PCOS/Endometriosis

I have endometriosis and I've noticed that intense exercise increases inflammation of it and I spend a bit more time in pain so I usually do low impact like yoga, pilates, and walking/light jogging. I try to focus on diet more since there's an endometriosis diet that's supposed to keep inflammation low. It's basically no sugar, no alcohol, no wheat (gluten free is fine), no dairy, and hormone free animal products like chicken, beef, turkey, etc. If you can stay strict it really helps!

Not much help on PCOS, I do suffer from infertility though and a lot of my friends have had it and trouble keeping weight off. Has your doctor checked to see if you're insulin resistant? That's common with PCOS and the majority of women I know with it are on Metformin. Thyroid problems are also common with PCOS and endometriosis, I actually have mild hypothyroid, so if you haven't had TSH/Free T3/T4 ask to get those checked as well. I know I piled on a lot of weight when my thyroid was out of whack, but once I got it down to a normal level I started dropping pounds easier!

Thanks for the reply!

I've started doing the wii fit with the board, zumba for the wii and some of the dance games - can probably tell I'd prefer not to be seen exercising! lol. I also bought a skipping rope to use in the garden, or the conservatory when it's raining, as it often does in England! :laugh:

Ooh, never heard of the diet - although, I don't have a sweet tooth, I rarely drink, don't have a lot of wheat, but I do like my cheese! And only really eat chicken and beef.

Sorry to hear about the infertility. I went on a progesterone-only pill (mini pill) when I was 16 (over 5 years ago) and it stopped my periods completely, which I wasn't complaining about; they were always quite heavy although they only lasted about 3 days, 4 at the most. I came off it last November because there was no need to keep using it, if you catch my drift :laugh: . This is when the pain occurred - I'd be bent double, crippled with pain, even between periods, which were so irregular - I can count on one hand how many I've had this year. I went to the doctors, did scans and they said borderline PCOS or endometriosis but as I said above, I haven't been given a diagnosis as of yet. My doctor suggested the orlistat for help with my weightloss and to also go back on the pill - she thinks that the problem may have started before I came off the pill last year and that the pill was acting as pain killer which is why it only started when I came off it. Started the pill middle of September this year and the pain is virtually gone - only comes back if I forget to take it.

About the insulin resistance; my doctor said that after the 3 months is up with the orlistat, if I haven't lost the weight then she would test me for it and put me on metformin, so yeah, that's the next step after the tablet. I've also had my thyroid checked and it came back fine - typical! :laugh:

Things us females have to go through :noway:

I have PCOS, was diagnosed at the age of 16, fertility issues but had one blessing 3 yrs ago. I am on metformin. I was overweight all my life. But it does not matter if you have this. Truth is weight is one of teh issues with it but it is NOT something you cannot win the battle on. We just process sugars and insulins different because of teh PCOS and we have to eat healthier and exercise. I went from 389-214 and currently at 235, It is an up and down battle but mostly down once I stayed on track.

I can jump 15lbs in a week if I do not eat good and exercise. I have used weight watchers and it works even with PCOS, I have done a 1200 cal diet and watched EVERYTHING I put in my mouth and it worked, I used Body Bug and logged all my food an exerceise and it worked. Its just about doing. I did several things only to break up the program as I had alot to loose and over a period of years it helps to change it up a bit. You can do it PCOS is a simple vaginal ultrasound that will diagnosis that at your OB, insulin resistance that comes with most PCOS can be checked by blood work at any doctor

Thanks for the reply!

I am starting to wonder whether it's more PCOS than endometriosis because of the rapid weight gain over the years; obviously I would prefer neither but I wish that I could be diagnosed quicker so I know what it is and how to really get it all under control. Yeah, it definitely is up and down - for me, it's only ever a couple of lbs at the time; like at the moment, I've hit a plateau. Ugh :indifferent:

I have to wait 3 months to see if I can lose 5lbs - if not, then my doctor has said about the metformin; but was wondering if that can be done when I haven't yet been diagnosed? I had a scan which is how they came to the borderline PCOS/endometriosis decision. :grumble:

I usually eat quite well - obviously have a treat every now and again but I don't off the rails for obvious reasons. I can't do weightwatchers and the likes of because of money, which is why I use MFP so I can keep track of what I'm eating calorie wise and also my exercise.

I have pretty bad endometriosis. I've already had one round of laproscopic surgery to remove the build up. Then I was put on shots of Lupron Depot for 6 months. That treatment process really helped for about a year. However, I have noticed that it seems to be back. I haven't been in to the doctor yet, but I am pretty sure they will want to do another round of Lupron.
My doctor suggests I eventually consider a hysterectomy. But, I'm only 29 and want to avoid that for a few years if I can. I basically don't do much different other than pain management with ibuprofen when necessary. It's one of those things I just learned to suffer through. Not much fun, but you get the hand you are dealt and learn to play it!

Thanks for the reply!

Oh wow, what does Lupron Depot do? Does it help with pain? Yeah, it scares me to think I may be diagnosed with endometriosis because of probably needing a hysterectomy; probably scares me more because my mum had it, she had a hysterectomy and just seeing what she went through at the time was horrible - she was 31 (41 now) and I'm 21, 22 in two weeks. She also had cysts on her ovaries too, which makes me wonder even more.

I can't take ibuprofen, so at the time, before going back on the pill, the only painkiller I could use was co-codamol, but obviously I was advised not too stay on it too long because codeine is addictive. But it worked wonders for the pain. After going back on the pill, the pain has gone and only returns if I forget to take it.

Hello,

I was diagnosed with endometriosis about 11 years ago and had surgery to have it removed and since then I have been on the pill non stop(recently had the mirena inserted) so I do not have any effects of endometriosis. I exercise 5x week, weight training and running - 2 years ago I lost 50 pounds, still struggling to get the last 15-20 gone.

I do not take any medications aside from the pill, I do not have children.

Good luck to you.

Thanks for the reply!

I went back on the pill in September and it seems to be acting like a painkiller for the moment! I'm not familiar with the mirena, what is it - like the coil? Congratulations on the weight loss!