PCOS/Insulin Resistance Support - PCOS WL Support June 2009 (Everybody is Welcome!!)

Hello and Welcome All to the PCOS WL Support June 2009 Thread!

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This thread is about PCOS and Weight Loss Support. If you have PCOS, or think you might, or know anybody that might have it, or your just curious or you just think we are totally awesome, so you just wanna chat with us, please join us! :grouphug:

Losing weight with PCOS is like trying to rollerskate up an icy hill. With all the wonderful lovely side effects, extra facial and body hair, skin tags, dark skin patches, weight gain, etc, etc, etc.........


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PCOS Definition:

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) (http://www.4woman.gov/faq/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm) – A genetically-linked hormonal imbalance that prevents ovulation. PCOS also may cause overproduction of estrogen, abnormal thickening of the uterine lining, very heavy and/or irregular periods, as well as acne and facial hair. The latter are caused by an overproduction of male hormones, including testosterone. -- There are tons of info out there on the web, so if you want more info, just go to your favorite search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc) and type in PCOS. Another great site (besides this one of course for info is: Soul Cysters (http://www.soulcysters.com/). Also here are a couple links for Forum Abbreviations: Basic Forum Abbreviations (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83430) and the TTC/Infertility Abbreviations (http://www.soulcysters.net/updated-abbreviations-newbies-79160/)

So please come and join us, won't you? If you or someone you know has PCOS and you want support in WL and just general everyday support, please come and join us. You do not have to necessarily have to be TTC or not TTC. I am just getting back to TTC. So if you are or aren't is just fine, we are here for support. If you do not have PCOS and maybe are just curious about the disease, then feel free to join us as well. Everybody is Welcome!!

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Wow A Another Month Gone......:fr:


What I accomplished last month:
1) Had a Period on my own!
2) Started walking every night at my lunch! :running:
3) We got our house all unpacked! :woohoo:


What I want to accomplish this month:
1) Get Pregnant!!! :preg: :bb:
2) Try to be more Positive
3) Lose more weight
4) Eat Better!!
5) EXERCISE!!!!!
6) Have all our friends over for a BBQ!! :sunny:





This isn't just about PCOS. It is about Life and wanting to get out there and LIVE IT. It doesn't matter if you have PCOS, Endometreosis, Diabetes, or just a bad hair day, :fr: we all want one thing: To Look AND most importantly: FEEL better. At least I do. If you feel the same way I do and are struggling with changing your bad ways and habits, then join me, won't you? :high:

Share your daily struggles, :woops: and/or your daily accomplishments!!! :strong:

Together, we can do this, I KNOW we can!!! :cheer2:

Everybody is :welcome:

Some come on in, get a cupa whatever :coffee2: and join us in a chat. :cofdate:

I also wanted to add a personal note here. I have come so far and this year is just the beginning of the new me yet to come! :D So if you are out there and struggling and think it will NEVER happen to you, it can! I am living proof! ;) I have struggled with my weight ALL my life and these last 10 years especially were tough. But I have FINALLY seen results and so I can say IT WORKS, so DON'T QUIT (http://www.absolutelypoetry.com/author/jill-wolf/dont-quit.html)! I am not pregnant yet, but that is my next step!!! :preg: Also this is the most AWESOMEST group of people you will ever talk too! They are completely and totally WONDERFUL! :hug:

****PLEASE NOTE: I also wanted to add a link for a book that I think is very important for every woman to read, not just women experiencing Infertility Problems: Taking Charge of Your Fertility By: Toni Weschler, MPH (http://www.amazon.ca/Taking-Charge-Your-Fertility-Achievement/dp/0060950536/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231516209&sr=1-2). It is very very informative about our cycles, how to tell when you are ovulating, etc, etc. It is a great book to have! I know with the economy a lot of us are "tightening" our wallets, but I bought mine at half-priced bookstore for $6. Also there is the library. Just giving out suggestions because it is a good book to read! Also another good book to read: "Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant Overcoming Infertility and Managing Your High Risk Pregnancy" By Diana Raab, B.S. R.N. (http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Pregnant-Staying-Overcoming-Infertility/dp/0897932382) Very good with LOADS of great info!!;)


:grouphug:

Hi there! I'd like to join if I'm welcome :) Just wanted to know though.. is this primarily a TTC thread, or a WL thread?

