I consider myself a "thin cyster", though not as thin as most on this section I'm sure. I am currently 5'2" and weigh around 150. I was always very thin growing up. I weighed 108 when I graduated from high school and weighed approx. 120 during college and until I got pregnant with my son. I only gained 20 pounds during pregnancy and immediately lost it within a week of delivery. While breast feeding I dropped down to 105, but then when back to 120 once breastfeeding was over. I stayed at this weight for a couple more years. When my son was two an eye disease that I have had since childhood came out or remission and really sent my vision and health into a tailspin. I was put on tons of medication, including steroids. Near the end of all of this (a few years) I was finally diagnosed with PCOS. It took quite a while to get the diagnosis due to having very few symptoms. I only have hirsuitism and tons of cysts on my ovaries. PCOS does not showup in my bloodwork, I was "thin", and my periods had always been regular. Anyhow, I did 6 months of clomid with no results. I saw all of this to get to this point...I gained approx. 30 pounds from all the meds. and steroids and then another 10 with the clomid stuff. I have been struggling for approx. 5 years now to lose this weight and am having absolutely no luck. I have lost 10 pounds, but can't seem to get below this. No matter how much I excercise or how closely I seem to watch my eating. Anytime I go back home to visit and run into anyone I knew from years ago they comment on how much weight I have gained and I get very sad seeing pictures or even looking in the mirror anymore. You can look at pictures the month before my disease come out of remission and then several months after being on the meds and I look like almost a different person. I know that you really can't help. I just needed to vent for a little bit. Thanks for reading.
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Don't be discouraged !! Have you tried Metformin? I was also very thin in highschool but after getting married and taking first generation bcp's (I bought them overseas- they don't even use them in the US anymore!) that triggered/worsened my PCOS, I gained 25 lbs! So I know how it feels to gain weight and have people comment on it because you have always been so thin before. Ever since I've started taking Met, the weight has been shedding off by itself! I'm not as inclined towards unhealthy foods (maybe because the s/e of eating them along with Met are disturbing ). Ask your doctor about Met. It may help you!
Best of luck and don't let weight issues upset you (easier said than done, I know) because life is too short!
Thanks so much for the kind note and the e-hug. It was much needed. Both of my GYNs (the one that diagnosed me where I used to live and my one here) don't want me on met. Supposedly it is because I have so few factors and am also no longer TTC (even though I wasn't on it when I was trying either). My regular MD agrees with them. Go figure!
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Well best of luck to you!!!! i'm sure you can do it! I just ordered the Insulin Resistance Diet book so I can hopefully eat healthier regardless of what weight I am.
I just started reading PCOS and your fertility and the same doctors wrote PCOS diet... Put "PCOS" into amazon.com to find them, I'm not recalling the names of the doctors, but they have 3-4 books out.
PCOS and your fertility is a great book and makes it all very understandable and gives you great action plans to maintain your health. I'm a thin cyster, but I'll be keeping a watch on my diet to try to keep my sugars, etc in check.
Best of luck to you and many, many hugs. We're here for ya.
__________________ Thin Cyster Married DH 5-14-05 26 years old Not TTC yet PCOS diagnosed Jan. '04
I was stuck at 150 (5'4") until I started taking apple cider vinegar shots (2 tablespoons) before lunch and before dinner. Then weightloss just started coming naturally at the rate of about a pound a week... though eventually I also cut out white carbs and sugar in addition to doing acv in order to keep the weightloss going.
I was stuck at 150 (5'4") until I started taking apple cider vinegar shots (2 tablespoons) before lunch and before dinner. Then weightloss just started coming naturally at the rate of about a pound a week... though eventually I also cut out white carbs and sugar in addition to doing acv in order to keep the weightloss going.
How did that help with weight loss? I'm still learning about how PCOS affects weight/diet.
__________________ Thin Cyster Married DH 5-14-05 26 years old Not TTC yet PCOS diagnosed Jan. '04
eeyore,
I do not have most of the classic pcos symptoms. I am 5'1 and weighedabout 100 all my adult life. Then I had the rapid weight gain. Again, I do not have most of the usual symptoms but Metformin worked wonders for me. I lost 30 lbs in less than a year with no exercise and no dieting. Of course I am gaining it back now, but that's okay!
Allie- another Bostonian! yay. Congratulations on your pregnancy! Do you mind if I get some more information from you as far as what combinations worked for you? Here's my story in a nutshell: I am 5'8", 145 lbs, and currently using Met 1500 mg/ daily since Nov 05. I had my first round of provera/clomid(50 mg) last month and it was a bust... I did not O. I am now waiting for AF so I can start 2nd round 100 mg this time. As far as PCOS symptoms, I have an LH/FSH of 3, multiple cystic ovaries, and my testosterone is on the very high end of normal, so at the low end of high. I'd also like to ask if you don't mind, what you did differently with this pregnancy that made it stick? Thank you!
