New, Scared, Lots of Questions...

JaspersMum · 10-26-2009, 07:42 PM

Hi Everyone

I have been visiting this site for a few months now as I started recognizing my symptoms. I'm not fully diagnosed yet but all signs (double the amount of male hormone in blood, vaginal ultrasound) are pointing to PCOS.

My Doc put me on Provera for 7 days and I just finished the last pill yesterday. She said to expect my period in about a week. Any Provera experiences to share? Also, kind of gross but until I got on Provera my discharge/nether regions had more of a stronger smell, which has gone away in the past week. Is this normal? I do realize that this smell wasn't there before I started the PCOS symptoms.

My hair is thinning at the top. I have very thick hairs growing around my chin and jowls. I have found some skin tags.

I'm scared. I started gaining weight about 4 years ago now and my periods started lightening then too but I never did anything about it until they got really irregular this past year. It may sound silly, but I'm just scared that I let all this go on for so long!

For the past month, since my Doc first said that it looks like PCOS, I have been adding things back into my routine from the days when I was in shape. Exercise, yoga, and more salads. I will lose the weight.. altho some days are harder to make myself think that. Today is one of those days. : (

Hubby and I been married for 4.5 years. We didn't plan to have kids till after 5 years or so anyways (we got married at 25) but now Im starting to realize that conceiving will take time. In the meantime, questions from family who were already wondering why we were waiting so long to have kids are driving me nuts! I guess I could laugh off the questions before, but now, I just want to scream at them all. : (

My Doc is also suggesting I go on Yasmin. But I think that for 2010 hubby and I want to start to TTC. Any advice?

You women are all wonderful. Thank you.

butterfly3861 · 10-26-2009, 07:51 PM

Hello there- Let me share my story with you. It took a few years and many doctors for me to be diagnosed with PCOS. I had all the symptoms and had gained 100 lbs in about a year. I was growing facial hair, my hair was thinning, the works. So finally in 2001 I got diagnosed. I was put on metformin (not a very high dose) and was given provera to take every 2 months because I did not want BCP because I knew that my hubby and I would want a baby just didn't know when (we were just dating at the time). So I had periods with provera, upped my dose of metformin, exercised and lost 60 lbs. My facial hair has gotten a little better, don't feel like I am losing hair, and overall feel better. DH and I have been ttc for 1 1/2 and I have ovulated with femara for the past 6 months. I hope to get a BFP this month. If you are thinking about TTC I would ask for ovulation induction medication not BCP, as that will be doing the opposite from what you want. Do you see an RE? Good luck to you. Feel free to ask questions. I feel like I know a lot about PCOS now.

JaspersMum · 10-26-2009, 08:06 PM

Thanks so much!

What is an RE?

I'm getting a full physical on Thursday. Anything I would be advised to ask about or mention? Other than the below.

I think I had a hormonal episode yesterday. : S I guess its the Provera?

Thanks again.

butterfly3861 · 10-26-2009, 08:47 PM

An RE Is a reproductive endocrinologist. They are specialists that help people with hormal difficulties to get pregnant. I don't know of any questions that you should ask specifically, but if they do diagnose you, I would ask for something to help like metformin for insulin resistance. Lowering insulin levels helps lower androgen (testosterone levels) and in turn reduces facial hair, etc. My testosterone level is way more normal than it was when I first got diagnosed. Provera makes me really hormonal too (cry at the drop of a pin, etc.) Let me know how it goes for you. Good luck again

JaspersMum · 11-03-2009, 01:41 PM

So its def PCOS, as per ultrasound results.

Good news - I got AF (result of Provera, I guess) for the first time in forever and the first proper bleed in forever! Happy happy but forgot what it felt like. Seems like more cramping than I have ever gotten, but I am glad for a bleed. Question: is there a chance this may kick-start things, or is Provera just to get a bleed?

My Doc is suggesting I go on Yasmin to try and get things back into balance. Hubby and I are thinking to start TTC in 2010. So we are going to try Yasmin for a few months in the hopes that I start getting a monthly AF. Doc says if I don't get AF after going on Yasmin she will refer me to a Gyno. She is suggesting Yasmin for 2-3 months, coupled with metformin and weightloss, then off and TTC, and Clomid thereafter if ovulation isn't happening.

Clomid question - how many of you went on Clomid and ended up with multiples? My sis had it and had twins! But she was not PCOS, just slow to ovulate.

I'm so cramped up with AF, exercising is the last thing I want to do : (

butterfly3861 · 11-03-2009, 10:05 PM

I'm glad that you got aunt flow! that is an exciting step in the right direction. All provera does is produce uterine lining shedding, so it will not help you ovulate. Yasmin should keep your cycles regular, as that is what my doc recommended, but when you are ready to TTC either clomid or femara will probably be prescribed. Good luck in your jouney! Oh ya...almost forgot. I cramp more when I'm induced with provera also and have a heavier bleed (sorry TMI)

JaspersMum · 11-09-2009, 12:09 PM

Thanks again!

