JeepersJulie

Reading this post has encouraged me so much in my journey with PCOS.

I don't know why but I just didn't care about my diagnosis 11 years ago and neglected my health the entire time.

In those 11 years I would guess I've only had my period 25 times, constantly gained weight reguardless of all my efforts, and battled my excess HAIR the whole time. Ugh. I blamed myself for being "lazy" and "undisciplined" and really hated myself very deeply for not being proactive about it and letting the apathy take over. This only made matters worse because I would eat all the bad foods to comfort myself.

What a vicious cycle.

Your wife is SO BLESSED to have a man who is concerned and willing to take steps even though she isn't able to do so herself. I hope to hear updates!

dawnrgrayson

Ok, every doctor handles met differently.

1. I have a wonderful doctor who increased my dosage gradually. I started out taking 1 500mg pill in the morning with food and 1 500mg in the evening with dinner. After 2 weeks she increased it my dosage to 1 with breakfast and 2 with dinner and by the 5th week I was taking 2 with breakfast and 2 with dinner. My stomach did get a little upset along the way but your body adjusts if you go at it slowly.

2. Another important thing is that met must be taken with food or very shortly after. It shouldnt be taken on an empty stomach because it is designed to regulate your insulin and if your stomach is empty what is it regulating???

3. She should also cut back on the white bread, white flour which further upsets your stomach on met and causes the diarrhea effect. These things arent good for us soulcysters anyway so it can only help to limit it.

I have to still have my bagel in the morning occassionally but I make it whole wheat and switch to taking my met at lunchtime instead that day so I dont have the nasty side effects. This really works for me. I have lost some weight on met, but I also combine portion control and excersise.


I dont know if her doctor will want her playing around with the time of day she takes hers but my doctor doesnt mind as long as I get all my 2000mg in and im leaving at least 6 hours in between each dose.

I hope this helps! Goodluck!!

__________________
Married 2yrs...together 11 yrs
TTC for 3 yrs
Diagnosed w/pcos 02/2008
currently on met 2000mg daily
Fish oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Prenatals
Vitax (chasteberry)
Dong Quai
current weight 200 (with portion control and exercise)
previous weight 235
goal weight 150
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airwicca

You know,I may be one of the odd ones out here...but there was a point where I was fat and my long term boyfriend told me hey Im not as attracted to you sexually anymore.He didnt say it meanly,just told the truth.I mean,I was 225 pounds and acting like a slug...when he met me I was 130 and extremely active.He had lost the person he had fallen in love with.I was moody,*****y really,and I had no energy to do anything fun anymore.I was not sexy.Even if he had told me I was,I would have known it was bull****-you know?
Him telling me the truth and taking our relationship to a whole other level helped me motivate myself.
I hear a lot of fat women,especially with PCOS whining about how hard it is to lose weight.It IS hard.....but if you never get off your ass and DO something about it....you will stay fat and depressed forever.
Sorry if I offended anyone.I have PCOS and am very aware of how challenging it is.I also know that losing weight helps symptoms TREMENDOUSLY!!!!
My suggestion-try establishing new "family routines"..waking earlier,less TV,going for a walk every day together..progressively making them longer.Make the daily walk quality time for all of you.For me,daily excersize helped bring me out of my depression and motivate me.
good luck-i know your post was from a while back,but if you are still out there..cheers!

CoachNess

I was diagnosed two years ago and was "thin" at the time. Since then I have gained quite a bit of weight. In addition, my cholesterol went through the roof. No one ever said anything negative to me, but they knew that I had stopped exercising and was eating extremely unhealthy.

I had been precribed metformin, but refused to take it both becuase of the way it made me feel and mentally i didn't like the fact that it meant something was wrong.

In a very subtle way, my mother made me aware of the risks I was posing to myself. She bought me a PCOS book. It took 1 day for me to skim through and realize that if I wanted a healthy future I better shape up!

It was nice and subtle and no hard feelings. If fact, I'm not even sure if that was her intention, but if it was it worked!!!

Good Luck with everything!!! And I commend you for trying to help your wife!

__________________
Diagnosed February 2007 at age 23

No current meds


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7 pounds closer to the weight I used to be!
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dawnrgrayson

We sound like we are the same person!