Hi there! I'd like to join if I'm welcome :) Just wanted to know though.. is this primarily a TTC thread, or a WL thread?


Hello & :welcome: This is both TTC and WL, there are some of us who are ttc and lose weight and be healthier and some who are just here for WL. Both are welcome. :)

Hello cycsters and Happy June!!:carrot:
Last month was the start of this journey for me and I'm so glad I found ALL OF YOU :grouphug: to understand and support me. So here's to last month & the month ahead. Keep positive ladies. :cp:

What I accomplished last month:
1) Completed confirmation that I indeed have PCOS.
2) Started taking Megace to help with my progression.
3) Started 30 Day Shred (YAY ME)
4) Began a healthy eating regimen. (THANK GOD)
5) Walked over 30 miles

What I want to accomplish this month:
1) Enjoy life and continually eat healthier.
2) Have some fun @ the company picnic on the 6th
3) Also celebrate my nieces 3rd B-Day
4) Exercise my booty off (Not literally more like my tummy - -> LOL)
5) Walk 50 miles
6) Lose some weight before July 4th

Hello D Red757, WTG on all your accomplishments last month! That is awesome!!! :D

I hope you complete all of your accomplishments this month as well! I'm sure you will! :)

:grouphug:

yay Red 757! I'm starting the 30 DS too! Wanna push each other?

welcome d red and vanessa!
so it's been a while since i've posted here because i think i was overwhelmed by all of the TTC stuff that was creating a low level panic for me.
my weight loss project is proceeding slowly but proceeding nonetheless. my goal for this month is to get solidly in the 130s. while i'm only a couple pounds away, my pace has been so slow that it's unfortunately not a sure thing at all. i've been wallowing in the 140s for at least two months now and i'm ready to move on!

We could definitely push each other. Jillian is a MONSTER!!! (In a excercise you to death sense - LOL)

sws19 - sorry to hear about the plateau - THEY SUCK!! A good friend of mine got stuck in a plateau and what she did was switch things up a bit and it helped her bust her plateau. You should try.

wha... i hear ya DRed! I did my first night last night... and BOY am I sore today... I didn't quite make it through the whole workout.. I'd say 3/4 of it... so I'll push for the whole thing tomorrow!

thanks for the suggestion, d red. i'm constantly trying to think of things i can do differently, but in all honesty, this isn't a plateau proper, per se. the trend is still downward, just very very very very very slowly. and i know why: not sticking to my calories. i justify this by saying that i am making changes that are sustainable for my lifestyle and life in the long run. in reality, i'm just undisciplined and hungry.

sws19

I know about being "very undisciplined" - I surely fall into that category. I try to stay away from things that make me want to deviate from my plan. It's tough sometimes though. I find myself ready to scream whenever my BF is talking about eating Popeyes or something. LOL. I guess the slow progression could have to do with PCOS. I know I'm trying to beat the odds when it comes to the hindrance of my weight loss. I started having a tablespoon a day of cinnamon to help with IR - because I know the IR will slow down the process even more than it needs to be.

Vanessa

30 DS is killer. The first day I did it, I completed the entire workout. I thought my heart was going to BURST. I was literally heaving when I finished. I drank about 5 glasses of water. But amazingly I felt so good when I got done. I was sore the next 2-3 days, but I continue to push on. You can do it - I KNOW YOU CAN!!! The strength training is what I love the most. I'll probably be on level 1 for eternity (joking) but I love how I feel when my breathing has slowed down and my hearts not ready to jump out of my chest.

What is this 30 day shred that everyone's going on about? I tried to look up stuff online and all I got were links to people's blogs saying how much they loved it... but that doesn't tell me a whole lot.

I take that back...

I found a few clips on youtube. Sounds good. Might use it to supplement my own regime.

Hi ladies - I just re-joined today since my account seems to have vanished and I found the PCOS thread so I thought I'd join y'all.

I found out about my PCOS in 2007, but I've always known something was up. I don't really fit the "classic" description though. I definitely have the cysts and wildly irregular cycles, but I am at normal weight and don't have any hair issues to speak of. I know we're all different though.