I've been reading this board and doing other research and my moods are up and down. Currently I'm just scared. I'm seeing my doc on Tuesday to talk options. As I mentioned she suggested Yasmin for a few months and then get off it and TTC in the new year. I am worried if going on Yasmin will be counter-productive. I want to start TTC earlier now given the PCOS diagnosis. I'm also worried about going on Met - I was reading about Met and depression. A few years ago I was really down - just a lot of stuff all together - and I gained the weight by trying to basically eat my feelings, and ended up gaining about 20 lbs in a matter of months, and then steadily thereafter. I was in counselling and have finally gotten hold of things for the past couple of years in the feelings department. I was never fully diagnosed with depression and wasn't on meds but I was in psychotherapy for a few years and still go back here and there. Anyhoo while I know that a lot of the irrational desires to control are things I now have a handle on, I'm still worried about Met making me depressed.

In addition even tho I don't eat like the world's coming to an end any more, the last couple of years my weight gain has been insane and I'm wondering if its related to PCOS. Just a lot of bloat everywhere and I wasn't eating all that much to have the weight gain make sense. Just makes me angry, not sure why, LOL.

Mostly I am scared about whether or not I will lose this weight. It seems that all my health problems are related to being heavy.

Just a little sad right now. : (

butterfly3861 · 11-09-2009, 12:27 PM

It's absolutely normal to feel scared and a little out of control because all of the sudden you don't know your body (kinda). I know my weight was totally PCOS related. Before I finally got diagnosed I gained 100 lbs in about a year. Like I said, I have lost 60 lbs thanks to met and a good diet/exercise regime, but I am still carrying 40lbs that doesn't want to come off easily. Women with PCOS have a harder time losing weight, especially if you have insulin resistance and that's why met is so beneficial. I am convinced that if I hadn't taken met I still would be 60 lbs heavier. Met did not have any s/e for me and I feel better when I take it than when I don't. If you are concerned though due to past history, avandia and a couple other insulin sensitizing drugs are out there and you may want to explore those options with your doc. I think they just use met as a common first line drug. If you are really wanting to ttc soon, I would do BCP, I would just go ahead and advocate for something to help you ovulate, although some women ovulate just from taking met so maybe that is the plan that your doc has for you. Good luck in journey and the more you know the more in control you will feel.

JaspersMum · 11-11-2009, 03:22 PM

Thanks again Robin. It is a confusing and frustrating time! I keep going back in my mind and thinking about everything and kicking myself for not going to see a doc sooner. Ah well.

So I start Met tomorrow. I agree re TTC and decided against BCP. My doc prescribed me 500 mcg of met and also a prenatal called PregVit - have you heard of that? In addition I am doing acupuncture. So basically I am continuing to try and eat and exercise, do the acu, and am on met and prenatal vits and am waiting to see if my cycle starts to regulate. Then in a few months if my cycle is still out of whack, my doc will refer me to someone else and take some more steps.

I feel better now that I have the met. After reading so much from everyone about it I was getting antsy - I just wanted to get started!

Robin - you sound like you've got your PCOS under control somewhat. Did you ever have the hair loss, facial hair thing - and if so is that also under control? I know its a small thing in the larger scheme, but I really dont want to spend 15 minutes every morning plucking thick hairs out of my chin : (... and just wondering if I'm always going to be stuck with that.

Thank you thank you thank you... to you and for everyone on this forum.

butterfly3861 · 11-11-2009, 03:28 PM

Hello- I feel like my PCOS is more under control now than before. I do still have a hairy face and my Doc told me that what has grown is not going to go away because the hair follicles are formed. Good news is that I'm not getting new hair because my androgens are way lower now. I never had hair loss per say but my hair got thinner. I've always had super, super thick hair though so it never really bothered me. Now, if only I could ovulate without meds for ovulation.

Good luck with the met, I think it will be helpful to you!

raechick7 · 11-12-2009, 02:20 AM

I was on Yaz (or is Yasmine different?) for 2 years. After Yaz I didn't have my period for 6 months. That's when the doctor discovered that I have PCOS. It took Provera to get my first period.

I've seen commercials against Yaz and well with what I went through and not getting a period afterwards ... (yah it was my body with PCOS but I don't know if Yaz was part of it.) I don't know if I would recommend Yaz to other ladies. I don't know ....

I would talk to your doctor more.

HAS ANYONE ELSE BEEN ON YAZ AND NOT GOTTEN THEIR PERIOD AFTERWARDS?

Oh -- PS -- I am new too. This is actually my second post. I was diagnosed last month with PCOS. And yes -- though it's enlightening to figure what I have .... I am still scared in it all.

Thanks for sharing your story.

JaspersMum · 11-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Thanks to you both!

Rachel I decided against going back onto BCP. I started Metformin today.. so far so good! Fingers crossed.

And welcome Rachel! I know how you feel. I'm still there. There are ups and downs... but this forum, for me at least, has been really really helpful. I would not have asked many of the questions I did ask if it werent for the things I learned from the amazing women here.

Robin G · 11-12-2009, 04:17 PM

This is a little late, but with regards to skin tags... I have an approach that is totally hygienic and doctor-approved < /sarcasm >. I numb them with an ice cube and nip them off with alcohol-cleaned nail clippers. Just put a little pressure on for a few minutes after (they bleed more than you think), then dab on some antiseptic cream and cover with a Band-aid for a day. No scarring or anything.

If my doctor friends heard me saying this they'd headdesk so hard they'd need a CAT scan.

raechick7 · 11-12-2009, 06:10 PM

To JaspersMum ...

Thanks for the welcome. It comes MUCH appreciated.

I hope the Metformin works for you. Best of luck.

Have a great day!!!