I was contacted last week by our local newspaper to see if I would be interested in being interviewed for a story on PCOS. Of course, I was thrilled! I have been reading this board for so long and I have so much information that I wanted to get out there... (I wanted to be sure the CORRECT! information was getting to the masses)
So, here is the article....
The council chamber at City Hall is empty except for the two
women sitting in the back of the room.
At a long table, Jeré McKay and Maggie Fischer, who both
work at City Hall, sit opposite each other. In front of Ms. Fischer
rests a pile of papers, held neatly together with a blue paper clip.
In front of Ms. McKay, a fresh salad sprinkled with croutons
awaits.
But food isn't the main topic of conversion this afternoon.
On the menu is a topic that Ms. McKay and Ms. Fischer are
intimately familiar with - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
A medical term many may have not heard of, it is a condition
that both Ms. Fischer, Ms. McKay and Charity Loftis, a
co-worker who joins this lunchtime gathering a little later, struggle with each day.
Some days are better than others.
Today is a good day. Today they've come to talk.
To talk about the shared symptoms, like irregular periods, the facial hair that makes them feel less feminine, the weight gain, the moodiness and depression. The anger of being told everything would be fine if they would just lose weight. The relief of finally knowing what is wrong with them and the hope that things will get better.
"It makes me angry to think that my whole life, I was made to think that I was at fault," Ms Fischer says.
"People just assume that I'm lazy just because I'm overweight," Ms. McKay says. "And it's not that I'm lazy. It's that, you know, I actually have something wrong with me."
WHAT IS IT?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a disorder affecting the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body. It affects women of reproductive age.
It was first noted in the 1930s by Irving Stein and Michael Leventhal in medical literature when they wrote about a group of women who had no monthly periods and who had large ovaries with multiple cysts. PCOS is sometimes referred to as Stein-Leventhal syndrome or Polycystic Ovarian Disease.
"It is a syndrome, not a disease," says Dr. Curtis Richardson of Heartland's Women's Health
In fact, only about 4 to 10 percent of females of reproductive age will have it.
"Certainly most ladies don't have it," Dr. Richardson says.
There is no one symptom that defines PCOS and no one test to detect it.
Symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic and the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Campaign, can include irregular or no periods, increased levels of male hormones, excessive facial or chest hair, thinning of the hair or male pattern baldness, obesity, acne, elevated insulin levels, insulin resistance, infertility, dark patches of skin on neck, groin, underarms or skin folds, skin tags and cysts on the ovaries. It does not affect all women in the same way. Not every woman will have every symptom. For instance, not all women will be obese. Also, the word "ovarian" can be misleading since not every woman will automatically have cysts on her ovaries.
"I do not have cysts on my ovaries," Ms. Fischer says.
PCOS is not something that can be self-diagnosed. A woman who feels she exhibits symptoms should talk to her doctor. Tests will be run to eliminate other possible medical problems.
"In 2003, I went under a series of tests for cancer." Ms. McKay says. "Again, they diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. They tested me for thyroid. I had lots of tests."
A woman may be referred to an endocrinologist, who specializes in hormonal disorders. Both Ms. McKay and Ms. Fischer were diagnosed with PCOS by an endocrinologist.
Ms. McKay, Ms. Fischer and Ms. Loftis all had been dealing with their symptoms for a major portion of their lives, but only fairly recently discovered they have PCOS. Despite being active, all three experienced excessive weight gain. Ms. Fischer also discovered that she had no thyroid function and her testosterone levels were in her words, "off the chart." All experienced extreme fatigue, mood swings, facial hair and adult acne. Depression can be a byproduct.
"I wonder if you can drown in your tears," Ms. Loftis says. "If you could just cry yourself to death . for no reason."
After PCOS is diagnosed, then treatment can begin. There is no cure for PCOS, but it can be managed.
"Generally, you treat the causing symptoms," Dr. Richardson says.
Often weight loss is advised. Ms. McKay, Ms. Loftis and Ms. Fischer all follow healthy eating plans to assist in weight loss. All three are aware that for a woman with PCOS, losing weight can be extremely difficult.
"I'm told as soon as I lose the weight, the side effects will lessen," Ms. McKay says.
There also are medications and procedures that can help with excessive hair growth and skin problems, moodiness, menstrual irregularities and infertility issues.
The Internet provides a wealth of information. The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Campaign Corp. was started in March of 2005 to focus more attention on the medical disorder. More magazines are publishing articles about PCOS. In fact, it was Ms. Fischer's mother who directed her daughter to an article about PCOS in a ladies magazine, recognizing many of the symptoms her daughter suffered from. Now that she knows what she has, Ms. Fischer devours articles and any information about PCOS. She also offers support for her two co-workers.
There are still bad days among the good ones.
"We still come to work and we still do our job," Ms. Fischer says. "We fight through it." TAKE A LOOKFebruary is National PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) Month.
-- The syndrome is featured in the second half of an episode “Why is Emily Screaming,” on the program “Mystery Diagnosis,” which will air at 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, and at midnight Tuesday, Jan. 31, on the Discovery Channel.
For more information about the PCOS Awareness Campaign, log on to www.pcoscampaign.com.
For information about the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, log on to www.pcosupport.org.
If you have questions about PCOS, consult your doctor.
Our local newspaper did a story!!! 
I was contacted last week by our local newspaper to see if I would be interested in being interviewed for a story on PCOS. Of course, I was thrilled! I have been reading this board for so long and I have so much information that I wanted to get out there... (I wanted to be sure the CORRECT! information was getting to the masses)
how exciting
