[jmtsh]

Hello, I am new to this site. I have recently been diagnosed with pcos. I have nearly all the symptoms including being overweight and having a very difficult time losing it and also fighting the cravings to eat and eat. I also have excessive hair that really makes me feel ashamed, on my chin, cheeks, chest, and around my nipples. I hate it!!! I have recently started taking glucophage and have been taking aldactone for a while. I hope they start doing something soon. I am 5' 3" and currently weigh 210. Has anyone one been successful in getting this hair to stop growing or at least slow down, and found a good way to lose weight. I just started to the gym yesterday so we will see if I can stick to it.

[Jennifer 3FC]

You're doing all of the right things for hair growth. As far as weight loss is concerned, staying on the Gluc will help, and exercise is VITAL for the insulin resistant person to lose weight. You need exercise more than the average person, so please don't give it up. As you lose weight, your symptoms should decrease. Good luck!

[jmtsh]

Hello, haven't been on in a while. Well I am having a horrible time with the exercising. I just can't force myself to do it. I, however am doing better with eating better and I take my medicine regularly like I am supposed to but it cause alot of nausea. Yuck! I have started weight watchers so we'll see what happens. Reading everyones posts really makes me feel better. I had no idea that pcos was so common. Any talk to you all later!

[funniegrrl]

PCOS makes losing weight a little slower than the average person, but it is by no means impossible. I have PCOS and I've lost 165 pounds so far. Yes, I'm on glucophage, but even my endo told me that it would NOT really change my rate of weight loss, and he was right. My primary doctor told me so many of her PCOS patients simply expect the medication to do the work, and that's just not the way it works. I have lost weight the way anyone else loses it -- by cutting calories moderately and exercising moderately. I don't lose as quickly as people without this issue do, but I still lose and that's what's important. I've been on my program since Sept 2001, so you can see I've just had to learn to be patient. The main obsticles for me were dealing with a lifetime of compulsive overeating habits -- the PCOS has just affect my rate of loss, not whether or not I can lose.

PCOS is not an excuse or a sentence in terms of weight management -- just an extra factor to take into consideration.

[DavzGerl]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in December 2004. I had been going through fertility treatments and many friends suggested I had PCOS but the doctor said no. This new doc I went too after moving, he diagnosed it on day 1! With his verdict and exercising and eating right (doing the Insulin Diet/Weight Watchers Core Plan), I've been doing good and losing...about 2lbs a week. It's HARD because I never could get it off before and I'd quit. But I am hanging in there! I didn't have the tell tale signs of hair growth (knock on wood) I just have like one hair that grows under my chin, a few on my two big toes, and like one on each nipple. It's very annoying/upsetting for me, so my heart goes out to my fellow PCOSers with more! Hang in there, although PCOS isn't curable, it's controlable!

[VermontChick]

I'm glad to see a new face here in this area!