Help with PCOS? Please read.

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Replies

  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    An ultrasound is not necessary for diagnosis. Many women have PCOS but have no cysts present. The doctor did a blood test to check androgen levels (testosterone, etc) to see if they were elevated. You are likely already missing periods.

    If you have cysts, or if you don't, the treatment is the same. Since PCOS is a syndrome, you must meet two of the three criterion below:

    1. Increased androgen levels (visually- hirsutism; bloodwork can also show this);
    2. Menstrual irregularities or missed periods;
    3. Cysts in the ovaries.

    Hope that helps!

    Thanks! I have the missed periods, and the blood test. I guess they will check for cysts soon.
    I was diagnosed at age 19. As a teenager I did every kind of diet including starvation. I exercised like crazy an nothing happened. I was hairy and embarrassed I was always getting prodded and poked at the Dr to find out what was wrong. 5 yrs later I went to a new Dr. In town and she diagnosed me with PCOS. I started bcps and lost 50 lbs fast. I gained some back over the years (now I am 34) but I just lost control of my eating habits. It isn't easy losing weight and you have to work harder but it can be done. I have been on met and yaz for the past 8 yrs. It is working pretty good. I went back to the Dr. Recently and I have fewer cysts on one side than the last time. I haven't even started the family but already know if I can't get pregnant there are options out there. Good luck with your journey. It is nice to have others who understand.

    What is BCPS? I thought maybe you meant birth control pills but I might be wrong
  • photochick85
    photochick85 Posts: 6
    I've had PCOS since I was 15, now 27 and I feel that exercise and diet are key roles into controlling our stupid ovaries!! LOL...I work in a busy doctors office so by the time I get home I don't want to do anything else. So for me exercising is hard to get in the habbit. I try to eat right but that too is a struggle with so many fast food restaurants it's just easy to grab something on the go.
    I have learned that if I don't exercise and eat right that my gut will hurt later, I had to knock out sugars for a long time(which helped alot with losing wt). But I've slowly got back to old eating habbits....I gotta get back on the wagon with taking care of myself, if I don't I may not be able to have kids. With PCOS it is harder to have kids but not impossible.

    Its a lifestyle change, but you can do it!!!
  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    thank you :)
  • 135momma
    135momma Posts: 11
    I didn't read thorough all the posts but I started showing signs of PCOS at the same age but I wasn't diagnosed until around 23 or 24. Since then I have had 2 children without infertility drugs. I did take metformin for a bit but I felt terrible on it so now I don't take anything. I have had MAJOR success with doing low carb, low sugar foods. Basically I would only eat fruits, veggies, and meat. I lost about 10 pounds in 2 weeks but I gained it all back when I quit watching what I ate. I'm overweight but not obese...I'd like to loose 20 pounds to feel comfortable. In general I'm not a fan of Rx medication...in my experience PCOS can be managed just as easily through diet. This may not be the case for everyone but it certainly is for me. I've had most all of the symptoms that go with PCOS but at my heavier weights they are much worse.

    *Also as a personal choice I no longer believe in female birth control...in fact I never had any signs of PCOS until going on birth control.
  • Kitten2629
    Kitten2629 Posts: 1,358 Member
    Have any of you lost weight without being super low carb? I'm usually between 100-170 carbs daily. I'm not sure if I will have to adjust.

    I have lost 35 lbs so far. I have never done low carb. Though I am on Metformin since I am insulin resistant due to the PCOS. So I'm sure it is a contributing factor. 1 week off my pills and I will gain 5 lbs. I will pretty much have to stay on that indefinitely. With my personally losing weight has not decreased the cyst on my ovaries. I still have about 10 on each one. It stinks, but since I'm done with having kids. Not a major concern for me anymore other than the pain when one bursts. Only thing different right now is I now take a lower dosage and the longer lasting one.
  • emrys1976
    emrys1976 Posts: 213 Member
    I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago. Weight loss came very difficult to me for a long time because I had to do a lot of trial and error to figure out how my body worked (and I'm still trying to figure it all out, honestly!). I definitely have all the typical stuff - too much hair, excess sweating, amenorrhea, subfertility, insulin resistance, even some cardiac problems associated with PCOS. I had progressed to diabetes for a brief time but have reversed that with diet. I'm currently trying to get a doctor to help me get pregnant (I'm a lesbian so I need a doc's help). It's not an easy road, but it's manageable - especially when realizing how many other people have it! There's a group here for PCOSers.

    btw, ultrasounds are unnecessary for diagnosis - it's predominately an endocrine/metabolic disorder that symptoms and blood work can identify. But no, transvaginal ultrasounds are not really painful. pressure sometimes, but not pain. good luck to you!
  • raitch
    raitch Posts: 62 Member
    So many women have PCOS, and it seems like we all deal with different versions of the disease. For me it's super irregular periods, difficulty losing weight, infertility. For others it may be too much body or facial hair or too little hair where it's actually supposed to be, serious blood sugar problems, etc. What I'm saying is... it seems to be different for each of us, so please take all of our stories with a grain of salt :)

    For me, I was on BCPs until I started trying to have children. Most of my PCOS issues were centered around infertility. I have taken Metformin on and off in the past but haven't tried it again in years. Other than having wacky irregular periods, if I'm not trying to get pregnant the PCOS doesn't bother me all that much. Like someone else said, yes it's hard to lose weight for me- but I'm the only person I've ever been so it's not like I have anything to compare it to ;) I do notice that my body seems to react much more strongly to carbs than other people's. A small amount sends me into a spiral of wanting more and more and more, to the point where I certainly had days where my diet was maybe 75% carbs, 20% fat, 5% protein.
  • freedski1
    freedski1 Posts: 65 Member
    For those of you with a diagnosis of PCOS, did any of you have regular periods?
  • Athena98501
    Athena98501 Posts: 716 Member
    For those of you with a diagnosis of PCOS, did any of you have regular periods?

