Hi everyone,
I'm new here so I'm not sure where to post this. I just thought I'd tell you my story. I've never told anyone and have spent the last 18 or so years trying my best to hide my condition. I always felt like a freak. So I literally wept when I stumbled on this site. Finally there were others who knew what I was going through.
First off, I am not "Officially" diagnosed yet. I Was always a big girl even as a small child even though I was pretty active and didn't over eat. I got my period in fifth grade and thats when the trouble started. I first noticed a few stray hairs here and there but I didn't think anything of if but by the time I got to grade 8 I had honest to goodness sideburns. I was mortified. I shaved about three times a week and started wearing makeup to hide it. By the time I reached Highschool I was shaving everyday.Full beard. I was so embarrassed that I kept to myself most of the time. I also gained weight without trying. Finally I worked up the courage to see a doctor. He asked me about my periods and they were regular so he just said sometimes it takes a while for hormones to straighten out and everything would fix itself. What a relief!! Unfortunetly things didn't work itself out. Three years later I went back. I now weighed 180 lbs but I still had regular periods. The Doctors response was. "Well, your fat. Lose weight and it will all straighten out" when I said I couldn't despite excircise and furious dieting,(Kept under 500 cal a day for over a month and GAINED weight) He said " You just arn't trying hard enough" A year or so later I asked for BCP and was told I couldn't because I had high blood pressure. Again LOSE WEIGHT. I stopped going to the Doctor. I continued to gain weight and finally gave up the fight and just ate what I wanted and Hid the hair with heavy make up.I now weigh in excess of 240 lbs, have only had 3 periods in the last year and I am terrified.I have been reading a lot about about pcos and have realized that it causes so many things and I haven't had any kind of treatment for many years. So I have resolved to try again. I have a new Doc now. A woman . She believes it probably IS pcos. she also believes it to be a real medical condition not just something that happens if you are fat and lazy.I am in awe of all the women on here. You are my heros.For so many years I have felt so alone and ashamed and embarrassed. I felt like the only girl in the whole world who had to deal with this. Even the doctors thought I was a freak.I am so relieved and so encouraged. If all the women on here can survive this condition maybe I can too. I still HATE it but I have hope now. Thank you all
Sorry It's so long btw.
welcome to sc you will so love it here, there is so much to learn and everyone is so friendly. there is a link to the newbie roadmap in my siggie for you
eva
*hug* I'm glad you told us your story, pixiechick! I hope your new Dr can help you out - sounds like your previous Dr was a total jerk. Luckily, there are some good medications that can help get PCOS and its side effects in line. I was diagnosed as a teenager, but just started Metformin yesterday. I think it will really help. Even seeing an endocrinologist though, his big piece of advice for me was to lose weight, and he also scheduled me an appt to see a dietician. That really annoyed me - I've been on Weight Watchers for quite some time. I *know* how to eat healthy, and do every day, and still struggle with losing 0.2lbs in a week or two. Thanks Doc! It's not that easy! (Though I have lost 30lbs - 10% of my body weight - since January, yay)
Just an intro 
you will so love it here, there is so much to learn and everyone is so friendly. there is a link to the newbie roadmap in my siggie for you