Anyway, I have a really hard time maintaining my weight. I'm not sure if it's due to IR or what. I'm seeing an endocrinologist for the first time on July 10. I hope he'll be able to answer a lot of my questions.

I see that some of you are doing the 30 Day Shred. My husband and I are planning to start it today. We've been doing the Couch to 5K program for a while now (almost 8 weeks for me!) and I'm hoping it will help us kick it up a notch!

Hello and :welcome3: all newbies! :wave:

Sorry nothing new on my end.........same ole same ole...........

Take Care,

:hug:

Hello Everyone...:hug: Good luck to everyone on their goals this month. I can say that the past weeks I haven't done so well. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to my goals this time. At this point I've many go one and that is to stick to the diet the doctor gave me. I'm still working on the others I'm sad to say.

Hello & :welcome: Laz! Don't worry about not doing well, we all have our moments, just keep with it. Or as Dory says (from Finding Nemo, "Just Keep Swimming") :hug:

Hi all!

I am new here and new to PCOS (well, new in so much as I was diagnosed a year ago and have spent the last year in complete DENIAL).

Will have a look around - looks like lots of good advice here!

:)

hi, ive been diagnosed with pcos recently and since then i cant seem to lose anything....they are still doing tests,to find out the extent.

im scared i must admit, i always said that i would have a baby by the time im 26, well ive had 5 miscarriages to date and still no hope.

as for the weight, when i was 24 I could eat everything and anything and drink as much as I want...but im eating heathily, going to the gym but its so slow...

it doesnt help that my husband is a fitness freak and loses weight and turns it into muscle!! im feeling quite low about it...
:^:

Hey ladiessssssss. Today is (sort of) the beginning of my summer break - I teach and today was the last day with kids!! (still work thru the summer, though) I feel like this necessitates some sort of celebration, or milestone acknowledgment or commitment to something new. However, here I am "celebrating" with my 3rd glass of chianti. baaaaaad, especially on my 1500mg of Metformin a day. not to mention the piece of delicious cake we had during our last-day celebration...sugarsugarsugar.

Anyway I love all this talk about the 30 day shred...just Googled it and haven't looked into it any more than that but I gather it's by the lady from the Biggest Loser? I want more reviews! How's it going?? I need some structure to my workout routines. I used to run like crazy, did 2 marathons and several halfs, but when I'm not doing a structured program I get disorganized and I don't see results.

This summer needs to be my summer to COMMIT, fully, to being healthy. I have a lot of changes going on in my life and although other things do seem extremely important in my life I need to make my HEALTH the number one priority again. I've been up and down within a range of 10 lbs. of my lowest weight (182) for probably the last YEAR or so...and I would love to get down to 160.

Help motivate me!!!

This summer I want to pledge to get down to my goal weight. Focus! Focus! Determination! RAAAAAHH!

I'm here to motivate!!!!!!!!

*insert pom poms*

I just realised didnt really go through who I am etc when I did a quick fly by yesterday - its so hard to sneak on from work!

I lost 114lbs in a very short period of time (like 9 months) and was diagnosed with PCOS part way through it. At the time I didnt really pay attention to it and just powered ahead with the weight loss. It was actually easy once I got my head in the game . . . once I lost the weight keeping it off was fine for about 4 or 5 months and then:

- I started a new job/career
- moved house
- broke up with my boyfriend
- had a huge falling out with my best friend since we were kids
- turned 36
- realised that my PCOS was affecting me more than I liked to admit (I have a history of neverending periods)

So in the past 11 months since all the above has happened I have re-gained more weight than I am happy with and want to be at my happy weight again.

Yesterday when I was looking at some success stories on here I had one of those AHA! moments and all the anger I have had directed at myself for gaining back ANY weight just left my body (the anger started with the first 5 lbs . . . and that first 5 lbs felt as heavy on me as the 114lbs I had before . . . it was awful). I see all these wonderful people who are just like me . . . we are all just trying to do our best and none of us is perfect . . . so today I feel really happy and hopeful . . . i havent felt that for a long time and its nice :)

I would really love to connect with some people who understand what being a "cyster" means and help me work it out along the way too seeing as I really dont know what it means for me at the moment.

