TMI: Ladies only, PCOS vent

[Mrs. Charming]

I do notice a difference when I cut down on carbs, but this winter has just taken a toll on me, so I'm just eating what I want. I know it's not great, and I am gaining weight but I just don't care! I know, I shouldn't be complaining about AF (or lack of AF) then... but still PCOS is annoying no matter how you slice it.

That totally stinks Disfan. When you're older and ready to start a family, make sure you see your OB or a Reproductive Endocrinologist as soon as you decide to try. They can help get you and hopefully save you a little heartache. (Trying to get preggo with PCOS is hard!) I know you're young now, but just save this info under your hat for later.

 

[3boymthr]

I hate PCOS!!!!

But luckily or maybe not so luckily AF shows up fairly regularly after DS #3, I usually only skip one or two months a year. And when it does show I pay in spades where 1 AF is = 3 from before DS. I have chronic anemia because I flow so heavy. As I approach menopoause I live in wait for the last of this mess.

 

[disfan07]

That totally stinks Disfan. When you're older and ready to start a family, make sure you see your OB or a Reproductive Endocrinologist as soon as you decide to try. They can help get you and hopefully save you a little heartache. (Trying to get preggo with PCOS is hard!) I know you're young now, but just save this info under your hat for later.

Thanks. Yeah i'm hoping to still be living here when i do start a family and hopefully my doctor will still be practicing (she should be...shes only in her 30s) so I would love to stay with her. She is a fertility specialist and high-risk OB which I will need because of other medical issues and she has like a laundry list of reproductive endocrinologists so as long as I am living near this hospital still, I will keep her.

 

[pearlieq]

Are you opposed to going on the pill? It should alleviate the symptoms.

I was thinking the same thing. The pill makes a HUGE difference in how I feel.

I'm sorry you're struggling. PCOS sucks.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

If you're certain you don't want more children, ask your dr about the novasure procedure. Had this a year ago and love it! It's freeing!

I'm gonna give it 3 more years. If I'm still certain then, I'm definitely going to consider it.

Are you opposed to going on the pill? It should alleviate the symptoms.

I am a monster on the pill. I've tried monophasic, triphasic, progesterone-only, depo, nuvaring, the patch (now recalled?) and I'm a monster on all of them. I can't even stand myself. I had to take the pill for 2 months before my surgery last year, and OMG, I was ready to jump off the Empire State Building! That is if someone didn't throw me off first.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Thanks. Yeah i'm hoping to still be living here when i do start a family and hopefully my doctor will still be practicing (she should be...shes only in her 30s) so I would love to stay with her. She is a fertility specialist and high-risk OB which I will need because of other medical issues and she has like a laundry list of reproductive endocrinologists so as long as I am living near this hospital still, I will keep her.

Oh that is *awesome*. I wish I had an OBGYN like that!

 

[disfan07]

Oh that is *awesome*. I wish I had an OBGYN like that

She is pretty dang awesome. It would be great to be able to clone her...along with my internist, dermatologist and allergist. they are all pretty awesome

 

[Mrs. Charming]

She is pretty dang awesome. It would be great to be able to clone her...along with my internist, dermatologist and allergist. they are all pretty awesome

You don't happen to live in PA, do you? I could use all of them! I don't have any good Drs, just a good Ped. for the kids.

 

[Disfan1]

I have PCOS also but had no idea until I had some unrelated abdominal surgery a few years ago. The Dr. even took pics and said she had never seen such a severe case without symptoms! I had aleady been on the pill for a few years at that point so needless to say now I stay on the pill to control my PCOS symptoms - obviously that was doing a great job for me! I does explain some issues I had as a teenager, though.

 

[mickeyboat]

Have you had the blood rest for insulin resistance? If so, have you tried Metformin?

It would make sense that starchy carbs would cause your cycles to go haywire if your PCOS was caused by insulin resistance.

I was diagnosed with PCOS / mild insulin resistance when I was trying to get PG. I started taking Metformin and got PG almost immediately.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Have you had the blood rest for insulin resistance? If so, have you tried Metformin?

It would make sense that starchy carbs would cause your cycles to go haywire if your PCOS was caused by insulin resistance.

I was diagnosed with PCOS / mild insulin resistance when I was trying to get PG. I started taking Metformin and got PG almost immediately.

I think Metformin was one of the next steps after my surgery, but we did get pregnant. I think my bloodwork came back borderline, if I remember. DS is only 5 months old, so I'm not going to TTC any time soon if ever again. Thanks for the thought though!

 

[mickeyboat]

I think Metformin was one of the next steps after my surgery, but we did get pregnant. I think my bloodwork came back borderline, if I remember. DS is only 5 months old, so I'm not going to TTC any time soon if ever again. Thanks for the thought though!

Insulin resistance is a health concern over and above infertility. Metformin could help control the insulin resistance and the PCOS. Here is an interesting article.

http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistance/pcos.aspx ETA - this article does a good job explaining PCOS and insulin resistance, but doesn't really discuss Metformin as treatment. I would recommend speaking to your health care provider about it.

 

[disfan07]

You don't happen to live in PA, do you? I could use all of them! I don't have any good Drs, just a good Ped. for the kids.

Unfortuantely, no. Wrong side of the country.

 

[Tinkh]

PCOS here. Surgical menopause sucks.... I have only a fourth of an ovary left, so it kicked me into it about 3 years ago. You know what helped me though the last few years from not having as many symptoms? I am on Metformin. Not for diabetes, but because it seems to help woman with POCS. Ask your doctor about it. Increased my energy level incredibly!

 

[Tinkh]

Insulin resistance is a health concern over and above infertility. Metformin could help control the insulin resistance and the PCOS. Here is an interesting article.

http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistance/pcos.aspx ETA - this article does a good job explaining PCOS and insulin resistance, but doesn't really discuss Metformin as treatment. I would recommend speaking to your health care provider about it.

It was like a miracle to me how much better I felt after starting mine. Just so much more energy and no more crampy feeling all the time.

 

[rewok]

PCOS here as well! I can totally relate to your pain... Going 4-5 months between periods, heavy cramps, looooong periods, ... You're luckier than me and have kids however!

For me, the pill (an older one quite high in hormones) was great: regular, no cramps, till we started trying out for kids. After some time, I went on Metformin, and wow! Regular, periods are still painful, but short enough. It also regulates other PCOS symptoms, like I don't have hair growing in strange places anymore. I'm not insulin-resistant by textbook case (2h diabetes test was great), but my RE says that's not always possible to conclude on lab tests. He tried it, and it worked, which is enough for him. Maybe that would be a solution for you? (It also helped me lose some weight, since I was forced to cut carbs a lot, nice bonus!).

All in all, good luck!

 

[HamTown]

Another PCOS case here. The pill made me a crazy woman too so my OB switched me to metformin. I lost 10 pounds immediately and my body lets me know when I've had too many carbs. Unfortunately, heavy periods took their toll on my iron stores and I was continually anemic. I underwent Novasure 10 days ago and hopefully it will alleviate my symptoms.

My OB would not perform the Novasure without a tubal ligation so I had both procedures done at the same time. I was in the surgery center for a grand total of 3 hours.

Good luck!

 

[pearlieq]

I've got to say I did not have a dramatic response to metformin. I take it, for what it's worth, but I was kind of expecting it to make me Wonder Woman after all the hype and it didn't really do much. I might have lost a few pounds, but nothing super significant.

For me the bcp and aldactone seem to make the most difference for symptom relief, but it's still a struggle.