Hi, I just found this site tonight. I have been diagnosed with pcos for about a year now. I think I had it for my entire life. I was always large and recently "blew up". I am now taking glucophage and a low dose of synthroid and am starting to actually lose weight.

Now for the rather long intro and question.

When I was about 16 (5 years ago) my doctor put me on a low dose of birthcontrol pills. I was never regular and would get maybe 2 periods a year. I went on the pill and that fixed the problem. I stayed on the pills until I was 20. I finally got off them because I wanted to know what was really wrong with me. You know how sometimes you just know that this isn't right? Well I got off the pills and in the next few months I gained lots of weight. In fact during the winter with in 2 months I gained near 40 pounds. Yes, I gained weight after I went off the pill *boggle* I am weird like that. Yeah ok even my doctor (who just kept telling me to eat less) realized something was wrong. So I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with PCOS. Now a year later I am actually getting a period and loosing weight. Of course I watch what I eat and I ride horses. Yes, I ride horses. Not western either I actually do show jumping. Ok, so I probably look funny. But I love it and I am good. I actually get trainers who come up to me and ask me how long I have been riding and such =)

Now for my problem. I never once was on a cycle except on the pill. So now that I am actually getting my period I have no clue when it is coming. Also I am lucky and don't get cramps or any real symptons before my period. Some times it will start a little and stop and sometimes I get a full period. Of course being 21 and going out of state to concerts, clubs, and well riding horses.. I need to know when my friend is going to show up. Not to easy to deal with esspecially riding horses lol.

So I finally called my doctor and asked to be put back on the pill. So now I am sitting here with the box in front of me lol. I can't deal with the crazy periods until my body figures out how to cylce itself and also well I am not an angel and don't plan on waiting until I am married. My problem is I am scared to death of gaining weight again. But I have to wonder with the fact that I gained weight when I went off them... Could it be possible that the hormones in these at least for me help me out instead of causing weight gain? Because all of my problems started when I went off of them *boggle* lol. I was acutally loosing weight while on them when I was at college.

Gee, Raisty. I've been thinking the SAME thing about my stint on BCP's. Although I'd like to get pg, I was thinking about asking to be put back on them to help me lose weight, get my acne under control, etc. then go off of them to get pg???!!! I'd be curious to read any other replies or anything else you find out! Big hugs to you... hope you find the right answer soon!

Yes, they could have helped. For me the BCP does help with the acne and other stuff to PCOS.

And another way to track your periods and predict when one is coming is to chart. Most people chart to TTC, but some do it to TTA.

_Takign Charge of Your Fertility_ is a book explaining charting.

HTH!
A.

I didn't check this for a while... well I decided that I am going to go back on the pills and do it for a few months just to see. As for tracking my periods thats great.. but well when you didn't get one in like 2 years! 1 then 6 months.. then 3 then almost a month then it disapeares for a few ... lol =) But i'll check it out.

One thing that I have noticed recently was that I would lose weight easy and then it would come back on for no reason then it wouldn't go down. Then it would go down again.. and I don't eat much so I know it isn't that and I exercise as well. So I wonder if its my hormones fluxuating that is causing me to freak out lol.

The worst that will happen is I will have a slower weight loss because I vow I will not go up in weight again if I have run 3 miles in a day (of course pass out at the end from exhaustion but I will not gain weight again lol) If that happens then I'll have a little more understanding. Although I am going to talk with my dr in Sept or Oct. I am also going to ask about going back on diet pills again for a few months. Being 21 and in great health other then my weight.. and now that I am managing to keep off what I am loosing I think it might be worth trying.

You know its kinda odd when everyone says they blew up on birth control and I was loosing weight while on it and blew up when i got off *boggle* lol Crazy thing this problem is lol.

edit:
I just wanted to add here after reading a few of the articles especially the one talking about being apple shaped. I am an hour glass shape.. yes I have a waist lol. I don't know if it could even matter but I figured I would say this in case it does.

Hey Raisty! I plan to talk to my doc about Glucophage. It's supposed to help with the insulin resistance, so it should make losing weight easier, but it's also supposed to help with some of the other aspects of PCOS.
I've been on BCP's for most of the time since I was 12 (considering I'm 30 now, that's ALOT of time) and it's getting to the point where I would really like to try life without them
Have you ever tried it? If you have, I would be interested in knowing if it worked for you (same goes for anyone else who reads this too), if not, it might be worth it to ask your doc about.
I've already lost 75 lbs and only have 6 lbs to go before I hit my goal weight, but I really want the facial hair and infertility to go away. I don't know how successful Glucophage is for that kind of thing, but, we'll see. I've heard it's been really successful on the weight loss for PCOS patients, though, so it might be better for you than for me, even.
Anyhoo.....don't give up. Sometimes something as simple as changing jobs can make the weight melt off when all the diet and exercise in the world won't. You just have to find your trigger. Keep experimenting, don't put all of your faith in any one thing or program. BCP's will not always work the way you want them to. It's the nature of the beast that our bodies will react differently to the hormones from one year to the next. What made you lose weight last year could make you gain this year. Just keep a very close eye on yourself. Keeping a food journal for a couple of weeks every few months has really helped me alot to remember to be "mindful" of what I'm doing to myself and how my body is reacting and how it's reactions are changing as they change.
I hope some little bit of this helps and I hope someone has some little bit of help for me, too. Have a great day!

well I am on Glucophage currently 1500 xr. I am losing weight and I am down to somewhere in the 220's =) So that was about 50 pounds in a year. I love it now even though its getting to the point where I can't keep clothes that fit! lol I have clothes I bought like 2 months ago that don't fit me anymore

Well I haven't started them yet and I got my period again today which omg its actually almost a month from the last! Just a little over 4 weeks. YAY happy!!! hehe

Go Raisty! Haha! Sounds like it really has helped! Does it help with the other symptoms at all?
I've already lost almost all the weight I want to, but I would really like to quell the other obvious symptoms and losing weight didn't make the hirsutism go away.
I hope your diet continues to go really great. Keep at it!