into eggs so when you ovulate you actually don't ovulate, making periods irregular or like me, non existant. Ovarian cysts however, can grow really big and often need removal. Not the same thing however.

lilwednesday

I have it too. The worst thing is the acne for me and the weight. Struggled to lose 18kg but now have a period again. I'm 34 next month, have been trying to have a baby for years, IVF has given me the most awful pigmentation on my skin which you can see in the photo. Incidentally, I didn't know there was anything wrong with me because I was thin and on the pill and regular as clockwork (on the pill). After I got married, decided to have a baby, periods stopped and I've been getting fatter and fatter ever since. Internal ultrasounds during IVF showed my PCOS but apparentally I have the look "Typical" to someone with the condition anyway. That means I'm fat with acne but luckily not the excess hair.

ammp

Here is something I had written on another board....
k so I had my Dr's appointment and of course, she made me repeat all of my bloodwork. As a vet tech, I draw blood daily on animals - no biggie. I cried for my blood draw - yes I am a raging wimp!
Bloodwork came back, still as inconclusive as ever. Not surprised (or impressed). She starts talking about options. I reply with "Thanks for the ideas Dr Small, but I would like to start Metformin, spironolactone and birth control pills now. Ill start the Met now, and in a week or so when I test negative I'll start the other two"
I needed the spironolactone for me, my mental sanity. I have had the stupid extra hair situation for too freakin' long and I'm done with needing to shave/wax/etc. It's embarrassing and I hate it. (end rant) Since spironolactone can cause birth defects, add the birth control on top. Plus, once you stop hormonal birth control, many women have a time of 'catch up' where natural hormones kick into high gear. (Hence why tons of people are able to get preg after a cycle or 2 once stopping bc).
Since I have summers off, my plan is to take all 3 until the middle of summer, stop the bc and spironolactone and get back to trying. When we do finally get preg, it makes it easier on us if I take time within the spring semester or summer off. It would be way too hard on work if I take time off during the fall semester. I plan to continue the Metformin because A. it can help with maintaining my less-hair existence and B. has been shown to help maintain pregnancy.
So I've been choking back those horse-pills for a week now, things are going great. Plan to either have Aunt Flor visit very soon or test, so I can start the other two. Metformin is not causes issues as of now. I should note, I had my gallbladder out when I was a teenager and have had diarrhea almost daily (sorry if TMI). Metformin can cause diarrhea in people. For me it's not a new thing but I could see how it can be unsettling to people not used to it.

The news is that when I took my preg test last week it was +! Seriously! Turns out the weight loss was what I needed since I am 7 weeks pregnant, I wasn't on the Metformin. I'm going to continue with the Metformin and have upped my calories to 2000. I'm not making a huge deal, because of my size I still have an increased chance of miscarriage. But we saw the heartbeat on Fri, it was good and strong so my Dr is hopeful Prayers or good vibes would be loved

lilwednesday

Congrats Ammp. Wow how exciting is that? I hope when I drop off a few more kilo's I'll get pregnant yoo but like you I am prone to miscarriage. I'll pray for you!

BTW: Nevermind the bloodtests, they can tell you have PCOS when they look at your ovaries with the ultrasound.

LisaJayne71

I have PCOS and have had it since I was about 15 ..... I had the usual complaints.... irregular periods, gaining weight very easily (even though my mother is very slim), spots, hair on my neck etc. All I was ever told by doctors was I needed to try harder to lose weight, even though I was constantly on a diet!

What I didn't know back then that I do now is that the low fat, high carb diets of the 80's were the worse thing I could have been doing to my body and that was why I was gaining so much weight all the time, when all my friends who didn't have PCOS lost weight so easily following them!

Aged 30, I complained to a beautician friend about the hair on my neck and weight gain etc and she brought up the magic word... PCOS! I'd never heard about it before! I asked to be specifically scanned for it at my new surgery.... the nurse told me she doubted I had it but she'd put the request in for me anyway ....... so, off I went for the scan (which was not the most comfortable thing in the world!) and they told me that no only did I have PCOS but I also had a dermoid cyst on one ovary that had hair and teeth! It was growing very quickly and was possibly cancerous so 2 weeks later I was in surgery having it removed..... sadly my half joke to the surgeon to do a bit of lipo whilst he was at it fell on deaf and not very humorous ears!!

