Feeling left out sometimes

JulieC · 07-18-2003, 04:56 PM

Do any of you ever just feel left out from other parts of the board? I usually only visit the TTC forum and recently I feel like the only thin cyster around. So many posts have been about obesity lately ... how it's fine, how it's not fine, how we all have it ... I'm just feeling alone and I'm getting this vibe that "if you're not fat it's not PCOS". Blah :-b

Maybe it's just rubbing me the wrong way right now. Almost everyone on the TTC board seems new to me and those that I "know" are on the PG board.

alaskangrown · 07-18-2003, 05:07 PM

Hi,

I am not a thin cyster but that doesn't make me feel different about you, all your feelings and emotions are valid and I just wanted to let you know that I am here if you ever want to talk...

I understand how you feel, I think most of us feel left out in some way in life, I am a single cyster and though I don't need a man to be happy I wouldn't mind one, I have been married before but sometimes I feel because I am not married now I should not offer my advise to those who are....

Sorry I can't help as a thin cyster but I am still here.

Misty

JulieC · 07-18-2003, 07:05 PM

Misty,

Thanks for the encouragement. I've had a bad couple of days here, but I read your sig ... wow, you've had a lot of crappy things happen. *HUGS*. I can't relate to losing a spouse or children (I am so sorry), but I have been divorced. Sometimes divorces are good things ... it was in my case. I met someone great not too long after it was finalized and we will have been married for 5 years as of 7/31/2003.

As for being thin, it's strange. Though I feel left out here, I know that heavy cysters feel the same way in real life whereas I blend in with this aspect somewhat. There is more research done specific to obese cysters, and the stereotype is "heavy". I self diagnosed 10/2002 after I had my first vaginal u/s and they told me I had "lots of cysts on my ovaries". I was a bit hard to come to the conclusion since every single place I went said something about cysters always being overweight. I got offically diagnosed in November or so, but I had to talk my way into getting metformin ... my gyn didn't think it would help since I was thin and my fasting glucose/insulin was normal!

I have all these theories I've cooked up. I think there are at least a couple "flavors" of PCOS, with at least one that causes weight problems and at least one that doesn't. Perhaps we all have something wrong with our insulin but we react in different ways. Some produce more insulin (classic IR) which somehow leads to weight gain, or insulin stays at a normal range (seems typical with thin cysters) which leads to hypoglycemia and sometimes inability to gain weight. Growing up, I was the skinniest kid on the planet. I couldn't gain weight if I tried and I did try ... I ate like the boys! I've gained about 20lbs. since I reached my full height at 16, which is a good thing! I feel normal sized now rather than being in the "needs a cookie" crowd.

Thanks again for the response and I'd love to chat anytime. Right now I'm in self-pity-party land, but I'm hoping that will go away soon!

*HUGS*

Julie

Kiko's_Bride · 07-18-2003, 07:38 PM

Hey, Julie!

I'm a "sort-of" thin cyster -- I'm not obese, nor am I "needs a cookie" thin (I'm 145 at 5'5" tall. In 2000 when I met Kiko, I weighed around 130). Sometimes I'm not sure that I fit in either category. I am also TTC, and I feel like if I lose 10 lbs, it probably won't make a difference in my ability to ovulate.

I don't think I've noticed the same thing -- I just think that it's a symptom of PCOS that, if a person has it, is a big deal to them because it's made into a major issue by our culture. Maybe that's why it seems to be such frequent topic on the boards? I seems to me that women with PCOS and obesity get treated differently, like it is somehow their fault that they've got PCOS, because of the stereotypes in our culture about obesity.

I agree, however, that it seems pretty hard to find other thin cysters on the boards, but that being said, a difference in weight symptoms does not mean that there aren't things to be learned from all our cysters. I admit that I've stopped frequenting the thin cysters board because there is hardly even anyone here. In my interactions with other TTC cysters, weight comes up, but I don't I haven't felt less supported because of it, perhaps because I can relate to wanting to lose 15 lbs?

I don't know if I've helped you at all, but you're not alone! There are other thin cysters out here!

alaskangrown · 07-18-2003, 08:15 PM

Julie,

Thanks for the hugs

I agree that divorce can be for the best, my divorce was probibly one of the best things that could have happend to me, I am happy now which is a big step for me, I spent a great many years in depression, but since I have been out on my own I feel like I can conqer the world, yea

, and I absolutely agree that PCOS can manifest itself in many ways, with fat or thin cyster, any color of the rainbow, gay or straight, I can understand how frustrated you must feel sometimes seeing most of the information pertaining to obesity, it is my wish that someday there will be a cure for all of us and all the other medical problems in the world, until then I guess the best we can do is try and to be there for each other and not judge one another, there is a stygma on heavy women in the world but I don't live my life anymore worrying about it, I love myself and that is what is important, let me know anytime you want to chat...I am yahoo messenger with the ID arcticfoxlovergirl....

With Love,
Misty

JulieC · 07-18-2003, 10:48 PM

Thanks to both of you. I think I must have come across one too many "eat better, lose weight, get pregnant" articles lately. I just hate this because I am doing everything in my power to improve my situation and haven't gotten there yet. I have made progress ... the metformin I begged for shortened my cycles. I'm on my first cycle after ovarian drilling (also something I researched here), so things should be different too. I'm just frustrated that I'm not "there" (pregnant) yet.

Christine, I agree this forum is deadish, I've only been here a couple times ever myself. I just needed to talk about this someplace where I wouldn't ruffle too many feathers. I'm actually surprised anyone saw this today. I agree, you losing 10 pounds would probably have zero effect on your ability to O. It's frustrating having an option that works for others just not available.

