What, in your opinion, are the TOP 3 issues/problems women with PCOS face?

KatCarney · 07-06-2005, 08:21 PM

I'm toying around with another project, and I need some input...
Your issues/problems can relate to anything, medical community, personal, informational, etc.

Appollonia · 07-06-2005, 08:27 PM

1) Weight issues
2) Pressure to have kids early as it gets harder to concieve earlier with PCOS
3) Men thinking you are a trasvestite becuase they spy some facial hair! LOL!! It's happened to me! Spirinolocatone is a Godsend.

dellwood · 07-06-2005, 08:34 PM

For me personally, weight issues, hirsutism, intransigent doctors who can't/won't learn about PCOS.
Thank you Kat for this fantastic site.

snowwhite · 07-06-2005, 08:35 PM

I would say the same thing, fertility issues, weight issues, hair issues.

Phoenix Rising ^^^ · 07-06-2005, 08:39 PM

1. Dr.'s who are incompetent when it comes to this condition. Many of us have been to several MD's before getting a proper diagnosis. After being brushed off by Dr.'s who won't take the time to listen to our concerns.
2. PCOS symptoms. Facial hair,obesity, menstrual irregularities, infertility, miscarriage, depression, acne, etc.
3. The general public's lack of knowledge on PCOS. Most people think we are just some kind of freaks because of our symptoms.

Kissyboo · 07-06-2005, 08:39 PM

For me, there are only 2 main issues.

1. Weight
2. Thinning hair

Luckily Im porportionate, so it doesnt look like Im as heavy as I really am. Regardless, its not healthy. And as far as the thinning hair, its not to the extreme, but it makes me self conscious enough to stress myself out about it. I've had thick hair all my life and now its noticeably thinner.

deblynnc · 07-06-2005, 08:48 PM

I have had to deal with all the issues listed above - hair, weight, fertility issues, uninformed doctors.

One thing I would add as a top issue for me is the lack of familiarity with PCOS by the general public and the attitudes we have to face as a result, ie. she's fat and hairy, so she must be a lazy slob, "I bet you'd get pregnant if you could just get away for a while and relax." I would put that in my top three, along with weight and fertility, although the hair is close behind in my list.

Debbie

Miss Maren · 07-06-2005, 08:55 PM

1. Too many doctor's lacking in the proper knowledge of PCOS.
2. Weight gain
3. Insulin Resistance

chanchan · 07-06-2005, 09:04 PM

1. Weight issues
2. Menstrual/Fertility problems
3. Uninformed doctors/size biased doctors

Desiserene · 07-06-2005, 09:05 PM

I have to totally agree with Debbie

Allison. · 07-06-2005, 09:19 PM

1. Unexplained Weight Gain
2. Doctors not familiar with PCOS- Who tell you to "Just lose weight"
3. Hair Loss

Rebecca527 · 07-06-2005, 09:22 PM

I agree that the uninformed/misinformed doctors is way too rampant of a problem. We need to get it out there to the medical community and make PCOS awareness, treatments and general care of PCOS patients a *priority* in women's health training for doctors. I would have saved a lot of time, money and misery if my doctors would have put all my symptoms together years ago and I could have had a head start with a definitive diagnosis and could have prevented some of the agony I've had to go through. Doctors just didn't know about it. That needs to be changed. I don't want another teenage girl to go through what I went through just because doctors are ignorant of the facts about PCOS.
For me, I would say the top 3 issues I have dealt with having PCOS are:
1. Finding competent and sensitive doctors
2. Psychological issues. Depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, everything that comes along with having the physical symptoms of PCOS is really hard to deal with. When I finally got my dx, it was like the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders. I know I'm not crazy, I have PCOS!!! It's a lot easier to notice and prevent the depression now that I know what the causes of it are. We go through a lot being women with PCOS...we all know how 'unfeminizing' (Did I really use that word? Is it even a real word???) PCOS can be. Having help to deal with that would have been a godsend to me.
3. Fertility. This is obviously a huge issue for me right now, as we're in our 2nd medicated cycle TTC. I think that the competent dr issue ties in with this one as well, simply because if I had gotten a diagnosis earlier on in my life, I might not be having to go through so much now. There isn't a whole lot of support out there in the general public for infertility, some people simply don't know a lot about it or don't care because it hasn't affected them. Unfortunately I don't know if any amount of 'public awareness' is going to change our society's view on things, and stupidity will always run rampant. I do think that if the public was more aware of PCOS and it's long term affects on women (and the families and men that love them), they might start looking at things differently. I'm not sure though. As I said, stupidity runs rampant!
I hope this helps and was sort of what you were looking for Kat. Good luck with the new project (don't you EVER slow down? LOL), and as always, THANK YOU for creating SoulCysters!!!

tariana · 07-06-2005, 09:42 PM

1. Weight
2. Feeling very masculine as a result of this disease -- caused by a variety of things. Weight in the wrong places -- the belly like a man, rather than hips/breasts/legs like non-PCOS women. Facial hair/excess hair. Thinning hair. Fertility problems. Etc. etc.
3. Again, facial hair! It's just awful.

Darlene123 · 07-06-2005, 09:54 PM

1. Facial hair/ Any excess hair
2. Weight
3. Stupid ignorant doctors.

coree · 07-06-2005, 10:27 PM

For me, its definately in this order

1) excess hair
2) weight
3) fertility

I chose this order because the face is the first thing a person sees on you, this is how they make their first impression. And its hard to feel sexy when you are sporting 5 o'clock shadow!!! lol
I chose weight second, for health reasons, and because i have come to terms with my weight...and although i am working to take it off, i am happy with myself now.
I chose fertility as third, becasue i am only in my 4th month of trying to concieve and still fairly hopefull...I think this may move up my list quickly though....as i really really want a child.