I've been reading through most of the threads on this forum and they have helped me kind of calm down. I was very freaked out yesterday when my gynae told me why I haven't had my period for the past 7 months! He said a lot of things that were just gibberish to me as I was still stuck on the "you may never conceive or have multiple miscarriages" part. Only when I got to the office I started reading up on it and trying to get my head around it. I kept on seeing things like "endometrial cancer", "high blood pressure", "diabetes", "obesity"...and and and...
It turns out I'm also insulin resistant and went to see a dietician today. She is putting me on a low GI low fat diet and I have to excercise more often. In the past year I've put on 20kgs and the weight gain was the biggest frustration of my existence.
I've told some close friends, I'm still gathering the courage to tell my mom because she will freak out more than I did, especially at the prospect of not getting grandchildren from me!
Now, why am I angry???...I'm angry because ultimately I am going through this all by myself, none of my friends understand, they keep on saying things like "it will be fine" and "don't stress too much about it". How the hell do I not stress when my life as I know it has just changed in such a drastic manner?!?!?
I'm angry because I feel as though I did something wrong to be in this position, did too much of ABC and not enough XYZ. I'm angry because normal for me is long gone, I will constantly be looking behind me, so paranoid as though my body is a ticking time bomb...
I'm trying my best to cope with this, I'm reading up as much as I can on it and I hope being on this forum will help me!
First off, let me be the first to put your mind at ease. You never being able to get pregnant is a crock. That doctor is wrong. How dare he say such a traumatizing and FALSE thing to you.
True, us women with PCOS may have difficulty getting pregnant than a normal woman, but there are hundreds of PCOS women who have gotten pregnant numerous times. Some of them on this very board...there's a pregnancy or a mommy area of this board you can check out.
And as far as the miscarriages, yes, women with PCOS have a somewhat higher risk of miscarriages then a normal woman.
HOWEVER, all of this can be taken care of and reversed.
One of the symptoms of PCOS is stated to be infertility. I find that misleading. It's more of a temporary infertility. Not being able to conceive easily is a side effect of PCOS, unlike many other syndromes out there, you can reverse the effects of PCOS. You've made the first step by consulting a nutrionist who is laying out a low GI diet for you. That's the best kind of diet for a woman with PCOS, since the main culprit of all this is insulin resistance. It's important to stay away from bad carbs and refined sugar...they just fuel the insulin fire.
I would suggest you find another doctor, especially one savvy in PCOS. You may have better luck with a reproductive endocrinologist. You definitely need to have tests run, such as ultrasound to detect ovarian cysts, bloodwork done to rule out hypothyroidism and to see what your hormone levels are.
And since you've gone 7 months without your period, you need to take either Provera or Prometrium to induce the period. Never exceed more than 3 months without a period.
Also, Metformin is the #1 go-to drug for PCOS right now because it helps with the insulin resistance. Many people get stomach side effects with it, so it's best to start at a low dosage (500mg) and work your way up to 1500mg-2000mg.
If you're wanting to conceive and are having difficulty doing it naturally, then you can get on Clomid.
There are many different treatments and procedures you can go through in order to have a baby. You just need a knowledgeable doctor to help guide you.
And, of course, you always have us here on the board. Not many people know of PCOS, so you defintely feel alone when first faced with this reality. But it's good to find fellow cysters who know EXACTLY what you're going through.
We're all here to help in any way possible.
Also, don't blame yourself for this. PCOS is something that is out of your control. It happens to all sorts of us...big cysters and thin cysters.
Well, you have come to the right place for support with your PCOS. I have found this site a great help, no one in my life understands my frustrations with my health. When I was trying to conceive (ttc) all I got from those around me was, "Just relax and it will happen" I wanted to scream at them, No it wont, my body works differently from yours! I tried to explain how PCOS has changed my body and why I can't just get pg like most women, but most didn't want to listen to the complicated explanation or would forget.
