can I start a PCOS Vent your frustrations Thread? lol

I'm so glad I found this thread! And I love the term Cysters. My name is Jamie and I'm 28. I was reading through some of the earlier posts and I have to say, that even though my friends and family may not totally undertand PCOS, I am lucky to have their support. For those of you that don't have support, or maybe like me, just don't have others around that understand what you're going through, it's nice to have a group like this.

At age 15 I developed an eating disorder and was very skinny, OK, too skinny. In 2001, my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with an eye disorder called Uveitis and had to be put on steriods which caused me to gain about 80 pounds in a year or so. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2004 when I was almost 21. I have never been able to get below 180 since that time no matter how hard I work. During my first marriage, between his deployments, I went to fertility specialists and went through a couple of rounds of Chlomid and keeping track of my basal temp. I couldn't get pregnant and in 2007 my husband (now ex) knocked up his girlfriend and they named their daughter the name we had picked out for years. I was "rip my heart out, stomp it in the ground" depressed and sadder than I ever thought I could be. Today it is 4 years later and I have been with my wonderful boyfriend for 2 years. I don't think he totally understands PCOS, but he is supportive of me in every way possible. As sad as I was when my marriage ended, I see now that there was a plan in place for me to meet someone totally amazing and I'm glad that I don't have to share a child with my ex. I do hope to remarry and try for kids again in the next couple of years.

As far as my symptoms go, I never had major hair loss, just some exsessive hair shedding during stressful times, which I think tends to be normal. I have dark patches on my arms that just showed up a couple of months ago. Those are new for me. I do have hair growth on my face and stomach (and toes, anyone else get that?) which I have to wax, pluck, and shave to feel like a normal girl! And of course, I have a difficult time losing weight. I also go through extreme pain when cysts rupture and I HATE my abnormal, almost month long periods (that is, when they DO decide to come).

Anyway, that is a little of my story. Hopefully some of you will add me as a friend and we can go on a weight loss journey together. I have gone to a couple of doctors here and a specialist, but no one seems to know how to help me lose weight. I just get the same-o eat better and exercise routine. Duh, I'm not stupid! No matter what I do, I can't break 180. but I've got about 30 pounds to go to get to that point again...so I suppose right now I'll worry about that when I get there.

In 2008, just after my divorce, I was very very healthy. Eating nothing with HFCS or preservitives and running almost every night. I was healthier than I had ever been in my life, but I couldn't break 180. I was trying to go into the military but could never meet their weight and tape requirements. (Taping is when you don't meet their weight requirements, so they measure your thighs, hips, and neck...I guess for body fat). Anyway, I could not meet their standards and so when I lost sight of that goal, I kind of just got back into my old routines.

Now I want to look good and feel good for me. I also have a job that keeps me in front of lots of people and we may even start a You Tube channel for my work, which I HATE the way I look in pictures and video...no way am I ready for that! I am also hoping to be engaged in the next year or so... *smile* I have lots of wonderful life goals to look forward to, but would like to be a thinner, happier me while achieving those

Jamie

Wow, I had no idea that this thread was out there! I am so glad I'm not the only one any more!

I've been on birth control for 10+ years, and have been officially diagnosed with PCOS for 2 years (though it's in my family and has been suspected much longer than that...). I recently came off birth control, as my hubby and I are planning on having kids some time in the next few years (ha!), but since then I CANNOT lose weight! I am working my butt off and nothing is happening! I can't be definite that the two are linked, but it does seem weird that the two coincide... I've never had problems losing weight in the (birth-controlled) past when I've put my mind to it...

Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

Dear PCOS,

*kitten* off.

Love,

Allyson

ROFLMFAO...I couldn't agree more!!!!!!

Thanks for the thread....yeah HATE the extra facial hair!

Dear PCOS,

You SUCK!


Does anyone have information or know of a good website that talks about the pros vs. cons of weight training. I know I have read that it is good for women to train with weights as women do not get bulky muscles, BUT as we all know, us PCOS'rs are a bit different. Will I be buff if I continue weight training during my weight loss??


Thanks!!

Brenda

Bump

Thanks PCOS for many of the problems in my marriage... From my diagnosis day about 10 years ago when the hubby's first reaction was "you've let yourself go and this is what happens" (which he later retracted with more education about PCOS, but the hurt from that statement has obviously not been forgotten) to all the fights about my weight and all the fights about our family and friends having babies when we can't (yet), to even the little disagreements about the condition of my skin. It's like you, PCOS, put a huge magnifying glass on all my insecurities for him to scrutinize and critique at will.

Thanks also for the low self esteem you've helped foster and grow to the point that my career has crumbled. (it's hard to be a sports journalist as a woman, and particularly so when fans shout at you on the sideline "Hey fat girl, where do you think you're going?" Just trying to do my job and take some pictures, buddy.

The depression, the missed periods, the weight, the acne, the hair, hair everywhere... You've really outdone yourself.

Thank God for the day about a year ago when I returned to Curves, got on the machines, and remembered that I'm an athlete who refuses to give up and likes competition, challenges, and sore muscles. Thank God for the therapist who introduced me to Madea and Diary of a Mad Black Woman and helped turn my thinking around from self loathing to finding self worth again.

I have loosened your grip, PCOS, and while I know there's no cure for you, I have read enough from my cysters in this message thread alone to help strengthen my faith that I can lose weight, I can have children, I can regain my confidence and my career, and I can beat you.

So, up for a little one-on-one, PCOS?

Aww... You're certainly welcome! Leave it to me to "overshare"! Lol --- honestly, I think getting angry finally helped me. I'm so accommodating to everyone, trying to make everyone like me, that giving myself permission to get royally p***ed off just flipped a switch somehow. (That was where Madea came in... cue the chainsaw: "Which half do you want?") I finally decided to stand up for myself and to keep fighting for myself whether it be against random hateful strangers, my husband, or my own negative self talk. Each small victory is another reason to be proud (and thankful), and I'm trying to build on that. I've got a long way to go, and I'm so glad to meet other people like you on similar journeys.

