PCOS Soul Cysters Unite

Petunia32

Another Cyster here too. Sucks to see so many of us! I'm Australian but I was diagnosed while living in the UK in Dec 2005, however symptoms kicked in for me in 2001 yet all the Dr's could tell me was that I needed to eat less and lose weight (that was creeping on at an alarming rate with no change in diet and lifestyle other than I stopped the pill). Wow, so helpful! In May 2005 I had a cyst burst on my ovary and realised with the help of a friend who was already diagnosed that my issues were more than likely due to PCOS. It then took months and months of begging Drs for testing before I actually saw someone who had any idea what PCOS was and diagnosed me pretty much on the spot. Turns out so many health issues that I've had since I was a kid were more than likely PCOS related, and I only managed to get through my teens without symptoms because I was on the pill for most of it due to cramping issues. I'm back in Australia now and Dr's here are slowly starting to learn about what PCOS and I've found a GP who is pretty clued up on it and is happy to let me manage everything myself. I am on metformin, meant to be 1700mg a day but I often forget to take my morning dose until it's too late, so it's more like 850mg a day. I don't take anything else other than a host of supplements, had to give up taking the pill as it turned me into a raging psycho *****!

I have two boys thanks to Metformin and soy isoflavones (before starting Metformin and having my boys we went through multiple miscarriages and infertility and I did soy instead of clomid as my Dr wouldn't prescribe it to me) and I did manage to lose almost 60lbs since my youngest was born 3yrs ago, but over the last 8 months I've gained back just over 21lbs due to poor diet management, lack of exercise, losing focus and losing motivation. I am struggling to get everything back on track and to start losing weight again before summer kicks in here, and I've set myself a mini-goal of 5kg loss (11lbs) by the end of August. None of my summer clothes from last year fit and I refuse to buy a whole new wardrobe because I got lazy and therefore got fatter. It won't take me much to fit into the clothes, it's just a matter of getting my head into the right mindset to do it, which is proving to be really hard. I know I can do it, I've done it before, but something is missing this time and I've been trying for so long to get back into it and I just keep falling flat on my face and adding on more weight. So yeah. Today is supposed to be my first official day back to calorie counting and a healthy lifestyle, so I'm hoping I can stick to it this time. Support would be great, if anyone wants to add me

phinners

Metformin gave us our baby too. The docs wouldnt give it to me, so I bought it on the internet. Took it for 3 months and it regulated my periods a treat. And along came Alexander. Docs still wont precribe it to me!!!

KadensMommy09

I have PCOS and have SUCH a hard time losing weight. I really want to find the right kind of food diet that will help....because as of now I'm working out 6-7 days a week, staying under my calorie goal and I've stopped losing weight. I went from 210 to 190 and now nothing. Not losing or gaining. Very frustrating. We did clomid and metformin which didn't work, then we did Repronex INjections with IUI, that didn't work. Then I did soy pills and metformin which is how we conceived our almost 2 year old son. I believe weight loss also helps conceiving a lot but that isn't easy.

jenrod1118

Hi everyone. I'm 28 and have been diagnosed with pcos for 8 years. After my last round of weightoss i was able to have normal cycles however I've since gained weight and those went away. I'm currently not taking any medication, but probably should look into it. I think i'm just scared of side effects. Anyways I just wanted to thank everyone for posting. Reading this really helps, and gives hope that I too can start a family one day.

reenakainth

its sad that so many of us suffer this condition and relieving to know there is some support out there through u guys...

I recently suffered a chemical preg and havent had a period sinc...waiting to see a fertility specialist after being diagonosed with PCOS in april this year....scary stuff....was on a birth control pill nearly ten years which had symptoms at bay but i want to have a baby now...so am trying hard to lose weight ....u can lose weight its harder but its possible !!!

good luk girls and please add me xxx

RachelT14

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001 about 6 months after i got married and came off the pill with no periods. I had ovarian drilling followed by 6 courses of clomid and 2 tries at IUI. I was then put on the IVF list and told i had until i reached the top of the list to loose at least 2 1/2 stone.

