Normally I would post on this board pertaining to a specific PCOS problem...but lately, my symptoms are completely taking control over my life and I'm so depressed...
Just to give you some background, I'm 20 yrs old and I believe I've had PCOS ever since I was 11. I was diagnosed at 13. Currently I am taking the Mircette BCP, which I just switched to after being on Yasmin for about 7 months.
Today I was very upset because I just found out that I cannot see the only endo at my hospital until the end of October! I am so mad...I called up the doctor's last week and they gave me an appointment with a gyno, after I specifically asked to see an endocrinologist! So I went to the gyno appointment yesterday, and when I said I wanted to talk to them about my PCOS they said "Well, you're on the birth control pill and that is the basis for PCOS treatment. I'll cancel your appointment here and you can go see the endocrinologist." So that was a waste of time
I need to do something, my symptoms are out of control! My acne is so bad that I don't want to go out in public at all, not even to the post office. I can't cover it with makeup like I used to. My hair falls out all day long, I keep thinking there is a bug on my arm and when I check it's strands of my hair. I see a bunch of my hair on my pillow every morning reminding me of the fact that I'll probably be bald in a couple months. I have even more hair on my face and body. My boyfriend is always telling me I'm beautiful and I can't believe him, and then he gets upset.
The worst part of all this is, I am in the process of building my own business selling my artwork on the internet, and in order to be successful I have to get lots of painting done. But lately I don't have the energy to do anything!
I just wanted to go to the doctor's and at least get on aldactone again so that my symptoms will be better, and I can't even do that. I feel so powerless against this, and I am not usually the kind of person who lets things stand in their way.
I keep trying to find alternative methods that will help, but every time I find an herb I want to try, it says that it will make my BCP less effective, and I do NOT want to get pregnant. I also want to try low-carb but I'm a vegetarian and whenever I ask about it people tell me that I just can't be vegetarian with PCOS...that I have to do the Atkins diet and eat lots of meat....
Well...I'm sorry I made such a long post but I really needed to vent to people that actually understand this problem!
It's terrible that you can't listen to your bf!! Beauty comes in many forms and you might not like the things about you like the hair loss and the facial hair and the acne, but the beauty I'm sure he speaks of is in you, as cliche as this is. Those "ugly things" are SYMPTOMS of a DESEASE, baby! You can't help that! So don't upset your boyfriend! Give him a big grin and say, " yeah, I am aren't I?" You might sound arrogant, but arrogance can be pretty sexy because it comes from self confidance. Get out in the big bad world and enjoy it. Things will fall into place. Try seeing another Doc for a while...
As for your symptoms getting worse, are you on the gi diet? I'm sure you would be, but I thought I would ask. Motivation is easier to come by if someone is helping you. Find a gym buddy, or at least someone to go and play some basketball with. Take dance lessons, or simply park your car further away. Exercise makes your body release endorphins which make you happy. So if you feel down, this might help....
OH- and smile! I'm thinking of you, and hope this helps somewhat! I'm 20 too. I'm from Sydney, Australia and I also paint! I am a singer songwrtter too, some of the best creations come from struggle, use yours. IF you don't feel that you are a beautiful looking person you can prove your inner beauty by letting it out on the canvas!
oops! sorry I didn't read that you were vege and low gi is difficult...
No matter, I am almost Vegetarian ( i don't enjoy meat much so I don't eat it very often)
Try just dropping white carb rich foods, and eat plenty of protein rich foods, like soya based product. Eat tofu, mushrooms, drink plenty of soya milk and take protein suppliments and shakes.
Do you eat fish, (some vege's say that you're not a real vege if you eat fish, but I don't know your motivations for vegetarianism so I don't know if it's a health thing, a taste thing, or an animal rights thing.... Anyway, exercise and sweating (sauna?) might help with the acne, and also get rid of any toxins in your body
Hope this helps
Ax
Thank you Annie, your post helped me feel a little better You are right, I should accept what my boyfriend is saying, it's just hard when I don't believe that myself ya know? I haven't really read much about the low GI diet, I just know a lot about Atkins and similar diets. I am a vegetarian for all the reason you mention, and I don't eat fish. I started a couple months ago actually, and before that I did try to do the Atkins diet but I never liked any meat besides chicken, and then I realized I did not want to eat meat anymore for animal rights reasons, so the Atkins diet would be pretty hard.
I get lots of protein from soy products and other things, and I am just trying to make sure that I stay away from foods with tons of carbohydrates in them. I'll try to exercise more too!
__________________ PCOS for 9 years/Currently on Mircette
Trying Saw Palmetto
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yeah, that should help...
Do try to do one thing for yourself each day (which is good for you) Like a bubble bath, or gym, or give your face a masque or something...the more you feel that you are pampering yourself, the more you will feel that you deserve it!
Ax
I know that feeling of powerlessness and it can stop you doing so much.
Please don't think that the Atkins diet is the only way to go because you have PCOS. Yes it works for a lot of people as does the IR diet; but also a lot of people have had success with WW and I myself will only ever lose weight if I calorie count.
Have you read the PCOS A Woman's Guide to Dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Colette Harris?
She treated herself, reduced her weight and got her cycles regular by eating an organic, VEGAN diet!!! So if it can work for her, why not you? This is what she says in the introduction
"I began to try out a fairly drastic health regime. The basics were a wholefood vegan diet with no alcohol or caffeine, herbal and nutritional supplements, filtered water and gentle exercise.
My periods, which had finally disappeared completely in August 1996, four months after my diagnosis, came back within the month. Weight started to come off, my painful acne-type spots receded, my hair stopped falling out and my moods began to level off"
In her second book; The PCOS Diet Book, this is the basic information for vegetarians with PCOS
When you look at the diets of most vegetarians, protein intake tends to be small. if you are a vegetarian it is very important that you get complete proteins in your meal. Below are some suggestions to help you do this.
make sure you substitute pulses, beans, wholegrain cereals, dairy products, tofu products or quorn instead of just leaving the meat part out of the meal
choose cereals fortified with vitamins, especially B12 (And don't forget, Marmite is a good source of this vitamin)
Try to eat a large portion of dark green leafy vegetables every day and half to three-quarters of a pint of semi-skimmed milk a day to ensure your calcium instake. If you are lactose intolerant you can get your calcium in soya yogurts and milks or nut milks.
Eat dried fruits, pulses, green vegetables and whole grains for fibre and iron. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are good sources of iron, too.
Eat at least 30g of pulses, nuts and seeds every day for protein and EFAs
Eat at least one serving of low-fat cheese or cottage cheese a day for protein and calcium - or a soya pattie or tofu portion
Eat a total of three to four eggs a week
Choose margarine or butter fortified with Vitamin D and E in a vegetarian spread. you can get vitamin D from sunlight as well, and vitamin E from nuts and seeds.
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Got to wean myself off that carb overload I've been having lately...... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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Thank you Maddy! It is very reassuring to know that other women are treating themselves while being a vegetarian. I will definitely get that book by Collette Harris, and check out that group you mentioned! Thanks!
__________________ PCOS for 9 years/Currently on Mircette
Trying Saw Palmetto
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I'm a total mess :( 
You are right, I should accept what my boyfriend is saying, it's just hard when I don't believe that myself ya know? I haven't really read much about the low GI diet, I just know a lot about Atkins and similar diets. I am a vegetarian for all the reason you mention, and I don't eat fish. I started a couple months ago actually, and before that I did try to do the Atkins diet but I never liked any meat besides chicken, and then I realized I did not want to eat meat anymore for animal rights reasons, so the Atkins diet would be pretty hard.
