Hi, my name is Erica. I am 18 years old now. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 years old. Though doctors wanted to do more testing and such. I've had two sonograms done. One when I was 15 and one when I was 17. Both showed the same cyst to be there. I tried birth control when I was 15 and I found it so horrible. I don't believe in birth control because it's just making things worse and it's not really helping to solve the problem. It's more like a double-edged sword in a way. It can help for a bit, but once you're off the problem comes back. I don't want something that's gonna treat only the symtoms but maybe something safer. When I took the pills I had horrible side affects too. Nausea, dizziness and fainting spells were just a few. I would have heart palpitations too. I just really am against it. So right now I'm looking for some "treatments". I must really say that doctors haven't been helpful as they just prescribe me pills all the time and tell me theres no other alternative.
While looking online I see that there's alternatives like surgery. Also herbal pills, but they're kinda expensive. I couldn't afford it right now. I know theres no cure for PCOS right now but I'm willing to work with treatments that will help and not cause bad side effects or make matters worse.
Btw, my case of PCOS is kinda "rare" in some senses. I'm not overweight at all, which is what doctors tried to play against me and tell me that I don't have PCOS because of this. My main problems would be around my period, really bad acne, some hair problems and severe mood swings with depression. When I was 15 everything started. I had a regular period from 12 years old to about 15. Then all of a sudden it just skipped 7 months. I was okay with my weight, maybe a little underweight but my parents bone structure would be considered small and so is mine. Then it would skip every two months or so. I lost a lot of weight in 2004 and that increased my period for some odd reason. That same year I gained about 20lbs back and it seems as if it got worse. Btw my starting weight was 89lbs I'm 5'1 1/2. I dropped down to a low 78lbs from my depression. After I was hospitalized for almost two months I went back up to 89. Then I gained 99lbs just to be on the safer side. This all happened in 2004.
In 2004 I had some hair problems like oily scalp and then my hair started thinning out a great deal. I'm grateful to have very thick hair still. Though I have a bald spot somewhere and pieces of hair that are uneven. I've had some acne since I was 11. Then when I was 15 I think it just increased more or something. Now it's just like bad especially from scarring. I still get break outs. Doctors have done testing on my thyroid and adrenal glands. Also my insulin levels are pretty okay. They find my "male hormones" on the higher side though. My androgen levels are really high, which is the cause of my acne I believe. The remaining cyst with fluctuating hormones is probably the reason for my irregular and heavy periods. This year I skipped already four months straight. And when I got my period this August, it lasted for roughly two weeks straight. I had heavy bleeding for two weeks. I'm lucky I'm not anemic because I take vitamins a lot and tried drinking/hydrating myself, though it was hard. I've been having problems with my medical insurance so I am not able to see a specialist right now. When that's fixed I'm really opting for surgery though the doctors just disagree with me. I don't want to try other birth controls either. What do you think? I've done a lot of research on PCOS.
I'm new to this board and I'm just writing all this for "support". I find it comforting to post to people who probably understand my problem. Any comments on my situation, help/support or anything would be appreciated!
------------------ I had this on another board, I wasn't sure where to put this. I added some stuff I forgot, but only a little bit. I think the older females with PCOS are really nice but I wanna talk with people my age too. Not that I don't mind talking with older women either. I turned 18 this year so I still feel kinda young in some ways. I'm still very new to this and the boards. Anyone wanna tell their story? ------------------
Hi my name is Jessica. I found out in 2002 that I had Pcos do to lots of test I also have hypothyriodism (low thyriod).My periods had been irregular since I can remmber. I started gaining wieght really fast 20 to 30lbs a year. In 2002 I start metformin 2000mg and thyriod meds. I got pg in 2003 and now we are trying again. I hope you can find something that works for you. WELCOME to the board and hope to hear from you again
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JESSICA
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Thanks for sharing something with me~! It feels cool to let out something with someone I know has a similar problem like me. Maybe not the exact same symptoms but it's still the same problem! I'm looking for a job right now and trying to fix my medical insurance is rough. Once I get some mula though I'll be saving up money for certain herbs and such. Then I can make an appointment with an endocrinologist. Though I don't really want to see the specialist so much, I just want my test results and to look else where.
sounds good to me. I mainly see the endo. Alot of people don't like him because he tells you how it is but not bluntly. I had to wait a year to use dh's insurance. Insurance can be a pain
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Welcome aboard. Alot of use know excatly what you are going through just not me (17 and never had a period ) Just hang there. Wish I could say something more encouraging for you.
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Welcome Rin, nice to meet a fellow New Yorker. I'm here if you ever need to talk. My doctors were confused as first, too because I only weigh 110 pounds but I found that weight is not the only indicator. I'm 25 and was diagnosd just two months ago, and it turned my world upside down. I only went to the doctor because I was two weeks late for my period and was excited about possibly being pregnant. My period never came and I just got it yesterday with help from the birth control pill. They have me on Yasmin which is an estrogen-based pill that should even me out. I was painfully sick the first week as my body adjusted but it has gotten better, I just take it before bed so any side effects don't bother me while I'm sleeping. Good luck, it's nice to have you here.
I am 19 years old. I was diagnosed in February 2004. It was the worst time of my life. I became heavy in 3rd grade. Ever since, I have never had a regular period and I only started to get my period when I was 15. I had so many tests done on me and I hated every minute of it. i was made fun of all through elementary school, middle school, and part of high school. I now know why I am so heavy and I really want to find out ways to lose the extra poundage. I am in college now, and things are a little better. The food here is not of optimum choice, haha, but I have learned to deal with it. If anyone in college has found good ways to lose weight while in the college setting, I would love to hear it!
strbrite62 I've been picked on growing up too. Though it was for my acne and my weight issues. Yes, people would pick on me for being very thin. I grew up in the ghetto, so it's really "praised" if you have a lot of meat on yourself. I guess people find you weird or not fitting if you're thin and hispanic (atleast in the ghetto). I don't go to college right now so I wouldn't really know, sorry! It must be hard just being on the campus.
nylittlejen, I live in nyc, which doctors do you go to? I've been to many different ones without real help. All they do is prescribe me birth control when I tell them that I'm not interested in it as a treatment. Anyhow it is nice to know that there's someone in the New York (city?) who has a similar problem.
Leany and everyone else reading, thank you for listening to my words.
Hi! I was sent to an endo a couple of years ago, but was finally diagnosed last year. I had always been heavy, and had never had a 'regular' period. After years (YEARS!) it was finally figured out and I was put on met. Its always nice to know that there are people around your age out there isnt it? I am almost 18, and I agree with strbrite62, life is easier at university (or college or whatever). Welcome to the 'party'!
-k
__________________ *Si amas me lauda* "Sparkles for the cloudy days were saved in her pockets"
Hey Rin!
I live about an hour north of the city but practically live there since a lot of my college friends ended up there. I went to a fertility speciliast in Wayne, New Jersey that I loved. Might be too far for you. But, unfortunately, if you're not trying to get pregnant, birth control is the way to go. I was frustrated, too. My husband and I weren't trying but we weren't not trying either, we so wanted nature to just take its course. But now I'm on Yasmin and just had my first period in months! Never thought I'd be excited to be in such agony for five days. My doctor said that I need to stay on the pill until we are really trying to get pregnant then they'll give me Clomid. It doesn't seem like they give us many options, do they? Always here if you need me.
PCOS - My story. 
