PCOS - My Weight Problems Weren't My Fault

[outstandinfarmer]

I was recently diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). After years of struggling with my weight and saying that it was impossible to lose weight I found out that it wasn't my fault. I have been seeing doctors for years complaining of being so sick all of the time and they all said that I was fine. It was after seeing a dermatologist that he suggested that I be tested for this. I guess A LOT of women have this and don't even realize it and doctors just recently have learned how to diagnose it. My mom has had it her whole life too and has always been severely overweight and now it's all changing. Since I starting taking the medication for it I have lost 30 pounds in a couple months. Here's what the symptoms are:

Hair loss on your head with hair growth on other places of the body like the face
You're really overweight
Periods that happen too often or hardly at all
Lethargic and tired all the time

You don't have to have all of these symptoms to have PCOS

Here's how PCOS works:
The ovaries produce cysts which cause a whole body imbalance
Your female hormones can be off and you can produce too much testosterone
The biggy is that it may cause insulin resistance. So, even though your blood sugar reads normal, your body doesn't use the insulin which causes you to be overweight.
PCOS can be different in everyone. I have all of the above problems with my condition.

THIS DOESN'T SHOW UP ON NORMAL BLOOD WORK!! The way they found out about this was by doing an ultrasound. That's why so many people are not diagnosed.

I am not a doctor, but I a sharing this because I suffered with this for years and my mom did for decades.

I had been starving myself and working out hours a day and it was impossible for me to lose weight. I starting taking medication for the PCOS and I haven't had to try at all and the weight is falling off.

My doc said that a lot of women have this and they don't even realize it. I just wanted to spread the word so that others may finally know what is wrong with them.

I hope this helps some people. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

 

[Texian@WDW]

Heather, may I ask what the medication is?

 

[pearlieq]

Switching to a reduced-carb (not Atkins or anything, just less sugar and fewer refined carbs) really, really helps with the insulin resistance and can kick your weight loss up even faster.

Also, exercise does a lot to help the body use its own insulin more effectively, also helping to stop the problem.

Other symptoms to look for:

Moderate to severe acne, especially into adulthood
Darker, brownish patches or skin, especially around the neck
Excess skin tags
Strong sweet cravings/an appetite you can't satisfy (symptoms of insulin surges)

Glad the mystery was solved for you. Good luck!

 

[pearlieq]

Heather, may I ask what the medication is?

Hopefully Heather will be along soon to tell us exactly what's working so well for her, but usually PCOS is treated with the following kinds of medicines:

--Diabetes medicines
The most common are Glucophage (Metformin) and Actos, but there are a few others. These help the body use its own insulin better so the body doesn't have to pump out tons and tons of insulin.

--Birth Control Pills
These regulate the cycle and helps alleviate some of the symptoms like acne.

--Aldactone (Spironolactone)
This was developed as a blood pressure medicine (it's a diuretic) but it has a fuction where it goes through the system and bonds up to extra testosterone floating around so that it becomes inert and can't affect your system.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I am taking Glucophage (Metformin). I broke my foot so the only physical activity I had was moving from my bed to the bathroom and I still lost a ton of weight.

I am also taking Birth Control. My gyno said that for some people they don't need both of them, but with my symptoms, I did.

Seriously, I feel like a whole new person. I'm finally at the level of glucophage that I'm supposed to me at and I feel wonderful. I have energy and it just seems like my whole outlook on life has improved.

A wonderful thing too is that before if I ate a piece of cake I could see a difference in my weight the next day which is absolutely ridiculous. My body clung onto absolutely everything I ate. Now I can eat like a normal person. I'm so happy, but I struggled for so long.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

--Aldactone (Spironolactone)
This was developed as a blood pressure medicine (it's a diuretic) but it has a fuction where it goes through the system and bonds up to extra testosterone floating around so that it becomes inert and can't affect your system.

My doc said that they may try me on this soon but she wanted to see how the other medication worked out for me first.

 

[karynnix]

I read this thread and immediately thought of my sister. You could have been writing about her! She took it to her doctor yesterday, and he started her on the medication Metformin. I'm so glad that you wrote in to talk about it. I don't know if she has been actually diagnosed with PCOS, but she exhibits every symptom that you mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens with her!!! Thank you so much!!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I read this thread and immediately thought of my sister. You could have been writing about her! She took it to her doctor yesterday, and he started her on the medication Metformin. I'm so glad that you wrote in to talk about it. I don't know if she has been actually diagnosed with PCOS, but she exhibits every symptom that you mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens with her!!! Thank you so much!!

WOW!! I'm so happy for her. Well, I'm not happy that she's sick, but if that's what she has, what a relief that she's being treated! It's a horrible thing to suffer with knowing that all she had to do was take some medicine for it and it can change her life.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

Just so you know, when you first start taking the medication, you feel icky, almost flu like symptoms (which are normal). It lasts for about 2 weeks and then you start to feel great. You start off with one pill a day and then increase to 3 or 4 a day. One and two a day only affected me in a positive way, but when I got to three, it hit me hard. So, just let your sister know that if she says the medication is making her feel worse, to give it some time. All of a sudden she'll wake up and feel wonderful!

