I saw something recently about Oprah - I think that she was having some troubling 'symptoms (maybe fatigue) and weight gain (about 20 lb I think). I think that she had difficulty getting the answer about why she was having there problems, perhaps having to see several doctor, before she she was finally diagnosed with Hypothyroidsim. (I could identify with a lot of what was said about her experience.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by savoy907
I think Oprah is staying away from PCOS because of the "weight" thing.
We all know there are women who use PCOS as an excuse for being "overweight", and I think that's why Oprah stays away from this subject.
I have to admit that I sort of made the same assumption that you did about the "weight thing" being the reason that she and the producers of have not seemed to have taken much interest in PCOS as a show topic as of yet. I am not sure that it is so much that women use PCOS as an excuse - it very likely does happen but often that is assumption people make when there is really 'more to it'. I think the the 'more to it' might really be the awkward thing for the Oprah show (although certainly I don't know for sure why they do not seem more interesting in PCOS) But the fact that some or even many women with PCOS are predisposed to having difficulty with their weight might be awkward for the Oprah show because she has championed several authors of weight loss books that seem to me to hold the view that weight management is always completely (or almost completely) within one's control. 'Predisposed' does not mean that there is nothing that you can do about it but I think it can be the case that many women with PCOS are really at a disadvantage when it comes to weight management and it might be that it is less within our control than it is for people who do not have PCOS or other medical conditions that predispose them to weight difficulty. I think that psychologically is it beneficial to have a mindset that it is within your control - but I think that it would also be better if people who made their living providing services and information related to weight loss were more aware and understanding about the fact that for some people it really is less within their control than it is for most people.
If you have the weight problems associated with PCOS but you do not know what your condition is or why your are having so much difficult you are at an even bigger disadvantage in terms of successfully managing your weight - which is just one of the very good reasons it would be such a great thing if PCOS was featured on shows like Oprah's.
I am sorry that Oprah is having health problems (it seemed like she had finally mastered her long, painful struggle with weight several years ago) but I sort of hope that something good that might come out of it is a shift in thinking when in comes to health conditions that have an adverse effect on one's ability to manage their weight.
One thing that is sort of hopeful is that Dr Oz dose have a small section in one of his book about PCOS - I think it is 'You on a Diet'. I think it is in a chapter about hormonal imbalances that can affect weight - maybe someday that could be the topic of a show someday!
Along with the lady who was a spice girl, Victoria Beckham ??? (sp)
Jamie Leigh Curtis and Julie Andrews, I think they may have it, remember
Jamie Leigh adopted her children and all these women( stars )that we are talking about, have SHORT hair. I have to keep my hair short, cause I'm really losing it. Doesn't Emma Thompson have short hair ??
__________________ PCOS since age 8
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
DX 1991
Spiro since 1991
Gonna try Met one more time
No joke. I was at Planned Parenthood getting checked out because I had all the symptoms of my period but no blood. I told the woman I had PCOS, but I don't miss periods, and she had NO idea what it was. I couldn't help but thinking, "come on! You deal with women all day, and it's estimated that 1 in 10 of us has this...this should not be news!"
There are so many doctors that have no clue about PCOS. I'm in Medical School, and PCOS has come up in a number of classes. Usually they describe a PCOS patient as obese, with acne and excess body hair as well as infrequent or absent periods. We know that's not true for everyone! Like you lady dionysis, I had VERY regular periods for the 18 months preceding my diagnosis!
Some of the text books are VERY vague and general, and professors often are clueless. The OB-GYN Pathologist that taught female reproductive pathology was talking about wedge resections as common treatment for PCOS. Even my roommate said she made it sound like everyone with PCOS gets a wedge resection! The only other treatment she mentioned was BCPs or progesterone unless the woman is trying to get pregnant.
My Pharmacology professor was the first to mention that Metformin studies have indicated positive results for women with PCOS. When I reviewed an exam and had argued a question (it was regarding anti-androgens for a woman with alopecia and hirsutism and one answer option was Spiro and the other was Flutamide), I told him that both CAN be used to treat that. I told him I knew because I have PCOS, and here on SC, many women take Spiro, but some also take Flutamide. He was shocked that I have PCOS because he said I wasn't over weight, didn't have acne, and have no facial hair. I told him that I used to have a BMI of over 30 and since my diagnosis I've lost about 60 lbs. He said, "Well, you've lost weight, so you're cured then!"
I WISH!!!!
I am NOT "cured"! I've been dealing with random bleeds and alopecia even with Met, BCPs, and a significant weight reduction. It just goes to show you the great ignorance that exists when it comes to PCOS. . .Truthfully, SC and medical research publications are where I get most of my PCOS info.
