Just been diagnosed with PCOS....looking for some understanding...

mumtazg38 · 04-08-2008, 09:20 PM

Well, My doctor confirmed it that I have PCOS.....but she did not completely help me understand it. I was hoping maybe someone here could possibly help me figure out what having PCOS really means for me...I mean I already know about the cysts in the ovaries....formed by the eggs I think and the liquid inside them preventing certain hormones from leaving my system like they should.....but.....It's not like I'm not getting my periods...Infact I get them almost every two weeks, and they hurt like hell! So....if I get periods, I must be having some sort of activity to due with my ovaries right?

I know about the whole infertility issue.....but I just can't sit here and believe that I will absolutely never have children in the future....I just can't? Is it an absolute must that PCOS means infertility?

What is PCOS exactly....I am sick of books and lectures....I need some real human words on the subject....what is it, what does it mean for me and my future now?

Also, has anyone heard of the PCOS System by Insulite Laboratories? Is it good...is the stuff worth the money...can it really help with weight gain, insulin resistance, dark patches of skin (acanthosis nigricans), and most important of all.....INFERTILITY?

Here's a link to their site:
http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/index.php

Huge thanks in advance to everyone who replies and tries and helps me out.

spazmother727 · 04-08-2008, 09:59 PM

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear the diagnosis. I do not get my period every 2 weeks. I hardly ever get mine. I believe that I have had this all my life, it just got out of hand after my son was born. PCOS is confusing to me as well.

Just because you have PCOS does not mean that you are infertile. Get as much information as you can get about this syndrome. If you feel deep down that you do not have PCOS, get a second opinion... It does not hurt. I knew deep down that I had PCOS when I saw my doctor. He ran a lot of tests to rule out cancer and so on. When it was confirmed PCOS, I cried, but I knew it was right on the dollar. Because he told me my insulin results over the phone before confirming my diagnosis the next week with an ultrasound every time I would google the insulin issue it would come up with PCOS, diabetes, and so on.

As far as the PCOS System by Insulite laboratories, I would like to know if that stuff works as well.

Please keep in touch to let me know how you are doing. You are the only person who knows your body.

Best of luck and best of health

craziedaisygurl · 04-09-2008, 10:30 AM

PCOS is a lot of things and everyone has a different combination of symptoms. And by no means does it mean you will never have children! It may mean you will be challenged along the way, have to do medications or procedures to increase your chances, but in no way does having PCOS mean you will not be a mother.

I have been TTC for 2+ years and always knew I had something going on growing up. It was suggested I had PCOS but it was never explained to me. I had to teach myself, which is fine. It is good to be your own advocate!

I have done 6 rounds of Clomid, up to 250mg. If you aren't familiar, Clomid is an ovulation stimuating drug. 4 rounds I also had IUI's to increase my odds but still nothing took.

I have tried acupuncture-which really helps with the emotional rollarcoaster but I didnt' notice anything with my cycles really change. I still needed Provera to bring on cycles.

I am currently taking the Insulite supplements. Have been on them for about a month and have noticed a ton of positive changes. My mood swings are less, I have energy, my acne subsided a ton, facial hair slowed and got lighter, sex drive is good and I am just starting to notice changes to my CM, as O day is approaching (I am hoping anyways!) I also ordered 2 more months of it.

I haven't been exercising or following the low carb diet as suggested. I am having a lot of issues getting into the exercise mode and while most days my carb/sugar cravings are kept in control, other days they go wild. My diet is greatly improved though but still a ways to go.

Have you looked at the book THE FERTILITY DIET? I really got a lot out of it. Simple changes to your diet (milk, types of meat you eat, certain veggies...) can help your body regulate your PCOS symptoms.

I am very new to this board too so hopefully we can help each other along the way!

Jamey

PBLayzod · 04-09-2008, 10:39 AM

Lots of us have children, but some of us do require a little help in that area. As for the rest of it. Kat has some great resources posted and we are always happy to answer questions. Welcome!

mumtazg38 · 04-10-2008, 05:22 PM

Thank you so much everyone for your amazing replies so far. I am so relieved to know that just because I have been diagnosed with PCOS does not mean I can't have children in the future....it's such a relief!

Actually, I always had the feeling that I had PCOS, maybe even around age 14-15 when I read about it in a magazine.....all the symptoms matched my issues....and you know how it is when you're a teenager and it's absolutely mortifying to look at yourself in the mirror and wonder why you're not 100% perfect like the other girls, I mean, of course the other girls aren't perfect either....but at the time....everyone looked perfect, everyone but me. So I guess I always knew, but didn't really want that to be it. I just wanted it to be some simple hormone imbalance or something so that I could take supplements or something and.....well....quick fix anyone? lol.

I had been seeing my doctor about my problems since I turned 13....my mother would always accompany me, and she would assure myself and my doctor that it was all in my head and I shouldn't try and make myself mentally sick by pretending there is something physically wrong with me. That I needed to get over it. My doctor believed her that I was overreacting for no reason....maybe I was just an attention seeking teenager who wanted to be treated like a sick girl...idk what they all really thought but it sure seemed to be something along those lines. My symptoms were.....mostly on the surface, excessive facial and body hair(hirsutism), too much weight on the upper body while the lower body remained very lean...even sexy, dark patches on knees, ankles, knuckles...both fingers and toes, back of the neck, under arms, elbows, all around groin and bikini area........and the constant fatigue....to the point where I couldn't function properly unless I got in at least 15 hours of sleep, and only during the day....during the night I could function on usually no sleep, my periods seemed to get worse and worse over time.....first the excruciating pain before, during and after.......then the length of the periods increased to 10-11 days.....then the lengths decreased to 3-5 days but began happening sooner than every 2 weeks.........everything at that time in my life(and the present too) started going absolutely wonky. And all I got was attitude and lectures from my family for it...that I was just lazy.....there was nothing wrong with me.....I was just trying to milk other peoples sympathy for all it was worth. Being a teenager at the time...this was harsh on my self-esteem. And this is only a quarter of the actual story.......at a young age...bluntly put, I was losing my mind, or so I sure felt like it.

All of these symptoms remain to this day.....and ever since I talked to my doctor...I feel relieved that finally........I'm not a crazy...lazy, attention seeking, good for nothing, teenager. I'm not making anything up.....and now my doctor can back me up when my family starts driving me up the wall about how I'm "playing for sympathy" because I obviously "won't work hard enough to lose the weight".

I am supposed to see a really good endochrinologist towards the end of the month and am hoping that I can find some solutions for all of these issues....I'm sick of them...as superficial as they may seem......I am just sick of it all.

Thank you so much everyone....I am really enjoying all of the support here.

Eva37 · 04-11-2008, 09:29 AM

welcome to sc

NinaRoux · 04-13-2008, 12:01 AM

BTW TO ALL CYSTERS:
This might be somewhere on this site already, but I have a great book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. This book is a hands-on educational approach to women's bodies, fertility, hormones, cycles - literally everything you would want to know about how your body functions.
For those who are trying to get pregs, it's great because it has copies of charts for mapping your fertility/temps/fluids, etc.
There's a great section on PCOS - and her approach is nice because she doesn't let ANY woman think there's no hope!

Remember; Knowlege is Power. Empower yourselves by educating yourselves. There is no reason to sit and worry and wonder, and focus on the negatives and your fears.