I am still mad at the doctors I had before I was ttc, I would complain about not having a period, I went 18 months without one once. They all told me, "If you are not trying to get pg, don't worry about it." Well, that did nothing to treat the other things that PCOS causes. I am now Insulin Resistant and have problems with facial hair. I wonder if I had been treated while in my 20's, would I be better off now? I think so.
I am keeping an eye on my dd - darling daughter, so she will not have the problems I have. You sound young, so I hope you can find a doctor in your area that can help you manage your PCOS. If you start now and control it with diet, exercise and working with your doctor you should be able to have a normal life.
Do any of your relatives have this or if never diagnosed, have the symptoms that go along with it? If I am not mistaken PCOS is largely hereditary, I got it from my mom, she got it from hers.... Also my paternal grandmother had problems conceiving her first and got hormone shots, that was in the 1920's!
Remember we are here for you if you need to vent or if you need information. There is a great section with research articles that the owner and founder of this site, Kat, set up and keeps updated. It is a wealth of information on the latest research.
Sorry such a long post, hang in there and remember this is a great place to come if you get to feeling down or overwhelmed.
__________________ me - 45 dh - 48 dd - 12
Total Hysterectomy 8-21-09 Living well is the best revenge!
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I was relieved when I was diagnosed, finally an answer that everyone put off as me being a hypochondriac...funny how the cysts just disapear sometimes when you are trying to prove to a dr that you are really hurting. I agree with the previous posts, don't give up just because one doc said you can't get pg. I conceived my first child w/o PCOS and then had a miscarriage and then when my son was almost 6 I delivered my daughter and got pregnant with her after I was diagnosed with PCOS. I can completely understand the frustration with others around you not understanding. For a long time I felt like my husbands family thought I was mentally making myself ill, until I ended up in surgery to remove a cyst. I just found this site yesterday and have to say I am addicted because I have finally found my portal to a world of women that do understand how I feel and it is great. PCOS is different for every woman that has it. I am learning that there are general meds that most of us are on and there isn't a real cure for it. At least we can push thru this together. I don't know of anyone in my family who has had PCOS and I am the first. I worry about my daughter, I would hate for her to have to go thru any of this. So with this site I am learning and I believe knowledge is power, I just hope that there will be a cure soon so the younger generations don't have to go thru this. Wouldn't that be great?
I'm certainly not an idealist, I like the truth!! But for your doctor to say those things so matter-of-factly is pretty harmful.
I'm not ttc (or even in a relationship where I'm considering it) but I knew that *some* women have difficulties conceiving...but before I had a chance to ask my doctor about it, he told me, "don't worry you can still get pregnant." And whether or not he was just trying to reassure me, I know it made me feel better...rather than a really negative view on things.
To help me, I've been reading some of those success stories, arm yourself with as much info about PCOS as possible and then things don't seem as overwhelming. Keep a journal of your own health (mental and physical) to track progress.
Hey There!
I was diagnosed a few months ago and while my endo did warn me of all the problems I could face from PCOS with insulin resistance, he never said the word "never." I've been trying to get answer for ten years and I had doctors tell me that nothing was wrong with me; that if I wasn't ttc, then I didn't need to worry about being irregular; and even though I was working out quite a bit, they told me that I "just needed to get on the treadmill more." Needless to say, I knew my body was telling me somthing was wrong so I kept looking for a doc until I found one that would listen. I'll admit that my diagnosis was split for me emotionally- on one hand I was relieved to find out that I wasn't crazy, but on the other hand, I had all of the same emotions that you are describing. I questioned so many things and I did get angry and sad; but now that I am being treated with 2000mg of Met daily, things are already changing so my attitude has changed. Hang in there! You've come to the right place to vent and question- this site was what helped me when I felt confused or angry.
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Heather 28, DH: 27 Married: May 17, 2003 PCOS: Diagnosed May 27, 2008
i was diagnosed in 2006, and i have insulin resistance as well. don't get down about it. reading through the threads and post on here has helped me tremendously!!! my doc never put me on a diet...but promised that she would help me get pg!!!
