PCOS Anyone?

dancinlesh

I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and am interested in finding out if anyone else around here does.

If so, would anyone like to become friends and support each other?

If a group such as this already exists, someone please point me in the right direction!!

NotSurprised

Hello dancinlesh, just wanted to say hello. Sorry I don't knowof any group, but I'm sure by tommorow you will have your answer. I actually never heard of it before, not asking you to explain or anything just saying. God Bless.

paigenicole_tusie

I don't know of any forums on here or anyone on here that has PCOS, but I have a best friend that has it, actually, so I felt compelled to reply to this bulletin, seeing as to I know much about it.

I hope you're doing well! I know the syndrome is rather annoying to cope with and often hard at times, but you can get through it! Good luck with your goal, I hope you reach it!


Paige

dancinlesh

Thanks for the replies!

PCOS is hard to cope with. Losing weight is really hard with this disease. I've struggled with it my whole life.

I hope to find support and success here!

BetterVersion

I have PCOS.

I don't know if there are any forums here for the subject, but I can recommend a great site which has a dedicated community specifically for the condition: soulcysters.net

I would definitely encourage you to check it out! They deal with everything- infertility, hair growth, weight loss, hormonal imbalances, acne... I've seen it all discussed there. However, I must say MFP is the best website I've ever used for weight loss assistance. It's wonderful!

dancinlesh

I used to belong to soulcysters.net along time ago. I should probably get back over there and check it out again.

Have you had a hard time losing the weight?

I'm on Met but not a very high dosage. I don't have insurance and my family doc won't do anything else for me other than put me on the met.

hetipt01

My best friend, and my sister both have PCOS. I've seen them struggle with the various symptoms over the years and it just breaks my heart. But they are both strong women and they have both came a long way! My best friend lost 40 pounds when she started running! I know that you are strong and that you too can reach your goals!
Good luck with everything!:flowerforyou:

dancinlesh

Thanks so much for the encouraging words.

I know I can do it. I just need that push to get there.

BetterVersion

Actually, one of the few areas I got lucky in is that I can actually lose weight fairly easily. However, I gain amazingly fast as well. I was on Met all last year and for the beginning of this year. I noticed that it did help me drop weight without even dieting (not dramatically, but enough to count! lol) However, I was only on Met to assist the fertility medications I was on. Once I was told I'm never going to be able to have another child, I quit taking the Met... and I might have sunk into an itsy bitsy depression that helped me to pack on 60 pounds in six months... so, here I am, trying to work it all off again.

It's a frustrating, and at times devastating, condition. It definitely helps to talk to people who are dealing with it, as well.

nursescalltheshots82

Hiya! I have PCOS and I would love to be a support to you! I have battled with my weight as a consequence. I have sadly learned that the only way I can lose weight is if I cut out the carbs; so I am on a low-moderate carb diet now as prescribed by my doctor. Im always here anytime you need to chat! I am a newbie too.

nursescalltheshots82

Mommamccoy,

I can totally relate! I had lost 38 pounds and allowed myself one cheat day and it was down hill from there! Sugar is "toxic" in a sense to those with PCOS, usually you have insulin resistance with the condition. The sugar that you digest has no where to go because your cells are full of the glucose that's already been stored, so it turns into fat. The only real way to lose the weight and keep it off is to eat something similar to a diabetic diet. Insulin is a huge determiner in your weight loss/weight gain.

dancinlesh

I know that's what I have to do. The diet part, it's just really hard getting there. My partner is diabetic and you'd think that would help me. But neither one of us keep with it.

Thanks for the support! Hopefully it'll help!!

calvarado

Yep- a more mild form, thank goodness, but getting pregnant, and staying pregnant was quite an ordeal..... I have 2 adorable little blessings ( on our own- no drugs!!), and I'm working really hard on a complete lifestyle change.... so far so good with the excercise and eating habits. My mantra is slow and steady wins the race. I've found that even losing a little bit of weight has really helped with the pain. So has yoga and pilates. I had a hard time buying into it at first, but certain poses and stretches really help.