Oh. I am also having acupuncture and taking Chinese herbs with a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and my cycle seems to be getting more 'regular' . . . has anyone here tried that?

Also, what "plans" do you follow in terms of food etc?

I am also on Met. 1000mg/day

Anyway I love all this talk about the 30 day shred...just Googled it and haven't looked into it any more than that but I gather it's by the lady from the Biggest Loser? I want more reviews! How's it going?? I need some structure to my workout routines. I used to run like crazy, did 2 marathons and several halfs, but when I'm not doing a structured program I get disorganized and I don't see results.


The 30 Day Shred ROCKS! Its great value for money - I totally recommend it! It is gathering dust at home as I type but we'll just forget that for now. I will start it up if you doooooooooo!!!!

ps. I woudl LOVE to be marathon girl or even do a halfy!!

The 30 Day Shred ROCKS! Its great value for money - I totally recommend it! It is gathering dust at home as I type but we'll just forget that for now. I will start it up if you doooooooooo!!!!

ps. I woudl LOVE to be marathon girl or even do a halfy!!

SWEET! I am checking it out on Amazon...the preview looks good. I guess it's just something I do in my living room. wanna be shape-up buddies? send me a PM!

Orright!!! Lets be buds!!!! :) Yeah you just need some light weights and you dont need a whole lot of room to do it in. It has two levels also that you can work up to - so two workouts on one DVD!

Holy crap . . . how do I send a PM?? :D

Hey Chickies! I'd like to join the chitchat if you don't mind, I have PCOS as well and would love give as well as receive advice and support. Have LOADS of laundry to do, so I'll post more later but just wanted to say hello! :goodvibes

-Stephy

Hi Stephy!!!! :)

can i clarify if this a thread to support those with pcos and all that is associated with it? or is it just a weight loss thing?
cus i added an entry thinking it was support general .....

I think any support is good support :) And whether you are TTC, lose weight or just feel better over all I think there is a place for all of us here.

Hola.

Well another fun filled week at work. YAY. lol. I am soooooo tired. :tired: I didn't sleep well. :yawn:

Nothing new in the world of PCOS and my AF. She is supposed to visit next week, but you all know how that goes. Don't even know if I want to go back to the RE and start ttc again. We took a month off since last month I had an AF from he--. lol. Just not into it. I know its a half too thing if we want kids, but UGH I just hate it. :p

Anyways, enough of me whining. lol.

:welcome2: all newbies!

:hug:

Hi Sassy!!! :) I am also keeping my bits crossed that AF arrives right on time and doesnt overstay her welcome this month . . . that will mean everything is working a bit better... and that is always a good thing.

Danni -- Yeah I hear ya on the "overstay her welcome" :p That totally stinks when she decides to stay for a while............

I don't know why I've only been noticing this in the last few days so much...maybe because I'm finally getting back in the right mental place about dealing with the PCOS...

but when you've been bad and have eaten too many carbs (i.e., NOT the IR or SB diets...) do you feel really anxious, jittery, etc.? Is that really my blood sugar being hijacked by that bagel I just ate? I can actually FEEL that?? I was relatively oblivious to the metabolic symptoms of PCOS for years and years, so I find it strange that now I notice things like the relationship between carbs and general attitude/energy level.

Either I am getting reallllly in-tune with my body (good) or something is newly wrong & different (BAD).

In other news I am stoked to have this new (to me) principle about linking and balancing...the no more than 30g carb per meal thing and 15:7g ratio carbs to protein. That's a lot of math to do but maybe it'll distract me from having a second helping of whatever delicious home-baked goods my in-laws have sent us!

I actually feel far more depresso when I have eaten sugary foods in particular (with bread I feel ugh and blergh for lack of better words! and as though the bagel hasnt left my system for days . . . I just feel bigger for days and bloated) but with sugary foods (donuts, cake etc - I actually dont eat chocolate) I am positively HATEFUL towards myself and in general. I have noticed its a complete switch in my mood and not a psychological thing at all - I feel it chemically shift me.

Danni -- Yeah I hear ya on the "overstay her welcome" :p That totally stinks when she decides to stay for a while............

Last year when I was a stick insect :dizzy: she came to stay for 6 weeks in a bloody row!!!!!! (pun intended :D) and I thought that being at "goal weight region" was sposed to fix things.