When I met my husband 11 years ago, I was 135 pounds and at my heaviest I was at 235. We had a similiar discussion and I was not offended, and can respect his honesty. We know work out together and cook healthier meal and I am down to 200. Honesty is always the best policy and I would much rather open communication than the alternatives which could be extra marrital affairs and divorce. We have a very open and honest dialogue with one another and we are closer than ever.

__________________
Married 2yrs...together 11 yrs
TTC for 3 yrs
Diagnosed w/pcos 02/2008
currently on met 2000mg daily
Fish oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Prenatals
Vitax (chasteberry)
Dong Quai
current weight 200 (with portion control and exercise)
previous weight 235
goal weight 150
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Mr.NorthSouth

Wow, I just looked at this for the first time in weeks, and I really appreciate the great things people are saying! I'm going to try to respond to many of you very soon... I'm on a business trip now but will be returning back home this weekend.

You all are really motivating me to take a very active role in this. My wife really needs to "join your club!!"

I promise to give an update very soon....

Mr.NorthSouth

OK... I'll start answering now since I'm not tired!

I must admit that this really freaks me out. I'm going to find out if those liver tests are performed here in Mexico. What kind of test is it? A blood test?

Another question I have is: is the risk to her liver from Metformin greater than the risk to her health if she does nothing and stays overweight?

Mr.NorthSouth

I'm sure your advice is sound. I'm in accounting, and us accountants really like numbers! Set a goal, and measure as you make progress. So, naturally I think "ok, dw needs to lose 50 lbs... let's chart it out!!"

I guess I need to think outside the box, huh?

Yes, I am. Gotta get her in the company of some motivated gals like yourselves! Maybe she'll even introduce herself to all of you.....

Mr.NorthSouth

MailLady, thank you for your story. My wife can be stubborn too, and that makes it difficult for me to approach her on this. But really, it seems to me that her stubbornness and other excuses are just to cover up the central problem: she lacks self-discipline. And by its very nature, "self-discipline" must come from HER, right?

Lest you think that I'm just throwing stones, I am stubborn and lack self-discipline too.

By now, I hope that you have a HAPPY and HEALTHY new.... boy? girl?

Mr.NorthSouth

In a nutshell, you have captured every man's confusion about the fairer sex. When my wife fights me, I usually just give up. I mean, it's not worth the pain I go through! But you're saying that I should just put up with the resistance and keep trying?

I love my wife, but I don't pretend to understand her!

I would be curious of other women's point of view on this.

Mr.NorthSouth

ok, now I'm tired so I'll continue to answer all your posts tomorrow!

Do I now hold the record for consecutive posts?!

meggowiggle

Yes, put up with the resistance and keep trying. The key is to constantly evaluate what her needs are, and act in a way that will help her meet those needs. You know she needs to pursue treatment, you are aware she is weak and unmotivated right now. You know she needs strength-- an extra will---to help move her through until her own will takes over. At that point, she will need a supporter. So... be that extra will... take action, even if she resists it; she will thank you later. You can't do everything for her, but you can do as much as possible to make it easier for her. Sometimes, it is so bewildering at the beginning that it is hard to know where to start. If you start for her (changing the diet, scheduling appts, acting on research to devise a personalized treatment plan) she may find strength to continue on her own, once she sees the payoff of what you've done.

As long as you are zoomed in on her needs (not just medical, but emotional too!!) and help her meet those needs, you will be an extraordinary positive force in her life. Lead her through it, gently but firmly.

I actually had to do this with my husband. After posting initially on this thread, I realized I wasn't doing for my husband what I wanted him to do for me! (I wasn't following the golden rule...oops). He suffers from high blood pressure, and was (at the time of the post) lazy about his diet, and "forgot" to schedule appts and get meds. Realizing he was just as weak and unmotivated about his high blood pressure as I was about my PCOS, I decided to take action for him. I scheduled him an appt to get checked out. I changed our diet. I told him gently, but firmly, when he on the verge of making poor choices, and I did not bend at all. He struggled the first two weeks, but the last few days he's finally coming around and really owning his health. It is amazing what love in action will do, and I wish I decided to "move" for him much earlier than I did.

But that's just my take... I'd love to see what other women have to say on this.

SandV

MrNorthSouth - First I hope your business trip is successful! It is great that you have taken the time to check in for your wife.