After the surgery and diagnosis of PCOS I have received very little help from many different specialists I have seen..... No one seems to me to know really what the right course of action is as far as food and exercise for those with PCOS.... I've been put on Xenical in the past (which was pointless for me as I don't have a fatty diet and never have, and it gave me cramps as there was nothing for the Xenical to work with), I'm still on metformin which I think just about slows down my weight gain rather than helps me lose it...... I've been on reductil which did help a little but I was taken off it by my gp as he said it was too expensive for the results, so he was taking all his practice patients off it..... and then just as I was about to go back on it again with a different doctor, it was pulled off the market.......... I've been told to eat 500 calories a day to lose weight by one specialist with a shrug of the shoulders!!!! When I said that seemed so hard to do, all I got was "Yes well, women with PCOS have to do it to lose weight so you'll have to just do it!"... Yes, very helpful dear!!

In Sept 08 I was referred to a Bariatrics specialist to discuss having a gastric bypass on the NHS. At this point I think I weighed around 88 kilos ( 194llbs) but was rapidly gaining weight even though I had been sticking to a diet of 1100 calories a day and going to the gym 5 times a week and just found I couldn't sustain it in the long run................. I went to the appointment with the surgeon who said I would be the thinnest patient he had ever operated on but because of the PCOS they were prepared to do it as I had shown that with more than enough effort put in, I wasn't able to lose enough weight to live a healthy life............. But, as we all know... the NHS road is a long and lengthy one to get anything done and a new job that I had just started had turned out to be the biggest nightmare I had ever been in (in 20 yrs of nannying I'd never come across a ***** as big as the woman I was working for). I couldn't stay in the job as I was becoming so depressed ( and I have always been a very happy, upbeat person) and the nanny market took a big dive and the jobs in London were just not there any longer with the decent salaries............ So, when offered a job in the Middle East to nanny for one of the VIP Families over here I decided to take it....... It meant though that I lost my slot on the waiting list for the operation...... so, I was told that I could be put on Accomplia (another weight loss drug) to help me out... but the day before I had the appointment the damn drug was taken off the market!!!!!! Aaargh!!!!
So, here I am age 39.... still struggling with my weight and to get what I feel is any kind of real help for the PCOS...... My job here in the Middle East has definitely had a negative effect on my weight...... We were away for 3 months last summer traveling and me working 24/7 for that whole period... which means I can't get to the gym or monitor how many calories I'm consuming as we are eating in hotels, restaurants or the chefs are cooking for us ( and they seem to cook more and more for taste rather than health sometimes!)........... I gained about 10 kilos ( 22lbs ) over about 3 months..........

lilwednesday

Someone just gave me this interesting link.

http://www.obgyn.net/pcos/pcos.asp?page=articles/pcos_and_diet_mckittrick

sbracken

Lisa, have you tried a low-carb or slow carb diet? I did the calorie counting, healthy carb diet for awhile with either no change for very little change over a long time. Just frustrating. Now that I'm doing the Slow Carb diet the weight seems to be just falling off!!

artteachku

Hi! There is nothing new I can post here, that hasn't been said. I was told by my doctor last year, that I most likely have PCOS. I have experienced all the same symptoms for the past few years and struggle with weight gain even though I eat healthy and am active. I am happy to see I am not alone and it is nice to see all the PCOS ladies in this together! Cheers!

tammyquinnlmt

I have PCOS too. I have had it since I was about 18 years old, but lived with it for 10 years before anyone diagnosed me. Its frustrating, because many doctors don't know anything about it, but just tell you to lose weight. I find that low carb diet works. I don't reccomend Atkins, but keep your carbs at a healthy level. I actually just went pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish) and my body seems to be loving it. I lost 4 pounds the first week on it. Eat healthy carbs, such as fruits and veggies, and brown rice. I eat breads, but make sure that they are whole grains whenever possible. There is a great diet book called "The PCOS Diet" that I recommend for anyone with it. It really explains why we have weight issues, and how to alter our diets to lose weight the healthy way. Pay attention to your glycemix index (again PCOS Diet explains it very well). And excercise. Since watching my food intake and keeping my GI low, my periods are more regular, and am looking foward to no whiskers on my face as I lose more weight. Since infertility is an issue with PCOS, use birth control if pregnancy isn't desired. If it is....losing 20 or 30 pounds automatically makes you more fertile! Good luck...and anyone with pcoS feel free to friend me. We gotta stick together, girls!

