Looking for PCOS Buddies

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Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with PCOS and being Insulin Resistant about 8 Years ago. My specialist had told me that the best way to manage this condition was to lose weight, but in the mean time I was put on the pill and given Metformin as a short term fix until I could lose the weight and maintain it. As you may have guessed ... I'm still trying to lose the weight. I managed to lose about 30 kilos a couple of years after being diagnosed but then plateaued and then after being diagnosed with a few food allergies things gotten shaken up and I started to gain weight again. I've now been on mfp for about 10 weeks and have lost 8.5 kg (about 18 Ilbs) so far.

I would love to be friends with more people how have been diagnosed with PCOS and are going through the same thing as I am. While I love being friends with the people on mfp, I would like to be friends with more people who can give me some advise about weight loss while having this condition. I find that speaking to people about PCOS is very hard especially when they do not have much of an understanding of the condition.

I look forward to meeting you all!

Replies

  • EmpressoftheCosmos
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    Hey hun, I have pcos as well Im on the pill to regulate my cycle and Im trying to lose weight. I have alot of friends on mfp but not many who have pcos. I notice some people lose weight easier and I feel that they cant relate to the weightloss struggle of someone with pcos. Lets be buddies :)
    -Yvonne
  • thatsingergirl
    thatsingergirl Posts: 70 Member
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    Totally! Both of you feel free to add me. When my friends decided to start working out three times a week they hit their goal weight in a couple of months. I feel like they think I'm lazy or lying about how much I work out and how much I actually eat!
  • sweettalkinggirl
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    Will add you both now :)
  • kshaw5501
    kshaw5501 Posts: 390 Member
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    I too am fighting the PCOS, pill, Metformin weightloss battle every day. Please feel free to add me. I'm struggling and could use all the support I can get and will give you all the support you need too.
  • love2hikeMO
    love2hikeMO Posts: 5 Member
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    Story of my life! I get it! I am back on this journey again! Feel free to add me!
  • mattie733
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    I feel your struggle. I have PCOS and insulin resistant as well... I have been sick for a while and recently got put back on merformin (which makes me feel ill as well) I sometimes feel like no one knows what I am going through but have found it comforting to have friend on MFP with the same thing! Please feel free to add me!
  • irishgrim
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    so many people are taking Metformin, its crazy. i took it for 2 weeks, and was so ill/dehydrated/zombie like, that i missed classes at school and refused to take it any longer!
  • sweettalkinggirl
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    I'm feel ok after taking Metformin, although I have forgotten to take it on nights when I eat out for dinner (I take one in the morning and 2 at night) just not sure if it has actually worked. My doctor has said she wants to take me off that and the pill mid next year to run some blood tests to see where I'm at with the PCOS ... hopefully she'll say I won't need to take the metformin any more
  • amylouize2012
    amylouize2012 Posts: 268 Member
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    Hey guys,

    I was diagnosed with PCOS just before my wedding (30th October 2012) and I have insulin resistance too. My new hubby and I really want a baby and if we are to have a chance at getting pregnant I was told I HAVE to loose weight.

    I was also told to go on the pill to regulate my cycle but I also think that could be partly the cause of it in the first place. I had an implanon bar in my arm for 3 years and my cycle just stopped completely and didn't come back. I've had some tests which didn't show early menopause (thank god) but concluded PCOS.

    Problem is that everything regulates on the pill but this is just a "false" period so i'm not sure if it's beneficial at all. My doc mentioned metaformin to me but I told her I would think about it all and deal with it after my honeymoon. Am home just over 3 weeks now so I guess it's time to "deal" with it. Would love to have some info before going back though because I don't want to get stuck on some meds that will make thiongs worse and make me fatter :o(

    I am completely new to this, any advice would be welcome.

    Please add me xx
  • sweettalkinggirl
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    Congratulations on your wedding and I hope you had a special day!

    The first thing to remember with PCOS is you are not alone. We are all going through the same thing and will try and help you the best we can.

    You've mentioned that your doctor has told you to go on the pill to regulate your cycles. As my gynaecologist has told me, the pill is only a short term solution to getting regular periods back. Yes it is a monthly false period but for me I have found it has significantly reduced the amount of pain I go through. Prior to being diagnosed, I would get my period in say January and then wouldn't get it again until about May or June and because my cycle wasn't regular I would bleed heavily and be in so much pain that I wan't able to stand or sit comfortably and taking products specially for period pain did not help. So for me personally it has been beneficial. Also when reading about the pill when first put on it, if you have acne or hair loss associated with PCOS it will help control that. However it all depends on what your experiences have been with your cycles.