With Metformin, yes the side effects can be more dangerous to her liver. It is a blood test that they take. However, from experience here in the Caribbean - not all the blood tests listed on the form at my lab are performed. I think you should definitely look into if you have a lab that performs it. Here is a link about Metformin that goes through all ... http://www.drugs.com/metformin.html

As far as numbers go, I try to focus on my health. I am an analyst by nature so I also tend to look at measurables. However, I have found several other ways that work. First, you could take a picture of her now. Twice a month or once a month, take another picture to compare. If you have her use the same outfit and stance each time it works best. You will be measuring the difference in how she looks. Second, does she have an old dress or outfit that is her favorite that she can no longer wear? She can measure her progress as if she can fit into it. I recently was able to wear a red dress that I wore 2x about 4-6 years ago. It felt GREAT!
(Personally, I have come to love getting on the scale and seeing what I weigh. So much so that a few months back, DH threatened to take it away because I was checking too often.)

Being stubborn and lacking self discipline can be hard in this endeavor. However, if she has positive support it will help her more. I know some women like to have their S/O or DH put up with the resistance and keep pushing through. The type perserveance is the factor that creates the most motivation. For example, if DH pushes at me too hard I just shut him out. When DH comes at me with a reason that seems like he truly listened to my feelings, I will jump right on it. (I can be a very stubborn person)

I wish you and your DW the best of luck!

__________________
Me
DSS 5/30/04 (always will be mine)


Baby Aspirin
HSG 8/26/08 - right fimbria congested with hydrosalpinx
Ectopic PG 4/23/08 (8 wks) Salpingectomy 4/23/08 (left)
Dx PCOS 1993

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lexibelle

The tests are simple blood draws that measure the liver enzymes. The reason it's important to monitor with Met is partially because of the risk of Lactic Acidosis, which is a rare but dangerous side effect of Metformin. It's also because Met can be harsh on the liver, like alcohol, tylenol and other pain relievers.

Elevated levels can also be caused by fatty liver which is common in women with PCOS and also those who are overweight.

The trick is to be sure to get monitoring so that if the levels do get too high, steps can be taken to be sure it's not something more serious.

To be honest, if I had to choose between taking the Metformin without medical supervision and not taking it, I'd opt for not taking it. I'm currently back on the Metformin and my doctor is aware of my liver enzymes, but for the time being we're going to see what happens because my levels were only slightly elevated at my last appointment.

That said, there ARE herbal and diet remedies that can work just as well. Cinnamon is one that's been successful for many women with the IR. For me, Choline and Inositol have worked wonders for the weight loss, along with a healthy diet and slowly increasing my exercise.

__________________

airwicca

haha mr north....yet another post for you to read..LOL
the stubborness is an asset.I am hard headed and do everyting my own way.I refused medication from my doc when i was diagnosed(she wanted me to go on metformin,but I didnt want to put that in my body) and went from 225 to 130 in about a year on my own by altering my diet and excersizing.It was my stubborness that carried me through and made me push on until I saw results and felt results and then, that too, added fuel to my fire.
Never underestimate the drive of a stubborn woman!I have a suggestion....order her a good quality rebounder.set it up and put it in a very accessible spot.From 225 pounds till about 175 or so,my excersize of choice was rebounding(it was easy and didnt hurt the joints with all that weight and spared me my embarassment at the thought of going to work out),yoga(which really makes me feel good) and walking every day.as far as diet,i increased my consumption of beans/legumes,eliminated all bread and crackers and pasta,potatos and corn,as well as all sugar.I allowed myself to eat tuna salad and stuff on whole grain rye crackers(had to be rye for me as i am allergic to wheat),but limited how many I ate.The only grain I ate was brown grain cooked like rice on stovetop...buckwheat,millet,barley in stews etc,quinoa,and of course unlimited veggies.
for 2 weeks initially,i went into ketosis.I did it in hopes of helping to sensitize my body to insulin so my diet would work better.it worked for me.i drank lots of water too.took a multivitamin,and no other meds or supplements.
you become very depressed with pcos often and overwhelmed about the weight issue.it is hard to find yourself fat one day and then,when you try normal stuff to lose it....it doesnt work!she has to drastically reduce or eliminate ALL refined flour products,processed foods,and any added sugar if she does it through diet.feel free to contact me.or get her to if she wants to even,if she wants support doing it without meds.she doesnt have to be embarassed that you posted.every woman on here,regardless of her way of dealing with her condition or philosophy of life,will definitely relate to her struggles....she needs to know that and not be shy