Just wondered if there were any thin cysters not ttc? While I have thoroughly enjoyed this message board I have felt somewhat lost due to not ttc or discussing weight loss issues. Anyone else out there?
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I'm 27 and single (but with a wonderful boyfriend!) and have no plans to start a family any time soon.
I was dx 6 months ago, so I'm still kind of new to this whole PCOS thing. I'm definitely new to soulcysters -- just found it a few days ago!
Right now I'm mostly concerned with keeping my insulin and testosterone levels in the right place. I tend to have a lot of excess body hair, especially on my chin and the Glucophage has helped TREMENDOUSLY in slowing the growth. However, my Dr. has decided after 6 months to take me off Gluc. So the PCOS factors I'm interested in keeping those levels normal so that the hair doesn't come back. I'm hoping diet and exercise will accomplish this. My mom (who also has PCOS) has developed Type II diabetes, so that's also something I have to be aware of.
Here's another one! I recognize that lost feeling...
I would love to have kids one day, but still in doubt whether I'll ever find the right guy to have them with.
And Grimm, a big welcome to SC!
I'm still kind of a newbie myself and extremely glad I found my way here
Btw, Eeyoremom....were you diagnosed before of after haveing your son? Was just wondering....
So glad to know that there are other soulcysters out there like me.
Here is my story....as you can see I am 34, have been married 14 years (Wow! That's hard to believe. Where did the time go?), and have one son. I wasn't officially diagnosed with PCOS until 2000. (my son was born in 1994) I have always been been very hirsuit; arms, legs, face, some on belly and even nipple area. But have always had normal periods since I was around 12. (though horrid cramps and clotting started around 15) When I was 19 I went to the GYN and they found a cyst. They didn't seem alarmed and nothing was every said about it again. I now wonder if that was my first "real" sign of PCOS. When we got married (I was 20) I went on BCPs. I was only on them for about 6 months. They made me very ill. We weren't trying to get pregnant after that, but we didn't prevent either. Right before our 3rd anniversary we started trying to conceive. It took a good 18 months and there were two possible "missed pregnancies". We then had a beautiful son. We started ttc again when he was just over a year old. No such luck. I did notice that when my period started back after breast feeding that it was very different from before. I would spot for 3-5 days before my period and then the period may last from anywhere of 3 days to 10. It has been that way ever since. After ttc for about 2 years I started talking to my doctor about what could be wrong. She just kept telling me that there was obviously nothing wrong since I had conceived before and that it was "all in my head" and that I was "stressing over it". Needless to say I soon left her practice. I went to another GYN that was recommended to me. On the very first visit he told me he thought I had PCOS and immediately set me up for blood work and other testings. He also had me do the whole temperature thing as well. (we had been doing the ovulation kits for quite a while on our own) Well, believe it or not, nothing showed up in my bloodwork at all! My husband's work came back fine. Not huge amounts, but fine. After another year or so of testing and such he finally did an internal sonogram and they found that my ovaries were covered in cysts! He put me on clomid. We did 6 rounds of clomid with no luck. By this time 5 years of ttc had passed and my son was now approaching 7. The next step was an RE and invitro. Our insurance wouldn't even look at it, so we decided that it was time to stop. It had been a huge emotional rollercoaster with at least 3 or more "missed pregnancies" this time. The GYN told me that it was a miracle we ever conceived in the first place. So, I am glad to have my "miracle baby" and try to remember that when ever I get down about it. Sometimes I really think I am over it all and then other times I will hear about someone being pregnant or see a small baby and it really hits me like a ton of bricks.
As for the "thin" part. I weighed about 108 when I graduated from high school. I went up to around 120 and stayed there a long time. I was 121 when I had my son and went down to 107 after I had him. I stayed there until he was about a year and a half and then returned to 120-125. I was put on steroids for a little while (for an eye disease) and my weight really went up. It went up even more when I went on clomid. With my highest being around 160. I have really had a hard time losing it. The doctor told me that steroid weight is some of the hardest to lose and I really believe him. I have it down to 150 now and am hoping to get back to my 125 this year. That is my goal!
I really hope to hear more from you guys. Would love to hear your PCOS stories or anything else you want to share. If you want to form a support group that is fine as well. Just let me know. Hope to hear from you again.
Jinger
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Definitely not ttc as i'm only 17 and don't even have a boyfriend! So you can count me in as a not discussing weight loss or ttc cyster!
