As far as the studies about the vitamins, due to the way that they're processed, when people take a multi-vitamin or the like the body really doesn't digest it like it would if you get it out of food. So they're taking these pills, and either it's sitting in their stomach and causing issues or passing right through. Vitamins are great, but even better if you can get it right out of the food source. As for the herbal supplements, try the 5-HTP first off. It's very gentle and doesn't really interact with much except SSRI's. It'll take about a month for you to notice a difference, but it really does help. There's a site called smartbomb has it cheap PLUS it's mixed with the vitamin in order to activate your body with the weight loss. Just type in hydroxytryptophan (which is the long name for it) and then organize it by price. The cheapest one is the one you want...little white bottle from Nature's Way.
The diet for your father would be WONDERFUL for you! The South Beach doesn't sound too bad, but a low GI diet (which is usually what they recommend for diabetics) is a really good option. Mainly because most women with PCOS do get diabetes later in their years...it would be good to "pamper" your system before it even thinks about it! The watermelons weren't particularly good for you, but just because you weren't shown as being insulin resistant...doesn't mean your body isn't having a hard time with it anyway. There's still loads they don't understand about PCOS and how it works and why...but it's always getting better.
And stress sure does effect PCOS. Stress will effect a NORMAL women's cycle...here we are with hormones than don't know up from down to begin with
Birthcontrol can also make you moody and depressed...so keep that in mind too. But keeping up with a good diet and making sure you get out there and stretch your muscles can help an amazing amount! If your cramps are off to one side (as in where your ovaries are) those are pretty normal cramps and it's kind of like your ovaries are throwing a temper tantrum. But if your having cramps with your clots, there is a chance that your body is having a hard time passing the clots, so your uterus contracts to help get rid of it. These cramps are usually towards the center of the hips rather than to one side, a friend of mine described it as almost feeling like there's a knife shoved up your rear end and it's aimed at your uterus. If that's the case...treat them like contractions...it's one of the many "benefits" of have PCOS.
If you like the herbal remedies more...a mixture of a few different herbs can do the same thing but without the promise of no pregnancy. Chasteberry (or Vitex) helps the body go back on a normal schedule for your cycles and helps with PMS. Black Cohosh is usually used for menopause, but those of us blessed with PCOS have problems out to Wazoo and Black Cohosh helps us too. And Red Clover tea taken three times a day on the pattern take three weeks, skip a week, take three weeks, skip a week...trying to get it along with the skipping week to be on your cycle helps with loads of things, especially cramping. I was told Wild Yam applied to the skin (you can find in health stores) will kick start progesterone so you'll start your period but I've never personally used that one.
There's tons of herbal stuff to take...because I don't react well to most medications...I've been stuck researching it as much as I can and being my own personal guinea pig...so if I can ever help in that area please don't hesitate to ask!. The most important herbs you can take for PCOS as far as I've experianced are Chasteberry and 5-HTP, next in line is the Black Cohosh and the Red Clover.
And I'm just glad that I can help. I know how much of a pain it is researching, so I also know how nice it can be to have a friendly ear out there talking back.
