New with lots of ????'s

pcc10012 · 05-03-2002, 08:05 PM

It's definitely a relief to find this site, eespecially an area for thin cysters.

I'm 29 and just got a diagnosis of PCOS from my GYN in January when I told her I was ttc and not having periods. I've been on the pill for about a decade as birth control and treatment for my irregular periods. About 7 years ago, I went off for 6 months and had no periods and started noticing a little extra hair growth then. I was told to get back on the pill and stay there until I wanted to have children.

Well, that's now and I wish I had known about PCOS earlier. I just went to an RE and had bloodwork and ultrasound of my ovaries done. They have the polycystic look, she said, and my bloodwork confirms elevated testosterone. It also revealed that I never got a rubella vaccination (was born in the 3rd world!) so now I have to get immunized and put off ttc for 3 months.

I'm very disappointed about the delay, but want to use the time to try to straighten my body out naturally. I'm a normal weight (115 lbs, 5'2"), exercise fairly regularly, and have a decent diet. When I mentioned Metformin, my RE said it didn't look like I was insulin resistant, but from some posts on this site, it seems that you can't tell that from looks alone.

Now, my questions:

1. Are many of you thin cysters also following no-carb or low-carb diets for PCOS?

2. Are you taking Metformin while ttc?

3. Has anyone tried alternative medicine? I went to an ayurvedic (Indian holistic medicine) doctor who gave me some herbs and stretching exercises to do. I had my period in 2 months but I don't know if it was the herbs or just coincidence.

4. What kinds of tests should I make sure were done in the bloodwork?

5. What are the best ways you've found to manage PCOS and symptoms naturally?

6. Can someone fill me in on all the shorthand on the site--I've figured some out but what is AF (Aunt Flo??)?

Sorry for all the questions, but any help is appreciated!

Thanks,
pc

jmp · 05-04-2002, 02:39 AM

pc, welcome to SoulCysters!!

I'll try to answer as many of your questions as I can, and I know that other cysters will be able to answer the ones I can't. I am sorry to hear about your 3-month "rest," but your attitude sounds great--make sure you are taking some good vitamins with enough folic acid in them!

1. I am not on a no-/low-carb diet, though I try hard to make sure that I eat protein AND carbs whenever I eat, and I try to have no longer than 5 hours between meals/snacks. I base my "plan" loosely on "The ZONE" which I found to be a reasonable diet.

2. I am not on Met. I had the 2-hour Glucose Tolerance Test yesterday, and am waiting for the results.

3. Check out the "Alternative Remedies" forum!!!

4. According to Dr. Samuel Thatcher in _PCOS: The Hidden Epidemic_ (which is my PCOS "bible," I HIGHLY recommend it) the following battery is appropriate for diagnosis:

*fasting comprehensive biochemical and lipid panel
*Two hour GTT with insulin levels
*LH:FSH
*Total testosterone
*DHEAS
*SHBG
*Prolactin
*TSH
*Transvaginal ultrasound
(p. 80)

5. ummmm....see #3!

6. Can't seem to find the link for the acronym explanation page. Well, until it is located, you should just ask what they mean as they occur. After a while you'll be so used to them you'll start to use them in your daily speech (I swear, I can't say how many times I've almost said "D" "H" (for DH-dear/darling/doomed/etc. husband) when talking about my DH, even to people who know him....

DON'T apologize for all the questions!! That's why we're all here--we got the answers from someone when we needed them and we pass them on to you. And if we don't know the answers, at least we can support you and try to direct you to someone who does know the answers.

Godspeed!

------------------
-julie

[This message has been edited by jmp (edited 05-03-2002).]

pcc10012 · 05-05-2002, 07:45 PM

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your reply. I had a look at the alternative remedies forum and it sounds like there is a lot out there. I'll also check out the book you mentioned.

I noticed on another post that you are ttc too. Wishing you all the best in the coming months! It really helps to know there are many of us going through this together.

Best,
pc