hey everyone, my name is Dana; i'm a 19 y/o SoulCyster, just finished my first year of college. I was diagnosed exactly a day before I started my first year of college and I have been somewhat depressed about it ever since then. I feel like no one truly understands what I'm going though; even my gynecologist wasn't understanding about it. I'm actually about to see a new gynecologist who hopefully will be nicer and more supportive.
i first heard about PCOS when I saw my dermatologist because I was having very bad acne and excessive hair growth on my chin and my back. He said he couldn't diagnose PCOS but those symptoms were synonymous with it. I then went to a regular doctor who said that the aforementioned symptoms, along with my irregular periods, definitely fit the bill for it, but she couldn't diagnose me either. So she referred me to a gynecologist, told me to follow a low-sugar, low carb diet (to which I was EXTREMELY unreceptive, and still am, to some degree) and sent me in for a battery of blood tests. I have no problem with needles and can stand them since it pinches for just one second, but I was in tears the entire time I was getting my blood taken because I felt like my life was being taken away from me. I mean, I was about to start college and here I was, hearing that I basically couldn't have fun??? Finally, the day right before I moved into my dorm freshman year, a gynecologist diagnosed me with PCOS. She put me on FemCon, which I was to start that weekend. However, the side effects made me extremely miserable. I had no appetite and woke up every morning feeling extremely nauseous, like I had to vomit but couldn't vomit. I couldn't stand it, so I had my mom call the gyno and she switched me to Loestrin after a week of horrible side effects from the FemCon. Loestrin wasn't too bad (with the exception of a still very low appetite and waking up with nausea, until right before my period when I started having terrible mood swings and constant nausea/vomiting). The gynecologist's office refused to speak to my mom again (because I was 18) so they spoke to me and switched me to Yaz.
For about a month, Yaz seemed like the wonderdrug, because my mood swings had gone away, I wasn't nauseous anymore, and my skin was clearing up. However, once I was towards the end of my 2nd cycle, things started to get ugly. I was getting headaches, more mood swings, and chronic depression. Therefore, I went off the pill completely for 3 months even though the gyno insisted that "depression wasn't a side effect of the Pill."
For a while I was okay without the Pill, but it was around sometime in late March, early April, when I got my period for an entire month. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I saw a new gynecologist (who turned out to be a total jerk) and he put me on Provera and then Orthotricycline (my 4th pill, which, according to my future apartment-mate, "changed her life"). I felt like I couldn't find anyone who really understood where I was coming from, so one of my mom's co-workers recommended a reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in PCOS so I'm going to see her this coming week.
Well, that's pretty much my story. I've been trying to keep up my exercise by alternating yoga and pilates every day, but I don't necessarily look forward to doing it. I also am having a hard time settling on a "diet" (even though I don't believe in diets), and am still somewhat depressed. I feel like I have days where I'm really happy and some days where I feel like I've gotten up on the wrong side of the bed--it's like every other day, this pattern. Also, I can't ride in a car without getting motion sickness, which means I can't drive either.
Hoping I can find some others to whom I can relate, because PCOS left a scar on me and I want the scar to go away.
hey hun i ve had no where near as bad as an experience as u so far but i ve only been diagnosed just over 2 months and im on dianette its similar to yaz it might b called dian35 over the as i live in the uk so dont hold me to it. ive already seen an improvement in my acne and maybe in hair growth but im not sure. My hair on my head has defo stopped falling out. Anyways if u ever need a shoulder to cry on or to have a good rant or just be totally random with someone who knows what ur going thru just pm me or ask me for my email address
thanks lizzie im actually having one of those moments right now, my day was going alright but then my mom and i got into an unexpected fight in the car on the way home from the play we just saw so i cant stop crying :'( i feel like no one really understands me!!!!
i know wat u mean and do u also find that ur emotions r more powerful than u mean them to b like u said that u cant stop crying but u feel that u should b able 2 stop crying. and i think havin pcos everyone else thinks we think diff 2 everyone else or everyone else thinks differently to use. they seem to have no way 2 comprehend wat the heck we r going on about and it can b so frustrating sometimes lol ! Hope u have a better day 2day
yeah it sounds like we're on the same page--so you're from the UK?? i was just in London about 2 months ago; spent my spring break there(only a week) but it was AMAZING!!
GuitarBee - Welcome to SC! You have come to the right place for lots of support. I have been dx for 12+ years. In fact, I really didnt start to understand what PCOS was or how it affected me until the last 3 years. I have found by eating healthier and trying to exercise I have curbed my mood swings. Now, I am having some mood swings. I had surgery 6 weeks ago and cant exercise for another week. I cried half the weekend and DH almost got to the point where he was going to leave.
It is very hard to go through all the symptoms. Best wishes for your visit with the RE.
__________________ Me
DSS 5/30/04 (always will be mine)
yeah unfortunately i live further up north and its more rainy but i hope to go to university in september in london if i get my grades ! back to the sunshine well at least for the uk lol ! yeah sounds like we r for instance my bf nearly had me in tears 2day and it takes alot for me 2 cry in front of him ooops lizzie xxx
SandV- i live in the northern suburbs; when I'm at home I live in Huntingdon Valley and during the school year I live in Glenside.
I'm seeing a new doctor today and I'm hoping it will go well--I'm scared out of my mind but will have some tissues handy in case I get emotional. I find that I get emotional just talking about PCOS.
i ve been quite lucky or not i ve not been refered 2 the hospital yet. but yeah i do find that i get emotionalwhen talkin about PCOS. oh well exam time again 1st lot since i ve been diagnosed with PCOS and of course its been shoved to the backer burner again
well, I just got back from my appointment with my new gyno, she's very nice, personable and was very gentle during my exam. definitely the best one i've seen yet because she's an expert in the field. not sure why i was so nervous before, maybe because of my previous experiences with gynos who did not seem to understand.
the one thing she recommended was weight loss and i've already made a number of changes including not drinking my calories (only drinking water and skim milk), reducing carbs and sugar, and thought up some other things to do if i'm bored or depressed and feel like comfort-eating. One of those ideas: paint your nails and by the time they're dry, the craving will have subsided.
I am glad that all went well with the new dr. That is fabulous. I will try to give you a few other ideas that should help you keep you occupied. If I don't post later tonight, then I will post them tomorrow.
As far as weight loss, I will send some links that work for that as well. There is a book with a plan specifically for PCOS weight loss.
__________________ Me
DSS 5/30/04 (always will be mine)
ooo yh that sounds like a good idea as im a terrible comfort eater i ll have 2 buy loads of nail polish then lol !!!!! does anyone mind if i nick a few ideas. glad it went well with the gyno ! i havent had the joys of anything ike that !
new soulcyster! 
