The PCOS VENT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS ongoing thread:)

sedwright

Finally being in contact with several other females with the same struggle!!! I've been to some other message boards where people are hating on others for trying diet pills etc. for weight loss and say "why don't you do it the old fashioned way, the healthy way." What they don't understand is (just like all things) everyone does NOT have the same results! Especially women with PCOS!!! I can go to the gym/do zumba/cardio/weights etc. daily and eat the recommended 1700 calorie-a-day diet mfp recommends and STILL not loose weight thanks to PCOS! Over a month ago, after attending the gym going on two months and logging food intake, I had gained 3 lbs!!! I was so frustrated I said forget it! i didn't go out and binge (i'm not that type of person) but I stopped going to the gym for a week. In one weeks time, still eating 1700 diet, gained 5 lbs...... The struggle is REAL with PCOS!!!

Finally after breaking down crying at the doctors office out of pure frustration she convinced me to start taking phentermine. I was completely hesitant because of all the hype surrounding diet pills. Took it for 3 weeks, lost 6 pounds, which here on mfp brings me back to where I started several months ago. However, I was having bad side effects and went back to her today where she advised me toward Belviq. Which appears to me to have less side affects. I am concerned because I am still eating healthy, like I have been for awhile now, but how does this medication aid against the side-affects of PCOS? I have no idea, but I have faith and I am going to keep giving it 110%! PCOS you will NOT be my oppressor much longer!!! I can and WILL overcome you!!

God bless all of you gorgeous, beautiful, women!!! Praying that we can find comfort in knowing we are NOT alone with these questions/confusions/ and frustrations! We got the Lord above, and all the other ladies here!

sedwright

Awesome!! Very happy for you and your success!

feefifofumgrrr

Just a quick update: I started this thread years ago when I had just discovered my PCOS! I am happy to announce that through years and years of fighting the battle of weightloss and infertility....I WON! We were able to conceive our beautiful 10 month old daughter and I lost 60 lbs before getting pregnant with her! I will be posting some tips/advice/tricks that helped me along the way. Maybe i'll start a group dedicated to just PCOS/Diet/exercise and fertility? Thoughts?
Any way, I am back at it trying to lose weight still! I lost all of my 30 lb baby weight gain, but even with the 60 lb loss before pregnancy, I was still overweight. SO BACK AT IT FOR ME! Never stop fighting the good fight Gals, because trust me, it IS WORTH IT. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

I'd love to hear your tips and tricks!
And congratulations!

udayasuryav

oh wow !! this feels so good just to read all of your posts and go "I hear you !! ".

More than all the physical problems I had to face like facial hair .. darkening neck etc etc etc etc etc...............
The worst for me was the contempt from people that " i was not doing enough and taking care of myself " looks, conversations I had to put up since 5th grade. I am 27 years and it is a long time ago, but still hurts to think the judgement that people made every time they saw me walk into a restaurant or a public place. And it was not as if I did not do anything. i was "Dieting" "working out" and yada yada... When I was actually diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. I cried because now I knew.. Why ??!! The relief that I know was overwhelming the fact that I had something i need to take care off !! So for all of you hear .. u know and we can take care of it !!

sirena192005

I just found this thread and it hits home for me. I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 11. I have had problem since my very first period. Twice I bled for so long I had to get shots to stop the bleeding(9 weeks one time and 13 weeks another time). I have excess hair on my face, stomach, thighs, breasts, you name it.

I was lucky in that I managed to have my daughter almost three years ago and actually got pregnant unintentionally while on the pill! She's my miracle baby. Unfortunately, my husband and I have been trying to give her a sibling for over a year with no luck.

I know how you all feel with the struggle to lose weight and keep it off. I got to my heaviest(327) in May 2014. As of today I am down to 304, so feeling good and am under my delivery weight for the first time since I delivered my daughter. Here's to hoping that this time my body cooperates and the weight continues to come off. I've struggled with it my whole life and nothing has ever worked before. I'm not sure what's changed this time, but I'm grateful that something has and I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'll take it!

goalss4nika

I hate it!!! Unwanted facial hair and most of all difficulty losing this weight! Sigh

Clarehc

Hey, another PCOS sufferer but if it helps anyone, I've two lovely children :-D. They took three years each to conceive which was, at times, heartbreaking and so difficult but forewarned is forearmed and there are things you can do to help or boost your fertility. I would say patience is key though, be prepared for it to take years and ignore the smug "I got pregnant first month of trying" women - they don't mean to be cruel, they just don't understand. I never thought I'd have one child let alone two, I'm super lucky.

