Hello Everyone,
I was diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago. I am 27, but ever since I was in my late teens, doctors were very surprised that I did not have PCOS - Since that time I have had excessive hair growth (on top of being half Arab!), weight gain and acne. I have very normal periods. In the past my testosterone levels were fine. FINALLY a few months ago I was tested again (I hadn't been tested in 7 years probably) and my testosterone was high - I say finally because I knew the hair growth I had was way too abnormal to be just due to my ethnicity.
I have a wonderful gyno/endocronologist. I am on 300 mg of Spironolactone (yes, the hair is that bad!) and Ortho Cyclen. I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen but my doctor said I needed consistent levels of progesterone (?). In addition I'm on 300 mg of Effexor, I've been on that for a couple of years - I've been on antidepressants since I was around 13. I'm so used to those, that t hey don't bother me at all - no side effects.
I haven't noticed a difference yet wtih the hair growth, dr. said it could take up to a year to notice a difference, which is fine, I can be patient. My problem (I think) is more with the BC. Ever since I started the Ortho Cyclen 2 months ago, I can't lose weight. A little background - in the past 5 years I gained almost 100 lbs. I have since lost about 70 lbs of it, but ever since I started the Ortho Cyclen I can't lose the weight - before that I was losing about 5 pounds a month. I'm so frustrated.
So I guess my question is if I went off BC and just took Spiro, would that be really bad? Do you think I would still notice a hair difference? The symptom I'm mostly concerned with is the hair growth and the acne, although the acne is not that bad - it's mostly ingrown hairs that look like acne.
My other symptom is severe constipation - I don't know if it is from the BC or the spiro, but it must be from one or the other (or both) because it started when I began taking these two medications (unfortunately I began them at the same time so I can't say which is the problem). Anyone have constipation with either of these?
I'm sorry - I'm sure you've all heard this a thousand times before, but I want your advice before I talk to my doctor.
Thanks so much!
Ever since I started the Ortho Cyclen 2 months ago, I can't lose weight. A little background - in the past 5 years I gained almost 100 lbs. I have since lost about 70 lbs of it, but ever since I started the Ortho Cyclen I can't lose the weight - before that I was losing about 5 pounds a month. I'm so frustrated.
Specifically what are you doing to work on your weight?
(ie how much cardio, how many times per week? How much strength training? how many calories per day?)
Part of the issue might just be that you're at a plateau, since you've already lost 70 pounds (congrats btw).
If you're 'only' 30 pounds from your goal weight, keep in mind that this is where the rubber meets the road, when it comes to buckling down on the calories and exercise.
Having said that...my weight got a bit 'funky' on the pill, too.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Thanks for your reply, Kat.
I have been doing Weight Watchers for a little over a year. I am 5'6 and large framed and I've reduced my points as I've lost weight, although I'm down to 1,100 calories per day and I don't want to go below that - I just don't think it's realistic. I don't workout, I know it's terrible! The reason I think it is the BC that is holding me back is because every week when I am on the placebo during my period, I can lose weight again.
I'm just wondering how much going off the pill will bother me.
Kat is totally right about the extra effort at this point, it certainly requires a lot of physical exercise rather than solely dieting to push you past this wall!
I think you would benefit from being on a pill with slightly lower oestrogen, as oestrogen makes it more difficult to lose weight. Also, it would be better for you to be on a more potent anti-androgenic pill than ortho-cyclen. I would ask if you could switch to Desogen or Yasmin, the latter possessing the progestogen Drospirenone, which is derived from Spiro, therefore may be even better for you!
I have managed to lose weight (past the tricky stage) on both these pills, but have always struggled on more androgenic pills.
Hope this helps. Congrats on your weight loss so far! xx
Thanks, Ashley!
I can't take Yaz or Yasmin because I'm on the highest Spiro dose and my doctor said the potassium levels combined is too dangerous. So I'm not sure what else I can be on.
I'm thinking of going off of the BC until I get the rest of the weight off and then going back on - I can manage so I don't gain weight, but I feel like I've worked too hard to get the weight off to stall here. I just find it odd that I can lose so much weight during the placebo week.
I am 5'6 and large framed and I've reduced my points as I've lost weight, although I'm down to 1,100 calories per day and I don't want to go below that - I just don't think it's realistic. I don't workout, I know it's terrible! The reason I think it is the BC that is holding me back is because every week when I am on the placebo during my period, I can lose weight again.
Your workouts (or lack thereof) are the problem. If you're at 1100 calories per day, and haven't worked out, you've probably lost some lean mass, too.
If the options are:
1) Go off the pill and continue to do no exercise
vs
2) Stay on the pill and start exercising
My suggestion would be to STRONGLY consider option 2.
'Real' weight loss is VERY hard to sustain in the absence of regular exercise.
Even if you go off of the pill, if you don't get into a regular habit of physical activity, there's a good chance you'll be revisiting your weight issues down the line.
Plus, if you're serious about reversing your pcos symptoms, you'll exercise (cardio, and especially strength).
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Yes I would go for option 2 as well. Ahh yes I remembered after I posted that you were on a very high spiro dosage. I'd try Desogen or the generic Apri then. It is a better anti-androgen than the ortho- pills. I found it helped my acne loads and did reduce hair too. Also, I lost 47lbs on it!! So it must have been ok! xx
Different progestogen. Uses desogestrel, which in my country (UK) is highly favoured as an acne treatment (instead of Diane35) as it is anti-androgenic, and more so than the norgestimate in Ortho pills. I was put on Desogen for acne and to control my PCOS and it did help a lot. Slightly lower oestrogen content than Orth-cyclen which has 35mg ethinylestradiol, compared to the 30mg in Desogen/Apri. I think this helps relieve some of the water weight that people get on ortho.
My friend was on Ortho-cyclen (called Cilest here), and actually developed PCOS whilst on it, and I believe it is because it can be too androgenic, and the higher dose of ethinylestradioldoesn't always balance this out.
Sorry for my crappy explanation, I hope it is kind of clear though! xx
I think she is thinking that the lower oestrogen (if it is the 20mg version) will help. But the progestogen is more androgenic, so may cause acne etc more than others. I would really ask for Desogen or Yasmin to be honest. You could try Loestrin if you think it might help, but it isn't the best for PCOS. xx
Ortho Cyclen - inability to lose weight 