__________________ Me: Jessica, age 18, Music education major To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Leavin the site now due to new diagnosis...Thanks for all the support while I've been here!
I think a support group is a great idea. There is such a huge amount of information on this board that it seems like it can be hard to make your voice heard when it's in such a vast ocean of voices!
PCOS for me is a family tradition. My mother has it, as do three of my sisters. My oldest sister, who is adopted, is the only female family member who lucked out!
We run the gamut of symptoms: My mom and two sisters are overweight, with the large bellies, my younger sister and I are thin. My mother (and her own sisters) has the female pattern baldness (it sooooo runs in our family -- just looking at the great-great aunts in old photos you can see it! Luckily for me it appears to skip generations), another sister has fertility problems, another conceived without even trying. I seem to have the most facial hair, but we all have it to an extent. One sister has regular periods, two never have been regular and I started out regular and then went wacky.
Here's my story:
Like I said I always had regular periods until I was 21 or 22 when they became erratic and very light accompanied by cramps so horrible I had to plan on taking the first day of my period off every time it came. Sometimes the period lasted two days, sometimes two weeks. Around this time I also started growing lots of blond wiry hairs on my chin. I used depilitories or wax for several years, but it started to become unmanageable, and I had to start shaving.
Around the same time my facial hair was giving me headaches, I asked my mom why my older sister was having such trouble with getting preggers, and THAT'S when I first heard about PCOS. I waited longer than most to become sexually active, so I didn't visit the obgyn until I was 25 (I know, dumb), and then I just saw a nurse practitioner. After talking to my mom I immediately made an appt with the obgyn and brought in an internet article about PCOS.
They did blood work and an ultrasound but weren't sure, so I was referred to and endo and they confirmed the PCOS. I was put on Yasmin and Met and they've been great!! The hair on my chin is still there, but it grows in so much more slowly. Everywhere else the hair is thinner and softer as well, even my legs. I don't get those nasty black ones on my nipples at all anymore!
Because my mom developed the Type II diabetes, I am very aware of what I eat now. I switched to a low carb diet, which was hard because a)I'm vegetarian, and b) I LOVE CARBS. Since November I've lost about 12lbs -- from 137 to 125. I wasn't trying to lose weight, but I guess I won't complain, as long as I don't lose much more.
Since my diagnosis I've convinced the remaining untested sister to be tested and she found out last month that she has it, too.
Anyway, I'll FINALLY stop blabbing. I look foward to hearing more from all of you!
I have never been put on any medications for the PCOS. I guess it is because it doesn't show up in my bloodwork. I really don't know.
As for hair...I always had hairy arms and legs from around the time of ten or so. I looked almost like a little gorilla. I had a good mustache going by the time I was 13. The sideburns and such came by the time I was 15. By 18 the chin hairs were BAD!!!! I started bleaching the mustache around the age of 14 or so and started waxing/plucking around 18. From then on I plucked daily. A good 20-30 minute procedure. I had the belly hairs by around 14 or so and the nipple hairs I guess around 18.
As for family connections....I am the only one in my family that has PCOS. As far as my immediate family goes, that is. I do have a cousin (on my mother's side) that was diagnosed with it a few years ago, but I just found out about it recently. Anyhow...my mother has a bit of a mustache, but is thin. My sister has many symptoms of PCOS. Obesity, skin tags, thin hair, facial hair (mustache and chin), etc. However, both my mother and sister are "fertile Myrtles". My mother had 4 children with no problem and my sister 3. Both of their last children were "oops" babies. (me being the one in my family) So, I wonder if they actually do have it, but have never had a reason to be tested, etc. Neither has diabetes or has ever had irregular periods.
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eeyoremom said: "However, both my mother and sister are "fertile Myrtles". My mother had 4 children with no problem and my sister 3. Both of their last children were "oops" babies. (me being the one in my family) So, I wonder if they actually do have it, but have never had a reason to be tested, etc. Neither has diabetes or has ever had irregular periods."
My mom has PCOS and she gave birth to 6 babies, so it's possible!
I thought that the excess hair came from excess testosterone and androgens? My levels were twice what they should be. But yours were always normal? Interesting . . .isn't it strange how many different symptoms there are and how they do or do not manifest themselves in each woman!
