PCOS question

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stephaniezoundi
stephaniezoundi Posts: 1,148 Member
in Motivation and Support
Just got home from the doctors and being sent for a whole lot of blood tests. The suspicion is PCOS. But from what I've read on line I'd miss periods if that was the correct diagnosis?? I have become more regular in the last 2 years (28 days almost always), but have really really really heavy and clot filled periods that last for 14 - 18 days. Is this true of PCOS as well? I should have asked at the doctors but was caught off guard as went in for a chest infection!

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  • teanabean
    teanabean Posts: 168 Member
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    I have PCOS.

    I do not miss periods. Just the opposite.

    My cousin has it as well, and she misses periods. So it affects each woman's body differently.

    Mine was confirmed with bloodwork and an ultrasound. My ovaries had multiple cysts that wouldn't go away. Some women experience facial hair growth but I never have but I do have bad skin.
  • garysgirl719
    garysgirl719 Posts: 235 Member
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    I have been diagnosed with PCOS and irregular cycles is one of the most common symptoms. It was my GYN's first cues that there was a problem. It isn't uncommon for me to go 3-6 months without a cycle. Another symptom for many is excessive facial hair and acne.
  • achampionsheart
    achampionsheart Posts: 1,020 Member
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    when i was diagnosed several years ago i was always irregular, going months at a time w/o cycles....ihad heavy cycles when i would have a cycle, passing clots of considerable size (im sure it was from not having a cycle for months)....i was put on Metformin, which is actually a diabetic med. that helps PCOS patients lose weight....i hope this helps.....good luck to you
  • Catzwitch
    Catzwitch Posts: 205 Member
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    I am the opposite - I get two or more a month (complete with all the fun that goes along with them).
  • tiareed
    tiareed Posts: 10
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    I have PCOS. I have missed periods, but have also gone 60 days straight bleeding. I think some of the symptoms vary. PCOS can make it very difficult for weight loss as well. Since I have been working with my doctor to get it under control it has been a little easier. Also, insulin resistance can go with this (diabetes).
  • kcalli0429
    kcalli0429 Posts: 27 Member
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    I have PCOS, I rarely have a cycle. I have went a 1 1/2 with nothing. But when I do they are painful, and lots of clotting. PCOS has other side effects, other than the irregular period. obesity, diabetes are a couple. Your hormones will be way out of wack. To much testosterone, which willlead to excess bodily hair. My dr. just precribed Metformin to help with it. Good luck and I hope all goes well. oh and as you lose the weight your cycle will become more normal.
  • mindyrenee81
    mindyrenee81 Posts: 67 Member
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    I havent been diagnosed with PCOS. I do suffer from heavy and clot filled periods. My doctor put me on birth control pills, I cant have any more children because I have my tubes tied. I do have several fibroids and cysts on my ovaries. The birth control pills keep the cysts away to a certain extent and has helped with the heavy bleeding. I would bleed for 7 or 8 days and now its maybe 2 days with barely any bleeding. I have asked my GYN if there was any way that I could have PCOS but he said that because I have had 3 children that I more than likely dont have it. He thinks that I have endometrios(sp?).
  • cassondraragan
    cassondraragan Posts: 233 Member
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    Not every woman has all the symptoms. I had PCOS for years, but didn't start missing periods until my weight topped out at 265-270. But I had the extreme weight gain and acne. I didn't have the fluid filled cysts, but I did have the high testosterone levels etc. Also, I failed the insulin resistance test (not the same as the glucose tolerance test which tells if you are diabetic.) Most of the PCOS women are NOT diabetic, but most are prediabetic and will eventually become diabetic unless they lose lots of weight (and sometimes even after weight loss.)
  • JDRBT
    JDRBT Posts: 264 Member
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    PCOS has a VARIETY of Symptoms. That's why "syndromes" are so hard to DX. Some people get 1 symptom, while others have every one. There is no single test for PCOS, but there are several blood tests that could indicate that direction. (If you're having trouble losing weight, Insulin Resistance may be part of it - it's very treatable AND can help your weight loss IF you're having that carb related issue).

    Cysts on ovaries are VERY common and, in some cases, normal. They often come and go w/o any treatment over a woman's lifetime. Endometriosis and PCOS have similiar symptoms. I was a text book case.

