- experiencing irregular periods since the beginning, when i was 13, and when i did get them, i was in so much pain, i'd literally lose consciousness and pass out!
- at 20, started to "mysteriously" gain weight, but attributed it to mild depression or failure / lack of discipline
- at 21.5, i went on the internet, searched, just for the heck of it, "irregular period + weight gain", and there i found it, pcos.
- but wasn't sure that's what i had
- but a few months later, i saw facial hair growing! and i was so depressed, i felt so ugly, fat, and disgusting (and even - suicidal!!!)
- so, i went to my family doctor, and he referred me to an endocrinologist (doctor specializing in hormones), he diagnosed me with pcos, started me on metformin to lower insulin and regulate hormones (weight gain is a result of high insulin level, which is a result of the production of an excess of androgens, such as testosterone, therefore, lowering insulin results in lower apetite and lower sugar absorption)
- several months later, i started losing weight, but then plateaued, periods stopped again, was retaining water, and was still seeing facial hair, so he started me on spironolactone (blocks the action of testosterone so that none of the above would occur, also acts as a diuretic, and used for people with high blood pressure)
- current status: periods a little more frequent, no more cramping!!!, no more water retention, no more facial hair, no more depression, lost tons of weight!!!
- weight in dec. 2001 was 155 pounds (height is 5' 2")
- dress size dropped from 16 to 3
- body-weight dropped from 155 to 105
- never tried to concieve (still single, never married)
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* THERE'S A CORRECT TREATMENT OUT THERE FOR YOU. BUT, DON'T DEPEND SOLELY ON THE MEDICATION/S. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART AND LEAD AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE (PROPER DIET, PROPER EXERCISE). LOWER SUGAR INTAKE TO KEEP THE INSULIN LEVEL AND BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL STEADY. AND, LOWER STRESS LEVELS, BECAUSE STRESS HAS ALSO BEEN PROVEN TO PROMOTE WEIGHT GAIN AND TO EXACERBATE PCOS SYMPTOMS, BECAUSE STRESS MESSES WITH YOUR HORMONES !
* READ A LOT ABOUT YOUR CONDITION SO YOU CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO FIND A SUITABLE TREATMENT.
* DONT TAKE INFORMATION FOR GRANTED - FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF.
* RE-GAIN YOUR (GOOD) QUALITY OF LIFE.
* DON'T EVER GIVE UP ! ! ! ! ! !
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NO MORE HIDING UNDER FAT CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!