Hi! I'm Ally, I'm almost 23, and I was just diagnosed. I, like many of you (from reading your posts) am having trouble explaining to my boyfriend what's going on. I really thought that he would understand, as he is an RN. But, he keeps telling me I just need to eat less and work out more. Anyways, I am noticing that many of you are taking Metformin, and I am wondering why I wasn't put on it? My OB prescribed Yasmin, but nothing else, and referred me to an Endocrinologist, who I have yet to be able to schedule an appt with. Apparently my sister, who was also just diagnosed, is on Metformin, and has already lost 20 lbs. Should I ask my OB about Met? TIA.
Since your bf is an RN, maybe you could find a short, but medically descriptive article about PCOS and give it to him to read? Sometimes I think that husbands and SO's believe it a little more when it comes from a doctor or 'authority' (no matter how irritating it might be, lol)
I would first ask your OB if he/she thinks you should try metformin. See what they have to say, and then if you want to try it present your case to them. If you have IR, it's important that you do something to treat that, too, whether it's diet/exercise or met or a combination of those.
Good luck, and I hope you find lots of support here!
I am 24, just diagnosed after 4 years of thinking I was crazy and/or destined to keep gaining weight.
At about 19/20, I started gaining weight ( I was a healthy 128 lbs. and 5'2") - in about 2 months during that summer I gained 20 lbs. - all while working and going to college full time and eating relatively healthy. I am now almost 50 lbs. above my original weight and it makes me sick and depressed - especially knowing that i live a healthy, active lifestyle and every doctor told me "lose weight" over and over. If they only knew! I have never been one to drink soda, eat a lot of sugar, etc. I even hired a personal trainer and followed her diet religiously and ended up gaining weight! Not to mention that almost all of the weight I put on was around my abdomen!
I went to my then OBGYN (in Orlando) complaining of missing periods, weight gain, hair loss, night sweats, heart palpitations, etc. and she right away put me on birth control pills. The pills regulated my periods more or less but did not help with any other symptoms. I began to think that was just the way I felt and I accepted the symptoms as "normal". I also felt like total crap on birth control pills.
This January 2008, I stopped taking birth control pills because they made me feel awful 24/7. I began researching my symptoms online and through my family which brought me to thinking about PCOS.
Thankfully, I spoke to my paternal cousin, who was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. She told me that she had every symptom that I had, so right away I made an appointment with a new OBGYN in Boca Raton, FL who did a series of tests and diagnosed me with PCOS.
I have been on 1500mg/day dose of Metformin for the past 2 weeks and 1 day. I feel better already - down almost 5lbs all in the stomach area! - and I have more energy and noticed that my stomach is much less upset than it would normally be. I am beginning a more rigorous exercise routine this week with cardio and weight training.
I am getting married in October and I hope to lose the 50ish lbs that I gained in the last couple of years. It is just amazing that I could go to 4 different doctors, have bloodwork done, etc. and for years I was told that everything was "normal". I have probably had PCOS since my late teens and it went undiagnosed - I am now 24 and hoping that I can get a grip on this condition.
When was everyone else diagnosed? How has Metformin worked for you? Has anyone else had terrible side effects with birth control? I was on Lo-Estrin and Apri for the past 3 years before I quit the pill in January.
My dermatologist sent me to my OBGYN after he realized there was nothing more he could do for my hair loss. I told my OB that my sister had recently been diagnosed with PCOS, and she immediately mentioned that she was thinking I had PCOS. She ran hormonal blood work on me, had me have the ultrasound, and diagnosed me all within a week.
Just Diagnosed .... 
