MollyM

Hi All,

I’m brand new to this website and happy there is a place where those of us with PCOS can connect. I was just diagnosed on Tuesday and have a few questions if anyone out there can help. A little background about me, sorry about the length:

I’m 34 I have suspected that I have PCOS for about 10 years now. When I was 18 I went to my first OBGYN doctor and he did a thorough exam including ultrasound. I don’t remember the specifics but I was told that I had cysts on my ovaries and that my male hormones (testosterone I think?) were high. I wasn’t too surprised because by this age I was getting more and more hairs in places that women shouldn’t get them. The unwanted hair was my primary concern at this point. He put me on the BCP for the cysts and told me that it would help the unwanted hair too – no mention of PCOS. I can’t remember exactly what I took but I was SO SICK! I could barely drink the water to take them with! After trying three different kinds and a few months of hell I finally said forget this! A few years go by and in the meantime the hairs are getting worse and my weight finally yo-yo’d to 200 pounds.

I first heard about PCOS after reading about it in Glamour magazine. My heart beat a million miles a minute as I read the article. I related to so many of the symptoms – unwanted hair, trouble losing and maintaining my weight, long cycles, and cysts on my ovaries. I bought this to the attention of several doctors throughout my 20’s and was assured that nothing was wrong – the unwanted hair was hereditary, I needed to exercise more and cysts on my ovaries don’t necessarily mean I have PCOS.

At about age 28, after hearing about low dose pills, I decide to try the BCP again (for birth control reasons). I was totally fearful of gaining weight but didn’t and seemed to tolerate the low dose BCP well. About this time I also got clean, as I had been abusing narcotic painkillers for several years. After I got clean I went on the Atkins diet and lost the bulk of my weight and actually maintained it within 10 or so pounds! After getting bored with Atkins, my husband and I went on Weight Watchers and I hit my goal weight and had been within 5 pounds ever since (about 1 ½ years). Also, before the wedding I got laser hair removal for all the extra hairs on my face which worked well. Life was good, I felt stable, and I thought that I had gotten control of the problems of my past.

So to the present time…my husband and I decide we are going to TTC at the beginning of the year. I took my last pill pack in December and in January all hell broke loose! The first thing I notice is that I gain about 4 pounds my first month off the pill. …Okay, 4 pounds isn’t so bad, I just need to watch what I eat a little closer. I keep gaining…half the clothes I own are no longer fit. I’m crying almost morning as I stuff myself into my fat clothes and despite my best efforts the most I’ve been able to do is keep from gaining more (on 20 points a day strict).

I feel my past coming back and the battle is starting all over again. My skin is oily again and I’m getting pimples like a teenager. On top of this, three cycles and no ovulation! I start researching online and keep coming back to PCOS. I can’t take anymore and make an appointment with my current GP. She’s great - thorough and takes her time with you. I explain to her my current situation and my medical past and she didn’t dismiss me! She said my suspicions of PCOS are very well founded and it was unfortunate that I was dismissed in the past. She wrote me a prescription for metformin 500mg 1X day for a week then 2X day.

Question: She didn’t do any bloodwork. When I asked why she said that it wouldn’t matter what the test results are, her course of treatment for me would be the same. I think maybe her primary focus right now may be getting me ovulating because we’re TTC. I’m okay with this, but does it seem odd?

Also, how long does it take for the met to work? I’ve taken two doses so far (Tues night and last night) and I’ve had no gastrointestinal distress and feel well. I weighed myself this morning and I am down a pound – the first drop in my weight since coming off BCP. Could it be working this fast???

Last, I’m on CD 20, should I expect to ovulate before I get my period?

If you’ve gotten this far, thank you for reading. I appreciate any input you may have.