Yeah she has stayed with me for months at a time. It stinks totally. :p So far she has been "behaving" well last month she didn't, but TG it was only 3 days long!!!!!!!!! :cp:

I too feel sluggish and can feel my mood change too if I eat too much bad crap...........:yawn:

This flippin' disease sucks! lol.

AF sure knows how to overstay her welcome with us PCOSers, eh? :P What's the longest she's "visited' you chickies?

Creeech - Mine was that 6 weeks when I shook my fist at my crotch-like area and said "blasted ovaries!!!! stop!!!!!". Ofcourse that didnt work :D

I agree Sassy - it does suck!!!!!!!!!!

I think the worst part is that the answers to fixing it are:

- be cool and calm and toss stress out of your life
- exercise
- eat differently

and magically its meant to solve everything! poof!

BUT IT BLOODY WELL DOESNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooh getting that out makes me feel a tad better.

Geez the longest AF has stayed? Wow she has stayed months like I'm talking 3 months or longer. I hate those...........:p

Hi Ladies,
I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with PCOS in September and had a very hard time dealing with it. But now I am here and ready to lose all this weight. My doc said the good thing is that I already have a son naturally so it is possible for me to do it, but now with all this weight on I only get AF every 4 months or so. The last I had lasted for 4 weeks...really scared me, Thought I was going to bleed to death!
I just started South Beach and so far all seems well...are there any other south beachers here? I am very thankful to have found a group to express my feels since I have learned that when your hormones are way unbanlanced...there are alot of feelings!!!

Wow. I would be very upset if my period ever lasted that long. I think the longest mine has been is 10 days. In the last few years I think I average 7-8. My cycles without meds are between 60-120 days. With meds I am down to the 40's. With meds and exercise I am pretty darn normal.

When I went in for my blood work last I asked him about upping my thyroid because I just felt *off*. The thyroid came back perfect so we upped my glucophage to 1500mg a day instead of the 1000mg I was taking. Now I take 1000mg at breakfast and 500mg with dinner and an evening primrose oil with both. My energy is up and that *off* feeling I had is gone.

Hello & :welcome: Jessie & Zinkemomx2 to our little thread. :wave:

Jessie -- I hear ya on the long AF's. I have had some very very long ones that I thought I was gonna die on............:p Hang in there and Goodluck :goodluck: on Southbeach!!!

Zinkesmom -- Glad you are doing well and glad the *off* feeling is now gone. ;)

:hug:

:welcome: Jessie & Zinkemomx2

Jessie -- When I had my 6 weeker I was on holiday in New York and everytime I went to the loo I was SO angry bcos I was still going!!!!! Its kinda weird and probably only other PCOSers with this issue would get it, but getting happy/excited/elated every day that you are not spotting or having AF outstay her welcome is enough to make you a little unhinged . . . :p

How are you finding Southbeach? I have two of the cookbooks at home. Have friends who have had lots of success following it.

zinkesmom -- Glad you are doing well and glad the *off* feeling is now gone :)

:welcome: Jessie & Zinkemomx2

Jessie -- When I had my 6 weeker I was on holiday in New York and everytime I went to the loo I was SO angry bcos I was still going!!!!! Its kinda weird and probably only other PCOSers with this issue would get it, but getting happy/excited/elated every day that you are not spotting or having AF outstay her welcome is enough to make you a little unhinged . . . :p

How are you finding Southbeach? I have two of the cookbooks at home. Have friends who have had lots of success following it.

It's funny because I complain to my boyfriend when AF doesn't come because then I know my hormones are acting up again, and I complain to him when it doesn't go away...he said there is no happy median, and I agree...until it works NORMAL again...there will be no happy median. I started spotting last night, and now it stopped...argh!!

So far I LOVE south beach! I feel so good not having any carbs at all right now. I have always been a huge carb fanatic, and ate them ALL the time, and I so far have not missed them. I think it is because I am doing it right this time...making sure my meals are planned and made, and that I have plenty of snacks. I also gave up coffee, and am downing the water. I love the south beach cookbooks...getting me through so far. GOOD LUCK!!!