Misty, I'll have to install Yahoo Messenger at some point in life. I'm glad you beat depression and found confidence! You said you aren't on any meds ... you might want to try metformin if you can, it can help make this syndrome easier to live with in general. It's not a cure, but it is a wonder drug for many.

klg221 · 07-19-2003, 09:58 PM

Hi ladies...
I'm embarrased to admit when I first found SC.com I thought "thin cysters" was for women wanting to BECOME thin!!!! DUH!!!! So I never looked at it. I'm like Kiko's bride...kind of in the middle. I"m 5'3" and 140lbs. I would love to weigh less but I know it isn't effecting my ability to get pregnant.

I have to say I've never felt not welcome anywhere, in fact any of the forums I"ve been a part of we haven't even talked about our weight.

I gotta go for now...DH is ready to go to the driving range.

jschmidt · 07-21-2003, 08:11 PM

Hey Julie,
I am also a thin cyster, ttc for 15 months, I am 5' and weigh about 110 pounds, although before Met and this crazy IR diet i was closer to 120. Oh well, I'm definitely not too skinny or in the "needs a cookie" group! I can relate to what you are saying though about reading too many articles about people losing weight and getting pregnant, I've often thought about gaining 30 pounds just to lose it and hopefully get pregnant! On the flip side though it must be hard to have pcos and be overweight, and it doesn't sound like losing it is the easiest thing to do. I however am hungry all of the time and wish I could eat less, something I never thought I would say in pre-pcos days. How are your ttc methods going these days? I just finished my 2nd clomid cycle, i probably o'ed yesterday after an hcg shot, I'm planning on trying it once more and then giving Met and some herbs a few months to kick in. Well I just wanted to say hi and let you know you are not alone, look for me on the ttc board!

Julie

Asgaard · 07-21-2003, 10:26 PM

Hi. Just wanted to say I aint trying to loose weight, in fact I hate dieting, never have done, never will, a little of what you fancy is o.k. Plus I am not overweight in my book. 5'11,12stone

Heather

JulieC · 07-22-2003, 03:06 PM

Hi Julie,

The TTC goes on ... on Clomid for the 4th time, but this is my first cycle since ovarian drilling (OD). I've got a blocked tube and I O'd on Clomid pre-OD, but it was always on the wrong side. Hopefully they cleaned my good-side ovary out enough to work! I've had activity, just nothing that got past 14mm.

Julie

susie_23 · 07-25-2003, 08:14 PM

i just wanted to say...at times i feel the same way...i am 5'5 and 145 so i fit also in the not too thin, but could lose a few category. i was recently told in chatroom that i'm not pcos and i'm looking in the wrong area for information. that my problem is pco not pcos and that its a gyn problem, not an endocrine problem. it frustrated me a lot because i came looking for answers and a little help, not to be told that i'm not in the right spot. i am also ttc with no results yet- i've done 2 rounds of clomid and now i've started on metroformin. i don't really know where i'm going with this... i'm frustrated and hurt, but i was a bit relieved when i read this thread that i'm not the only one that has found difficulty between being a "thin" cyster and not. i'm not sure how to end this note.... just to say thanks for writing what i've been thinking.

MSbelle · 07-27-2003, 08:12 AM

I was also told by someone that PCO and PCOS are 'completely' different. Each time I see a new doctor they look at me odd when I say that I am PCOS, that is, until they see my medical chart with all the labs, u/s, and pictures from surgeries to 'prove' it.

I always feel as though I can't be helped. Clomid did not work for me, fertinex/repronex/gonal-f all made me hyperstimulate.

I am not IR, or so my first Dr. said. Although I just printed off some stuff on Glucophage and non-IR PCOS studies, and I have my second HSG on Fri. so I am anxious to see what my dr. has to say to those.

I guess that I am just frustrated tonight. I have been ttc for 5 years and feel that there are not enough studies on 'thin cysters'. We are often overlooked it seems. I just feel so 'lonely'. Well enough of my rambling. I am just glad to know that I am not the only one out 'here'.

JulieC · 07-28-2003, 02:38 PM

Hey Susie and MSbelle! I'm sorry you feel like I do, but I guess at least we're not alone! Metformin did shorten my cycles from 70+ to about 36 days, and I O'd (wimpy O, but O) on met alone a couple cycles ago. It was the only cycle I didn't have something else going on (Clomid, BCP, lap/drilling), so I don't know if it was isolated or a trend. And I am supposedly non-IR. My fasting glucose was 104 (on the high edge of normal) and my fasting insulin was 6.4 (low). And met still worked. Good luck with it, hopefully it is all either of you need!

Chrissy · 07-29-2003, 09:40 AM

Hi ladies,

I have some questions for you about met. When you say it worked for you what do you mean? Are you referring to getting pregnant or met controlling sumptoms like AF, hari and acne? I have always used the bc pills to control sumptoms and cause AF. I have never tested positive for IR and even after talking about it with my RE she doesn't think it'll "work" since I'm thin and not showing IR. I think she is afraid it won't control my acne and excess hair I've gotten as I've gotten older with this condition. I also do not get AF without hormones so I'm wondering if that must be why. Do any of you use it for treatment of PCOS, without trying to get PG and have positive results or do you still have to take bc PIlls? Any information would be helpful since I have my appointment coming up in Sept. and I am researching things now!

dia.h · 07-29-2003, 12:09 PM

Hi Julie

I can totally relate to you I feel the same way...

I just want to ask you something off the topic.

I have been dx in March this year only symptom is irregular periods and I don't know if I ovulate

. My insulin and everything else is fine...

I am about 1.6m+ and weigh about 55kg.

I would like to know how you got it right to ask your re for met???
I don't know if I should try it.

Will it help my cycle???

Thank you in advance.

God Bless