PCOS, Depression, and High Testosterone...

[Traikle]

First off, let me say that I'm 51 years old and have been dealing with PCOS and depression since I was a teenager. I was lucky to have read an article in a magazine of my mom's about depression when I was in high school; "Oh, that's what it is!!" I thought, and I stopped thinking there was something wrong with me as a person. People will tell you that you can cheer up, shake it off and get over it, but you can't. Those people don't know what you are going through, and you can't listen to them. It's a very complicated chemical process, as Kat's articles point out, and different people are affected differently and get help differently. Medications don't work the same on everybody, so it's important not to give up if the first one, or two, don't help you. I have been tried on almost all there are, and what works best for me is Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. BTW, the Cymbalta immediately helped the pain from my fibromyalgia, so that's something worth looking into if you have that.

For Shana, please, believe me, high school is not the real world, and the small minds and soap opera-life that goes on there are gone as soon as you get out. People will be able to know you and love you for who you are. Those who judge you now will shrink down into nothing and their opinions will matter to no one. It really happens. Hold on and concentrate on making yourself ready for the good life that awaits you. I promise it does.

My love and support to everybody who's going through PCOS and depression.

[raydians]

I'm 44. I don't remember a time before I had my daughter at 41 that I wasn't at least a little depressed. Now I rarely have depression. Recently I started a new cycle and decided to try soy isoflavones to try and concieve again and my depression returned full force! I don't know why soy would have caused this. Anyway... That's what happened. I'm starting to feel normal again these days. Here's hoping that I'll concieve and won't get my depression back! The more I learn about PCOS, the more I realize how very generalized this is... It never ends the depth at which this disease hits us! I thank God that I've found this board to learn from and share with all of you.
Annemarie

[island_cyster]

I'm new here but I must say how thankful and grateful I am to see people going through the same things I go through. I've always cycled through depression and anger and never really knew the cause. Two years ago I had surgery for my PCOS since I couldn't even walk at the time I was in so much pain but stopped having a period for months before that. My drs still couldn't understand how cysts were giving me extreme lower back pain but I now no longer suffer with the pain, this is after the removal of at least 200 cysts on just one ovary (my dr stopped counting at 200) and 1 tumor the size of an orange. Unfortunately pre & post surgery I was placed on steroids which of course caused me to balloon to 50+ in 3 months. I have recently gone from 182lbs to 139lbs but I am now suffering with the weird hair in places thing. These past few days I feel so despondent I don't want to get up and go to work and I caught myself crying over the weekend for no reason. But I'm coping and my dr has now placed Met and hopefully things should run smoothly. Thank you, at least now I know I'm not alone.

[liz2002]

Talk about depression. I think this is the most depressing day of my life. I have been trying to concieve for 5+ years. Today my ex had his first child... I didnt think it would affect me so much but it is I feel so sad and I don't know if jealous but I guess I would be and no one around me seems to understand how much of a failure and how empty I feel. There is a heavy pressure on my chest when I think that his girlfriend could do what I couldnt ...

[island_cyster]

Talk about depression. I think this is the most depressing day of my life. I have been trying to concieve for 5+ years. Today my ex had his first child... I didnt think it would affect me so much but it is I feel so sad and I don't know if jealous but I guess I would be and no one around me seems to understand how much of a failure and how empty I feel. There is a heavy pressure on my chest when I think that his girlfriend could do what I couldnt ...

Aww don't feel bad my sis-in-law just found out she's preganant and this is after trying for 5 yrs of trying. Don't worry hon it'll happen for you.

[KarenCee1]

I sat here and read through this thread and it was like reading about me. I've dealt with PCOS since 1989 - almost 20 years and I am 45. I've been up and down like a roller coaster for so long. Today I am down. I go to my endocrinologist this coming Monday...I do believe she and I will be having a heart to heart. My gyno says I am in the perimenopausal stage...great...just great. I knew this was coming but just hearing it made it even more depressing. I am VERY fortunate that I am now married to an amazing man that took the time to research PCOS while we were dating/engaged. He understands this disease and supports me completely. Still, these days are becoming too frequent. It's time to do something. *sigh*

[JGD]

In the book called "The Magnesium Factor" by Mildred S. Seelig, MD, MPH on pages 208-210 discuss taking Magnesium along with folic acid, vitamin 6 and vitamin B12 (you need all 3 vitamins) along with Magnesium for homocysteine levels to fall. Magnesium citrate is a type of magnesium with a high bioavailability and naturalcalm*ca sells this product. This product is also available in USA.
The name of the product is Peter Gillham's Natural Calm Magnesium Citrate Powder.

