Thin Cysters - Not TTC - How are you treating your PCOS?
Hello,
I am new here and recently diagnosed with PCOS. I am thin, work out 5 days a week, 30 yrs old and I eat pretty healthy. I have told doctors several times over the past ten years that I have hypoglycemic type symptoms, but was always told that I am fine. Then I started to get more hair and my doctor tested by testosterone which turned out to be too high, etc. etc., here I am. I am not trying to get pregant..
So I wondering what treatments have been recommended by your doctors? How do other thin cysters NOT ttc treat this? It seems the pill helps regulate hormones, but doesn't treat the underlying insulin issues...
My story is very similair to yours! I was hypoglycemic (well, reactive hypoglycemia) since the age of 17 and was ignored by my doctors. Sure enough, at 24, the hair growth and periods started to get lighter, come to find out my testosterone was out of control 110 and my LH to FSH was 1.7 to 1. I also have pre-diabetes based on my post-prandial numbers(after eating) and not my fasting ones (since those are perfect). I am 5 foot 3 and 103 pounds.
I am treating my condition with exercise, a healthy low-carb diet, and the birth control pill ortho tri-cyclen lo. My endo did not recommend metformin since I have IBS and he personally doesn't like to start anyone under the age of 30 on metformin if they don't have serious issues. (my pcos symptoms are very mild) but I know that met has helped many cysters and really is a great drug if you can tolerate it!
Thanks Alana! My ob/gyn doesn't seem to know anything about the insulin connection. He just told me that PCOS is genetic and that I should take birth control pills and thats it. I again told him that I seem to have hypoglycemia type symptoms and he said that in insulin resistance you don't have that..I then told him that I read about reactive hypoglycemia..Anyways, thanks for the information..I really wasn't sure if I should be taking metformin or not, but I guess I should see an endo.
I have no medications, I just take the pill and it masks my symptoms very well. Apparently I need to take them up until I'm menopausal (If I don't want kids) which is not a very nice thought...
I havent had a formal diagnosis of pcos yet. Im slim and like you I also suffer with hypoglycemic episodes, aswell as acne and excess hair. All my blood tests have come back normal, Ive tried telling my doctor that my shaky episodes are getting worse, but with my results being normal she says there is nothing she can do, the only way to control it is to eat healthy. She says I just have a 'sensitivity' to insulin.
Anyway my gp hasnt ruled out pcos completely and says if I do have it I only have a mild version. She has given me a contraceptive pill cilest, which Im yet to start and told me to eat low gi and lead a healthy lifestyle and given me cream for my acne.
It seems doctors are less inclined to prescibe medication if you are slim as they dont see it as such a high risk I suppose, though I wouldnt agree, god knows what this 'insulin sensitivity' could lead to. Quite a few times my gp said ''well your not overweight....blah blah blah' and I also am not ttc, I wonder if I was actually formally diagnosed if I would have been given anything other than a contraceptive pill
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My gynocologist didn't seem to really know anything about pcos in thin women. He just said to take the pill to correct my testosterone levels, but didn't seem to know anything about the insulin connections, etc. So I made an appointment with an endocrinologist - I did a lot of reasearch first, though, so I think he is a good one and knows a lot about pcos. My first appointment is on Wed. - I'll let you know what he says...
welcome to sc i have the meds in my siggie for my pcos.
Good for you gettting a new dr, i see an endo about my pcos too. What id suggest is to write down everything that you want to ask/say to your dr so you dont forget.Thats what i always do.
eva
I see my endo twice a year, although right now it's basically just a blood test and her asking if everything is OK, then writing me a prescription.
I'm on Ortho Tri-Cyclen and spiro, and I take cinnamon. I was on metformin but it wasn't doing a thing for me so my doctor said I could go off of it after I'd been on it 2 years and she saw no change. She says she doesn't understand why it didn't help me, but that we'll re-visit it when I do start TTC.
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
This is so amazing... I just registered on here today, and i was diagnosed in May 2006. It's so funny to find a forum for "Thin Cysters", because I've always felt "abnormal" as far as PCOS goes. When I was first diagnosed, my OBGYN was really surprised because he said I wasn't "fat and hairy". He said he hated to be so blunt, but that's usually the first thing he notices when he sees PCOS. I do have excess hair growth, but I keep it maintained so it's not noticeable. I am 5'2" and 130lbs, but I'm finding I'm having a hard time keeping my weight under control now. I am currently using the Mirena IUD, and I'm considering Ocella (Yasmin generic) to try to get my hair, acne and weight under control. My sister has PCOS also, that's how I found out about it, but she does not have hirsutism or acne, but has the weight problems. We were both diagnosed by ultrasound ultimately, but also had abnormal levels in our blood tests. Anyway, that's all...
__________________ Melissa
SAHM of Sarah and Aubrey (5/04) and Sean (7/07)
Wife of Mike (5/1999)
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago and my first gynea also seemed perplexed that I wasn't 'fat and hairy' lol... since then and 4 gynea's later I have realised that most gyneas don't really understand the IR / hypoglyceamic link with PCOS and the pill is always there final answer to everything! I have had one too many arguments with my gynea's inability to treat my IR or atleast taking it into consideration so I'm seriously thinking about going to an endo as my IR symptoms are the hardest thing to control. I'm currently on a bp for all the other symptoms and am trying to go the natural route and am thinking of trying the Insulite programme as I've heard loads of good things about it. What I found helped the most with my sugar ups and downs is a Crommium supplement and cardio exercise everyday even if its just half an hour! - Cinnamon extract is also a big help - no carbs and low GI diet with a protein with every meal. For the acne - the pill helps but also Zinc supplements have helped me alot with my skin! Good luck and I hope you find the right mix for you!
Thin Cysters - Not TTC - How are you treating your PCOS? 
i have the meds in my siggie for my pcos.