You just about made me cry. This is the attitude I am struggling to find right now. Its so hard. I want self worth so bad. Thankyou for being so brave and an inspiration to keep fighting for ourselves! Thank you so much for this post

Thanks PCOS for many of the problems in my marriage... From my diagnosis day about 10 years ago when the hubby's first reaction was "you've let yourself go and this is what happens" (which he later retracted with more education about PCOS, but the hurt from that statement has obviously not been forgotten) to all the fights about my weight and all the fights about our family and friends having babies when we can't (yet), to even the little disagreements about the condition of my skin. It's like you, PCOS, put a huge magnifying glass on all my insecurities for him to scrutinize and critique at will.

Thanks also for the low self esteem you've helped foster and grow to the point that my career has crumbled. (it's hard to be a sports journalist as a woman, and particularly so when fans shout at you on the sideline "Hey fat girl, where do you think you're going?" Just trying to do my job and take some pictures, buddy.

The depression, the missed periods, the weight, the acne, the hair, hair everywhere... You've really outdone yourself.

Thank God for the day about a year ago when I returned to Curves, got on the machines, and remembered that I'm an athlete who refuses to give up and likes competition, challenges, and sore muscles. Thank God for the therapist who introduced me to Madea and Diary of a Mad Black Woman and helped turn my thinking around from self loathing to finding self worth again.

I have loosened your grip, PCOS, and while I know there's no cure for you, I have read enough from my cysters in this message thread alone to help strengthen my faith that I can lose weight, I can have children, I can regain my confidence and my career, and I can beat you.

So, up for a little one-on-one, PCOS?

Hi all, I am new to the boards and struggling with PCOS. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago and it's kind of taken over my life. More than anything, I want to get my weight and my PCOS under control so that I can live as normal and healthy a life as possible. This is my first time seriously trying to do anything about it...I used to tell myself that it wasn't worth even trying because it would just be too hard to lose the weight, but my perspective has changed, and here I am!

Hey Ladies,
I'm so glad there's this thread, although reading through it made me want to cry. I live in the UK and I went to my Dr's a couple of months ago about the stupid weight gain, lack of periods (I'm lucky to have one maybe every 4 months!!), the dark patches, the excessive hair EVERYWHERE and my acne. And the fact I cannot conceive (been trying for the last 4 years). She asked me if I'd ever heard of PCOS. I replied with no, she then explained to me what it was. I later looked it up online... and there it was, pretty much every single symptom, I have!!

My Dr arranged for a blood test to be done to fully confirm I had it, even though she said it was highly likely and she was even convinced I have it, Any way, I waited a few days for my bloods to come back and they came back as normal! She told me that because they came back normal, it didn't mean that I didn't have it (as hormones change so often), it just meant they couldn't treat me until they had real proof that I have it (Bloods only). It really deflated me and upset me. I keep getting put on antibiotics for my acne but to no avail. It's started getting worse recently too, (I know this may be a little too much info) but I'm starting to get big painful spots on my inner thighs (which is originally when she asked me about PCOS) too

I struggle to lose weight, I'm tired of spending hours plucking at my face, I'm tired of being on the edge all the time because I'm not sure when I'm going to come on. And as for the acne... I hate it! I just want to cry because I am so fed up and so annoyed that the Dr wont even help me. I just don't know what to do!! I don't mean to add a negative tone to this thread, so I apologise if it's come across that way

Kirsty x

Anyone else have Tinea Versicolor with PCOS??

This is kind of off the topic of weight loss, but in regards to PCOS...does anyone else have Tinea Versicolor? This is a skin discoloration. For me it starts on the back of my neck and spreads down my shoulders and chest. Anyway, I got rid of it and then it JUST came back...maybe this week? I don't really know for sure since I can't see the back of my neck and I've been wearing my hair down a lot so my boyfriend wouldn't have noticed it either.

I guess I'm just wondering if this is a PCOS thing or something separate. Like maybe PCOS makes me more susceptible to it?? My doc said that it's a fungus (I hate that word!) and only certain people are susceptible to it. The only way to "kill" it is with Selsum Blue shampoo...yes seriously. She told me the first time to leave the shampoo to dry overnight then wash it off in the morning...but this ended up giving me a very bad chemical burn. Ugh. And right before vacation to Cozumel too! Anyway, I've now read online that you only leave the Selsum on for 15 - 20 minutes then wash off...but I haven't found anything linking it to PCOS.

Just wondering if anyone else is having this issue and how do you keep it from happening. When it spreads, I seriously look like I have leopard spots. It's SOOO embarrassing.

Dear PCOS,

Twenty years ago I had the wonderful news given to me that I would have a very difficult time getting pregnant because of this fabulous condition called PCOS.

I wish the doctor would have told me the truth. She neglected to inform me of the weight gain, mood swings, facial hair, skin tags and skin discoloration. She also failed to mention the heartbreak, low self esteem, and poor and distorted body image I now have.

However PCOS, I did NOT have a difficult time getting pregnant, but rather had a difficult time carrying and lost both early in the pregnancies.

So, while you may have actually won the conception battle, I will win the life war. The damage that you have inflicted onto my body and into my mind, shall come to an end. There may be times where you will still get the best of me, but now I realize just how many others are like me and together we shall overcome. After two endometrial ablations, I can not have children and I still suffer from your quirky side effects, but I am on the right path now. I am changing my ways. I am getting healthy and me getting healthy means I AM GETTING RID OF YOU!!!

"F" off PCOS and sincerely yours,

Janet