 

[wilderness01]

You have described me to a tee! I was diagnosed with PCOS 15 years ago after I had surgery to remove a large cyst from my ovary and several smaller cysts from the other ovary. Actually I was told I would never have children by myself because of the PCOS but I did. Anyhow, I totally struggle with my weight. I have every one of the symptoms that you and others have described. I was at my Doctor's office in June for the hair loss because it has gotten so bad and he referred me to a dermatologist. I think instead I would rather go and see my gyne. What do you think? I am a little upset that my family doctor didn't recognize any of these symptoms as "hmmm, maybe it is PCOS". In fairness I never told him I had PCOS, but I have been complaining about my weight, hair loss and lethargy forever. He ran thyroid tests, all came back normal, and never has done another thing. I also have high cholesterol which I am medicated for but he has not suggested anything more. If something could help me get more energy and help this weight loss I would be eternally grateful.

 

[pearlieq]

Definitely go back to your gyno, or find an endocrinologist. They can definitely help you!

 

[kfeuer]

So glad you got a diagnosis! I have PCOS, too. I take Glucophage and it has helped immensely. I lost about 30 pounds without even trying when I first started taking it, but over time that levels off and you have to work at it like everyone else. However, the medication gives us a fighting chance. One thing I've really learned is that to feel my best I really have to take good care of myself. The way I eat affects various symptoms, and exercise makes a world of difference.

Anyway, hope you continue to feel great!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

So glad you got a diagnosis! I have PCOS, too. I take Glucophage and it has helped immensely. I lost about 30 pounds without even trying when I first started taking it, but over time that levels off and you have to work at it like everyone else. However, the medication gives us a fighting chance. One thing I've really learned is that to feel my best I really have to take good care of myself. The way I eat affects various symptoms, and exercise makes a world of difference.

Anyway, hope you continue to feel great!

Do you mind if I ask how many milligrams you are taking a day? I'm curious.

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

When you talk about hair growth in other places, where and how much are you talking about? I have all the symptoms you mention, but my hair growth is two or three long, dark strands on my chin and some more on my breasts. I also am losing hair on my head - I have a very wide part.

 

[Laurajean1014]

This is interesting. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 8 years ago, but no-one mentioned medicine. They wanted me to go on reproductive hormones and then after I said no, they gave up. And so did I.

I was recently diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism - can you have both?

I have been dieting.... been very hard, but it is working.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I read that docs didn't know how to treat PCOS until recently. You should go to a doc and talk to them about it.

 

[ecr110]

I was diagnosed as a teenager about 8 years ago. At that time, the only therapy was birth control. I went to an endocrinologist about 2 years ago, and he put me on metformin and yasmin. It really works wonders. The only symptoms I had were my periods and crazy blood tests. They can diagnose it by blood tests- high insulin, high cholesterol, high testosterone all are signs of PCOS. Ultrasounds are not always necessary.
One word of caution: if you have had irregular or absent periods, the first couple of periods that you have on the medicine may be especially heavy as your body rids itself of the cysts.

After going on the medicine, I lost about 30 pounds and have kept it off for 2 years. Of course, you do have to watch what you eat and exercise and all that fun stuff, but it does give PCOS sufferers a fighting chance.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for enlightening people on this disease. PCOS is a complex metabolic (not gynecological) syndrome which until recently was not understood very well. I was diagnosed years ago after reading an article in Family Circle, making an appointment with an endocrinologist on my own and basically taking matters into my own hands.

PCOS has an unfortunate name because ovarian cysts often have nothing to do with a person's medical profile (such as me). Every case is unique. Women may or may not have some of the symptoms you listed. Other symptoms can include infertility and high triglycerides. Insulin levels (as opposed to blood sugars) are checked and if they're high it means the body is trying to make more because what it has isn't working right. High insulin levels are a major precurser to developing diabetes so getting treatment for this disease is essential.

Losing weight may happen with treatment for PCOS but they caution you that it doesn't for everyone. A healthy diet and exercise are good for everyone but particularly those with PCOS.

 

[karebear1]

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 19 yaers ago! Unfortunately for me, I developed diabetes before they knew about using metformin for the PCOS. So, weight loss is still very hard for me because of the diabetes and the metformin addressing that issue instead of PCOS. If you are diagnosed with PCOS- see you Dr. now about getting that metformin. Developing diabetes and then trying to lose weight is next to impossible! My endocronologist has suggested that I have weight loss surgery because nothing else works for me to lose weight. After working with a dietician and training for the half marathon for a year, and only losing 20 lbs.- she says it's the only thing that will get the weight off now. Bummer

 

[outstandinfarmer]

It's so fustrating when we try so hard to lose weight and we have the determination and will power to do it, and our bodies still resist it. Sad. . .