I have PCOS would love some support

Okay ...here goes.
A HUGE part of my weight gain came from the last two years of being sick. What used to be ovarian cysts every couple of months became ovarian cysts every month because I am getting older. It is horrible painful. Probably don't have to tell you. And as horrible as it sounds try to avoid the drugs they give you. All of those narcotics will make you gain weight. And to be honest they barely ever made a dent in the pain.So after 24,000 dollars in medical bills in 2 years and moments away from the hysterectomy I decided I quit. They really don't know how to help me and they will continue taking away my life in this process.
So first I have two kids the whole PCOS have trouble getting pregnant did not apply to me.
Second really take a look at vitamins and herbal supplements I find that DHEA daily decreases the pain and magnesium at night works just as well as all their pain killers.
Avoid the Depo shot - what a nightmare - just google it and it didn't stop the cysts at all
I swim . I find the water helps. I can't say my pain is gone but I am feel like I am more in control than I have been.
My heart goes out to you good luck and I truly do feel your pain!!!!

What is pcos?

Hi Michelle, PCOS is an illness or a syndrome whereby women grow a number of small cysts on their ovaries, which interfere with hormone production, and therefore can cause irregular and incredibly heavy and painful periods. The hormone imbalance can also affect mood, depression/anxiety and other aspects of daily life, and the most relevant for those on MFP is it causes ladies to put weight on very easily, and makes it very hard to lose. It is often confused with hyper-thyroidism and diabetes, as the insulin issues causing sugar-retention in the blood (and therefore food cravings and weight gain and slow weight loss) are similar. Some supplements and medicines that combat sugar-retention such as Garcinia Cambogia or Metformin can be effective. It has also been linked to gastro disorders such as IBS.

Although the cysts themselves do not cause infertility, the irregular ovulation can make it hard for ladies who suffer with PCOS to conceive, and the weight gain caused by the syndrome often leads to more obesity-related pregnancy complications, such as miscarriages.

It is a very common syndrome. Once you do have the diagnosis the best thing you can do is to lose weight, as this can alleviate or at least control almost all symptoms associated with PCOS

Fellow PCOS-er here... feel free to add me ladies!

Hi ladies! Yay, lots of lovely new PCOS Soul Cyster friends today

BeccaJane, I'm not sure whether the insulin issues would be as acute in someone who is a healthy weight, but I would imagine the blood sugar issues would still be present, although maybe reduced because the hormone imbalance has been helped the the weight loss. Maybe ask your doctor if you are struggling? They may be able to help more than me, I just know the things I have researched for myself, as I said to becki I have become an bit of an unwilling expert :laugh:

Hi ladies I have pcos too. I just went back to the doc and they had to up my metformin to help with my periods and my weight gain. I would love some support to. It has been hard going for me to lose this weight so days it hurts looking in the mirror.

Hi guys,

Just wondering what people's experiences with PCOS have been? I've got a doctors appointment in a couple weeks as I fear I may have it myself, but my symptoms don't match up perfectly, so just wondering if anyone diagnosed with PCOS has had similar symptoms to me.

So here's my story...

I went on the combined pill when I was 13 due to having ridiculously heavy periods, they were regular but I just couldn't cope with them back then. I was on it until about July last year, and since then I've gained 31 pounds! I'm not super active these days, but I am probably doing more exercise now than when I was on the pill, and I eat a lot healthier now I'm not a student anymore. Before I was eating pizza and cake all the time along with at least 20 units of alcohol a week!

My weight gain was slow at first but has really accelerated since about December, I then also decided to stop smoking in January which probably hasn't helped my weight problem either.

But the last 4 months I've been having irregular periods getting closer together each month and I've been plagued with acne, worse than it ever was when I was a teen. I've not gone a day in 4 months without getting a new spot and plenty have been horrible under the skin bumps that have persisted for weeks.

I've also noticed my moustache hair has gotten darker and is growing more quickly. Losing weight has also been impossible, the low carb diet was the only one with any success but with the horrible brain fog I got with it, I just couldn't carry on, and as soon as I started eating carbs again (mainly just sweet potatoes, potatoes and rice) I gained it all back and more! In the past when I was a bit overweight while taking the pill, I was literally stuffing my face with bad food every day and as soon as I started eating healthy and getting a bit of exercise everyday, the weight just melted off me and that was when I was 18. My metabolism can't have slowed down that much since then, I'm only 21 now.

I've heard that with PCOS most people just don't have periods at all rather than super heavy ones that are a bit irregular like mine and that their weight gain tends to be just in the stomach region, whereas mine has been all over but particularly noticeable around hips and arms and I guess my stomach a little as well (although in the past I never put on weight there at all). I've also not really had any ovarian pain, just wondering if anyone else diagnosed with PCOS has had similar symptoms to these? Don't want the doc to think I'm a hypochondriac or anything.

I've been on the contraceptive pill for so long it's hard to know whether this is natural for my body or whether I do actually have PCOS. At least if I do have it, I will be able to go back on the pill and lose this horrible weight, so tired of trying on clothes I bought only last summer and finding they are way too small for me. Good luck with losing the weight everyone! Let's hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all!

I was diagnosed in February. I've been on Metformin but losing is still slow.

You can add me if you like, but I forewarn anyone who adds me that my filters are generally off on MFP.

Let us know how you get on :-)

Tryett your story is inspirational. Very brave decision to have a hysterectomy I think but your reasons speak for themself! My doctor won't give me Chlomid until I reach a BMI of less than 30 which I feel like is the only thing standing in my way now! So here I am on my weight loss journey with you wonderful people!!

I was fortunate to find a Dr who would prescribe clomid to someone overweight back then. But it was expensive and our insurance did not cover it. But the boys were worth it.

PCOS suffer here too! Feel free to add me ladies. I've been diagnosed for 7 years. I find that we have to eat way less than non pcos sufferes to lose weight which feels unfair!

Was diagnosed when I was 18, this is more than 20 years ago. I was lucky in that my dr was also specialising in reproductive endocrinology and insisted that as long as I exercise and monitor my weight I would be fine. I had some cysts at times, never requiring surgery, I had some trouble conceiving one of my kids but nothing terrible, have insulin resistance but it is more of a lab finding so far , not affecting my life. I have tried to not be completely sedentary (with periods of being very active) and have never been overweight so far. Honestly the only noticeable effect of PCOS is increased body hair and some facial hair, but is more a nuisance than a real health issue. My BMI has been all these years in the range of 18 to 21-22, and according to my dr this is important in not having symptoms. I am no expert, but so far he seems to be right.

Hello,

I have PCOS and was just diagnosed about a year and a half ago, I am 41 now. I also have no thyroid and a heart condition that means no high intensity exercise.

I have to say what has worked for me in the past and I need to get back to is that I stick to a net calorie intake of around 1200-1300 calories a day. Exercise is also a key for me. I do find I can eat carbs but it has to be gluten-free (except corn based products) or certain others like kamut (ancient grain). I fine that potato's (though I have had a hard time with giving up fries) and white rice are no good either.

I have regular periods although they are every 5 instead of 4 weeks. Between the no thyroid and the PCOS I definitely have the facial hair and the leg hair is darker and courser too. Other than that and the fact that I put on all my weight around my stomach I don't have that many symptoms. Something to watch out for and get tested is your thyroid. I have read a lot about the fact that PCOS and hypothyroidism can me connected.

Feel free to add me.