I am new to this site as well as PCOS, even though I have yet to see a doctor let alone be diagnosed. I came across PCOS from a show that I was watching on TV where a female was trying to lose weight but already knew that she had PCOS. I decided to check it out and unfortunately I am a little worried about what I've read so far. However, I am still curious about a couple things and since I am fairly certain that I can get some help on here, I hope you guys do not mind me asking some questions.
Some of the sypmtoms associated with PCOS are what I've had to deal with. Weight problems, hair loss, irregular or missed periods, deep voice, etc. But let me start from some type of beginning.
About 2 years ago (give or take) I used to be what one would classify as obese. I am only 5' 3" but at that time I weighed over 200 pounds. I'm not even sure what my top weight was but I was obese nonetheless. Well, I had to have my gallbladder removed and since then I've lost between 60 and 70 pounds. Not sure if the gallbladder was the problem or I just stopped being lazy and got my butt into gear, but I'm happy about the changes and that is regardless of the fact that not having a gallbladder in general can be a pain. Anyways, my first question revolves around my lack of a gallbladder and PCOS. I can't imagine it making things easier but I was curious yet again.
With the weight gain/loss out of the way I suppose I should move on to the other symptoms. Starting with thinning hair. This has been going on for quite some time and I found it odd because my hair used to be really thick. So thick infact that at times it was almost like I had too much hair on my head. lol. Over the years I've realized that my hair is drastically thinner and it, for lack of a better word, sucks. My hair used to be to the backs of my knees but I tend to like it short these days and that seems to help it look less thin. Does anyone else seem to have this problem as well? Stupid thing to ask since it is a common symptom but everyone is different.
My voice is fairly deep for a female. That sucks as well because if you were to talk to me over the phone/microphone, I tend to sound male which makes people that cannot see me directly assume that I am. So, needless to say I'm always having to tell the person I'm talking to that I am indeed female. They do not always believe me though but that doesn't bother me much. After all, I know that I'm female. Unfortunately they also tend to think that I am younger. I look like I'm 16 or 17, which I think is a plus, but I've been told that I also sound within that age range if not younger. I can make myself sound more female if I change the pitch of my voice but my natural tone isn't very feminine. I suppose that I shouldn't gripe about that but it does get kind of annoying having to explain myself to people.
Now on to my menstrual cycles. lol. I've never been regular and neither has the actual flow. Sometimes I can miss two cycles in a row even though I think I remember missing 3 at one point. I can never really map them out as being within a certain amount of days because sometimes it can be totally out of whack. One time it can be at the end of the month while another it could be at the beginning or middle. I used to think that it was okay and a relief to be missing periods but now that I've read stuff about it I've changed my mind. My mother told me that my sister (who isn't biological because I am adopted) had cysts on her ovaries, irregular periods, and got serious stomach cramps/pains. I too have gotten the stomach pains but luckily haven't had any recently. They are in the pelvic region and very uncomfortable. Trying to sleep is almost impossible and no matter what position you lay in it doesn't seem to help. Would they be from some type of build-up inside the ovaries? I didn't really read any details about the pelvic pain so I'm asking those who've experienced it.
Guess I went a little overboard with this post. Forgive me. I'm just trying to give my point of view in hopes of getting some feedback. I know that I should go see a doctor but it is a little unnerving. My parents think that I shouldn't worry or diagnose myself with the information that I read on the internet. Is it really such a bad thing to do?
A curious 23 year old female. 
