Your thyroid is part of your metabolic and hormone system. Hormones and metabolism are soooo interlinked. Your body's metabolism USES hormones to regulate, trigger and carry out metabolic functions. This is why pcos messes with your blood glucose conversion systems and impedes your ability to lose weight. I suspect you have PCOS from your symptoms but even it is wasn't, it is definitely A hormone imbalance so this forum can still help you. I will send you some information about the symptoms, how test for them, an explanation of the hormone-insulin-cortisol cycle nd how to overcome it. Don't worry, once you control PCOS and it's best friends Insulin Resistance and Cortisol overproduction, we can diet with the best of them. :-)

I was diagnosied with PCOS when I was 16, I didn't have a period for over 10 months, twelve pregancy tests and an ultrasound confirmed I wasn't pregant although it was charming that that was all the doctors assumed. I was finally refered to a specialist who confirmed from the ultrasound that I had PCOS. Everythign else I have found out about it was through my own research as the specialist and doctors didn't really elaborate they just said you have PCOS go to it and good luck.

For me a low GI diet is best so no starchy foods and nothing with more then 10grams of sugar per serve its the little things that help with your diet I'm managed to keep the weight down and maintain mostly occassionally I'll balloon out when I get really slack but I put in a lot of work to lose it again. Thankfully I am not overally hairy or suffer to many problems my weight is a constant but now my partner has looked into it and like the champ he he is willing to go no wheat no dairy no sugar with me to help. My biggest issue is the lack of periods and there fore ovulation no big deal at the moment but in a few years it will be get your self an amazing gyno and it will help immensly. Hope some of this helps

Hi,

sorry to hear about all this craziness. Here is what happened to me:

My periods have always been irregular but I've been on birth control most of my adult life. In 2005, my husband and I started TTC. I went to the OB because my cycles were 6-8 weeks, sometimes longer. OB sent me for a pelvic ultrasound and bloodwork but said I had to actually go to my family doctor to get my diagnosis. He told me I had a "borderline" case but not enough for the actual diagnosis. I started watching my carbs and got pregnant within a month.

My husband and I started TTC again in December. My cycles have been much longer this time. I went to my family doctor in march (cutting out the middleman - my OB - since she just sent me to the family doctor anyway) and he ordered another pelvic ultrasound and more bloodwork. I went back to him and he said it was enough to diagnose me. I have been on Metformin since April and had my dosage increased about a week and a half ago.

Good luck to you!

Hey all,

I was diagnosed when I was 15. I suffered from severe period pain and was extremely moody, snapping at my parents for no reason. I went to the doctor regarding the period pain and they tested my glucose and testosterone levels which were both high. I also gained about 20kgs in about about 6 months as well. It was because of that that I was diagnosed with PCOS.

At that point I didn't have any other symptoms - my period was (and still is) quite regular (every few weeks) so I did what any 15 year would do when told what to do - I did the opposite. I was told to eat a healthy diet and avoid sugar foods and high carb foods, so I ate nothing but crap. I gained an additional 20kgs in a space of 3 months for that rebellion and ended with the symptoms of excess hair and my once extremely thick hair now balding to the point where you can see my scalp.

I still rebel when it comes to my food and it is now getting to a stage where though I want to get my symptoms under control that I just don't seem to have the motivation to do so. It's not easy when your 40+kgs overweight and the only way to control the condition where the main symptom is weight gain is to lose the weight.

I don't use medication - I have tried metformin a couple of times but the side effects are too much for me to handle (severe nausea and upset stomach); though I'm on a high estrogen birth control pill at the moment.

I'm also finding that this condition is starting to affect me emotionally - I'm shy the best of times around people but add in the fact that I'm constantly on guard because of my weight and the symptoms I've got that I tend to get my back up around people and push them away; and don't get me started on the bouts of depression that hit without warning - one minute I'll be laughing the next I'm absolutely hysterical. I HATE IT!!!

Anyway that's my story (and little rant lol)

Cheers
Kate

In Dec of last year, I went to yet another ob/gyn because the previous ones would not take the time to help me. My periods were lasting 3+ weeks at a time and very heavy. Theur only advice were to take some freaking birth conrol pills. Finally, I found a wonderful ob/gyn who tooo the time to listen. She performed a normal pap, did an ultrasound and drew some blood work. She voiced her concerns that she though it was PCOS and wanted to be sure. A few days later, she called and told me that it was in fact PCOS and that she wanted to do a pelvic ultrasound to make sure none of the polyps were cancerous. She also phoned a. Prescription for Metformin to my pharmacy and instructed me on lifestyle changes to control my PCOS.

I have always had some issue going on but in about 6 years and 5 doctors, no one would do anything but a thyroid test. My mom and grandma have hypothyroidism so the docs all assumed i did also. Went to my 6th doctor weighing 265lbs, hair in places I hated and cystic acne so bad that I couldn't touch my face because of the pressure and pain. He knew right away that I had PCOS, in fact, he diagnosed me within 15 minutes of meeting him. Bloodwork proved it.

Got on BC and Aldactone and my skin cleared up right away and I dropped 25lbs with diet and exercise withing my first 3 months.

I am not a doctor, I am just a chicken that knits. But I've had PCOS since 17 and I have (in more recent times) done a lot of research on PCOS and IR and well... you scream PCOS to me sweetie. That whole drop to the kitchen floor thing, that's a cyst rupturing. Had that plenty of times before I learned how to control it naturally. Best wishes. Xx