Hi everyone,
I just found this site yesterday and it's been lovely to read through all the forums, there have been so many things which I experience too - and I thought I was all alone! I'm 20 and haven't actually been diagnosed with PCOS yet, although I'm pretty much 100% sure I've got it. My main symptoms are facial and body hair and no or irregular periods. I am also overweight but did have a problem with binge/comfort eating which will have contributed to this. I am now following the GI diet and have found it quite easy to lose weight so far. I have only lost about 12 pounds so far but it's a start. Also I have had a few periods in the last 6 months (after going a year without one) so I'm not sure what's going on really!
I'm currently getting up the courage to go to the doctors, I know I have to but it's hard! I also have this fear that there is something even worse wrong with me. I wish I went a few years ago when it first started, maybe the symptoms wouldn't have got so bad.
Anyway, my questions!
1. To what extent can the symptoms be brought under control with meds? It seems to vary on here with some people losing a lot of the excess hair but then others having no real change?
2. How much does weight loss help?
3. Is it ever possible to feel the cysts externally (ie. by pushing on stomach)?
4. Will everyone experience hair loss? I have lovely thick hair now and can't bear the thought of it falling out. I have managed to just about come to terms with the facial and body hair and have lots of self confidence and actually like myself. But I'm not sure I can take hair loss, I think you're all so brave. It's not like I can even put my hair up to help disguise it as I need it to hide the hair on the side of my face (I wax but have to let it grow back in between)!
5. Do herbal things help, like Agnus Castus? Can you take them when you're on the pill?
I think that's all for now, thanks so much for your help!
Everyone's symptoms vary and so does the direction we all take to get better. There are alot of cysters that are on meds but on the other hand there are alot that do alternative medicines like vitamins ect. Its all in your preference and what your doctor feels is best for you. If you come to find you have PCOS The first thing the doc will prob do is put you on some sort of Birth Control Pill to regulate your periods, to help with the hair, acne ect.. This also limits the growth of new cysts and/or shrinking cysts you already have. Diet and Exercise is SO important so keep up with what you are doing....The docs have told me a low carb diet limits the cysts within my ovaries lessening symptoms of PCOS. So Wieght loss helps alot - Go read Kat's story It will get you motivated! As for the pain pushing on your stomach - I don't think I have an answer for that, if you have really bad pain go read about endometreosis. Its a possibility.
I know how hard it is to look at yourself in the mirror with LONG THICK hair and see it falling out or seeing the hair growth on your face. Believe me there have been many mornings I looked at myself in the mirror with disgust. But you can't let that get you down. You have to keep on keepin on because unless you take control of your hormones and your lifestyle you will not get better. Find yourself a Great doctor that is knowledgable in this area and if they tell you nothing is wrong go to a new doctor. Keep going until you get your answers. I am 24 years old just Diagnosed - My mom and I have questioned doctors since I was 9 but none of them knew anything or really took the time to investigate. Doing your own research and understanding is your best weapon when actually going to the doctors. The medifocus guidebook is wonderful and worth the 14 or so dollars. Good Luck chicky!
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1. To what extent can the symptoms be brought under control with meds? It seems to vary on here with some people losing a lot of the excess hair but then others having no real change?
The Met has helped me loose weight, but I've noticed my hair growth slowing on my feet. I don't know what to attribute that to, since it will slow down then speed up again.
2. How much does weight loss help?
Loosing 40 pounds still didn't help reverse my Insulin Resistance, but my doc said it did probably aid in my getting pregnant.
4. Will everyone experience hair loss?
I've never had nice thick hair, but I have not had a problem with thinning hair. Since every woman's symptoms will be different not all women with PCOS have thinning hair. My cousin's hair is still so thick she can barely get a brush through it and she has worse PCOS symptoms than I do in some ways.
Welcome! My advice would be to go to an endocrinologist right away. I have played around with this problem for years before finally getting an actual diagnosis. I really regret all the time I lost being miserable.
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My 'hair' symptoms were helped dramatically by Eulexin. It's not a 'commonly' Rx'd drug, but for those who can take it...it seems to work well.
While I'm considered a 'weight loss success story' (90lbs gone), I don't know if my weight loss helped my IR as much as my diligence to diet and exercise. Regular exercise can help to bring normalize hormones, even when the weight doesn't change.
HIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii welcome to sc. I take metformin and really don't see a difference about hair issues. However I do feel like it has kind of evened the dieting playing field and am seeing some weightloss. I have thick hair too and just as a precaution I take calcium and b complex along with my regular vitamin. I haven't really noticed a big difference in hair loss either. What I do know that its all about moving. The more I move my body the better I feel. I believe it can help hormones because I just feel so much better than I did a year ago. Good luck!
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welcome to sc. I take metformin and really don't see a difference about hair issues. However I do feel like it has kind of evened the dieting playing field and am seeing some weightloss. I have thick hair too and just as a precaution I take calcium and b complex along with my regular vitamin. I haven't really noticed a big difference in hair loss either. What I do know that its all about moving. The more I move my body the better I feel. I believe it can help hormones because I just feel so much better than I did a year ago. Good luck! 
