PCOS Message Board - View Single Post

pal · 05-19-2008, 03:38 AM

I've "been there, done that" already, since I'm age 55 and post menopause. My PCOS was diagnosed early (in my early 30s) but never really treated because at that time they didn't really know too much about it. So, I can (sort of) agree with the doctor, based on my personal experiences.

I'd say the excess hair problem stayed pretty much the same since my teen years. Certainly didn't get better after menopause. I did laser on my face in my 50s, which really helped my self esteem. Still get some long white hairs (which I pluck out) since the laser can only kill off the darker hairs.

My weight and skin were at it's worse during my teens and early 20s. I had AN patches at that time, so was most likely borderline IR, although it didn't show up as full blown diabetes (which doctors checked for at that time).

My skin got worse again around menopause...it wasn't acne at this point, but my skin had a major change...suddenly much dryer, lots more skin tags, very sensitive to everything (foods,makeup, soaps, shampoo, etc.) I also started to lose hair on my scalp (which was a first for me) and my scalp itself got worse.

My AF issues were at the worst during my 30s, even though my weight was pretty good. I had two kids with natural conception in my early 40s. The ovarian cysts themselves are now gone, which I attribute to lots of regular exercise (I developed a pretty healthy lifestyle around age 30, probably trying to get this condition under control!) Fertility issues tend to get better as you age, according to most medical info, so my experience may be typical. Both of my pregnancies were complicated, in my opinion, by PCOS, but no doctor ever asked me about it and I didn't know to mention it. I was able to breast feed for a long time, but looking back, think my own health (but not the baby's) suffered because my insulin was unstable. (I had to have a large cyst surgically removed.)

I got really bad hypoglycemic attacks around menopause, although I wasn't officially IR. I was very tired sometimes, often in the evening after dinner or if I ate lots of carbs. The meds really helped me to establish a constant energy level.

I had horrible mood swings as a teen (which wasn't helped by my mom's less than helpful attitude towards my health and weight issues!) I had depression and other problems throughout my 20s, stabilized somewhat in my 30s, was overjoyed and happy to be a mom in my 40s, so that took care of lots of mood issues! (even though I was sometimes pretty sick physically), and then had the biggest mood swings of my life at menopause, which was pretty scary because my life was pretty stable and I was generally settled and happy. Due to the mood swings I found out that I was probably bi-polar (another PCOS related symptom) and went on mood meds and Met.

I'm feeling pretty good currently, have regular exercise built into my life, wish I had started the meds earlier, work hard to try to stay on an IR diet, and I worry about heart disease (which seems to be a problem of PCOS as you age.) Hope this long range perspective gives others a bit of insight!