TeaRexParty

Wow so many of us! And yes I have it too. I always was a bit chunky as a kid but my in last few years of high school I started gaining weight. As years went on I'd have problems with my cycles even though initially they'd been like clockwork and I'd gain huge amounts of weight all at once. And as far as losing weight goes it was all but impossible!! I'd excericse hours and hours and practically starve myself and not lose anything. No matter what I did it was a struggle. And doctors never put all my symptoms together for a diagnosis until I finally went 9 months straight without my period and gained 45 pounds WHILE ON A DIET. I kid you not, I was NOT cheating. End result...I got diagnosed and put on metformin because I'm also insulin resistant and was borderline diabetic by then. Guess what? I dropped ten pounds immediately and NOW if I just keep my calories in line I lose weight like it's nothing. All those years wasted without a diagnosis....and now I'm 37 and its so much harder mentally even. I just wish a doctor had figured this out when I was in my 20s. Oh and the hair....yea its horrible. And nothing really to do about it. My doctor put me on spironolactone and it helps some but it's also a water pill. Luckily for me I needed one because I was retaining water so badly the last year. Strangley I had trouble breathing and was in constant pain and after taking the spironolactone it helped alot. Anyway sorry to see so many others suffering through it but nice to know I'm not alone

ashabeth

Hello, everyone! I also have PCOS. I am 26 years old. I have been working on losing weight since about the middle of January. I have lost about 14 pounds and it wasn't easy . I was put on metformin last year and then stopped taking it because I just couldn't remember. I see that it did actually help douknowjello so I might be making an appointment soon to get back on it. Last year it didn't seem to help, but then again I wasn't exercising as much as I am now. Well I am super glad to see others dealing with the same issues and I am glad I found this website today.

NikiDavis

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1998. It's been a long, difficult struggle. I did laser hair removal in 2005 and had a lot of success. Shortly after, we decided to TTC and once my testosterone levels increased after stopping BCPs, the hair came back. You have to keep the T level in check for the laser hair removal to be successful, otherwise you're fighting a never ending battle. I've managed to decrease mine, so am considering the laser again soon!

Emma33021

HI ladies,

Joining the PCOS club. Long story short, dx at age 31 (when trying to get pg) with symptoms since teenage years. I managed to lose weight on 3 different occasions, but after the birth of my daughter I went upwards to about 234lbs now. Have to lose at least 40, and my goal is 60.

lableo

Hello to all of you that have posted!! I have PCOS as well. I won't go into details b/c its pretty much all the same as you. I started MFP last year, did ok for about 2 months, went on vacation and put what I had lost back on and a few more. So, I started back at the beginning of the year. It seems that this time, the weight is coming off very slowly. I have lost weight a few times before now and it came off within about 3 months. I decided to try the new WW program. I have been on it for a week. I feel like I am more concerned with what I am eating than watching the calories alone. So I am praying this will work. Me and my husband are tyring to get pregnant. That is one reason why I wanna get this weight off! I started charting my temp and we have the ovulation kits to try as well. Deep down, I know I need to lose 20-30 lbs... I am exercising at least 5 nights a week. Someone mentioned a Slow Carb diet. What exactly is that? I am quite a picky eater, so it makes it harder to eat a variety of good foods. Feel free to send me a friend request. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Be blessed!!

Mandy

Singergirl88

Hello everyone,
I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years old, about 6 months before I got married. Go figure I go in to be put on birth control and then get told that I have PCOS. I have been married 1 1/2 years now and we have been trying to conceive for about a year. I know it is hard to become pregnant with PCOS and I tried medicine like clomid, but they didn't work. My fertility specialist told me that if I lose weight then I will increase my chances greatly. So I went off the medicine and started reducing that calories that I eat and exercising and I have lost 23 pounds so far. I want to lose 100 more to reach my goal. Hopefully, when that happens I will be able to conceive. Was it hard for anyone else to conceive with the PCOS?