[minock]

So, here is am... 46 years old and really starting to understand my body a little better. This forum is helping but I still have a lot of reading to do. I though it was best if I had you "expert" opinions on my situation.

I am really starting to believe that I have PCOS and Insulin Resistance. I was diagnosed by my OBGYN a couple of years ago as Insulin Resistant. I have a seriously hard time losing weight. Seems like nothing I do will significantly lower my weight. I just tried HCG and it worked the first time a little but now it doesn't work for me at all. TONS of diets... lose weight the first two weeks but then it starts creeping back on. Tried almost everything you can think of ... including hard core exercise. I do best on low carb diets but even those stop working after a couple of weeks. Dr. put me on Metformin and I had some success losing weight but then that stopped.

So, my first problem is; I have no insurance so therefore no Metformin. Anyone have any advice for that?

Also, in regards to PCOS... I have always skipped at least one period year each in my life... also very irregular. Back in my 20s, I had stopped having periods but then they found a cyst the size of a softball on my ovary. It was treated with medication. I also had one other sonogram that found a cyst shortly aftwards. Reason for the sonogram was that I was having difficultly getting pregnant. They put me on Clomid and I have conceived two children. I never had any other sonograms while I wasn't pregnant and never missed more than 1 or 2 periods a year so I never suspected I might have more cysts. Now I have had an abdominal ablation so I don't have periods again. I have noticed that symptoms of PCOS are anxiety and depression. I am loaded up with that!

So, does it sound like PCOS to you guys?

Just wondering why I've never gotten any diagnosis before. I've asked lots of drs over the past 20 years. Now, of course, no insurance so I'm not sure what I can do now.

Any advice or input is welcome.

[astrophe]

So, my first problem is; I have no insurance so therefore no Metformin. Anyone have any advice for that?


Ask your doc or pharmacist. Where I live Met is free at the grocery and low cost at Walmart. But I don't knwo how that works insurance wise. I think in your case a local person in the medical field might know better about your area.

I have noticed that symptoms of PCOS are anxiety and depression. I am loaded up with that!

Yep. Can happen. Check your vitamins too -- Metformin can drain B12.


So, does it sound like PCOS to you guys?

Possibly.

Just wondering why I've never gotten any diagnosis before. I've asked lots of drs over the past 20 years. Now, of course, no insurance so I'm not sure what I can do now.

I knew something was wrong with me at 16. I didn't get a formal dx til 26. I consider myself "lucky" that I "only" had to wait a decade because I know other patients had to wait way longer than that because docs weren't up to speed on this as an ENDOCRINE problem affecting all systems. A lot just figured it was OB/GYN when you wanted to have a baby and had trouble conceiving but didn't seem to think of it outside that box.

Any advice or input is welcome.

At the start of my journey when I didn't have insurance I went to Planned Parenthood for my well woman tests (PAP, etc). Perhaps call your local branch and see what they can do for dx of PCOS and what the sliding scale is these days. Maybe they can also answer the met questions.

HTH!
A.