Lemme see...as far as PCOS stuff goes, i was tentatively diagnosed last december after some blood tests (LH:FSH was 17.3:6.4), and although it's not confirmed yet, i'm almost positive i have this, as well as some form of IR. As soon as i found out, i started low carbing, and thanks to the good Lord above, i'm now having periods on a semi-regular basis!! YAY! I did take Vitex for a little while to see if that would help my periods, but all it did was give me a period every 2 weeks, which totally sucked. I don't have very many PCOS symptoms, but then again it's kinda hard to tell what is a symptom anyway. I didn't have periods until i was almost 15, which didn't fit at all with my development schedule (i had breast budding at 8). I have a little extra hair in the places it's supposed to be, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.
As for other stuff in life...as my little title thing says, i am most definitely a musical cyster. I am in my senior year in high school, in 3 choirs, taking private voice lessons, and piano lessons. In the past few months i have been in all-region and all-state choir (1st and 9th chair respectively) and also the regional solo & ensemble contest, for which i was picked best overall soloist (YAY!!). On the same day as that contest, i had a scholarship audition at the college i'm planning on going to, University of Texas at Arlington, which went REALLLLY REALLY well, but i haven't got any results back yet.
I'm also taking ballet classes, which i have been taking for almost a year and a half now, and i LOVE it. In fact, i help teach a 9-10 year old beginner class at the homeschool program i go to for choir.
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention, i am homeschooled, have been all of my life, and i love it! I'm still learning just as much as (if not more than) other kids my age, and i'm learning it in an environment where i am much more comfortable and flexible with my schedule. There are so many more organizations out there for homeschoolers than one would think, and right now i'm starting to get ready for the homeschool prom out here!
The biggest social life i have right now is going to church, which i definitely don't have a problem with. I am proud to be a reformed baptist, and most of all a christian.
On the other hand, i'm not exactly your typical sunday school type: i love rock music, and i'm not afraid to speak my mind if i have an opinion about something, and i DEFINITELY don't dress in polo shirts and jumpers (try t-shirts and jeans or baggy pants-but always modest).
Not quite sure what else i can say about myself...i have a very social demeanor, and can be quite hyper, especially when i'm tired (yes, i know it sounds contradictory). I can say the most random things at the most random times, but i like to think of myself as having a great sense of humor. For example: the other night i was talking to a friend about PMS, and how one of our managers at work at Chick-fil-a was being kinda pissed off the entire night...well, this manager was a guy, but we were joking about him having PMS anyway. So i said "yeah, i guess he does have PissMS." I just started cracking up cuz i had no intention to say that, but it came out and it was funny and kind of made sense!
Ok, anyway, i've rambled long enough! If anyone wants to talk, just PM me or something!
__________________ Me: Jessica, age 18, Music education major To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Leavin the site now due to new diagnosis...Thanks for all the support while I've been here!
You mentioned about the excess hair being from testosterone and androgens and how my levels were normal....you saying that made me remember that when I was 17 my mother took me to the dr. (a pediatrician since I was under 18) to see why I had all the excess hair (especially facial). They did bloodwork then for hormone levels and they all came back normal and they told her they didn't know why and that nothing could be done. Go figure!
Also about the facial hair....I just started laser hair treatments in Jan. and am very pleased with the results. It's so nice not to have to bleach, was and tweeze constantly.
Hobbitcutie,
Thanks for all the extra information about yourself. I, too, have a musical background. I was in a singing group at church that performed at many competitions growing up. I was also in concert choir my 10th and 11th grade years and in a girls glee club group my senior year. I auditioned for all state choir and was almost excepted, but they said my voice was too soft. I took piano from the age of 5 and competed in some competitions linked with my church. I also competed in several pageants and used the piano as my talent. I actually placed several times, won the talent division an couple of times and actually won one competition! I also toured with the Continentals Singers and Orchestra one summer after high school. It was great! I was 2nd piano. (I played the synthesizer.)
I was raised pentecostal (Assemblies of God), but in many ways now consider my self Baptist if I had to pick a certain denomination. But, more importantly I just say I'm a Christian and leave it at that.
That's great about you taking ballet lessons. I always wanted to do that, but it wasn't allowed. It was considered sinful. Go figure!
As for homeschooling....there are so many great opportunities out there for homeschooling now. That's wonderful. I thought, briefly, about homeschooling my son, but realized that he and I are two stubborn people and we would just constantly butt heads, so we decided to put him in a private Christian school. He goes to an Episcopal school now and we all love it.