With the help of slimfast i lost over 3 stone and then found myself pregnant naturally which was a huge shock, Sadly i had a missed misscariage but ended up getting pregnant again naturally before i hit the top of the waiting list. I have 2 living children, both conceived naturally and since the birth of the second i appear to have a fairly regular cycle, although i still have a problem with facial hair and weight loss. Currently trying to loose at least 2 stone, i lost 3.5lbs in the first week and nothing since :ohwell:

Good luck to all of you loosing weight, especially those hoping to get pregnant, it can be done.

lildietitian

well how bizarre - Ive had PCOS for 12 yerars, all clinically diagnosed etc...then after seeing the doc about it recently, I had a range of blood tests done - all normal then an ovary transvaginal scan - all fine. Apparently I have perfectly normal functioning ovaries.

How the hell can my PCSO go away like that?? I still have several other symptoms btw, but has a bit of weight loss and a baby really sent my pcos packing??

Hi, it didn't go away your symptoms have just calmed down. PCOS is a syndrome and therefor has multiple symptoms and any amount of contributing symptoms can lead to a diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with PCOS but I've never had cysts on my ovaries and ultrasound has been clear. However, I did have insulin resistance that led to type 2 diabetes (now insulin dependant), dark colouring on the back of my neck and underarms, abnormal periods, and obesity. The dark colouring has disappeared and I lost a ton of weight (almost 100lbs). Unfortunately I've put on weight in the past 6 months and have had great difficulty losing it. They say your hormones change every so many years (7-10yrs) and I totally believe it now. I am focusing on low GI diet and eating healthier (no eating out, no pop, no chips) FRESH foods and lots of fruits and veggies. I try to exercise everyday and it's helping me keep my blood sugars down.

But PCOS has an umbrella over symptoms that lead to a diagnosis and they can come and go (well some of them can come and go) with varying intensities

Hope I helped!!

Petunia32

The PP is right, PCOS never just goes away, unfortunately. You can reverse symptoms through diet, lifestyle and medications, however you will always have the syndrome. Last I heard (which was a while ago, so things may have changed) was that they were saying that for most of us it has a genetic component, which means that it's not a condition that we develop, it's a condition we are born with and have had since birth.

lildietitian

FRUSTRATION post...

I CAN'T lose the weight I keep putting on!!! I'm about ready to cry!! I keep gaining about a pound a week... I exercise 3-4 times a week. I've started the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred... I work in a fitness centre for Pete's sake!! I HATE PCOS... AND I HATE MY HORMONES!! AND I HATE DIABETES!!! I feel so gross and want to lose weight... I have to force myself to eat because I'm so disgusted with my body that I don't want to put another thing in my mouth...

thanks for letting me get that out...

I just want to be back to 140lbs like I was last summer... this whole 190+ thing is bullsh*t.

k2quiere

Lil, have u tried reducing carbs? That seems to be one of the primary ways women with PCOS lose weight. It helps regulate blood sugar levels.

lildietitian

Yeah that's my next battle... and if I do consume any CHO to make it complex only and very small quantity. Currently writing out a new diet plan.

kls310

I, too, am a Cyster. I learned in 2000 that I had PCOS. My husband and I had been trying for 2 years to conceive while also not being on any birth control for 5 years. I had the drilling, took Metformin, took Clomid, and Progesterone shots and finally conceived our beautiful daughter in 2003. She was born premature at 30 weeks (first thought she was only 28 weeks), so we went through a traumatic time after her birth. She finally came home healthy and is now 8 years old.

Ironically, 2 1/2 years later I became pregnant again without having to go through any fertility treatments. In fact, we weren't even trying...our daughter was a complete surprise. I did get up to 244 lbs while pregnant with the second child and have worked hard to get my weight off as she is now almost 6 years old. I have all of the symptoms from PCOS, but do notice that when I exercise and lose weight that my symptoms seem to subside. I am having a problem with extreme hair loss, and it's time for my annual well woman exam. SO, I hope to have blood work and see where my levels are today. I work out with a PT twice per week and do cardio all the other days. My goal is to get healthy as I turned 40 this year and want to teach my daughters how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Please feel free to friend me!

coronalime

I have PCOS. Been diganosed forever it seems.
Never had a period and I have the Mirena IUD and get it 1x month..WTF is up with that?
Acne is always an issue and the HAIR!!!! I cant stand the hair...its everywhere.

I dont take anything for it...I take Synthroid and things for my psoratic arthritis and they take such a toll on the liver that I just dont want to add anything else..

MakinMoves

Hi All...Thanks For This Thread!

