Cysts and Illnesses

I was on various Antidepressant/ anti anxiety meds for the last few years off and on. I gained weight, and it didn't help enough to curb the anxiety induced over-indulging in alcohol. So I gained about thirty pounds from that. I decided to change to Welbutrin because I heard it has less of that weight gain side effect. That was in December. I've lost 60 + lbs since then....so at least for me, changing meds helped. Your PCOS will probably make you more insulin resistant. I'm a Med Lab Scientist, not a Physician, but if it were me, I would exercise and eat lower carbs (not extreme or anything) and as you lose weight and your fitness increases, your insulin sensitivity will improve and help with preventing weight gain. In the mean-time, weight-loss may be slower for you, but with perseverance, you should slowly but surely see results.

Reactive hypoglycemia can be an indication of insulin resistance. You need to do insulin and glucose testing with a glucose challenge test. This is usually done by endocrinologists.

you can have weight issues from having cysts on your overies?

For a long while, I've been battling with asthma issues, migraines, reflux, and cystic ovaries. I had PTSD, and I gained a ton of weight from paxil (i'm on celexa now).

How do you manage the absurd weight gain from these things? Prior to paxil, I was around 100-111 and did not change from that 10 pound range....ever.

What do I need to do to kick my metabolism back in line?

While meds can help, sometimes they can add to the problems and make them worse over an extended period of time. I went from Paxil to Wellbutrin to Effexor. Paxil make me incapable of having an orgasm, Wellbutrin gave me anxiety and the Effexor seems to work well. Now I am trying to get off of it, after I have been on it for several years. My reflux is better now that I am decreasing my antidepressant dosage. I did see a MAJOR change in my AR when I did a 21 day cleansing died. With the help of my chiropractor, I eliminated all dairy, beef, pork, wheat, sugar, and a few others for 21 day. About three days into that cleanse, I had NO acid reflux which continued through the rest of the cleanse. I did not stick out the whole 21 days....I am such a picky eater that I was starving. But at least I know where to start if I ever want to get off my GERD meds.

Now I am approaching the depression with an intensive exercise program as I am weaning off the antidepressants this summer.
My asthma is under control with the help of an Advair inhaler.

Do you have any other symptoms of PCOS? My daughter was recently diagnosed with it. The cysts on her ovaries were the last thing they found. She has acne, extra facial hair, weight gain, erratic periods, and can't seem to loose any weight. Her doc finally sent her in for an ultrasound. Now she is taking Metformin and goes back for an ultrasound in six months.

Years (ok 10-15) before I was diagnosed as type2 in my mid 30's I was also experiencing hypoglycemia. I also have PCOS. I DO think there is a connection there. I also think insulin resistance is present LONG before tests are able to pick it up. PCOS is hereditary too so if you have people in your family that are diabetic I would follow a lower end carb diet. There are specific diets for PCOS too. Any registered dietician can give you the info. You can find it online im sure. The good thing is altering your eating habits now in order to lose weight could save your life later. It's a win win.

couple years ago I had to go to the ER for horrible sharp pains in my lower part of my stomach area. turns out it was a cyst on my ovary. They gave me pain pills and couple months later it went away. i had 2 ultra sounds ( it was getting smaller) i never did go back for the 3rd ultra sound. they are expensive. then was diagnosed as a diabetic. BG is in control now after losing tons of weight but still am diabetic. Sometimes I think I have one because of all of a sudden it's uncomfortable and when walking for long walks my lower left side of my back starts to hurt. I read that could happen when you have a cyst on the ovary. and weight gain for a couple days like when I tried some shorts on that fit one week and tried them on the next and they didn't fit.. Is that a part of having cysts lower stomach bloats? strange.

PS: so far, it seems like everyone is kind of thinking my weight gain is associated with the cysts and possible insulin tolerance issues. That's not the case. I had the cyst removed and went back to a normal life until I developed PTSD from a traumatic incident. I started having major anxiety episodes, so they put me on Paxil. My weight gain is directly proportional to how much paxil I took. When I doubled it, I gained 30 pounds in three weeks. I also have some problems because they gave me a steroid shot that more or less backfired. So I had a bad cushing's-like reaction. I do have to be careful with steroids, but they still don't make my BS over 170, which is acceptable on the treatment.

This was why I felt I had to say that ovarian cysts do not equal PCOS- the results you describe from your tests would suggest you don't have PCOS so you really shouldn't worry about it.

I don't really know much about the medication you feel is responsible, so I can't comment, but one thing I would suggest is that you might like to consider counselling for your PTSD. Any anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication is for the physical illnesses associated with the problems, and it is important to have those symptoms under control before you look at counselling, but medications are unlikely to help you deal with the cause.

Your doctor should be able to recommend accredited counsellors in your area.