I was JUST diagnosed, and I am hurt, confused, and angry as well. I had the same thing, where I've been going through health issues for years, and everyone thought I was being hypochondriac or something. It got to the point where I wouldn't say anything to anyone because I got the "what's new? There's always something wrong with you." I'm glad to finally know I wasn't crazy or making things up.
I'm still learning about the condition, but I was disappointed in my Doc. I feel he didn't really give me options... I'm not ttc right now (but hubby and I would like to start trying in the next 1-2 years) and since I don't have to get pg RIGHT now he just wants to put me on bc pills. I would like to know what options there are and talk to other women who actually understand what it's like and what's going on.
Reading your post was a flashback for me, everyone always thought I was making it up and I would always get the "you are always sick" look. So frustrating. As far as getting PG I got pregnant right away when we started trying for my son. That was before I had any symptoms for PCOS, then when he was almost 2 we started trying again and it took me 5 years to conceive, just a thought in case you were wanting to get pg with PCOS. I know it's different for everyone but I figure more info doesn't hurt, right?
Looking back, knowing what it is now, I think I've been dealing with it for about 5 years, but just didn't know it. I was on BCP for almost 2 years, hated what it was doing to me, went off over a year ago and my symptoms for PCOS have just continued to get worse over the last year. Since then, hubby and I haven't really used any other form of BC and well, I never got pregnant. Not that we were trying, but you'd think it might happen on accident if I was normal, right?
So, I'm thinking we might have problems with it, but obviously won't know for sure until we actively start trying. Don't know if we should wait to try or start trying now in case we DO have problems. :: This is just a really confusing time for me. Now that I have the "answer" I want the solutions, but that doesn't really seem to be happening.
I agree with the second post...PCOS doesn't mean you are doomed to get pregnant, it just means a few things are out of wack. Hormones are killer, and that's what makes us look and feel the way we do. As for the friend thing you were mentioning, I know what you mean...no one does understand. I really hate when my husbands family is asking how things are going with the fertility, then they change the subject when I start talking about clomid, or they say yep..."when the time is right" hunny. When is the right time?...Oh I know...when my body is back to normal...thank you very much! They think that a trip to Costa Rica...is going to cure my infertility, the friggen nuts. If that was the case, we would all be in Costa Rica...having sex on the beach day in and day out...ha ha ha. Sorry, it just makes me laugh the cure all storied that people who don't have a problem with infertility or PCOS can come up with. Again, I know it's hard...but believe me that there is a little stork coming your way!
Since the whole PCOS diagnosis I have become more cynical. I have always been an upbeat bubbly personality. It is hard to feel like an outcast in my own personal circle of people. When I went to the ER Sunday night with my mom for another cyst issue, I have to say that my husband and my mom have been the most supportive, that my nurse ended up being another PCOS sister and it was my first time meeting someone that knew exactly what I was going thru. Even though I was in excruciating pain, it totally lifted a load off of my shoulders knowing that should could relate and totally understand my pain, not just one of those people who says they can relate and hope it gets better only to walk away and totally forget about it. Is there ever going to be a time when we can just walk away from this and not have to worry about it anymore? Sorry for another wo is me but I am grateful for a place where there are others who really do feel my pain, literally and figuratively.
I don't think I would be rushing out for a new dr so soon as others advised. The dr didn't say 'would', he said 'may'. Not the best bedside manners, but he may have had a purpose for doing that. Anger and hurt can be a major backbone in motivation.
Too many people take their dr's word at face value. The dr gives a treatment, the patient accepts it, but has no clue why. I know that some of my coworkers think that I'm an odd ball because I talk openly about my PCOS. I know that they will never fully understand what I have to deal with and live with. And when something new comes along, I want to know why it's happening and how I can prevent it.
IMHO, the dr is doing everything right so far. He's opened your eyes to your condition enough that you're looking for more info and support. Welcome to soulcysters!
__________________
~35 ~ PCOS/IR ~ LAVH due to fibroid, kept ovaries ~
PCOS Anger 
btw - i have a son who is 11
: This is just a really confusing time for me. Now that I have the "answer" I want the solutions, but that doesn't really seem to be happening.
