I am a woman with PCOS who wasn't actually diagnosed with it until my daughter was diagnosed at age 13. I had no ovulatory problems, just excess hair on my face and darker, thicker hair on my legs and lower arms than most girls. I also had acne, but no real weight problems.
My 14 year old daughter appears to have inherited the syndrome but in a harsher form. Her period began very early and her acne was terrible. Accutane treated the acne: in grade seven she went through eight months of extreme dryness but it paid off. Her periods are very heavy and more frequent than they should be. And she has very fine fair downy hair that not only covers her upper lip but her chin, sideburn area, neck, and lower back as well. She shaves the upper lip and waxes the rest of her face; I would get laser treatment for her but the hair is too fair and fine to be treated apparently. So far she has no weight problems.
Recently her acne started to come back and I told her we might need another Accutane treatment period (apparently very young girls who go on Accutane on most likely to need another round of it later). Also her hair problems have become worse and she now has a skin tag on her neck.
She broke down crying in the bathroom and I just felt terrible. I passed this disease on to her so there's some guilt, too, but mainly I just want her not to be unhappy. She has been so brave and uncomplaining through it all that to see her cry like that was heartbreaking.
I am worried about depression, which I have suffered from as an adult, more from the self-esteem issues caused by PCOS than from any psychiatric reason.
I have some questions:
1) Does anyone else have a pattern similar to mine or my daughter's? Can you tell me, if you had something similar to hers, what is in store for her as she gets older? Her hair and acne were worse than mine, her period more irregular and heavy, the presence of a skin tag, etc. differentiate her syndrome from mine. Will she necessarily gain weight if she doesn't go on a rigid diet regime?
2) How do y'all make yourselves feel better?
3) What kinds of comments made you feel better about yourselves--what should I say to her?
4) What kinds of comments did you NOT want your mother to make? I think I'm more sensitive than most moms would be who didn't have the problem (my mother, for instance, just thought I was more "masculine", even though other than the hair I was likely the most feminine in the family!--the "masculine" comment hurt as I could see she thought there was something really abnormal about me).
5) Any other kinds of advice would be most welcome.
Sorry about the length of this! My words just erupted from the painful, anxious place in my throat that's almost choking me right now.
Hi Barbara..Welcome to SC. Sorry about your Daughter being down its not fun. Well for me being around others here has helped me out to feel better knowing I am not the only one who has this problem. I can't really help with the other questions so I hope someone else can. See you around.
__________________ Cathy 36
Lee 40
Married Feb 12, 1994
HSG Nov 2004
Brandon Aug 8, 2005
I don't know if it's possible, but finding other girls her age for your daughter to meet. I grew up with girls exhibiting PCOS symptoms so I thought I was normal with the weight gain and dark skin under my arms.
Not all cysters have weight gain, but I did. Mine started at age 8 or 9, but some girls dont' gain weight till later and some never do.
My Mom was supportive, but I wish we had known that I had PCOS so she could have gotten me treated for Insulin Resistance and my weight gain instead of concentrating on exercise alone.
I just got diagnosed this fall and so far I dont think about it that much. I was always over weight and always had excess hair so this is nothing new for me...now i just have to take pills more often lol. I dont know, i am only worried about not being able to have kids some day. But keep on truckin, things have got to get better.
I have some questions:
1) Does anyone else have a pattern similar to mine or my daughter's? Can you tell me, if you had something similar to hers, what is in store for her as she gets older? Her hair and acne were worse than mine, her period more irregular and heavy, the presence of a skin tag, etc. differentiate her syndrome from mine. Will she necessarily gain weight if she doesn't go on a rigid diet regime?
2) How do y'all make yourselves feel better?
3) What kinds of comments made you feel better about yourselves--what should I say to her?
4) What kinds of comments did you NOT want your mother to make? I think I'm more sensitive than most moms would be who didn't have the problem (my mother, for instance, just thought I was more "masculine", even though other than the hair I was likely the most feminine in the family!--the "masculine" comment hurt as I could see she thought there was something really abnormal about me).
5) Any other kinds of advice would be most welcome.
Sorry about the length of this! My words just erupted from the painful, anxious place in my throat that's almost choking me right now.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Maybe my story will help you and your daughter. I was just diagnosed about three weeks ago, and I'm going to be 24 in January. I had my first period at 13 and a half, and had moderate acne, but the acne that I did have was always big cystic acne, painful bumps that took weeks to go away. I've never tried Accutane (very thankful for that) but I was on Proactiv for many years and it seemed to help some. Remember to take off makeup as soon as she comes home, which will help keep the pores clean. My acne started getting worse this past summer, and I also have noticed some skin tags and some darker skin under my breasts and around my groin. I'm insulin resistant, but I didn't start gaining weight until I was about 18 or 19. I was 100 lbs in high school, but now I'm about 155, which is a lot of weight when you're only five feet tall. It's hard when all your friends are thin and you're overweight, especiall when the weight is around your middle.
I have had migraines in the past which I suspect was from the estrogen I took in birth control pills for a few years to help with pelvic pain. I'm now on a progesterone-only birth control pill, and my headaches are less painful.
I don't really have a hair problem except for my eyebrows, which are pretty dense. I have a lot of hair on my upper lip, but it's blonde so it doesn't really show.
I have noticed a great improvement in the way I feel overall (less tiredness, less depression, etc.) since I've cut out all sugars from my diet (use Splenda for sweetening, drink diet soda, and eat a lot of fruits to make up for the lack of sweets) and also since I've really cut down on other carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta, white bread, etc. Eat a lot of protein and fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains. It's really hard to get used to, especially since my insulin resistance made me hungry all the time, but since I've been on the Metformin, I'm not too hungry anymore, and I eat apples and grapes and strawberries a lot to keep my energy up. Diabetes is a risk, and since she's young good eating habits are very important in preventing the disease.
There's also a teen forum here on SoulCysters. Maybe your daughter should check it out. It could be a great help to her to know that she's not alone.
It's a rough road, and you have my sympathy and condolences. PCOS is not fun at all. Good luck!
Welcome to SC!! I can't answer your questions about your daughter but it sounds like you are a very caring mom. Is it possible for her to be on BCP?
I hope you both get it figured out. I think the hair issues are the hardest.
We do have a teen forum if your DD is interested. http://www.soulcysters.net/forumdisp...aysprune=&f=28
Depressed Daughter 