    You also mentioned about Metformin. Again this is another short term solution for insulin resistance. As PCOS is linked with people who are overweight or obese, Metformin is, for many, used reduce blood sugar levels. Continuing to stay overweight/obese and being Insulin Resistant can eventually lead to Type 2 Diabetes if not treated correctly. For me, I had no other option but to go on it, I had an extremely high BMI (52), constantly made poor food choices, never exercised, was told if I sat back and did nothing I would be diabetic by the time I'm 27 and to top it off I have some pretty dodgy family genes going on (diabetes, heart issues, high blood pressure, cancer, 3 of my grandparents died after having strokes - I only have my grandmother left, and dying at a young age) so as you can see I really don't have much going for me :/ But as I said, Metformin is a short term thing. Once I can get my weight down even more my gynaecologist has said she will look at taking me off the Metformin and possibly the pill.

    As far as I am aware (and I may be wrong here) Metformin does not make you gain weight or lose weight. Like any medication it does have initial side effects such as nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea. You may get the side effects you may not. I did have the upset stomach on and off for a couple of weeks and that was about it, but others have had different experiences with it.

    At the end of the day the Pill and Metformin won't make things worse unless you let it and when I say "let it" I mean not being active and not making good food choices.

    Have a look at these sites - the first explains PCOS and Insulin resistance (this site was recommended to me by my gynaecologist as she is involved with the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and is also often interviewed by the media when they talk about fertility) and the second one explains more about the Pill and Metformin and the role they play in treating PCOS :

    http://www.thewomens.org.au/AboutPolycysticOvarianSyndromePCOS

    http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm

    Please remember though that all our experiences are different so if you still are unsure go talk to your doctor. Also if it is you're being treated by your general doctor see about having them refer you to a specialist (a gynaecologist or someone who specialises in women's fertility) who can give you more advice or even a 2nd opinion about treatment options.

    Hope this helps you :)
  • Healthgirl78
    Healthgirl78 Posts: 14 Member
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    Feel free to add me !
    Not on any meds now. Stopped the pill once and for all because it made me crazy. I have been various ones for almost 12 years.
    Coming off the pill has been a good choice for me mentally, but I am fighting a battle with weight and cravings. I need support in the food arena. I am trying to kick processed garbage out and reduce refined carbs to minimum. This gal just likes sugar too much! It wreaks havoc on my body.
    I'd love to share in supporting and being supported. PCOS is tough, but we can be healthy! :)
    Cheers!
  • Asianaaaa
    Asianaaaa Posts: 57 Member
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    Feel free to add me, too!

    I have PCOS and have done so since I was a teenager. I am also Insulin Resistant. My main symptoms aside from being overweight is that I suffer from hirsutism, badly! There is hair, lots and lots and lots of hair, everywhere! Aaarrgghh! I also have acanthosis nigricans under my arms and inner thighs. I have been put on Spironolactone (150mg) and Metformin (1,000mg) and have been taking it about 2 years now.

    I would love to have the support, motivation and advice from those who are going through the same thing as it is soooo hard to know what to eat and what not to. There is sooo much information on the internet/ forums/ blogs, etc that it can get overwhelming and hard to know what is right and what isn't :frown:
  • pland54
    pland54 Posts: 132
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    Welcome!

    As you can see, there are lots of us. Although I have PCOS too, mine is a bit different than yours. I mostly am struggling with the effects of excess androgens.

    Nevertheless, I'm here to support you, as are all of the other ladies. We'll get through it!
  • sweettalkinggirl
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    Thanks for the add ladies! It is nice to know people who are going through the exact same thing as Asianaaaa said with all the information available it can become extremely overwhelming so it is nice to be able to hear of other people's experience with PCOS :)
  • nornas42
    nornas42 Posts: 73 Member
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    Hey there!
    I have PCOS and I joined MFP just a couple of weeks ago (if that). I've been delaying on looking after my PCOS and now I have just over 100lbs to lose to get to my goal weight.... it's going to be a long journey, but I'm ready for it!

    Last year I went on Metformin and ended up taking 2,000 mg of Fortamet (non-generic slow release variation) due to the dosage and symptoms. Metformin is not an easy drug to be on! It made me nauseous, gave me diarrhea, and insomnia. BUT -- it had some great results. I had a very high insulin count in my blood work at the start of taking this medication. After 8 months, I was at a normal level and I have now maintained that normal level for a year - metformin free!

    My doctor connected me with a nutritionist and some nutritional counseling to help me learn to carb count. Last year while on the metformin I lost 15 lbs through diet alone doing this. Then I plateaued. When I went off the metformin, I gained all the weight back (and more) because I wasn't nauseous anymore and I stopped paying as much attention to my food.

    That's why I'm on MFP -- it's time to kick my butt into gear! I'm newly engaged and my fiance is incredibly supportive of my efforts. We'd love the chance to try for children in a few years, so its time to start NOW with the lifestyle changes.

    Feel free to add me - I'm looking for support and new friends!