Are you in Boston? I actually live outside of Boston but I work at Northeastern. I'll try to be brief as far as my history: I was on the pill for years and was very thin but around 5 years ago I rapidly gained 40 lbs or so. Went to many dr.s who all told me I must be eating alot and lying to them! WEll fast forward a few years and DH and I start ttc, with no luck. After about 5 months I went ot an OB in Foxboro who thought I had PCOS. I still was not terribly overwieght, no acne, no hairiness, no cysts on u/s. Just had the weight, no ovulating and I had high normal testosterone and the typical LH/FSH ratio. So I go on 1500 mg MET. 3 months later I conceived and as soon as we saw a h/b on u/s they had me stop the Met. Well shortly after that we found out the baby had died and I had to have a d&c. Well since I thought that Dr. handled the whole thing horrible we went to the RE dept. through Brigham and Women's. We saw Dr. Ginsburg at the South shore location. Back on the Met and 100 mg Clomid. The difference I think is the following:
Dr. Ginsburg tested my TSH levels. They came in at 4.4. Normally anything under 5 is considered normal, but the latest research shows that in order to get pg, stay pg and have a healthy baby the tsh level should be under 2.5. So I started Synthroid. That made me lose more weight too! I also added preseed and charted. So in July I had an HSG, started synthroid and preseed. I got pg in august. Don't know what to credit it to. As far as this one sticking vs. the last one...I think it was the synthroid and the fact that this dr. kept me on Met until 14 weeks. So that's basically it! Which RE are you seeing? I did not o on 50 mg clomid either. So we got pg on the 4th round of o'ing with clomid. Also we did IUI in July but it did not work. DH has pretty low count too. My regular e-mail is alanfan2@hotmail.com if you like you can reach me there!
Thanks so much getting back to me so quickly! How exciting, we are soo close! I'm at BU and live in Brookline. My RE is in Burlington. He used to work out from Kenmore as well as Burlington but then permanently moved to Burlington a few months ago. His name is Dr. Mahmood Niaraki. I am very happy with him. I think he's great. I actually work at BWH but I don't think BWH visits are covered by my insurance. But it's great to have another back up doctor just in case I'm trying to get DH to get a SA just to make sure that everything is ok with him before I start 100 mg of Clomid. I will definetly call my doctor and ask him if he's ever tested my TSH levels. I've never heard of Synthroid before but i will definetly ask him about that too. Thanks so much for sharing! Wishing you a remaining happy and healthy 81 days to go Do you know if your baby is a boy or girl? So exciting
Oh I've heard good things about Dr. Niaraki. Burlingtons too much of a hike for me though. Are you a student @ BU? That's where DH went so I spent alot of time there too. We've been together since high school! He really liked it there and after 2 years we moved in together in Allston. Actually we are going to dinner in Allston tonight, can't wait!
Synthroid is the drug that brings down your TSH levels. Def. find out your TSH level and if it's over 2.5 maybe he'll give you the drugs.
We know we are having a girl, which is just what we both wanted so we're very excited. It feels like yesterday that I got a bfp it goes so so fast! I bet you'll get one soon too, especially with Clomid!
What do you do @ Brigham? I have to admit I wish I was not delivering there but it's too late to switch now, I guess. At least I'll be in a good place if there are any problems...
It's cool talking to a local person,I always thought there should be location threads that were more active.
BTW, I saw your post about the grad school ttc thing. I'm not in school anymore ( I just work at one) but DH is finishing up his Masters and is planning on getting a Doctorate sometime soon. It is a tough decision to make, but I think we've got a good plan worked out. He is probably going to teach an undergrad course or two at Bridgewater State in the Fall, so he can get higher ed. experience. He's a high school teacher now. So anyway, thought I'd add that, I can understand the conflicts. I want to get my Master's soon too, but the baby has delayed that plan, which is really fine by me!
Allie, this is all very cool! Girls are the best. I'm hoping for a girl too although I will be just as happy with a boy. Health is what matters most for me. I'm a PhD student at BU. I'm so excited that you've heard about Dr. Niaraki! I really like him. Anyways, DH just got home. I better go greet him. I will talk to you soon. Have fun at dinner tonight! Allston's always rockin'! We used to live in Brighton before we moved to Brookline. Bye for now.
Not sure if you can relate, but discouraged 
Met 
!! Have you tried Metformin? I was also very thin in highschool but after getting married and taking first generation bcp's (I bought them overseas- they don't even use them in the US anymore!) that triggered/worsened my PCOS, I gained 25 lbs! So I know how it feels to gain weight and have people comment on it because you have always been so thin before. Ever since I've started taking Met, the weight has been shedding off by itself! I'm not as inclined towards unhealthy foods (maybe because the s/e of eating them along with Met are disturbing 
). Ask your doctor about Met. It may help you! 
for you and best of luck!
and live in Brookline. My RE is in Burlington. He used to work out from Kenmore as well as Burlington but then permanently moved to Burlington a few months ago. His name is Dr. Mahmood Niaraki. I am very happy with him. I think he's great. I actually work at BWH but I don't think BWH visits are covered by my insurance. But it's great to have another back up doctor just in case 
