Hi there all, I'm site newbie.
I recently started researching my condition and I can't beleive I have finally found a support network! Hopefully I won't bore you too much with my story below.
I was diagnosed through blood tests when I was 16 and put straight on to dianette. This was ok, although I still found that It was really hard for me to loose weight.
In the last eight years my weight has fluctuated wildy, ranging from 14st to 9st (my ideal weight). The only reason I ever managed to get to 9st was beacause I had gall stones that went misdiagnosed for 2 years and resulted in me being to scared to eat because of the pain.
After the operation to remove my gall bladder 2 years ago I was able to return to my normal eating pattern (1200 calories a day or less), and my weight has been climbing steadily ever since. I am between 10st7lb - 11st . I can put on 7lb in a week easily.
Recently my GP switched my pill to Yasmin. He said I have been on dianette too long and they dont know if I still have PCOS. Since I have been on yasmin I have felt exhausted, depressed, hungry, agressive, teary.
So 2 weeks ago I went back to my private gynae consultant (who initally diagnosed me)to see if he thinks I still have PCOS. During the appointment I told him how I was feeling, I asked him about the diabetes link I had read on the net, he said there is no way I have diabetes as I am too slim, I explained that the reason I manage to keep my weight down is because I am always on a diet, he said that maybe that was good for my PCOS and I should carry on.
I was sent for a intravaginal ultra-sound which has confirmed I sill have it (my ovaries are covered in cysts despite the doctor explaining that due to the helpful effects of the dianette it may be inconclusive). I have a folow up appointment with my consultant in two weeks but I think he will just switch me from Yasmin back to Dianette.
The bottom line is I am fed up. I read about PCOS treatments in the USA (such as metaformin) and they seem much better and I would like to try them, but I dont feel like their an option in the UK. They seem to want to put you on dianette and thats it (and thats private health care!).
I am overweight again, I am now trying the GI diet as I have heard that works, which has ment me giving up my vegetarian ethics. Through mood swings, depression, oily skin and weight gain, this condition has robbed me of my self-esteem and happiness all through my best years . I have been on a diet for about 10 years, I am sick of it. I have become so obsessive over food I am on the verge of developing an eating disorder.
I am sorry about the long post but I guess I am looking from advice about what I should do. Is the depression linked? What treatments are available in the uk? should I ask the doctor again about the insulin resistance link? Who do I turn to if he discounts it again? Is there a test for insulin resistance? Will I only know if I can have kids when I start to try? I
I just want to be normal and feel good about myself.
You should be able to get referred to a specialist who may prescribe Metformin. Alot of the UK girls here use it but some doctors will only prescribe it if you're insulin resistant but sadly most GP's here don't even bother to test for that as they don't know much about PCOS
I feel your frustration and hope you find some help here.
__________________ Age: 26
DX: May 2004
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Walking & Low Carbing to 146lbs - nearly there!
July 07 : 167lbs
Sept 07: 153lbs
Nov 07: 147lbs
May 08: 144lbs
July 08: 140lbs
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please join the above site
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Please sponser nyksta if you can she is swimming a whole 5k to raise money for marie care cancer
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Hello and welcome to SC! I'm a Brit too! I'm in London, although I'm originally from Lincs.
I second eva...try and get a referral to an ednocrinologist. I have a wonderful consultant would looks after both my pcos and diabetes. My GP would have been willing to try the metformin even if I wasn't diabetic though so maybe you could have a chat about it? Opinions vary a lot soit's worth a try. Try and read up on it too so you can sound informed when speaking to the GP.
I am a very big fan of the GI diet. It's a great start for stabilizing blood sugar, leaving you fuller for longer and has helped me lose almost 40 lbs so far. I'm a bit baffled why you think you have to give up vegetarianism though? Even while on GI I've been eating a mostly vegetarian diet...in fact, the only time I ever eat meat (poultry only) is when I eat out. At home I only ever cook vegetarian. There are losts of veggie proteins that you can eat on the GI diet. Most quorn products for example, falafel, tofu, or vegetarian cheeses. I have a fantastic recipe for lemongrass and tofu nuggets if you're interested. I also reccommend Helen Foster's Easy GI Diet . It's a great place to start...it gives you the basic principles and GI ratings as well as 4 two week plans, one of which is vegetarian.
__________________ Me (Jenn) 22 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DH (Jon) 35 Married 2nd December 2005 1 Furbaby (Danny Boy)
Dx PCOS and Diabetes II October 2006 Treatment: Met 1000mg daily, weight loss
I am also from the UK. I have been on Metformin for nearly a month and got it from my GP! I read up on it here and went with all the information... and told my GP that i was certain I had PCOS. She said she would like to do some blood tests and a scan. Which I had done... the blood-works came back ok but the scan showed enlarged ovaries but no cysts.
She was ok about putting me on met I am on 1500 at the moment. It was easier to get on metformin then I thought... I also was under the same impression that it would be hard to get on that medication.
I have had no side-effects and don't know as yet how my body will respond... but i do have high hopes.
I would suggest that you also read and print as much information from this site and make an appointment to see your GP is you feel you have no success with them then push to be seen by an endo.
Hope things go well for you.
__________________
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i'm vegetarian (have been for 37 years), and from london, and have weight issues. i just want to tell you that it can be done - the weight loss. i went from 20st (yes, you read that right) down to 15st in 7 months by diet and exercise. i basically ate three meals a day, with a couple of snacks and worked out about 4 days a week. i also had help from the most wonderful herbalist in london. i was actually referred to him on the national health by my doctor, so my treatment was all paid for. he actually got me to have regular periods for the first time ever (by taking a vitex mix), and i still have regular periods.
unfortunately, on a really bad american diet i have put most of the weight back on again i'm working on losing it now. i wish i'd realised how important it was to keep my weight down as i am now battling pre-diabetes.
if you want details of my herbalist, let me know. it is a teaching hospital, so you might have students in your sessions, but i was so happy to do that - i wanted them to learn about pcos. they were all SO sweet to me *sigh* i miss them lol. if you go there, you must promise to say hi to my dr for me!!
__________________
me: 38, dh: 35
dx pcos 1990
male factor infertility BFP - 03/12/08
EDD - 11/22/08
baby is here!
born 10/13/08 at 34 weeks 2 days
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I'm on Metformin, 1500mg a day, and I'm slim (ish! a size 12-14) and not IR, just a bit hypoglycaemic. I think it's really helped me.
My experience has been that my GP is happy to give me Metformin on repeat, providing it was originally prescribed by a consultant - so I'd recommend you get referred to another gynae or endo, preferably one recommended here! I was treated at Guy's in London, and found them generally pretty good.
I hope it works out for you - I know it's really hard. But we're all here for you!
Toryx
__________________ Diagnosed since December 2002
Metformin (1500 mg a day), just come off Dianette
Married to my best friend since 22/07/06
30 years old
Still relatively slim....!
After I was diagnosed with PCOS, the doctor sent me to a gynaecologist and they put me on Dianette straight away. They said that as I was quite slim and that my blood tests did not show up any problems of diabetes and therefore they were not going to give me metformin. After that they sent me away and said that my GP can deal with any of the problems I have with PCOS!! That was Dec 2005!! I know it is really frustrating and you feel like no-one is listening to you.
I was telling my GP about the problems for years before they even before they diagnosed me with PCOS!!!
PCOS in the UK? 
have your dr referred you to an endocrinologist ?? (hormone dr). that's who looks after my pcos. feel free to pm me any time you want
DX: Oct 2004