The Magnesium Factor is an excellent book to read. Another book to read is called The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean, MD, ND.

[KarenCee1]

I did a search on homocysteine...this is more to do with heart health than anything else that I can see. I'm not saying these supplements aren't valuable - I'm sure they are for heart health...I'm just wondering if homocysteine has anything to do with depression and high levels of testosterone.

[maryandsilviu]

to echo what everyone else has been saying : i'm reading about my life on this thread. i was diagnosed in my early 20's with PCOS. with the help of my RE i was able to have a wonderful little boy who is the light of my life. unfortunately, the dark cloud of depression has come to hover over my head. i really didn't think that it could be related to PCOS but i'm glad to be reading that there is a very good chance that it is. hopefully my new ob/gyn will be able to help point me in the right direction of meds.

i'm so glad to have found you ladies after so many years of feeling like a poster child for a disease no one else around me had.

[maryandsilviu]

i'm so glad to have found you ladies. you've all been obviously living my life.

i'm one of the lucky ones who has been able to have a beautiful baby boy (with the help of my RE of course). unfortunately, now i'm dealing with the black cloud of depression.

i'll be checking in with you ladies often to see how we're all progressing in our quest.

[AmazinglyVictorious]

Ladies,

I'm currently accepting the fact that I MUST TAKE CONTROL of this PCOS! I got diagnosed about 4 years ago ( I can't even remember exactly because I immediately went intot denial).

Right now, I'm dealing with the typical symptoms excessive facial / body hair, insulin resistance, extreme weight gain, missed periods (It's been 7 months since I saw one), and now...THE BIG ONE...ANXIETY / DEPRESSION.

After finding a doctor in Atlanta who has knowledge in the treatment of PCOS, I had my first visit with a COMPETENT doctor and she suggested that I get a therapist. I must've looked at her like she is crazy. I NEVER in a million years would claim to be DEPRESSED...besides that...I feel like I have the most confidence a girl could ever have...I think I might be wrong, though...to think that depression / anxiety can't touch me.

I am touched by your comments because I think I need to deal with the anxiety / depression by FIRST RECOGNIZING it... What signs should I look for? I couldn't pinpoint anything right now that would indicate that I'm suffering from anxiety / depression...But...if someone asked me if I had SPECIFIC symptoms...then I could probably say yes or no to that...UGH...I'm confused...!

If you have any advice, please share!

Thanks!

[maryandsilviu]

Hey Kandis,

I'm right there with you. I live SW of Atlanta and my ob/gyn suggested I go to an RE again if I'm trying to conceive. Of course they're all in Atlanta about 40 miles away.

I think so many drs right now are just giving the standard rx to deal with pcos and are not even trying to treat all of the other symptoms that come along. I actually think it's good that she suggested a therapist. It'll feel good to get some of the issues off of your chest. I may be going that route soon myself.

I got off of the met for a few months and am paying for it now big time.

Good luck and we're here when you need us.

[AmazinglyVictorious]

WOW!! I need to learn more about "THE MET." What does it do? What is it good for?

South Beach diet is pretty much what we all need to do: healthy,low glycemic carbs combined with low fat proteins, no refined sugars, flour, breads, etc...

...the first two weeks of only eating meat and vegetables and NO WINE / ALCOHOL is hard (I drink wine at least once a week)....but it gets easier.

...I'm going grocery shoppping today...I took all of the EVIL FOODS (Captain Crunch, Bread, popsicles, icecream, waffles, syrup, jelly, etc) over to one of my friend's house...I have no more EVIL FOODS at home.

Let me know if you decide you're going to do the SBD!

[KaR]

This is perfect and I'm hoping some of you have some answers for me or can direct me to a good place to get them. I've been diagnosed recently with PCOS. I don't think my doctor checking for Cushings, should I insist on it? Diabetes does run in my family, though I don't have it. I have a regular cycle that has been incredibly consistent since I started, no cysts on my ovaries, no weight gain (and I'm certainly not careful with what I eat) but I do have abnormal hair growth and acne which is why my doctor checked. My testosterone levels are high. My doctor put me on birth control to help with hormone levels and said to make sure I didn't gain weight and that I'd be fine. However, I do struggle with depression at times and it seems to follow my cycles a bit though I don't get it every month, more like quarterly. My main problem is that the BCP have caused continuous depression and insomnia. My doctor is putting me on different pill but I doubt that things will be different since all I've read says that they work the same so I'll probably still be depressed. What are my other options to control my hormone levels? Or what kind of specialist should I consult for this condition?

Thanks,
KaR

[terrell1]

I am a newbie that is currently on medication for depression. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago and its been a roller coaster. It helps to know that I am not alone.