Let us know about your scholarship audition. I hope you get it.
As for other stuff about me....I am a stay-at-home mom now and love it! The budget stays tight, but we work with it! I attended college for 3 years, but didn't finish. Long story! (had nothing to do with getting married) I worked in a couple of courthouses in various departments both criminal and civil and eventually became a legal secretary for an attorney. I have also worked in a credit union and taught music for a year and a half (at a Christian school in the town we lived in at the time) when Adam was in preschool and kindergarten. While I enjoyed it, I found out that teaching in that sort of setting wasn't really for me. I have directed several children's musicals and loved that!
Since our move to Pensacola almost 2 years ago. I have been busy fixing up our house. Painting, staining furniture, etc. It has been hard work, but I have enjoyed the transformation of our house. :-)
I am a pretty quite person and not overly outgoing. But, once you get to know me, I can talk your ear off! I enjoy going to the movies (and renting them also), listening to music, writing, and cross-stitching.
Speaking of movies....are you a Lord of the Rings fan? I ask because of your name.
Great movies! Legalos is such a hottie! Which is somewhat odd since I am not generally for blonde haired men.
Oh, well. Hope to hear from both of you again.
Riva, we would love to hear from you!
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Yup, definitely a big time Lord of the Rings fan. I went to see each of the 3 movies the day they came out (the second 2 i saw twice on opening day, once at midnight, once during the day), including the last movie which i saw as part of the Trilogy Tuesday thing they had, where you go see the movies all in a row. It was AWESOME. My dad took me, my brother, and my sister to the theater the night before, and we slept in line there, in a tent. It was so much fun! And the first movie...i think i saw it 12 times in theaters, i can't quite remember though. I saw it a lot.
I'm not particularly fond of Legolas, though he is cute (even more so without the blonde hair); i like the hobbit Merry more! I think he's just adorable.
Also, my name was chosen because i kind of am a modern-day hobbit...curly hair, 5'2" tall, never wear shoes if i can help it. Only thing about me that's NOT hobbit-like is that i'm not round and chubby like they all are, and i don't have hair on my feet.
Come to think of it...do you think hobbits just all had PCOS?
__________________ Me: Jessica, age 18, Music education major To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Leavin the site now due to new diagnosis...Thanks for all the support while I've been here!
This is my first post since I was over in the TTC boards almost two years ago. I have two beautiful daughters and am not TTC. I'm also a thincyster and have brushed off low carbing because I don't need to lose anymore weight. My current weight loss has been rather alarming - but reading some of the other thincysters low carbing maybe i'll look into it for a way to control the pcos naturally. One of my main reasons for getting back on the message boards is to try and figure out why I'm so tired every afternoon. I have no energy! I feel that my fatigue, weight loss, and lack of interst in sex are all somehow related to the PCOS - I know weight loss doesn't sound right for pco - but who knows - as Kat says every case is different. I did gain weight when I went off the pill when I was ttc the first time. Went from a 12 to a 16 - now I'm an 8!
I'm currently on bcps to control my periods and the pcos - but once dh gets snipped i'd like to try and control my pcos without meds.
That's about it - just wanted to let you know there are others not ttc and not low carbing .... yet!
Kristin
__________________ DX PCOS 1/00
Kristin 35, dh Will 35
Thincyster
That's great that you got to the marathon. Wish I could have done that. But, with having a child it just wouldn't have worked for me. The only one I have been able to see at the theater has been the last one and that was just a couple of weeks ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You mentioned that you liked Merry. After Legalos I would have to say that Sam (Sean Astin) is my favorite. He just seems so adorable. Like a teddy bear. You just want to hug him! As for being a hobbit...I surely have the height for it. Just like you I am 5'2". Has for hairy feet...does hair on your toes count?!
Kristin,
Glad to have you join us. I haven't tried the low card thing. I think I love my carbs too much! I've just been trying to exercise and eat more naturally. Lots of water, major sugar cutback, cutting out preservatives/additives, etc. Trying to go for the more natural approach. So far, so good. Slow, but at least it is working. Trying to get off this last 20 pounds is really a bear! Oh, well, overall I can't complain. I can totally relate to the fatigue. I am really dying for a nap around lunch time! I try to sneak one in before I go to get my son if I can.
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Any thin cysters not TTC 
Sure 