I dont miss carbs either when I am not eating them Jessie . . . . and then when I start inhaling them its like there is no stopping me! I feel your pain on the spotting! :( Every day I let out a yes!!!! that I am not (this is the first month in YEARS that I have not & am hoping that I can get to the next TOM without any - man the goals I have for myself LOL).

What kind of food are you eating? I love new ideas.

My last few days have been:

B- scrambled eggs or an Atkins shake
S - coffee :D
L - chicken chilli w/ Philly cream cheese & a salad if I am still hungry
S - brazil nuts
D - soup - either broc which I LOVE or last night it was mushroom

I also had some frozen raspberries w/sugar free ice cream last night - I havent had SF ice cream before and it was orright but I would just have the berries next time I think!!!!

AF drives me in sane sometimes. First I don't get her for 4 MONTHS :?:
Then all of the sudden out of no where SHES HERE ! ! ! :D
ANd then comes the part where she WONT GO AWAY ! ! !
By the time I visited the Doc I was so happy she gave me birth control because I couldnt take the wildly irregular periods ANY MORE!

On a more TMI Note : Has anyone had to take Megace? The doc told me that she was trying to sign me up for a DNC because my uterine lining was so thick. But the surgeon told her to try me out on Megace first which is used to shed the uterine lining. I must say I don't think I've ever had cramps this bad and I've has some tough ones. But you take the pill once a day before bed for 30 days. The first 15 pills there are no side effects and then the last 15 pills here comes the pain. Since I started into the last 15 about 2 days ago my stomach aches so bad. It's a NIGHTMARE!!! Hopefully it helps when everythings said and done because I truly don't want to have surgery.

Other than my million word essay above :o - HOW'S EVERYONE BEEN???

30DS still kicking my butt - anyone else still working out to it?

Vanessa - you better be we're workout buddies REMEMBER? LOL

D Red - I'm also doing 30DS. I'm on Day 4. I'm also doing Couch to 5K. I'm on week 9 of that and I'm running my first 5K on Saturday! I totally feel ya on the sporadic periods. I had 2 perfect 30 day cycles after I stopped breastfeeding and now nothing... I'll be seeing the endo for the first time on July 10.

Here's a BCP question for you: does anyone else have a lot of trouble finding a pill that works for you? I have a TERRIBLE time. I either gain a bunch of weight, have skin problems, or get depressed. I'm terrified to start any kind of BC because of this...

hmm. i've been on bcp since i was 17 and done orthotri, ortho, trisprintec, and orthotri lo. i know a lot of people have sensitivity to them, but i actually haven't really noticed any particular difference. it's hard to say though. i mean, i occasionally have acne, have steadily been gaining weight my entire life until about 8 months ago when i started metformin, and, well, let's face it, i'm freakin' moody. sorry this is so unhelpful, but i guess the answer is i don't know. i think the best plan of attack is to find a good doctor and discuss your past experience and your concerns with him or her. they should be able to help you find something worth at least trying out.

as for me: Still. Cannot. Kick. Carbs. gah!

What kind of food are you eating? I love new ideas.

My last few days have been:

B- scrambled eggs or an Atkins shake
S - coffee :D
L - chicken chilli w/ Philly cream cheese & a salad if I am still hungry
S - brazil nuts
D - soup - either broc which I LOVE or last night it was mushroom

I also had some frozen raspberries w/sugar free ice cream last night - I havent had SF ice cream before and it was orright but I would just have the berries next time I think!!!!

I feel like I have been totally boring this week, I have eaten the same thing everyday. I have south beach muffins for breakfast, yogurt, salad with tuna, almonds, salad with chicken, and black bean brownie...I would LOVE other ideas!! Hope everyone is having a great day!!

fitchick - my endo is a non-believer in the BCP for women with PCOS so I went off them, but I had the same problems - NOTHING worked - I think I have been on all of them at some stage in my life.

Jessie - your menu sounds yum! I will have to look in my SB cookbooks for the black bean brownie

fitchic
OMG - BCP used to be my nightmare as a teenager. My gyno gave me Yamsine and even though other people have said it wasn't good to them IT'S BEEN GREAT TO ME (thank god). I guess it all depends on your body.