    Mine are regular (and I do have PCOS), but when I'm not on BC, they tend to run every 35 days instead of 28.
  • Jezebel9
    Jezebel9 Posts: 396 Member
    PCOS is becoming more and more common,

    yes... that seems to be the case... but I wonder why...
  • azwildcatfan94
    azwildcatfan94 Posts: 314 Member
    I'm guessing hormones in our food.
  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    For those of you with a diagnosis of PCOS, did any of you have regular periods?

    I used to. I started taking birth control about 4 years ago, and stopped about 8 months ago. Now I get it once every two months.
  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    PCOS is becoming more and more common,

    yes... that seems to be the case... but I wonder why...

    It's probably a multitude of reasons, unfortunately.
  • Kitten2629
    Kitten2629 Posts: 1,358 Member
    For those of you with a diagnosis of PCOS, did any of you have regular periods?

    before I developed it yes. After no. I do now though through the help of Metformin and birth control.
  • Kitten2629
    Kitten2629 Posts: 1,358 Member
    PCOS is becoming more and more common,

    yes... that seems to be the case... but I wonder why...

    Every doctor I've seen since I've been diagnosed think it may be genetic. My sister has it as well though she is not required to take metformin.
  • Lornajune
    Lornajune Posts: 25 Member
    my period was sporadic, it came every couple of months and then it would be 6 months later....
    Now that I have been diagnosed with PCOS I have a regular period with Metformin and birth control and was able to concieve a child last year, with one ovary and at 35. Dr. says I beat the odds :D
  • submarinewife07
    submarinewife07 Posts: 33
    I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 14.. 22 now... I've always had ups and downs with my weight...all they did for me back then was birth control... When I was 13 I had a large overian cyst rupture....and at the time started gaining weight very quickly. I was 175 and only 5 foot...the whole first year of hs was horrible... That summer after freshmen year I managed to get down to 127... And 125 though all of hs... After I graduated it was all down hill from there... I stayed at 200 till now... As I'm trying to get the weight off due to a nerve injury due to my pregnancy with my daughter. The main advice I can tell you is do get an ultra sound..bc there may be scar tissue that will cause complications if you get pregnant one day. One of the reasons is an ectopic pregnancy where the egg released can start growing in your Fallopian tube. Scar tissue can also cause pain during a menstral cycle. Me personally....I have this issue..lol.. But mine can last up to 2 weeks of heavy bleeding.what I've noticed tho with dieting...is all about moderation...and staying away from starches... Im not saying low carb..because lord knows I prefer low calorie...I can eat more.lol. Once a week I allow myself 1starch... Such as potato chips or mashed red potatoes...pasta..but I try to keep in my calorie limit. I hope everything goes well. And the best thing to do is get as much info as you can about it. It's not as bad as it sounds...we're just a little different than other women. Keep positive! I really hope this helps....
  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 14.. 22 now... I've always had ups and downs with my weight...all they did for me back then was birth control... When I was 13 I had a large overian cyst rupture....and at the time started gaining weight very quickly. I was 175 and only 5 foot...the whole first year of hs was horrible... That summer after freshmen year I managed to get down to 127... And 125 though all of hs... After I graduated it was all down hill from there... I stayed at 200 till now... As I'm trying to get the weight off due to a nerve injury due to my pregnancy with my daughter. The main advice I can tell you is do get an ultra sound..bc there may be scar tissue that will cause complications if you get pregnant one day. One of the reasons is an ectopic pregnancy where the egg released can start growing in your Fallopian tube. Scar tissue can also cause pain during a menstral cycle. Me personally....I have this issue..lol.. But mine can last up to 2 weeks of heavy bleeding.what I've noticed tho with dieting...is all about moderation...and staying away from starches... Im not saying low carb..because lord knows I prefer low calorie...I can eat more.lol. Once a week I allow myself 1starch... Such as potato chips or mashed red potatoes...pasta..but I try to keep in my calorie limit. I hope everything goes well. And the best thing to do is get as much info as you can about it. It's not as bad as it sounds...we're just a little different than other women. Keep positive! I really hope this helps....
    Thank you so much!!
    my period was sporadic, it came every couple of months and then it would be 6 months later....
    Now that I have been diagnosed with PCOS I have a regular period with Metformin and birth control and was able to concieve a child last year, with one ovary and at 35. Dr. says I beat the odds :D

    Your baby is so cute!! Congrats. :)
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