Sorry. . .I know this post may be off topic from the original post, but just thought I'd say that I too share in the frustration of PCOS ignorance.
__________________ **~Future Doc Cyster~**
Yasmin Working out 4+ days/week Low(er) carbing Mama to 1 furbaby, Maya, the Toy Poodle/Maltese To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
OMG Doc, my RE told me that I will "cure myself" through diet. I have lessened he symptoms yes but cure I am now starting to realize may be an impossible term with PCOS. Like you said, it really shows how ignorant the so-called "experts" are when it comes to PCOS.
__________________ Georgette(32)
Diagnosed 2/07 Mom of Caitlyn(9) Tristan(7) and Heather(6)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I think we all should write letters or send e mails to Dr Oz. I really believe that man would help us. Isn't he also on Discovery Health Channel ???
When the Dr says, "Now that you have lost weight, your cured" ,
That really makes a woman mad. I got this when I was 8 years old.
I have been THIN and HEAVY, and never CURED from PCOS
__________________ PCOS since age 8
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
DX 1991
Spiro since 1991
Gonna try Met one more time
I also wonder if Star Jones Reynolds would be a good one to try. She has a new show and it seems like her thinking about health and weight have really evolved a lot recently.
PCOS is abit like cancer in that we dont know what causes each case, and you're never going to be ENTIRELY cured of it.
I also wonder how many women have this and don't even know it. I imagine alot of women would only seek medical help if she had symptoms; for me it was excess hair, but I'm italian so its partly genetic; and that was what almost made me not see a doctor. I wonder how many other women are told they are just suffering from stress, etc. Or who have no symptoms or minimal symptoms and don't know they have PCOS. Its possible, right?
I wonder how many other women are told they are just suffering from stress, etc. Or who have no symptoms or minimal symptoms and don't know they have PCOS. Its possible, right?
I have to agree with that statement right there. My symptoms are rather mild, and I would have never gone to get diagnosed if a co-worker hadn't talked with me about PCOS. Now I'm talking to others about it. Just have to some how get the word out.
__________________ Georgette(32)
Diagnosed 2/07 Mom of Caitlyn(9) Tristan(7) and Heather(6)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
^Me too. My only symptom was excess hair, although none of it was COARSE and thick, but it troubled me anyway. Had I not gone to the doctor I'd still have no idea. But in the past few months I had been getting my period on time; for months before that I had no periods. I was suffering bad depression and the doctor said 'your period will come back when you relax'. Since I've been exercising and eating healthy (none of which I did before) my period is back. This makes me think I CAN control my body. I used to get a long black hair on my neck that hasn't come back since I changed my eating habits and got active.
I think women can go undiagnosed for years. Unless something troubles her, she won't see a doctor. As I said if not for the hair, I wouldn't have gone at all. I know we dont know what causes PCOS but I am sure mine is linked somehow to stress- I've read alot how stress can mess up hormones. When I say stress I mean STRESS. BAD STRESS. And depression. Eating disorders have to have a similar effect on hormones - this is what makes me sure that Hollywood isn't PCOS free.
Last edited by LaDolceDita; 10-31-2007 at 01:47 AM.
When I first spoke with a doctor about it she told me I probably had PCOS and she wrote it out on a piece of paper and told me to go home and look it up on the internet. If I lost weight what symptoms would improve?
i'm going to write in to a Uk morning programme called 'This Morning'. they do some good health features, so they might do one about pcos. here's hoping.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
2g metformin per day
Orlistat
Vaniqua
3g Tranexamic Acid per day (when on period)
On the original topic again...celebs with PCOS...Tammy Lynn Michaels, wife of Melissa Etheridge. She was also on that old WB show, "Popular". US Weekly ran an article narrated by Tammy Lynn shortly after she gave birth to their twins, and she talked about her fertility struggles--how her and Melissa attempted at home insemination with donor sperm, but she ended up seeking specialized care after she was unable to conceive, and that led to her PCOS diagnosis.
US Weekly also ran an article with the last year, when I was pg, that featured a non-celebrity woman who was shot at work while 20 weeks pg, and talked about her struggle to save her herself and her unborn child after the shooting, and her pregnancy was such a miracle because of her PCOS.
And I just read in the December 2007 issue of Health about a woman who opted to have her ovaries removed because she tested positive for the breast/ovarian cancer gene, and she noted that her ovaries were not known for being "champions" as she had PCOS and had undergone IVF to conceive her son.
I had no idea about Posh. It makes me like her even more. lol
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Visit me on Facebook:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
i only came to know about clebs of 2 spice girls with pcos....
and yes, i think celebs should tell us about their pcos and wat they do and wat helps to conceive..... they have a lot of money so wat is there to hide...
yeah, i wish oprah show a program related to PCOS and other infertility related problems...
