i'm so excited to be here! my name is yoori, and i'm not quite sure if i have pcos, but i do know that i have some symptoms associated with pcos or insulin resistance. i have hair in places i shouldn't (face, chest, stomach, back, etc.), and just recently, i started developing cystic acne on my cheeks and jaw line. i also have tiny skin tags on my neck area, EXCESSIVELY oily skin, and my underarms and groin area are darkly pigmented in contrast to the rest of my body. even with all these symptoms, the weird thing is that my period is pretty darn regular. i'll get my period every 30 to 35 days. i'm also pretty darn underweight. i'm about 5'1" and i weigh about 90 pounds. the weird thing is, i can eat whatever i want, whenever i want, and i won't gain weight. i'm 24 years old, and while i can deal with the skin tags and the darkly pigmented skin, i cannot deal with the acne and hair issue.
i've been hairy for as long as i can remember; i'm japanese american and it's really embarrassing that i'm the only one in my family who has any sort of body hair and the only girl who has facial hair. =( my three sisters and two brothers are down right hairLESS. they don't even have to shave their legs, while i'm always taking half hour showers, trying to shave my whole body. sometimes i feel as though my parents brought the wrong baby home from the hospital because i swear i'm the only one in my family going through all of this. =( my mom and even my dad do not have any hair! well, except on their heads, of course, but you get the idea. i don't have insurance so going to an endo is kind of out of the question right now, so i was hoping i could get some insight from you lovely cysters on this board. judging from the symptoms, do you guys think i have pcos or do you ladies think i'm just IR?
because i'm so hairy and because i have cystic acne with extremely oily skin and hair, i'm pretty sure that my androgens level is through the roof. i've been on desogen and ortho tricyclen lo before all to no avail in terms of hirsutism and skin oiliness. within the last year or so, i noticed that the oil on my skin has gotten more viscous, which i believe is the reason why i'm getting cysts. i'd like to fix my problem via the au naturale route. i've been browsing the boards quite frequently, and i'm kind of interested in taking saw palmetto. would saw palmetto help get my hormones back in check? or how about spearmint tea? i've read that can also help with excess androgens. please help me out. i'm so desperate about my situation, and i would really appreciate some insight.
i've never told anyone about my hair issues (not even my mom and sisters, even though they probably already know; they just don't ever bring it up). all my life i've kept my "problems" to myself and i've got to admit that it feels darn good finally being able to talk about this, even though it's on a messageboard. hey, at least i'm making some progress, right? =] thanks for listening and for your help!
Welcome to SoulCysters. Trust me, you are not alone.
Have you seen a naturopath? Or even an OB or reproductive endocrinologist (RE)? If you get your hormone levels checked and then go to a naturopath, you'll probably be able to work with him/her on a blend that works for you.
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Welcome! Do get a blood test and then go from there. Maybe even an ultrasound. Im not sure how much it costs there...
You do sound like you have really high androgens or something along those lines. Could be many different things.
Good luck and keep us updated!!!
__________________ Concveived withLowCarb Diet&Exercise.2000mg cinnamon.4xHyponidd.1200mg inositol.Bvitamin complex&C.Milk thistle.Omega 3 3000mg.Zinc 15mg.Garliccapsulesx4.Iron.Kelpsupplements.Organic food Jasmin Born 25/06/08 @ 41 weeks + 6 days!Now on all above PLUS vitamin D , inositol 2600mg[FONT=Arial Peony & Licorice 5000mg per day of each for stubborn hirsutism[/font]Diet and exercise are key!
Hello! Since you said you don't have insurance, would you be able to purchase it? The labs that I've gotten in the past, when I've seen an RE are ridiculously expensive. I agree with previous posts that you really might want to get a complete physical and lab workup with an endo to see what's really going on, because some of the symptoms could be PCOS, but could also be signs of other conditions. For now, until you are able to see a doctor, make sure you are eating a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits, veggies and healthy fats and whole grains, taking a good multi vitamin/mineral supplement, etc. I used to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted (like lots of fast food and junk food) with no exercise, and it finally caught up with me.
I hope you get the help you are looking for. Remember you are not alone, these symptoms can be sooo frustrating! We're all going through it together!
Also, I noticed you said you had been on ortho--if you decide to try BCPs again, talk to your dr about yasmin or yaz--my RE told me that ortho can worsen androgen levels in some people.
As far as natural treatment, I'm not much help because I'm still researching before I decide what course of action I'm going to take.
Question from new member... 
my name is yoori, and i'm not quite sure if i have pcos, but i do know that i have some symptoms associated with pcos or insulin resistance. i have hair in places i shouldn't (face, chest, stomach, back, etc.), and just recently, i started developing cystic acne on my cheeks and jaw line. i also have tiny skin tags on my neck area, EXCESSIVELY oily skin, and my underarms and groin area are darkly pigmented in contrast to the rest of my body. even with all these symptoms, the weird thing is that my period is pretty darn regular. i'll get my period every 30 to 35 days. i'm also pretty darn underweight. i'm about 5'1" and i weigh about 90 pounds. the weird thing is, i can eat whatever i want, whenever i want, and i won't gain weight. i'm 24 years old, and while i can deal with the skin tags and the darkly pigmented skin, i cannot deal with the acne and hair issue. 