Hey everyone! Once again I've been MIA. There has just been a lot going on at this time of the year. Lots and lots of birthdays from the beginning of June until the middle of July. Not good for the diet.
I've been going through a lot these past few weeks. I have completely gone off course. I'm afraid to weight myself. My DH had a test a few weeks ago and has found out that he has plaque in his arteries around his heart. NOT GOOD!!! He is only 33. He has so many issues. He has type 1 diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, OCD, and now this. What else can happen? I guess my way of dealing with it is eating.
Sorry for the rant. I am going to try my best to get motivated again in hopes that will rub off onto my DH. If I make healthy meals, then he will eat them.

I haven't checked in in a while: I'm down about 28 lbs since my diagnosis. I've been slacking on losing the last 59. :( I'm thinking about doing Jenny Craig or something calorie controlled for a couple months to help jump start things but I haven't decided.

Hello ladies...

Including people who think they may have PCOS in the first post encouranged me to post here instead of making my own thread. I am scared that I may have PCOS. I don't know much about it at all, I just heard about it on a TLC show about people who gave birth without knowing they were pregnant. They had stories of reasons why they didn't suspect pregnancy and a few included this condition... The symptoms sounded familiar. I have not been to a doctor about any of these symptoms, mostly out of embarrassment, but also because I have no health insurance.

Here is a little about me and symptoms... Again, I don't know enough about PCOS to know what may or may not be related, so I am just going to list the things about me that I don't think are normal...

-I am 25 and obese, I started gaining excess weight in kindergarten and have remained overweight all my life. My highest weight may have been over 300 pounds, my current weight is 270, give or take. I am an apple shape with the bulk of my weight around the belly.
-I don't menstruate. I have only had a hand full of periods in my life and I would only classify one as normal as far as length and flow. In the past I often had a period in early June. I didn't this year and that has added to my sadness.
-Hair :( The worst is obviously facial. When I was 20 I used a cream hair remover, but it irritated my skin something awful. After that the hair started growing fast and thick, I didn't know what to do and started shaving. I've never found another option and continue shaving twice per day. I also have excess hair on my arms and bits on my stomach.
-I have a lot of moles, especially on my scalp where there are lots of light colored raised one, but also on my face and the rest of my body. I do not, however, have skin tags that I'm aware of.
-I have a lot of discomfort in my abdomen... Not intense pain, but still bothersome.
-I have recently had 3 painful bumps appear on the outside of my vagina. The eventually opened and went away, but when I tried to search for information, cysts were a possibility, so maybe it could a symptom of PCOS?
-I don't know if these can be related, but I also have prematurely aging skin (wrinkles), varicose veins, and a white streak in my hair that started when I was 19. And the last week I have been experiencing a strange numbness in my hands and legs. Also, I have suffered from depression since my early teen years and I have a terrible time falling asleep naturally.

I guess that's all I can think of. I'm so depressed... Not just because I may have PCOS, but because it was extremely hard to face those symptoms. I keep my feelings and my fears so deep inside me that I fool myself into forgetting these problems exist. I'm so ashamed. I'm especially worried about the idea of not being able to have a baby as I am a new bride and long to be a mother one day.

I badly want to get back on a diet and exercise routine... A few years back I was doing well and lost around 50 pounds. Surely I can do it again. If I do have PCOS and I do lose weight, will it eventually help? Is there hope?

I need support because right now I just want to crawl into bed and never leave.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Beth - this forum is the place to start. There are several good posts that are stickied on here with good, correct information on what PCOS is all about. There are misconceptions, even among doctors, regarding what set of symptoms requires a diagnosis, and how to treat - lucky for us, right? Even many of the professionals don't know what they're talking about! (I've had PCOS probably since my early teens, but a Nurse Practitioner who didn't know what the hell she was doing dismissed the results of blood tests that, upon review A DECADE LATER by the MD head of the dept., were a clear sign that I have the condition. Still bitter.)

In my opinion the reason for the disagreements is that, as it's a "syndrome," the way PCOS manifests itself in a woman can vary wildly from one to the next. From what I understand, the biggest and most important indicator physiologically is that ratios of certain hormones are beyond a normal range (I'm bad with remembering specific names of things...someone else help me out...FSH? Progestin?). Another indicator can be your fasting blood sugar levels -- if your doctor determines you're insulin resistant (IR) (and not necessarily even that - you can have PCOS and not be IR), there's a good chance you've also got reproductive system issues because pancreatic function is closely linked to ovarian function. That's the best sort of big-picture summary I can give, but there are much more detailed articles out there.

