New and confuseddd

[StaceyJo2012]

Hello. I'm new here and just recently joined. I have just recently been diagnosed with PCOS and a hypothyroid, and I'm kind of confused. My doctor is not very helpful in explaining. I have had many many blood tests and just recently got more for my appointment on May 4th. But my symptoms have been as follows:
I had really heavy, irregular periods, and then they got really light and really far apart, and then they got heavy again, and they were intensly miserable and I would get insane cramps. My hair, which was really really thick, started coming out when I would run my hands through it or when I would brush it, and my hair became noticably less thick than it used to be. I have extremely oily skin and my acne has been worse than ever lately, which is slightly embarrasing, being in college and everything. I have also become very very depressed and am no longer my happy-go-lucky self. It may just be because I'm at college, but I really don't think that college has anything to do with it. I also noticed that a very light hair has started growing a little bit on my breasts and stomach, but are not noticable unless you're really looking. I also am very overweight for my age and body type. I am 5'4 and I weigh 227lbs. I go to the gym almost every day and I play soccer once a week, I eat relatively healthy [as healthy as I can be, with our disgusting dining hall] but nothing I do seems to help me lose weight. My doctor told me that my insulin levels are extremely high, and a few other levels [I can't remember which ones] were high, along with my free testosterone levels.
I also have hypothyroid. I am tired to the point that I can barely stay awake most of the time, even though I get adequate amounts of sleep. This is proving to be a problem more and more, as it's hard for me to study lately. I've also seemed to develope an intolerance to cold. I used to be able to go out in cold weather and be okay, but now when I do, I shiver uncontrollably to the point where I throw up sometimes. As I mentioned above, I'm over weight, my hair has been slightly falling out and becoming really brittle. My skin is intensely dry all the time, I'm pale a lot, and I've been constipated like crazy. My speech has been slower, My memory seems to be shot, I can't stay attentive very long to anybody talking to me or during lectures. I'm sluggish and have experienced very delayed reactions lately. I also have colds constantly. And as I mentioned, I've become depressed and very, very irritable, along with various other symptoms. As a college student, this is proving to become more and more stressful to me. I'm finding it hard to want to go out and participate in anything, and even dragging myself to class is becoming a struggle. I'm a speech-language pathology and audiology major, and if this keeps up, I don't see myself being successful enough for grad school.
I'm on synthroid and metformin, which makes me feel sick, but it's triggered a slight improvement.
I'm sorry this was so long, I just felt a little bit of a background was necessary. I guess my major questions are, can anybody explain what PCOS is in a non-confusing way? Is there anything I can do to help make my acne go away? The depression? And is there any diets or anything that have proved helpful in losing weight? And most importantly, is there anything I can do to feel more awake at times, other than caffiene pills or energy drinks? Or any other information you can provide to me? Once again, I'm sorry this was so long. I'm just confused and away from home, so I really need other peoples advice.
Thanks!
-Stacey

[lynaeducky]

welcome to soul cysters! i'm in college as well and have alot of symptoms that you described. I'm on Yasmin and I have noticed that it has really helped my acne. PCOS is affected by hormones which is like a domino effect and causes symptoms like irregular periods and acne. Many cysters on here go on a low GI diet which helps which insluin levels and weight loss here is the link to the weightloss section on here
http://www.soulcysters.net/diet-exercise/. and here is the link for depression http://www.soulcysters.net/depression-anxiety-bipolar/. hope it helps. feel free to email me or talk to me on aim my screen name is lynaeducky. there is also a great group on here for college/teens called teen talk here's the link if you want to join us http://www.soulcysters.net/group.php?groupid=40

[StaceyJo2012]

Thank you SO much Lynaeducky! You really helped me a lot. I can't thank you enough. I truly appreciate it. My screen name is stac48ey08, if you ever want to IM me. It was nice to hear it coming from another college student. I honestly have felt really alone until you replied to my thread.

[lynaeducky]

anytime!

[Goddess Hectate Help]

Welcome to SC! Are you on any medications for your thyriod? for the insulin troubles? Are you taking an anti-androgen for the hair issues?

Your thyriod and High Inuslin can both cause hair loss/excess hair (High Inuslin raises androgen levels).

A low GI diet can help all your symptoms (mine consists of whole milk, greek yogurt, veggies, fish, lean turkey & chicken, beans, nuts, flax seeds, buckwheat, fruits & high fiber cereal) Aviod all white carbs and proccessed foods.

Are you taking a multi-vitamin? If not start taking one right now.. I reccomend GNC's Women's Multi-vitamin.

In addition to this diet, you can take spearmint tea, white peony, saw palmetto & pumkin seeds to lower your androgen levels. Also ask you doctor about taking an anti-androgen to lower them (I take aldactone). Anti-Androgens will stop the hair from falling out and clear up your acne.


There are natural alternatives to metformin -NAC, Apple Cider Vinegar, the Herb Gymena, Chronuim (sp?) & Hynodid (sp?).

I have memory issues as well, I've read this is a symptom of low estrogen.. Have you had your estrogen levels checked? You can take Maca to help balance your hormones and raise estrogen levels naturally.

[StaceyJo2012]

Hey Goddess Hectate Help, thank you so much for the advice and whatnot. For the thyroid, I'm currently on synthroid, and for the high insulin levels and PCOS I'm on metformin but we're switching to fortamet [I think that's what it's called]. I also take a Womens one a day multivitamin. I have not had my estrogen levels checked but will ask my doctor when I go back on May 4th, especially about the anti-androgens. Thank you so so so much though, and I plan on following your tips to the best of my ability

[SunnyInSeattle1]

Welcome to SC, Stacey

[StaceyJo2012]

Thanks so much Sunny!

[Eva37]

welcome to sc. here is a link to the thyroid section of sc for you, in case you havent already seen it

http://www.soulcysters.net/hypothyroid/

[StaceyJo2012]

Thank you so much Eva! That was a lot of help and I really really appreciate it.