My name is Lexi and I used to post here sometimes a few years ago when I was trying to get pregnant. I have a few questions, but I'll start with a bit of my story. I was officially diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19 or 20. I knew I had it before then, but I'm just an idiot woman who lives in my body every day. What could I possibly know?? But I did finally get diagnosed. I had originally suspected a problem because I never got my period back after a miscarriage I had. With the help of a (finally) really good RE and lots of medication, I got pregnant and had a healthy baby girl. I only gained 11 lbs, so I had lost all baby weight before I left the hospital. I was breastfeeding on demand and eating enough, but I noticed I had really little appetite. I ended up losing 70 lbs in just a few months. But my daughter was gaining weight perfectly and I had an ample milk supply, so I wasn't worried about it and was enjoying being able to shop somewhere other than the plus size section. Once baby was on solids and not breastfeeding as much I got my periods. I had two in a row, 28 days apart, just like I used to be before the first m/c. I was thrilled. Of course it didn't last long or I wouldn't be here asking these questions, right? I missed the next period (and every subsequent one- haven't had one in almost a year now) and the weight piled back on. And I was starving!! I know there is a connection between PCOS and obesity, but is there a connection between PCOS and a massive appetite?? I could be so full I'd want to trow up, but my body or brain or whatever was screaming at me to eat. It was horrible. Its a little better now, but I still feel hungry almost all day long. And obviously I'm still gaining weight, but more slowly. I'm also still breastfeeding my 21 month old, but I'm ready to wean her if need be. Is this normal after a PCOS woman has a baby? Can I do anything about it? I was treated brutally by the dr when I was admitted in labor, so the last thing I want to do is go back to a gyn and beg for birth control pills without a pelvic exam. I don't even live in the same state anymore, but I'm way to terrified to have a pelvic done. Would birth cotrol pills or metformin really work? I was on met when I was ttc, but I never detected any change in my condition. I was on it for a year. I gave in awhile back and saw a gp and asked for met, but she said she wouldn't prescribe it for anyone who doesn't have diabetes and further informed me that PCOS didn't actually exist. This was a woman dr. I haven't seen anyone since. What I'd really like to do is find a way to help myself without seeing a doctor. But if it would really help, I'm willing to suck it up and see a gyn for bcp and met, if I could get them without a pelvic. Any one know if this is possible? Is there anything I can do to stop my body's destruction of itself?? I don't know what to do anymore.
Thank you for anyone who read this long. Any and all thoughts and advice are welcomed.
Hi Lexi. wlecome back! And congrats on the baby. I had the same thing happen with the eating stuff--always hungry. Then I learned that I needed to eat less carbs and more protein. I am on met and I believe it is helping. I got regular cycles on it and conceived DS!! My cycles are regular now too.
I'm not sure if a new doc will give you BCP without a pelvic. Ask some women you know and see where they go.
Check out the alternative remedies forum and also the diet and exercise forums!!
My doctor told me that if you're insulin resistant, your body doesn't recognize your own insulin, so it doesn't use it. Insulin transports glucose (sugar, which gives you energy) into all the cells of your body, so when it isn't able to get into your cells, you get no energy either. So your body produces more insulin because it thinks you don't have enough, and when you have a lot of insulin in your blood you become hungry. (this is because your body assumes that if you have excess insulin then you must not have enough sugar, so by eating you will remedy that). So you're hungry all the time. I was having this problem, eating all the time and still always feeling hungry.
I was diagnosed with PCOS a few weeks ago, and was prescribed metformin. In about two weeks, I stopped being hungry all the time. I also cut out all sugars from my diet, and cut down on carbs as well (no potatoes, white bread, rice, soft drinks etc.) and I don't eat that much anymore. One other problem with the insulin imbalance is that when you have a lot of sugar in your blood, your body converts it to fat because it thinks it's excess sugar (since it isn't being taken into your cells by the insulin), so a lot of PCOSers gain weight too. So you are eating and eating, but not getting the energy you need (because it doesn't get used, just converted into fat) so your body thinks you're starving and makes you eat more. It's a viscous cycle.
Anyway, Metformin would probably help you, and it seems to me that most doctors would require blood tests before giving it to you, not pelvic exams. It might also help if you explain about your previous bad experience with a pelvic, so they will be more understanding. Cutting out sugars (use Splenda etc.) and a lot of carbs might help you out. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, protein, and diary products. If you eat bread, eat multi-grain or whole grain bread in place of white bread. Don't eat a lot of pasta or potatoes.
Not sure where I should post this... 
But I did finally get diagnosed. I had originally suspected a problem because I never got my period back after a miscarriage I had. With the help of a (finally) really good RE and lots of medication, I got pregnant and had a healthy baby girl. I only gained 11 lbs, so I had lost all baby weight before I left the hospital. I was breastfeeding on demand and eating enough, but I noticed I had really little appetite. I ended up losing 70 lbs in just a few months. But my daughter was gaining weight perfectly and I had an ample milk supply, so I wasn't worried about it and was enjoying being able to shop somewhere other than the plus size section. Once baby was on solids and not breastfeeding as much I got my periods. I had two in a row, 28 days apart, just like I used to be before the first m/c. I was thrilled. Of course it didn't last long or I wouldn't be here asking these questions, right? I missed the next period (and every subsequent one- haven't had one in almost a year now) and the weight piled back on. And I was starving!! I know there is a connection between PCOS and obesity, but is there a connection between PCOS and a massive appetite?? I could be so full I'd want to trow up, but my body or brain or whatever was screaming at me to eat. It was horrible. Its a little better now, but I still feel hungry almost all day long. And obviously I'm still gaining weight, but more slowly. I'm also still breastfeeding my 21 month old, but I'm ready to wean her if need be. Is this normal after a PCOS woman has a baby? Can I do anything about it? I was treated brutally by the dr when I was admitted in labor, so the last thing I want to do is go back to a gyn and beg for birth control pills without a pelvic exam. I don't even live in the same state anymore, but I'm way to terrified to have a pelvic done. Would birth cotrol pills or metformin really work? I was on met when I was ttc, but I never detected any change in my condition. I was on it for a year. I gave in awhile back and saw a gp and asked for met, but she said she wouldn't prescribe it for anyone who doesn't have diabetes and further informed me that PCOS didn't actually exist. This was a woman dr. I haven't seen anyone since. What I'd really like to do is find a way to help myself without seeing a doctor. But if it would really help, I'm willing to suck it up and see a gyn for bcp and met, if I could get them without a pelvic. Any one know if this is possible? Is there anything I can do to stop my body's destruction of itself?? I don't know what to do anymore.
