Found out i have PCOS today

Lifeguard19 · 03-11-2005, 12:50 AM

Hello everyone, Just found out i have PCOS. I've been fighting with my doctor for 5 years now. It first started when i had a period every day for 6 months the doctor put me on the pill to fix things.. i was only 14 i did not know any better after being on the pill for 3 years i stopped.. my bf and i had broken up.. no need to be on the pill anymore... well my period stopped.. i haven't had one for a year now i went to see a gyno after buggin my family doctor about it not beeing normal. Finaly i thought things were going to get fixed.. Yeah right.. My gyno told me i was fat and the reason why i didn't have my period was because i was unhealthy. I'm very healthy.. ok so i have a few extra pounds but hey i'm a lifeguard and a nurse.. i'm always on the go. i went home thinking i was un-healthy and things would get better.... she put me on depo provera a month ago to stop the hairgrowth i've had on my face. Lets just say that was the best thing she has done. It caused me to have severe cramps where i couldn't get up and do anything.. i was throwing up because i was in so much pain. finaly after calling her office 3 times i get to see her tomorrow... i went for the trans-vagina ultrasound today by one of my good friends/co-worker and yup there it was PCOS. My family doc was working emerg and i went to see him.. her confirmed it.. Unbelievable how alone i feel right now..

candace21 · 03-11-2005, 12:58 AM

first welcome to SC!!

It can be really hard when your first diagnosed! I felt real alone myself when I was told. Then I came here and found a ton of great information. It was real surprising when i found out how many women are actually effected by PCOS, 10% of the female population has it.
Have you had any blood work yet? If not I would strongly recommend getting your insulin tested. In my opinion the best test to get is a GTT (glucose tolerance test), you should talk to a good dr about getting put on glucophage, it seems to work wonders for many women. I myself am trying to find a good dr right now to get me on it.
good luck! just know that you are not alone in this. If no one else, we are all here for you!

candace

Lifeguard19 · 03-11-2005, 01:06 AM

yeah i'll be talking to my gyno tomorrow.. i'm thinking about changing gynos thought we'll see on how things go tomorrow..

Indira · 03-11-2005, 01:25 AM

Welcome, now you are a cyster.

I know how lonely it could feel too, specially if no one else has it in your family or friends. Sometimes they just don't understand what this is. I'm glad you found us, there is a lot of info and lots of support too. If you have questions ask and someone will answer. We are here to help each other so don't hesitate.

Jmacfeely · 03-11-2005, 08:11 AM

Hi there and welcome!

You're not even close to alone now! You have a world full of cysters to help out.

Good luck with treatment!!!

Lifeguard19 · 03-11-2005, 02:35 PM

treatment? My gyno told me to just lose a few lbs and that will help it.. wow.. what should i do? what kind of treatments are you people on??

Jashobeam · 03-11-2005, 05:03 PM

Welcome to SC!

CathyWood · 03-11-2005, 06:10 PM

Hi Welcome to SC. I am glad you found us. See you around.

VitaBella · 03-11-2005, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lifeguard19
treatment? My gyno told me to just lose a few lbs and that will help it.. wow.. what should i do? what kind of treatments are you people on??

Well, one of the underlying problems with PCOS is that our bodies are resistant to insulin. What that basically means is that if you eat something with sugar or an easily-digestible carbohydrate, your blood sugar will go up. Your pancreas will send out insulin to process that sugar out of your blood. Unfortunately, our bodies don't respond well to that insulin. Our pancrease says, "Hey...why is there still sugar in the blood?" and sends out more insulin.

Excess insulin encourages the body to retain fat, which is why many PCOSers are overweight. And when you're overweight, that throws off your female hormones, leading to excess hair growth and messed up cycles.

Whew, that's a long explanation!

Basically, the usual treatment is Metformin, an insulin-sensitizing drug. It makes the body use insulin better, to help with the problem.

Some people take birth control pills or other drugs to control hair growth, for example.

If you have trouble when you try to get pregnant, there is a whole side of treatment reserved to that - fertility drugs, etc.

Have a look around the website - there are forums about Metformin, and the diet and exercise forum is pretty busy (most PCOSers do well on a lower-carb diet with lots of exercise because exercise improved insulin sensitivity).

This can be managed, it just takes knowledge and work. Whatever you do, don't believe what your gyno says about taking off a few pounds...the weight gain is a SYMPTOM, not a CAUSE. If you get your hormones under control, the weight will take care of itself.

Hope that helps! Don't feel alone - there are many of us here, and we know what you're going through.

Lifeguard19 · 03-13-2005, 10:15 PM

thank you very very very very much for that info.. i'm starting a new diet called the G.I diet.. i will let everyone know what i think about it.. ( i hope it's good) as for the pill.. i can't go on it due to high blood pressure that is from ed for another health problem called lupus.. once i get the blood pressure down i can go back onto the pill.. but yeah! thanks sooo much!!!

Jmacfeely · 03-14-2005, 03:05 AM

Hi there,

A bunch of us Pcos ladies are on Metformin which regulate the insulin. Even got regular periods and with WW lost weight. Check out the medications and treatment frum for things to ask your doctor about and research.

Good luck!