Fighting to re-lose with PCOS

I have PCOS also! It's very frustrating, especially when I see another one of my family members lose weight easily and I struggle to lose a few pounds. My long term goal is to lose 70 lbs. I have 2 wonderful boys, 10 and 2. I consider them my little miracles, because both times I had an appointment with my doctor to discuss fertility drugs, I discovered I was pregnant! It would be great to make some friends with PCOS who understand what it is to go through and to offer support.

I have PCOS also (as well as narcolepsy). For years (from age 18) I was treated through traditional means with birth control (Yasmin) to correct my abnormal cycle (I used to only have 1-2 periods a year, lasting about a month each). I trusted my doctor and I didn't know what else could be done to treat the disease. I also got multiple opinions from other gynecologists and endocrinologists and it's what they all recommended so I thought I was doing the right thing for my body.

At first I didn't notice any side effects from the medication, but after 7 years on Yasmin I had gained approximately 100 lbs, was more tired than ever, had almost no sex drive, and was suffering from daily migraines (constantly vomiting). Because the side effects didn't appear right away, I didn't attribute them at first to the medication. I made the decision to stop taking the medication, only after reading the warning label and it stating that it should not be taken if you suffer from migraines due to high risk of stroke. I also discovered at this time that Yasmin can exacerbate or even cause insulin resistance-- the last thing someone with PCOS needs!

My doctor didn't agree with my decision to go off of the medication (she just wanted to switch me to an estrogen only pill), but I am so thankful I defied her. Within weeks, my daily migraines were completely gone and I saw remarkable improvement in my energy levels. And since those symptoms disappeared, I was also able to go off of the other medications that had been prescribed to me for those issues.

My hormones, however, were completely out of wack when I went off the pill. My period was of course crazy and the hair growth was out of control-- worse than it had ever been. This is when I sought the help of a naturopathic physician and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. My experience was phenomenal. The naturopathic doctor (ND) I went to tested and evaluated my hormone levels on a more thorough and complex level than any other gynecologist or endocrinologist doctor ever had. For years it was assumed that I wasn't ovulating and that my testosterone levels were too high but in reality, my testosterone levels were completely normal and I was in fact ovulating each month. It was my estrogen that was way too high (estrogen dominance) in relation to my other hormones and that was screwing everything else up. Once my ND figured that out, it was an easy fix. She put me on biodentical hormones, as well as some other supplements to balance things, and within only a matter of a couple months my cycle was completely normal. I remained on the bioidentical hormones for several months and then tried to go without them for a bit. My doctor had thought initially that maybe I just needed a kick start to remind my body how to function properly.

In going off of them, my period became a little unstable again.. I was still getting it every month but it wasn't as regular... and with each month it was slightly more off. Around this time, a friend recommended that I give up gluten to help with my narcolepsy because it is known to cause sleep disturbances and I suffered from a lot of night terrors. Once I did this, it not only helped that (within weeks my night terrors were completely gone) but I noticed my period was completely regular again. It was truly amazing so I stuck with the diet. My gynecolgist even agrees now that my PCOS doesn't require any medication.

Welcome....again. Feel free to add me if you'd like. Good luck on your journey!!

Hey ladies,

I wanted to let you know that I have a group on here (it's a private group) called Fit For Future Families. It should be weight-loss focused but it's more TTC focused as a support group. You are all welcome to join - the ladies are fantastic. Just PM me if you'd like an invite.

As a little background - I'm on my second IVF cycle and we have just found a surrogate (I have uterine issues) but there are a couple PCOS ladies and we have a couple of "graduates" who run pregnancy and mammy groups.

Hope to hear from you!

I believe I have had PCOS bc for the past 2 or so years I've been irregular. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and even though diabetes runs in my family - I am not diabetic or prediabetic and I also don't have thyroid issues. I always thought it was the stress, or weight gain that caused me to miss a period, but when I looked up the symptoms, I have most, if not all....I am not on any medicine, but I am hoping my new diet/exercise plan will help me even myself back out.