Anyone with PCOS ?

I have always gotten my period even with PCOS. However PMS was very painful for me which is how I got diagnosed. I got sent for ultrasounds in which you could visually see all the cysts. Most periods for me have extremely heavy days.... Without going in too much gross detail but huge clots and almost unstopable flow. Before I lost weight I also had high blood pressure, hair growth, acne, high cholestrol, vaginal dryness, was insuln resistant, and was borderline diabetic due to PCOS. Almost all of these symptoms are gone just from a better diet and exercise. I still have heavy long periods and sometimes acne breakouts but the rest of the symptoms are gone. I wasn't trying to get pregnant so I have no idea if I was able at the peak of the symptoms. My top weight was like 240lbs and my heaviest since MFP was 208lbs. I am around 175lbs today (5'7") and I am hoping in the next 20 to 25 pounds I lose that my period will lighten up and the acne will go away on it's own.

I am a fellow PCOS lady! PCOS definitely has its own array of symptoms that vary depending on the individual. For me it was irregular periods, weight gain, and lovely unwanted hair growth. I take 1500mg Metformin ER to help and am now starting to get serious about my weight loss. I hit the dreaded 200 pounds last week and since then it has been a real wake up call! Time to get serious!

Biggest challenge is definitely the weight. I used to have blood sugar issues, but my sugars and my cycles have both self-regulated with heavily increased exercise.

My biggest challenge is the weight and the general concern for overall health. It used to be pregnancy. We did several IUI/injectable cycles before deciding to adopt. When my sweet boy was 18 months old (and after I had lost about 30 lbs) we found out we were pregnant. Weight and sugar/starch intake + exercise seems to be the biggest factor in keeping all my symptoms under control!

Hi Kim,

My greatest issue with PCOS has definitely been the weight. I have always been the bigger girl and it never bothered me until about 6 years ago I decided to give the whole fitness thing a go. After very little progress after I'd been going to the gym for 3 months I got worried and saw a doctor. It took a year but I was finally diagnosed with PCOS. Then it got real. I realised it wouldn't be a walk in the park to lose weight. I've tried on and off since then. I was put on Metformin and Orlistat and got pregnant pretty much straight away even though I was told that I would find it difficult to have kids. I didn't know I was pregnant for the first 16 weeks as my periods were very irregular. I had thought getting pregnant would be my greatest issue but it turned out not to be. I got pregnant again last year without any medication and I'm now on BC. I'm also on a strict low carb and low fat diet and exercising 4-5 times a week. Its only been 2 weeks my first weigh in is in 2 weeks hopefully it'll pay off this time!

All I can say is just hold on. I know its harder for some than others and we all fight different battles with our PCOS but we can overcome it. My GP and nutritionist have told me that with weight loss, the symptoms of PCOS reduce and sometimes go away. You will have kids and they'll drive you crazy! Just keep fighting. x

I got pregnant with my first child no problem. I am trying again and my periods got irregular as soon as I stopped taking the bc pill. Doc suspects I have PCOS but it's not definitive. I am however, pre-diabetic and insulin resistance is causing me to not lose weight and she suspects it is what is causing the whole mess with the periods. She is putting me on metformin and I am just scared.

My biggest PCOS issues are losing weight, depression, low energy and regulating my period. I was amazed at how much improving my diet and exercising regularly helped me with all of these issues.

Hello! I have PCOS too - I was diagnosed when I was 16 after my body went haywire. I've been on the pill for several years which keeps the symptoms at bay and keeps everything ticking over. Although my BF and I have talked about having children in the next few years and I'm scared I'll have problems.

It would be great to get to know some other PCOS ladies on here!

I was diagnosed last year. After a bunch of medication and different doctors telling me different things I decided to do it alone. It is very confusing to me. The whole thing. What to eat..what not to eat. Anyone have any advice? Weight loss is extremely difficult I have noticed as well.

Hello ladies,

I haven't been diagnosed with PCOS, but have suffered from it's side effects for years and the doctors that I've seen are either blind or stupid not to have been able to identify this issue. My period became irregular at the age of 15 and for the last 16 years, I've had cases where I didn't see a period for 3 years straight!! I would not have a period unless I was on BC and my weight has been a challenge and I'm beginning to give up on ever being able to lose the weight. I thought I'd never have a child, but in 2010, I lost about 10 pounds and got pregnant with my son. That was surely a blessing and a surprise! But now I want to start working on another child. I stopped my BC...but my weight is very challenging to keep off. I have tried everything. When I get on a good workout and eating schedule, I go through something mental that places me right back where I started...10lb heavier. I eat salads, nuts, fruit, drink water all day long, cut down on caffeine and drinking caffeine free tea instead. I do moderate exercise 3 days a week. I tried Insanity and sustained massive shin splints and a hamstring injury that is just now getting better. The only problem I have is consistency. I'm a graduate student and a mommy. My hubby works all the time, so working out, homework and anything else I have to do has to be done in the limited amount of time I have when the hubby is home with our son. I stopped taking my BC and will probably have to start up again because my face broke out as if I had chicken pox. I definitely need the support of the group.

Hi ladies... I'm just looking for some advise really.

I have PCOS diagnosed when I as 19 and now am currently 21/22. I was recommended to start on the pill Yaz and dropped a tone of weight while I was on it.

I was changed to the pill yazmin due to break through bleeding and not being able to skip my white pills while being on Yaz. When I was on Yazmin I had been slowly gaining weight (10kg mark) and so I was concerned with this and asked my gynae to put me back onto yaz. She put me back onto yaz flex (the $40 a MONTH pill) & I now go two months WITH a period and one month without, bloating etc. and this is while being on yaz flex, has anyone else experienced this with changing down pills? I've been on yaz flex for nearly six months now and no progress.

Needless to say I'm going to try and deal with the Yazmin again, but I'm just looking to see if anyone has experienced this also?

Any help will be amazing, I just don't know how to manage this all!

Sorry to hear about your struggles, Quiann! I'm right there with you. Although I've yet to conceive. Doc says I need to lose at least 50 lbs before trying . I feel like I'll never get there and my hubby is so ready! Message me any time! Even if you just need to know there's someone else out there who shares your struggle. Having PCOS sucks!

also, i use natural treatments and no birth control pills. i do not feel like they are the answer for me.

I have PCOS, diagnosed 12+ years ago. Went on an off having a period, no period and on and off different BC for a few years. After getting married in 2001 I never went back on BC because of wanting to start a family. In 2011, after having my daughter, I started taking Kavira BC pill, but I never got a period with it, so my OB switched me to Yaz (Ocella) and it's been working perfectly every 28-30 days every month since 9/2012. I have all of the symptoms/side effects of PCOS - thinning, hair, weight gain, acne (now very mild due to diet changes), facial hair that I have had lasered and use Vaniqa prescription cream twice daily as well as major anxiety and depression.

here is my post about my pcos
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1049720-56-lbs-down-with-pics-pcos