Can I 'sort of' have PCOS?

Steph, the only advice I can give you is to see another doctor.

SLLRunner wrote: »

Steph, the only advice I can give you is to see another doctor.

+1

time to buckle down! I know how you feel.

tons of women here have or had PCOS - you can utterly destroy your symptoms with weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. you're really going to want to watch your added and simple sugars, because PCOS often goes hand in hand with insulin resistance.

eat good, eat green, move more. PCOS makes it harder to lose weight, but it doesn't make it impossible.

I've got both Endometriosis and PCOS and both are 'officially' diagnosed - I've had 2 surgeries for my Endo. I don't have all the symptoms of either but it did take ages for the diagnosis to happen. I think (it was a while ago) that the main things that led to the diagnosis of PCOS were the cysts on my ovaries - they look like chocolate chip cookies on the ultrasound - and really high levels of testosterone and my inability to lose weight...then the usual squiffy periods etc. I never had any over hair growth or dark skin patches etc. I've now gone from 220lbs to 160lbs through a low-carb diet and moderate exercise

I'm on the same boat!

At 21 I had a 3 months period, severe dehydration, lost hair by the bunch, anemia and I pretty much blacked out from pain, the next month nothing and then again. My OB/GYN denied flatly that I could have cysts since I was "too young" (by that he means, unmarried w/o kids). He gave me birth control pills which gave me severe acne, water retention and weight gain.

I decided to start losing weight at 285 (back in may) and weight was coming off pretty well and at a good pace but it seemed to get stuck at 255.

In august 31st I had a surgery since I had an awful pain on my lower left side, one doctor said torn pelvic muscle but I could move; so I went to the OB/GYN and he said AGAIN I was too young to have problems (at 24) and sent me for an ultrasound since he thought I had kidney stones.

While at the ultrasound the doctors freaked out since a 2 1/2 inches cyst had ruptured, along with my ovary. The insurance company took forever to approve it (pain began since aug 18) and now I have a slash (which is a bit longer than a C section) that left the area completely numb, incredibly painful periods that last 5-6 days (they were 3-4 before) that leave me drained.

My ovary was partially reconstructed (I was told, did not go further) adhesions removed and was told there were many other cysts were but were minor as well as being told I had endometriosis and I had to do mayor changes.

Two days later he said I was completely fine and to go on as if nothing had happened.

Since yesterday I've been with a lot of pain and I have days where I eat everything on site and days where I'm nauseated all day, my weight is stuck.

I didn't start to get symptoms till my mid 20's and this is when the facial hair and weight gain began. I'm now 35 and had my official diagnosis last week as I'd had enough. The adult acne started a few years ago and my weight gain got out of control as did the excess hair growth and fits of sleep disturbance and anxiety.

Dr diagnosed me on symptoms and raised testosterone levels. I have been prescribed Dianette for the acne and facial hair and I have started a low GI/low sugar diet to combat the insulin resistance and regain control of my body.

There is loads of us our there with PCOS and various things to try and help. Good luck x

So sorry to hear you're going through this. It's possible to have "symptoms caused by cysts" which don't necessarily meet the criteria for PCOS.

Last October I went through something similar. My period was nearly a month overdue, my hair started falling out like crazy, and I was swelling up and gaining weight. I was always cramping, my boobs hurt all the time, and I was super emotional. My boyfriend and I were completely convinced that I was pregnant.

I asked the doctor for advice and was told that cysts are actually normal. At any given time MOST women have some cysts. Sometimes they cause symptoms and it's "unfortunate" but they're not considered life-threatening unless they meet the size criteria you mentioned.

I ended up gaining 20 lbs over the next 3 months before my symptoms finally went away. I still haven't lost any of it, and my hair is still falling out, but at least my cycles seem fairly regular.

BTW I went through all the same tests you did: thyroid, etc. I gained 12 lbs in the first 3 weeks. I had JUST lost 30 lbs through MFP over the past year and I was DEVASTATED. No one understood. Literally no matter what I did, how much I worked out through the pain, or logged every calorie I ate, the pounds kept coming on. And they're 10 times harder to lose that before the symptoms came. The only option seems to be waiting out the symptoms and hitting the gym harder than ever when they die down.