    As a patient w/ PCOS for over 12 years now, and a professional in the medical field, I will give you this advice:
    YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BETTER THAN ANYONE.
    If you are concerned, and your MD writes it off as nothing, it's okay to get a 2nd opinion.
    If you feel you are misdiagnosed, GET A 2nd OPINION! Physicians are professionals and they understand.

    The BEST specialists on PCOS are Reproductive Endocrinologists. So if anyone else is diagnosing you and you are concerned, get a 2nd opinion from someone with more specialized knowledge. ;)
  • cbauer77
    cbauer77 Posts: 3
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    I was diagnosed about 13 years ago with PCOS. I have excessive weight, insulin resistance, facial and body hair, male pattern hair loss, irregular periods if not on BC. I currently take Yazmin and have been on Metformin off and on for years. I went two years once without a period when I wasn't on the BC! I was also unable to conceive without the help of Clomid, HCG and intrauterine insemination. Luckily, wound up with two beautiful children for my efforts. As I've gotten older, the symptoms seem to be getting worse. Hopefully for me, losing some of the excess weight will help.
  • Artemis_Acorn
    Artemis_Acorn Posts: 836 Member
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    Just got home from the doctors and being sent for a whole lot of blood tests. The suspicion is PCOS. But from what I've read on line I'd miss periods if that was the correct diagnosis?? I have become more regular in the last 2 years (28 days almost always), but have really really really heavy and clot filled periods that last for 14 - 18 days. Is this true of PCOS as well? I should have asked at the doctors but was caught off guard as went in for a chest infection!

    I have PCOS. I have been through times where I went 2-3 months between periods (and spent a lot of money on pregnancy tests int the process.) I am currently very regular. Your description of periods exactly matches my own "really really really heavy and clot filled periods that last for 14 - 18 days". I was nearly always anemic. I was terrified to go anywhere during my menses. I ran out of work with blood running down my legs and pooling in my shoes after a sneeze - more than once. My heart goes out to you. I found that the herbal tincture of "Shepherds Purse" helped stem the tide. I would let it run for 7 horrible days and then start taking 10 drops in a glass of water every hour and within a few hours the flow started tapering off. I would continue taking the SP until my bleeding stopped.

    When I was first diagnosed, I tried Metformin, but it did not help me. The doc also put me on birth control pills which nearly killed me.

    Thankfully, about 5 years ago I found another supplement that made my periods very nearly normal almost immediately. I understand we're not supposed to do product endorsements for MLM products here, so I must respect that and not say I what I take, but for me, it was worth every penny of a rather pricey product. I still have a few thin, stringy clots from time to time, but other than that, no issues with the cycle. I wish I would have discovered it back when I wanted more children but could not conceive. I do have to deal with the facial hair issue, and daily work on the "unexplained weight gain" aspect of the syndrome.

    If your diagnosis proves out, there are ways to manage it, although it is not a fun syndrome to have.
  • Caperfae
    Caperfae Posts: 433
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    I have PCOS as well and have been known to go many months without a period. It got a lot more regular after losing weight last year but then I got pregnant unexpectedly after needing many fertility drugs to conceive 6 years ago!

    PCOS is a general diagnosis that has many many symptoms and not everyone will experience the same signs and symptoms.
    My ovarian cysts were still there and clearly seen on the ultrasound I had when I was 5 weeks pregnant.
  • stephaniezoundi
    stephaniezoundi Posts: 1,148 Member
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    Thanks ladies! Guess I will just have to wait for the blood work to come back and see what the doctor says from there. :ohwell:
  • nothereanymore
    nothereanymore Posts: 17
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    I just got told that I suffer from PCOS a week ago and from all the research that I have done I have had it since my mid teens, and the symptoms of it are different for everyone. I went in to see my doctor 5 years ago about irregular cycles because my husband and I were TTC. I bounced around 8 different doctors before one finally send me to a specialist and it took him a year and a half to tell me that I had PCOS but the was all he told me, I went in for surgery to find out why my left fallopian tubes was blocked and came out with a bunch of holes burnt into my ovaries and when I asked why he did that he said "Oh, well, you have PCOS come back in 6 months and then we will try hormone therapy if you are still not pregnant!" I had to go home and research this out myself and so far this is the best article I have found for it http://www.infertilityphysician.com/androgen/pcos.html give it a try it might give you more answer to whether or not you yourself think that your doctor is on the right track with telling you that you have PCOS.

    Best of Luck to You!

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