Trixiebelle

Hi All,

Just wanted to say how great this site is as a resource for those of us who need it!

I guess I'm very lucky (esp. having read some of the stories on here) - I have very few of the tradtional symtoms - I get very bad pains, no matter the time of month, more hair loss than my mates, but not excessive (could be the use on bleach on it though...!), and even though I'm 135lbs (at 5"1'), I'm, medically speaking, overweight - I've always had the inability to maintain or lose, weight! And, I've seen people talking about it on here - I'm on the pill, so I have pretty regular periods (when off it, I've had 12 week long ones) but I don't actually bleed, just clot (sorry if TMI).

I'm travelling around Australia for a year at the moment, and having the time of my life - but if you ask my friends, they'd disagree. They keep telling me I don't seem myself, or happy? I guess there's always been that element - not feeling 100% happy, and having absolutely no reason for it (amazing family, no traumas etc..), just feeling a bit...er..blue?! I love it here though, so I guess I may as well be feeling 85% here, than at home! Its not home sickness...[b][b]at all!

I have only been prescribed BCP Dianette, wondering if I should be on other meds, you all seem to be taking loads...is that for trying to concieve (or is it for the other symptoms I'm lucky enough not to have)? Its pretty much the only thing I want to do with my life....in time (I'm only 23, but I [b]really[b] want kids!) Should I start taking meds now, for conception in a few years? Any good herbal-type treatments? My doc doesn't seem to know an awful lot....any one know a good one in Ireland? Seeing as how widespread this seems to be, I don't get why there are so little specialists!

Thanks a Million
Trix
xx

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*Even the best fall down sometimes...*

sasha299

Hi,
I cannot really help alot but I have to say that lots of cysters who are not TTC are on Metformin which is an insulin sensitizing med because it has been found that they help cysters even if they do not test insulin resistant.

By the way you should ask your Dr to test you for insulin resistance.

Another thing that many cysters here do it go on some sort of diet that restricts the carbohydrates that you eat. Basically you want to eliminate much fo the bread, pasta, etc from your diet or atleast eat it in moderation. Basically eat similar to a diabetic.

About your not feeling 100% happy - I cannot really help alot. Maybe when your hormones get regulated (from the diet and/or meds) then you will feel somewhat more on an even keel? I am not sure. Hopefully someone else here will be able to help you.

Actually Just remembered to tell you that BCP mainly treat the symptoms of PCOS so it is very important that your DR realize that BCP does not "fix" the probelm just makes it easier to live with it.

Some cysters are able to get pg with little/no issue and some cysters try for years w/o success. It is the nature of this disease.

The best thing I feel to do to preserve your fertility is to get your disease managed as soon as possible.

If you cannot get your dr to prescribe some insulin sensitizing meds you may be able find success with really restricting your carbs to a safe but low level while you try to find a dr who understands.

HTH
Sasha

__________________

Sasha - 35

DH Ed - 43

Married - 4/1996

Diagnosed - 6/2001

Gluc - 9/2003

Repeat three times per day "I am a sweet and delicate flower"
"Everything happens for a reason but we know not the reason - It's GOD's will!"
"A loving and open heart conquers all"
"Accept what comes to you until you get what you want"
:-D

CathyWood

Hi Welcome to SC. I am glad you found us. Feel free to contact me if you wish. See you around.

__________________
Cathy 36
Lee 40
Married Feb 12, 1994
HSG Nov 2004
Brandon Aug 8, 2005

CysterChrista

Hi Trix,

I'd say check with a doctor. A reproductive endocrinologist is who you would ideally see, even if you're not trying to have a baby right now. This is because PCOS is a hormone problem, that they see every day because of the infertility issues associated with PCOS. Usually they are the most up to date doctors when it comes to treatments for PCOS.

As for meds, it really depends on how you view your health. Many of us are on loads of meds to combat this or that symptom, and that's fine for them. Others feel that that's treating the symptom, without treating the "disease", and that we should look for the root cause of the PCOS and treat that. The idea being that if you get that root cause under control ultimately the symptoms caused by it will come back into line as well. I happen to be in this camp.

My favorite example is treating a brain tumor with an aspirin. Sure, your symptom is a headache, and an aspirin will help that, but it won't do anything to make the tumor itself go away. The result is aspirin as a daily routine. Long term meds can be hard on your body. Treating the tumor itself, however, will also make the headaches go away, and much more permanently. The end result is far fewer aspirins, if any at all.

PCOS can be treated this way, depending on what's causing your PCOS. It's not the same for all of us. Usually the hormone that's out of whack is insulin, which is why so many of us are overweight. Whenever one of your hormones goes high or low for any length of time your body tries to warn you and protect itself by compensating with other hormone imbalances. Too much insulin causes the ovaries to produce testosterone rather than progesterone (or is it estrogen?). I think it's progesterone because that's the one that's missing usually if you don't get a period (which is why so many of us take Provera--to get a period).

Anyway, too much or too little of any hormone causes a cascade of hormone imbalances. All these imbalances have symptoms. Too much insulin leads to overweight. Too much testosterone leads to hirsutism and male-pattern baldness. And so on...and so forth...and PCOS is the result. PCOS, being a syndrome, is just a collection of these symptoms causes by the hormone imbalances. Get the hormone imbalances in check and the symptoms are greatly reduced if they don't go away completely.

This is why low carb diets are the thing here. Carbs directly affect insulin. By reducing carbs (or eating them in combination with protein such as in the IR Diet--see links in sig) you reduce your insulin to normal levels. This allows the other hormones to go back to normal levels.

Another biggie with Cysters is Cortisol/Adrenalin. Worry, stress, and trauma can cause too much Cortisol (worry and stress) and Adrenalin (trauma). These hormones, when too high, also cause hormones to go all screwy.

The reason PCOS is named PCOS and why it appears to be a reproductive problem, rather than an endocrine problem, is that the reproductive organs are particularly sensitive to hormone fluctuations. I think that this is to keep unhealthy people from reproducing. To me PCOS is a warning that there's something wrong in your body that needs to be fixed before something more serious happens. You body, I think, shuts down reproduction until you can fix the problem.

Ok so there's my "basics". I know it's a lot, but you've found us, so you're smart enough to take it.

Good luck to you!
Christa

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Age:37
Dx PCOS Nov 1999, Dx
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Nov 2000
Med free since Feb 2001.
Brief stint on Woman's Precious Jan-Feb 2004--no results.
Eating Snickers for breakfast on
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, and it's working!

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- See Section 2.10 for blood tests and normal values.

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Can Help You Find Your PCOS-friendly Doctor!
SoulCyster since August 2001