If I was asked to give one piece of advice to PCOSers, it would be to make sure your weight is in the 'normal' range for your height and body type. Being overweight, which happens very easily especially if you are insulin resistant, makes everything worse. I only conceived (all four times, 2 miscarriages, sadly) when at a 'normal' weight and my other symptoms, mainly the acne (which got much worse after my second child infuriatingly) are at a minimum now my weight is 'normal'. I still cling to weight around my stomach, still get spots around my period and am still a little more hairy than I'd like but it's under control and now I have the kids, I don't let it bother me nearly so much. The only thing that bothers me now is I can already tell my DD, who is only 7, will have PCOS too :-(. I'm quite sad about that (pretty sure my own Mum had it too but never diagnosed) but at least I can explain it to her when she's old enough.

Good luck to anyone out there struggling xx

Melroxsox

I've created the group Winning the PCOS battle
Please join so we can all discuss Tips and tricks to kicking PCOS's BUTT!

PunkyRachel

Two weeks ago I had a cyst rupture about an hour after I got to work and I tried to ignore the pain and work through it, but within an hour after the pain started I was on the floor curled up crying from the pain. My co-teacher got my director and then she dropped me off at the Emergency Room. I was so embarrassed! Having to walk past the other staff who didn't understand what was going on as I hug my lower abdomen and get into my bosses van. Then when I returned to work I had every-one tiptoeing around me asking what happened, am I okay, is there any thing to fix it, etc etc, and receiving tons of unwanted sympathy from them. I just hate all the extra attention!

Melroxsox

I used to hate the attention....but now I just tell people flat out what is wrong with me. I sort of embrace it now. Even though I still despise PCOS. Theres no use in trying to cover it up because people will just be even more curious and nosy. I found once I started just flat out telling people what PCOS is and what it does to us, that they just stopped asking and acting weird! lol
Your specific situation was scary though for others to see. Im sure they were just truly concearned for health and safety

PunkyRachel

I used to hate the attention....but now I just tell people flat out what is wrong with me. I sort of embrace it now. Even though I still despise PCOS. There is no use in trying to cover it up because people will just be even more curious and nosy. I found once I started just flat out telling people what PCOS is and what it does to us, that they just stopped asking and acting weird! lol
Your specific situation was scary though for others to see. Im sure they were just truly concerned for health and safety

thanks, I did tell them all, which most already knew I had PCOS. They just hadn't seen the effect of it. I told them its happened before and will happen again, but my diet and exercise has helped a lot. I used to have cyst rupture more frequently, its been over a year since the last time, which is a huge improvement. So they don't need to worry about me.

mrblaw

i had been diagnosed with PCOS when i figured out i couldn't conceive. The good news i have 2 beautiful kids and i did have years of trying and miscarriages. but now for the next phase, severe iron deficiency. so much that i have now been prodded for heart attack, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary functions test, loads of blood work all to come back to this ridiculous pcos. now my hematologists wants me on iron infusions. has anyone dealt with this? the fatigue, huge shortness of breath and feeling like my tongue is bigger than my throat is driving me nuts. Everyone kept telling me it was anxiety, your too stressed out. I kept telling them i thrive on anxiety its not that. So while im grateful for the diagnosis of sever iron deficiency and a treatment, it hasn't started yet and i m wondering if anyone has done it?

born2beamomma

So I've decided to join in this thread. To keep me sane. All of you what you shared has resonated with me. I am soon to be diagnosed with PCOS. I just know I have it. The hair, miscarriage all adds up. I recently miscarried. I have jumped into low carb because I need to shed some weight and get my slugishness of me. I have noticed in the past when I lost 20 lbs I had more energy and a clear mind. I will share my journey to concieve here. And I pray for those of you who are wanting to be a momma. My first advice would be to look into positive thinking and already get your mind into thinking that you are fertile. Because in my mind you all are. Also I have always ovulated with the help of "Fertility Blend". I just think my oven has some issues to keep the baby in. I personally think I have low progesterone. But soon tests will show. I am giving myself 2-3 months to reclaim my life. And would like All of you to join in and challenge yourself to a PCOS free life.

