Is there any truth to this?

LaDolceDita · 12-09-2007, 07:32 PM

Do symptoms worsen or is it pretty much the same throughout life? I was talking to a 58 year old woman with PCOS who was DX'd at 16, and she says her symptoms have always been the same. I asked my GP about this and she said that I've probably had this since birth- that we're born with it, and symptoms CAN usually worsen with weight gain. This makes sense to me because I've had some hair on my upper lip since I was 14. I've always had irregular periods since then which could also have been caused by stress and anxiety. The hair on my lip never bothered me. When i gained some weight and was living a really unhealthy lifestyle for 2 years- no exercise, not even leaving my bedroom, i started noticing hairier arms. Then came the trail on my stomach. So I think weight definetly plays a role here. Maybe stress, too? I told my GP I hated myself for putting myself through so much stress for years- thinking nothing of it. Not knowing what it was doing to my body. But she reckons that a woman doesn't just 'get' PCOS. Is there any truth to that?

Whats everyone's experience? Symptoms got worse, stayed the same?

Anonykat · 12-09-2007, 07:43 PM

I think it varies. My symptoms have gotten *slightly* better since having kids. I just don't think there are very many blanket statements than can be made about this type of syndrome.

Mireille · 12-09-2007, 08:30 PM

I think it fluctuates. It's primarily a hormone problem, and as your life changes, so do your hormones, and with us I think it can come out in different ways. At least for some of us. I've noticed that in times of stress and where I don't watch my diet, I tend to get hairier. When I'm feeling better about myself and the way my life is going, it gets better. And yet other people go along steady all the time.

Go figure.

Jashobeam · 12-09-2007, 08:48 PM

My PCOS goes in cycles. I was born with it, but it started expressing around age 9. It got better in college, then started getting worse in my mid 20s. I'm 34 and finally the AN under my arms is slowly going away. According to at least one article our cycles regulate as we age, which may explain why so many cysters get PG for the first time close to or after age 30. From all I have read it does seem to be genetic, but maybe you have to have the gene from your Mom and Dad to express it. It has run in my family for generations, including several cases I think of male PCOS (2 at the very least). I think my grandmother had the gene, but did not express it. Her kids almost all have diabetes and some have kids or grandkids with infertility and/or PCOS and/or diabetes/prediabetes.

sheila32 · 12-09-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

According to at least one article our cycles regulate as we age, which may explain why so many cysters get PG for the first time close to or after age 30.

I never heard this before but it makes sense. I had my DD when i was 33 I am now 38 and i get regular periods when i never did before.

Jashobeam · 12-09-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheila32

I never heard this before but it makes sense. I had my DD when i was 33 I am now 38 and i get regular periods when i never did before.

Here is the article: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome gain regular menstrual cycles when ageing

emilyinTN · 12-09-2007, 11:27 PM

I have also been told that weight gain can make the symptoms worse. this is really a catch 22 considering on of the symptoms of PCOS is weight gain. I think that it is really hard to lose weight even with healthy eating, metformin, and exercise. My symptoms throughtout the years however have stayed the same, Irregular periods, irregular hair growth, weight around my middle section, fatique and some anxiety (which wo knows if that is related or not). I hope that they do not get worse as you get older, i would hope they would get better after "the change"!!

seats · 12-10-2007, 05:27 PM

well i have always had irregular periods. when i first started my periods i was like a 11 years old and they was pretty irregular then. sometime when i was 12 i had to go to the e.r. because i was in pain. and when i was a teenager i was always skinny ( i had weighed anywhere from 100 to 115lbs though out my teenage years) and i didnt have hair growing on my chin or the side burns or down my stomach or my lower back. then when i turned like right before i turned 23 years old i started to gain weight. and i started noticeing all the hair growth. and now here i am at 27 years old and i have all kinds of hair growth.

SarahJ · 12-10-2007, 06:35 PM

Mine seems to come in cycles too. I felt fantastic during two pregnancies, but now it seems like symptoms are coming back. Sometimes I suspect I'm acclimating to the metformin.

sue_trask · 12-10-2007, 08:05 PM

>>Do symptoms worsen or is it pretty much the same throughout life?

for me. it has just got worsen then one of my doctors i seen before who is in research of pcos and one of the head for pcos and was at mayo said i have the most serve (ms) pcos He ever seen before.

>>But she reckons that a woman doesn't just 'get' PCOS. Is there any truth to that?

for me i believe i got it by genes on both sides. a doctor who did my surgery for laposcopy in unv. of iowa. said i
got pcos so bad is due to having both genes on both sides of my parents.

>>Whats everyone's experience? Symptoms got worse, stayed the same?

let me see, i have ovary pain so bad i cant work and have it everyday so yes it got worse and never really had this until 5 or 6 yrs ago.