I have PCOS, only diagnosed last year, but have definately had it longer than that.

My (current) main symptoms include:
No Period For Months At A Time...(but of course, I still get all the monthly PMS symptoms)
Hair, Hair, Hair Everywhere (except I'm losing it on my head)
Weight Gain (Need i say more)

Just wanted to say hello....and thanks for uniting the soul cysters!

TamTamLove88

A question to you ladies that also suffer from PCOS: do any of you ever ...*ahem* bleed during excercise? I've noticed that when I'm doing my daily workout, wether it be cardio, strength, or yoga, I start to bleed. I'm a little freaked out.

Lozze

Hope it's OK to post here.

I was diagnosed with PCOS about eight years ago. I'm what my doctor calls 'classic PCOSer' My biggest symptom and most hated part of PCOS is my weight. I've just gone over 300lbs (137kg) and I hate myself for it. I also suffer depression, hair (thankfully I'm very fair so it's not toooo noticeable. I still wax though) and lack of period.

I'm back on Jenny Craig (I originally lost 15kg and have put that on back more) and found this because I needed something on my phone to track food with. (I don't do well with paper diary's) I need to lose this weight. It's killing me both literally and figuratively. I hate how I look, I hate how I feel and just want this weight gone once and for all. I can't be this way anymore. I deserve to be healthy and I deserve to be happy.

k2quiere

A question to you ladies that also suffer from PCOS: do any of you ever ...*ahem* bleed during excercise? I've noticed that when I'm doing my daily workout, wether it be cardio, strength, or yoga, I start to bleed. I'm a little freaked out.

That's a very good question. I actually noticed last week that I was spotting, but didn't think anything of it. I haven't had a TOM since my IUD was put in last year, but I just started back at the gym a couple of weeks ago. Maybe there's a coincidence.

mggirll0122

"I fear that I have this, or might....just wondering what symptoms/signs you had? Were any of you diagnosed before you were trying to get pregnant? How did you know?"


I think with everyone it might be a bit different, but the most common symptoms are acne, excessive hair, hair loss, and irregular periods. Some people have dark patches, skin tags, and infertility. From what I understand you may or may not have cysts on your ovaries and still have PCOS. PCOS can also cause insulin resistance (a pre-diabetic state) which will cause difficulty in losing weight. Hope this helps.

catsap130

PCOS sucks!!

My husband and I have been ttc since I miscarried in may 09. I'm hoping that I'll fall pregnant once I hit my goal weight of 130lbs. Im a textbook case of PCOS. And so far losing weight has been difficult. If anyone Has any advice or tips please inform me! :]

KayaSamantha

Bump. I just found out that I have pcos and need all the support I can get!

TamTamLove88

A question to you ladies that also suffer from PCOS: do any of you ever ...*ahem* bleed during excercise? I've noticed that when I'm doing my daily workout, wether it be cardio, strength, or yoga, I start to bleed. I'm a little freaked out.

That's a very good question. I actually noticed last week that I was spotting, but didn't think anything of it. I haven't had a TOM since my IUD was put in last year, but I just started back at the gym a couple of weeks ago. Maybe there's a coincidence.

i havent had a REGULAR monthly flow in a year; the last time I had flow, it lasted 6 months. I did yoga today, and started bleeding. 20 mins after i stopped activity, it quit. i tried to walk, started again. idk what to think. I was told by a dr on my last ER vist bc f the pain of busting several cysts at a time, that PCOS isnt really anything to bother with, an that i should be GLAD i didnt hav to go through the monthly visitor. He was very insensitive and didnt even run any tests on me to see if i had an infection or anything! needless to say, i DID NOT pay that bill! I would like to hear from more women to see if others have this bleeding problem.

pdpmcm1980

Hi,

I'm new to MFP and was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years ago. I take slow release metformin - I've tried a couple of other things for various symptoms but never got on with them.

If anyone would like to add me as a friend, please feel free

Cilla x

ak_in_ak

I am in the process of being diagnosed. I was put on Metformin extended release a couple weeks ago and it seems to be working. I feel like the dark patches are going away, does anyone know if the roughness does as well? I am trying to keep a low carb diet but it is hard. Does anyone due low diary? I have heard that it can help with the acne but I also recently watched a BBC show saying the calcium in low-fat dairy helps block fat from being absorbed. They collected stool and found there was twice as much fat in it, meaning it was not absorbed. I am very torn between the low dairy issue becasue it is low carb and high protein!