Melroxsox

I am happy to announce that we now have 2 children! 1 month old Ronan and his big sister 19 month old Callista! I am truly blessed to have been able to conceive at all! My switxh to a ketogenic lifestyle is really the only thing that treats my symptoms completely, its amazing! Pcos can be beat and i have won twice now! You can too! Never give up! Im sure you may hear it all the time, but find something that works for you and stick with it! Please check out my group Winning the pcos battle for more future info on my keto progress and journey, and also to discuss other natural ways to treat pcos! Sending all my cysters love, light, and prayers.

sahanakilaru

allishax9918 wrote: »

Hey girls! Have any of you been able to regulate your periods and ect with diet and weight loss WITHOUT Birth control? I have been prescribed with metformin but have only been taking it properly for the last week and no luck. I can skip periods for months and months at a time. Ossasionally I get provera to force it back. I hate pcos!

Hey,
I've had PCOS and for 4 years now, initially I had extremely irregular periods, once in 4 months at times, but I took no medicatiom for it.
With the start of my weight loss journey, my periods started becoming regular, once I came down to 95 kgs from 104. With time I put on weight again, mostly due to a bad diet.I started seeing a doctor about 8 months ago, and I take 1500mg of metformin everyday and initially took birth control pills and spironolactone tablets to supress the excessive male harmones. With diet, exercise and metformin, I started to lose weight, and when I started to have severe headahes the doctor put me off the birth control pills. Since then ive noticed that as long as im good with my diet and exercise, everything is great, but if Im not, things dont go so well and sometimes my period will be dealyed or just a day or two long.
As for the annoyying zits and hair growth, that just hasnt stopped.

kateangel2312

I'm just annoyed with spots and hair! I've had 3 kids and lost all the weight, I just really hate having a beard!

Lizzles4Shizzles

kateangel2312 wrote: »

I'm just annoyed with spots and hair! I've had 3 kids and lost all the weight, I just really hate having a beard!

Girl, I'm with you! The excess hair growth is really the biggest problem I have with my PCOS, but I haven't tried to have kids yet, so I'm not sure how I'm doing in the fertility department. But seriously, the hair is AWFUL. Even after multiple rounds of laser hair removal, it still comes back. Stubborn as a mule. I keep a razor in my purse, a pack of razors in my car, and obviously at home, so I can always take care of the beard, no matter where I am lol Pitiful.

laur357

kemeko wrote: »

Fellow cyster here... and like most of you, I've suffered with the mood swings, excess weight, chin hair, etc. What I haven't seen anyone else post, and which truly frustrates me is that I also have (what I consider to be) the worst PCOS side effect: androgenic alopecia. That's right ladies... I've lost most of my hair. So on top of already feeling fat/ugly/infertile, PCOS has also taken my thick, radiant hair (a symbol of beauty and femininity). I'd gladly endure everything else for the rest of my life if I could only have my hair back. Sure I wear wigs all the time, but it's not the same thing as having your own hair.

(Yeah, it seems my body didn't miss one PCOS side effect... I swear I have them all.)

I'm being seen by an incredible endocrinologist now, but Metformin did nothing for me. Well except for the violent gastrointestinal issues it caused. I'm now on Spironolactone and things have improved drastically. I'm losing weight for the first time ever, my mood is improved, the chin hair/shaving is less frequent and I'm starting to feel better. My scalp hair however will likely never return. Oh well. :frown:

PS: For those newly diagnosed, please do not treat PCOS lightly. Do what you can to improve your health today. Exercise, eat well and take those meds. Trust me!

Hi! I also have androgenic alopecia, and I've been on spironolactone for 2.5 years. I also use rogaine (male strength). My hair is growing back! I have new growth at my temples and the top of my head. Don't lose hope! It's certainly not perfect, and I won't get my masses of hair back, but it's something. As an added bonus, my acne is gone and the facial hair growth is slower.

laur357

For those trying to conceive, you may want to look into letrozole. The study results were first reported last summer by the awesome endocrinologists at Penn State Hershey. I've always had good experiences walking in to my doctors' offices with recently published findings to discuss

http://pennstatehersheyobgynreport.org/2015/03/18/letrozole-new-oral-fertility-option-for-women-with-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

Melroxsox

Oops my post got deleted, didnt realize it wasn't allowed to post YouTube videos...but I just wanted to let you guys know that im back! I don't have time to get on here much with 3 babies, a salon to run, and new house to maintain, but I am back at it, doing a ketogenic diet for life! It works wonders for us !!!!