calvarado

Also forgot to mention.... working between my OBGYN, nutritionist, and trainer... trying to stick to my diet of mainly fruits and veggies, lean meats, very little carbs ( in moderation) and a little dairy. I get most of the carbs from fruits and veggies, and my rule is if it has too many ingredients, especially ones I can't pronounce- I don't put it in my body. Same for my family. I guess it's considered a "clean foods" diet... very little procesed or refined foods. I won't lie- I can kill a bowl of brown rice... but only occassionally! Everything reasonable in moderation. That mind set has really helped.

aobrien82

I also have PCOS. I have been dieting on and off for a few years. My weight has creeped up since college and it has definitely made the PCOS worse. My boyfriend and I have been trying to get pregnant for a few years now, we have done a couple rounds of fertility drugs but they didn't work. I want to lose about 30lbs before I try again. It is a very stressful process and I know that the extra weight is just making it harder. Hopefully if I loose the weight the fertility drugs will work, or I may even get pregnant on my own. So my weight loss journey begins.

Wish me luck

Belle84

heya i have pcos as well...used to be on soulcysters...in fact made my way back over there this week

i have great difficulty...at 17 weighed 120lbs 20months ago weighed in at 206!!! now im 189 and its disheartening knowning how hard it is for me to loose weight xx

dmgaloha

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 20 years ago, when I was 17 and started complaining about facial hair growth. I went through hormone testing, ovarian ultrsounds, etc. With no regular menstrual cycles, my 'treatment' was to take birth control pills. I was told at the time that I may have difficulty getting pregnant, however I was lucky enough to have 2 beautiful girls, without any issues.

I've been taking an acne medication / birth control pill called Diane-35 for several years now (way longer than is normally recommended), as I find it really helps with my cystic acne and facial hair growth.

I seemed to always be 20-30 pounds overweight, until I started running in 2003 to lose weight before my wedding. I also followed a Zone-type diet (cutting back on a lot of carbs). I lost about 20 pounds, but then post-marriage plus 2 pregnancies, I gained it all back and then some. Now that my youngest is 15 months old, I've decided it's high time that I start paying attention to my health again.

I've decided to start running again, since it helped me be successful the last time.

What are your goals? Have you made plans as to how you're going to reach them? That's what I've been psyching myself up for these last few days. Lots of research and planning.

Best of luck on your journey!

wannabe

im new and i do have pcos. went to the hospital when i was 16 because of the pain. they said my right ovary was about 3 times its normal size. been on yasmin ever since. lucky i havent had a heart attack its so bad for you! my heart rate sometimes gets to 181 when i work out. planning to get off of it i just havent gone to see my dr to get it changed yet. as long as im on birth control and exercising like crazy the weight has always falled off of me. i can pretty much eat whatever i want although i dont most of the time.

AmberMcDowell

I am back on here after over a year off the wagon. I was diagnosed with PCOS in January of this year (2009). I would love to meet other girls with this condition so we can support each other! Weight loss is 10 times more difficult when you have PCOS so I think we need all the help we can get !!

Belle84

your right it is harder but i have done it once - took its time though xxx im always here if u wanna talk bout pcos was diagnosed 10yrs ago xxx

Angwie

I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was 10 years old. On average over the years of the testing i was gaining 15 lbs. a year even when i was dieting. Joined the Healthy Weigh in high school and lost 25 lbs. only to gain 50 when i went into the transition phase. Now, at 22 peaked at over 315 lbs. and hit rock bottom. Started medifast the day after thanksgiving and have been pretty successful so far. PCOS is just making everything a little more difficult that it needs to be.

Been on different birth control pills, and now taking glucophage/metformin to try and regulate some things. Any suggestions for any aspect of pcos would be amazing.

thicansxy

I was told at the age of 12 that I would not have kids because I have PCOS. I swear this is probably the worst thing to have and feel beautiful. Weight gain, hair growth everywhere. I have more hair then my husband. I am just thankful my husband understands. Even though he comments from time to time (he thinks its funny), But the worst part is I love children and so far no luck. In the past I was on Met and Clomid but no luck. I am hoping with some weight lose and getting back on insurance I can start the drugs again.