KeshiaV

A question to you ladies that also suffer from PCOS: do any of you ever ...*ahem* bleed during excercise? I've noticed that when I'm doing my daily workout, wether it be cardio, strength, or yoga, I start to bleed. I'm a little freaked out.

The exact same thing is happening to me! Last month when I started with MFP, I was on my TOM for about 20 days, off for 7, and right back on now for almost 12. I think it might have something to do with exercising more because this has never happened to me so frequently.... I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one!

JoanWill

Hello, I too have PCOS. I was diagnosed in 2001 (I was 26 then). I went to see my OB because I wasn't bleeding for 6 months. But I think I may have had PCOS since I was 15.

What I have: thinning hair; I found a skin tag once and had it removed and I haven't seen any since; acne; absence of periods; infertility; intolerable pain when I do get a period; dark skin patches. That is all I can remember for now. Although I am not sure if excessive sweating is a part of PCOS.

Metformin was the first pill I was on. Spironolactone when I moved here in the US. I wasn't taking BC pills just because I have never really had any of those.

I got married 2003. And didn't really plan on conceiving til May 2006. Then it was confirmed, I was not ovulating. I was on 2 doses of Clomid (lowest dose) and got pregnant Aug 2006. And up to this day, I still cry because we were blessed with twins. A boy and a girl. They are 4 now.

When I was pregnant, it was pretty easy. No morning sickness at all. Delivered babies vaginally at 36 months and we all went home together. The only awful thing about my pregnancy was I had really really really bad acne. It was gross. It was so bad my mother would not recognize me at the airport had I not been the woman with a huge belly. It was so bad. Needless to say scars were bad after that.

My heaviest weight was in 2003-2004. I was around 180. I am only 5'4". However I had a very healthy pregnancy. I was scared to death about losing the twins. I only gained 23 lbs. I was the lightest at 150 after I gave birth. Then I almost reached 175 in Jan of 2009. Now I am at 160-165 range.

I am currently on generic Yaz and when I started on it, I did have periods. But for about 6 or so months now, I haven't been bleeding. I am not taking any other medications other than that. Acne is under control. I haven't seen any except for this past 2 weeks when it has been horribly hot here.

It seems like with PCOS, you have to not even consider not exercising in a day or watch what you eat or both. The minute I don't watch what I eat, the weight slowly creeps back up.

I wish good luck to those TTC's.

Thanks for starting this group.

ak_in_ak

What does Spironolactone do? I am on Metformin and Yazmin.

Lozze

According to Wiki it's to treat excess hair.

I'm currently giving up soft drink and I have no energy, am twitchy and my head alternates between pounding and hurting. Can't wait till this is over.

JoanWill

What does Spironolactone do? I am on Metformin and Yazmin.

Yes, it is to control excessive hair. It also controls Androgen (male hormones) which most PCOS has an increased level.
Although I was to make certain that I wasn't trying to conceive at a certain period of time because Spironalactone can cause deformities in male babies. As soon as we were TTC, I had to be off Spironolactone for a while first.

I think I will have to talk to my OB about possibly getting me back on Metformin to have my periods. I am curious about that Metformin extended release.

Good luck Lozze, I hope the headaches go away.

reenakainth

i have my fertility specialist appt on thursday...mixture of feelings for me ..anxiety, fear and curiousity all in one...

i guess they will want to run some tests but im not sure what exactly...can anyone advise me what they may do? my partner and i will both go. they may wanta sperm sample i guess ...i had the blodds done already for myself. cnfirmed increased testosterone levels and fatty liver...not sure what that means exactly so am hoping the consultant will be able to advise me...

i wonder what meds they will put me on as i have had no periods since i came off the pill in april this year...i have tho had a miscarriage sadly but still no bleeed !!

any help advice appreciated?

Darian21

Hello all! I'm so glad there is talk about this on MFP. I just started on MFP and this support is great. I was diagnosed with PCOS @ 16. I wasn't really told much after that but just lose weight. Obviously, for me that hasn't been the case and now my doctor put me on Metformin and I just started last week. I am a little worried that he did not blood work before putting me on 2000 mg a day, but he said this would help with weight loss. We'll see how it goes.