As far as your symptoms, it would really be best to bite the bullet and at least have an initial visit to get a diagnosis, or rule it out. Believe me, I know how much it can suck without insurance, and I can bet that the professionals working at free clinics or PP aren't very well versed in PCOS stuff. But have them do a blood test, and ask them to check your fasting glucose levels, your reproductive hormone levels (gotta get the specific names, sorry), and your A1C to rule out diabetes.

In general, and I'm no doctor, but this is just what I've observed and what my doctor's told me, the most common treatment is to go on a drug called Metformin (Glucophage), and if you're not TTC, a birth control pill like Yaz to counter the yucky symptoms (weird hair, acne, cramps, irregular periods) and help preserve your ova/other inside lady parts that can be affected by this lovely condition. (Should be mentioned that BCPs are debatable as a "treatment" for PCOS, because in many cases it doesn't do anything to get to the root of the problem, but just masks the symptoms. I guess it's controversial for some.) The Metformin works on your pancreas and the way you metabolize sugar/carbs, and helps you lose weight (at least in my case that's what it was prescribed for - again, some people experience things differently because their bodies are different). Losing weight will, in theory, restore regular menstruation, make the hair go away, and relieve any other possible PCOS symptoms. It's pretty much all about eating the right diet and dropping the weight.

So it sounds like you are pretty astute and many of the symptoms you listed would fall under the PCOS category (obesity, lack of menstruation, facial hair). The only way to know for sure though is to see a doc and get blood tests. The pain in the abdomen may have something to do with cysts on your ovaries, but then again, you don't have to have any cysts to have PCOS despite the name (another confusing quirk!). As far as I know the moles and the red bumps down there don't really have anything to do with PCOS. The cysts in PCOS refer to little things that pop up inside on your ovaries, that may or may not be painful - not anything on the outside. The skin issues, the hair issues, and the trouble falling asleep could all be related to PCOS and/or extra weight in a peripheral way - it's hard to tell. You'll only know if you get a diagnosis, try some sort of treatment, and see if they get better.

GOOD LUCK! This place can be a really integral part of your health. Keep us updated!

Hi Beth! Welcome!! :) I understand the frustration and hesitation you are feeling . . . I was disgnosed last year and its taken me a full year to be "ok" with having PCOS . . . as snoozlebug said the best thing you can do is arm yourself with the information that you need to make a start on a healthier you :)

Good Evening All!

Beth- Welcome!! I like Danni was diagnosed a year ago, and it has taken me all year to come to terms with all of this. I don't know how long I have had it because I have not always had the symptoms. Mine appeared after I gave birth to my son. i blew up 120 lbs, grew a tun of facial hair, and lost my AF for the most part. But recently I have decided that this is no way to live, and I need to get better. one thing I can tell you is that for the last week I have cut carbs and sugar out of my diet (I am on South Beach Diet) and I feel better than I have in 5 years. partly because of my diet, and the other part is due to being able to come here and be around people who understand. I know it is scary, but we have all been there and are all here to help. :-)

I totally just hit post and forgot to announce that I LOST 10 LBS THIS WEEK!!! Sorry just had to tell someone :-)

yay Jessie that is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Thanks Danni...I was so excited, and even more excited that AF showed up...hopefully this one will be a regular (NOT 4 weeks long), and I will start getting it more. :-)

Hope everyone is having a great day!

I tell ya, only other Cysters would understand the joy and complete glee at waiting for AF to come on time and the ecstacy of having a "normal" lengthed one! :D

Hola all.

Well I have been sick all week. :barf: This is my first night back to work......:p

Wow you all have been BUSY!! lol. I haven't read up on all the posts, sorry. I will begin from here.........:welcome: all newbies!

I hope you all are well.

:hug:

STOP!!!!!!!! DO NOT POST HERE! THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED!!! SEE YOU AT THE NEW JULY THREAD!!!!!!!! :D