Hi everyone,
I am a newly diagnosed soul cyster. I received my diagnosis over spring break (March 2006). I've been very busy with school since then and haven't had time to research it much but I'm trying to rectify that and actually learn about my condition. What I know from firsthand experience is painful but it is so reassuring to know that I'm not the only one out there with these problems! It helps alleviate my depression slightly to know that I'm not some circus-show freak.
I first heard about PCOS from my dermatologist while trying to receive acne treatment. She noticed some hair on my chin and asked about abdominal male-pattern hair growth and about my menstrual cycles. I told her that I have a lot of extra hair everywhere (I couldn't live without my razor every day!), I have a period maybe 3 times a year on average, and I have bad acne on my face, back and chest. Over the past year I have gained nearly 15 pounds despite intense exercise and diet restrictions. I suffer from depression and feelings of worthlessness and have had thoughts of suicide over the last year.
Thanks to the smart catch of my derm, I was able to visit an OB/GYN and get bloodwork and ultrasound done, confirming that I do indeed have cysts on my ovaries and the typical PCOS imbalance of hormones: 3/1 FSH/LH ratio, testosterone level is around 100, and excess estrogen. It was so amazing to realize that there was actually a connection to all these seemingly random problems that have bothered me since the onset of puberty. At the same time I had to go home and cry a little after hearing all the serious problems that can develop from PCOS. My OB told me to try to lose some weight and she started me on Yasmin BC (which is supposed to help with excess androgens, I guess?). I just finished my first three weeks and got my period yesterday (!) Of course, my "normal" friends laugh at how excited I am :-).
I would love to talk to anyone else who is on Yasmin and see how it has helped them and what side effects it has had. I found that I had some nausea and the last couple of days I've had bad PMS and depression prior to the onset of my actual bleeding. However, the 2 and part of the 3rd week on it, my acne had cleared up a little bit (I actually went out in public without makeup!!) and my mood change was drastic! I was so uncharacteristically happy and motivated. It made my life so much easier. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, depressed, and lethargic I actually had energy to handle my classes efficiently and still have time to socialize with friends after!I'm really hoping that this wasn't just a fluke. My theory is that it was the surge in progesterone from BC, although I really don't know much about how BC works so this is pure speculation.
Any thoughts on that? Has anyone else had this experience with Yasmin and depression/acne? I haven't noticed an improvement in hirsutism at all.
I usually have bad depression. I don't know when it started, since puberty I can remember being depressed and I think the first time I ever seriously thought about suicide I was 14. This whole depression thing is a thorn in my side, because I honestly don't have a good reason to be depressed. I have a great family and lots of good friends. But then I think about my acne, hirsutism, slightly overweight, loveless life (I'm 18 and I've never been in a long-term relationship!), and I feel so alone and unattractive. Honestly, when all my friends are getting excited about getting back into their bikinis for summer I'm just dreading it with all my body and soul! Yikes! I mean, hair and belly fat? not pretty...I just want to be thin and think of myself as attractive to someone. I've been hurt several times with guys and I'm just tired of hating on myself because I don't have a boyfriend. When I think about other people's problems (tsunami and hurricane victims especially!) in relation to my own I end up feeling really guilty for being depressed in the first place. It doesn't help that people always say, "Just listen to happy music or think about your blessings..." etc etc. They just don't understand...The thing is that most people would be very surprised to know that I'm depressed unless they get to know me because I hide it very well and I am often on the opposite extreme (wildly happy, outgoing, "life of the party" type of girl) but I feel like I'm just trying to overcompensate. I have wondered if I am bipolar but then that's just hypochondraical to be bipolar and PCOS. The thing is that right after a "manic" episode I will usually be extremely depressed. I also have periods where I excel in my music and classes and feel like I can think clearly and brilliantly and then times when it's like navigating a murky swamp to try to remember anything and try to motivate myself to practice piano or study for exams. I don't know what relationship this had to anything else, but I feel like I'm writing a confession or something. I've never actually talked to anyone about all these thoughts in my head and it's therapeutic to get it all out in the open.
Back to meds...My OB wants to start me on metformin as soon as I get back for summer break.
Has anyone else mixed birth control and metformin? If you have, please, please do talk to me about it! I would love to know what side effects I can expect and what benefits. Oh, and I don't believe that I have Insulin Resistance, although I'm not sure that she did the right blood test for it (it was the middle of the afternoon and I hadn't eaten in a couple of hours). I think she just wants me to take it for the anti-androgen reason.
Let's see, anything I missed...Oh yes, weight problems! How could I forget? Despite working out for almost an hour 6 days a week (intense stuff also, cardio tae-bo, lifting weights, jogging, walking, lifting weights) and trying to eat healthy (I eat vegetarian and try to restrict high-fat and high-sugar foods). With all this I still manage to gain weight. It is incredibly discouraging and depressing. I realize now that this a common problem of PCOSers.
Would the metformin help with this? Even though I don't have IR?
Apologies for the wordiness!
Thanks in advance for reading this lengthy post and answering my PCOS questions!
Kristin
PS...I posted this in another thread and someone told me I should start a separate thread, so I hope it's ok that I'm starting one here!
Hi everyone! Long intro and a few q's! 
Sooo now I've been exercising everyday and I'm getting better about what I eat. It's slow going now, but well worth the work! The best compliments ever are when my husband tells me my butt is smaller and my legs are skinnier! 
He's such a charmer!