khart1993

Hi thicansxy, My daughter and I have PCOS. She's been married 5 years and they have no kiddies yet. But we still have hope! We fight the symptoms of PCOS every day. I just read a book that gave me more hope than I've every had. We recently started putting the suggestions into place and they've worked! My daughter has lost 7 pounds and I'm down 5 in just a week. The beautiful thing is it doesn't require much work; nothing to buy just some things to learn. It took me 9 years to figure out what works for me/us and I think I've finally found it! Keep a good thought and best of luck. The name of the book is "New Glucose Revolution Guide to Living Well with PCOS" you can probably check it out from your local library.

dianaw819

Hi...I also have PCOS. I definately understand the struggles with losing weight as I have struggled with it my whole life as well. I just joined this website today and was excited to see your post. I have some definite goals in mind for weight loss. One thing I have been trying to follow is the DTour diet. It is designed for people with diabetes, pre-diabetics or people who are insulin resistant like us. It recommends increasing your Vitamin D, Calcium, Omega 3's and Fiber. If you want more info, I would be happy to share. Good luck with your goals!!! Diana

dancinlesh

I started this thread and haven't been back here in so long. It's so nice to find other women who understand what you're going through.

Since I was here last, I got a new doc. He has me on 1700 mg of Metformin, 25 mg of Hydochlorothyazide, 25 mg (?) of Spironolacotine, and Sprintec BC. Plus, as soon as I hear back from him, I'll be on a cholesterol pill too.

I have lost 4 lbs in 3 weeks! I'm so happy. I haven't lost weight in so long that even that little amount makes me giddy!

Mkwilso

I have PCOS. My new doc is doing "the workup" to make sure there isn't anything else wrong (like do the ovaries have to go) and told me to start the food diary thingy. I'd be glad to be friends.:happy:

godblessourhome

i went through menopause 4 years ago at age 27 and was finally diagnosed with pcos in may of 2009. i have not given up that the menopause can be reversed. i am on 6000 mg of metformin and a hormone replacement medley. in the last 3 months, i have finally lost 3 pounds! my dietician has me eating 45% protein, 25% carbs and 30% fats. feel free to friend me!
dawn

**edited: you will find that there are a lot of pcos-ers on mfp (probably because of the weight gain associated with pcos). more than 5 million women suffer from hormone-related weight gain, so you have lots of support on a site like this.

BrandyTM

Hello Y'all.....I am new to this group.......Was diagnosed PCOS about 15 years ago.....was told it was the root of my fertility problems. Well no one bothered to mention that this is something that you have to manage all through life. Fast forward to now.....been put on 1000mg Metformin and now trying to eat right......I need serious help with every day foods! I have NEVER had to "diet"........so I am clueless what to do!!! Anyone have some good websites or suggestions?

dancinlesh

Brandy, have you ever been to soulcysters.com or .net? They're a great place to start. The .com is informational. The .net are the message boards. There's alot of support, info and suggestions there.

I doc I just saw the other day said that two thirds of my diet needs to be fruits and veggies. I'm working on it! A friend had given me recipes that she followed on weight watchers before she got pregnant.

msbanana

I too have PCOS. It's been a battle pretty much since puberty. It got really bad my senior year of college- there was an ovarian cancer scare it was really out of control. I packed on more than 100 pounds in the following years as they tried to get everything under control. Now that I've lost some weight and am on the right meds I feel like I might stand a chance at getting back to where I want to be. I'm New-ish here and would love new friends join me on this jouney.

anna

arfletcher

I have PCOS - I was diagnosed about 10 years ago now, at about 15, my period stopped... bad diagnosis - my dr. told my AUNT before me as she was a nurse that worked in the same hospital as him then my aunt told my mother and my mother called me at boarding school to tell me... grrr :devil: - but thats besides the point

Two and a half years without a period and boom - they started again, for no reason that I could see except that my roommate at the time pulled every female that lived in a 5 mile radius into the same monthy sched as her!

My activity upped, my food choices seemed to change, and three years went by without me really realizing how much weight I was loosing... With the weight gone I have almost no symtoms -no crazy pain anymore! Just regular pain :laugh: Nothing I can do about the facial hair but PULL IT OUT though! :laugh:

My partner and I are planning on trying for kids in the next five years - that is one of the reasons that I am actually TRYING to lose my last 15lbs and get my eating habbits changed to good! We'll see what happens.

I'm totaly here for support if you want it!