Looking for PCOS friends

Hi Everybody! I just recently joined My Fitness Pal and I am so excited to see there is a section for those of us with PCOS. I am 42 years old and was diagnosed with this when I was about 26. I had the worst trouble with my periods, I would go months without one and then would go for literally months with my period. At one point, I weighed 288 lbs. I lost 80lbs just by being more active and I can say that it helped with the periods and other symptoms of PCOS. For the last two years, I've had my period regularly every month. I plateau'd about a year or so ago though. Haven't lost or gained more than 2lbs at a time. I'm on here to hopefully kick that plateau. Great to meet all of you!!!

Most times I've been to the hospital and Endocrinologist they've given me papers and pamphlets on PCOS and haven't given me an ultrasound, but I have every symptom. I don't know why they haven't made sure I have it, maybe my insurance, eh, don't know... I'm really trying to combat the Hirsutism!

This is where I am at also. I am hoping that losing weight will help with the other symptoms. I was able to lose about 17 pounds about 4 and a half years ago, which allowed me to get pregnant after trying for 6 years. Time to do it again, but not get pregnant this time!!

Feel free to add me (anyone on this thread!)
I too have PCOS. I was VERY thin in high school but had bad periods when I had them (often they were late or skipped). They were so bad, my mother used to let me drink brandy so I'd fall asleep. But then, upon my 23rd birthday year, I gained 25-30 pounds very rapidly. Then everything got MUCH worse.

It took me many years to get a doctor to diagnose me properly because even though I was sure i had it, back then they just gave you bcp's which make it WORSE. They mess up your blood sugar and really don't solve the core issue with the blood sugar and insulin resistance. No one would believe I had it because even with the 30 pound weight gain, I was only a little (5-10 pounds) overweight. I felt very overweight because my stomach was enormous - I looked 5 mos pregnant! But I craved sugar like a demon! Right now I weight 149 (down from 160 this summer), and I would like to at the very most weigh 135 (preferably 120-125).

The ONLY way I lose weight/keep it off is by exercising virtually every day for at least an hour. I do yoga, strength train and aerobics. AND I have to cut out breads, sugars, white flour products almost completely. I replace them with mostly veggies and some low GI fruits. I get in trouble when I eat out because I can't resist all the stuff I want to eat...so I am trying to eat out only 1 time per week right now.

Once you get off the sugar, DON'T get back on! It's like a drug to us. I believe that PCOS women are more sensitive to the effects of sugar, and I am telling myself that for me, it is literally toxic. I can't even have a little bit because something in me just goes crazy and wants to keep on eating. If I don't eat sugar, I don't turn into that crazy lady!!!

Hey guys!
I went for my first gyno appt today. I suggested to him that I may be exhibiting symptoms of some hormonal imbalance. Lots of internet research points to PCOS, but I'd rather wait for the doctor's opinion with lab results. I had a ruptured cyst back in October and that began my research into this subject. For ten + years, I have had issues with hormonal acne (wondering why nothing worked), thin hair (which is getting thinner), weight around my middle (also linked to bad eating habits, love of sugar and carbs and stress), hair on my face (embarassing!) and other not cool places, but the worst symptom of all that I've been dealing with is rage. I just rage at the drop of the hat and it feels like a surge in my body. I feel absolutely crazy when this happens. I went to the psychiatrist a few months ago and he prescribed anti psychotics that didn't work....helped a bit, but didn't work. The doctor I went to today is going to prescribe a monophasic birth control pill and go from there...I'll get results back in about a week and will report. Any feedback is welcome!! I can't believe I am posting all this because some of it is so embarrassing, but I want to get to the bottom of all of this!

I have PCOS but it doesn't have me... I AM DETERMINE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT, right now im not trying to have a baby I just want to get healthy.... Good Luck on your journey..

bump

My dr. has suggested I have the uterine ablation as well.
How horrible was it? I am a big chicken...although I had
2 children without aid of drugs...so maybe my pain tolerance is
greater than I give myself credit for?

Thanks for any help!

Lori

Hi all,
I was diagnosed in 1990 when trying to conceive my first child. Took chlomid to get pregnant with her. She was born in 1992, followed by a 2nd daughter in 1994, who was conceived with out any help. Daughter 3 was born...and quite a surprise, in 2005.

In the last few years since the youngest was born my problems have worsened. I have been having TERRIBLE periods, developed anemia, had surgery summer of 2011 to remove a cyst and do a D & C. That helped for a while...but things started escalating in Feb. 2012. Have tried going on the pill, but i am 49, I dont need the added risks and it isnt for birth control anymore plus it really didnt help anything. Dr. is now talking about a uterine ablation. I was thinking a hysterectomy, but he said, "You dont want that."

Things do seem to be a little better when I lose weight, but as I get older the same 25-30 lbs is harder and harder to knock off and every Jan. I find myself right back where I started. Errrr!!!

If anyone has had experience with the ablation, can you let me know how horrible it was and if it helped any?

Thanks much!

Lori G

Hi everyone! I'm a PCOS struggler. I constantly try to lose weight, but it's such a struggle I eat way less than other and still don't lose. I practically have to starve myself to get the weight off. Any sufggestions?

Please add me as a friend - that goes for everyone with PCOS...I need more friends on this site (and in life) who know what I'm going through.


Since December when I upped my protein and workouts and cut out sugar, ALL DAIRY, soy, and gluten (I am about 95% compliant), my acne is a million times better, my tummy has gone way down, and I have lost 7 pounds.

During the times when I am compliant with the above diet/workout plan, I have been a size 6 or 8. As soon as I start eating the normal American diet, I gain up to 25 pounds and go up to a size 12.

So basically this is what I do: I am eating mainly protein, avoiding sugar as much as I can, and eating more veggies than fruits (I stick to one or fewer fruits per day). I only eat 1-2 grains a day and they are whole grains (brown rice, chia seed bread, etc.). I'm working to gain more muscle. I know that gaining muscle and doing exercise EVERY DAY is good for PCOS women. I try to do 60 minutes of exercise most days of the week. I do aqua aerobics (1x per week), Zumba (2x per week), Zumba Gold (1x per week), cardio/strength (1-2x per week), and am now adding one hour of weight lifting split into 2 sessions.