PCOS/Insulin Resistance SupportSupport for us with any of the following: Insulin Resistance, Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or other endocrine disorders.
Hello all. My name is Jody, I am 37 (almost 38), married with no children. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1989. Recently I have been having some health problems and as a result of MANY tests have been diagnosed with something called Syndrome X which from what I understand can be related to PCOS. The books I've read on Syndrome X did not make this correlation. I was just wondering if anyone here had ever heard this before. I would greatly appreciate hearing from any of you on this. Or just hearing from someone in a similar situation, i.e. needing to lose weight with pcos.
Although I have never heard of Syndrome X, I have heard a lot about PCOS. At age 20, without ever drawing blood, my lifetime OB/GYN told me I had it. I searched and searched for information on it, to no avail. This site has taught me more than I have learned in the last 7 years.
I have been overweight my whole life, and since puberty, have had really irregular periods, lasting for 6 to 8 months without stopping. I was told I would never have a child without fertility drugs, which broke my heart. I was also told the only way to manage PCOS was to stay on birth control pills, which "probably contribute to your weight problem" according to my Dr.
He never once told me to see an endocrinologist, and he never once told me that PCOS was in direct correlation to my weight.
Since then, I have seen 3 other doctors, all of whom refuse to give me the tests to see if I really have PCOS, so I still don't know if I do or not, but I believe my hormones are controlling my weight.
Recently I got the right mix of hormones to stop a runaway period which caused me to have a D&C, almost a hysterectomy if it couldn't be controlled. My hemoglobin was 6, which is almost lethal, and scared me to death! Anyway, while on those hormones, I magically lost 15 pounds without even trying, no diet, no excercise, nothing. Then, TA-DA, the period went away. The Dr., who knows far more than I do, (even though I read everything about this disease that I can find!) told me to stop taking ALL meds, and see what happens.
I'll tell you what happens. The period never comes back. The moodiness does, though, and so do the 15 pounds. Plus 5 more. How depressing!
My question for you is, has any of this ever happened to you? How do you talk your primary care physician into giving you a referral to an endocrinologist? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Sherrie-thanks for replying to my post. I have never seen an endocrinologist for my pcos. I was first diagnosed by a fertility doctor back in 1989 when we were trying to have a baby. Since I had most of the symptoms related to pcos he did a blood test but no ultrasound. About 2 years ago my present doctor gave me an ultrasound and reconfirmed the diagnosis. I have been off and on birth control pills since 1989 to control my periods. The pills have helped with that but not the facial hair and acne. Although I was on ortho-tri-cyclen for a few years and it did seem to help the acne. Needless to say it has not helped my weight. The syndrome x thing I was asking about is basically insulin resistance which from what I understand is an issue with pcos. The insulin resistance has lead to high cholesterol, over production of insulin in my system, high blood pressure and can lead to other things. From what I understand syndrome x is a lump sum name given to the problems that can arise from insulin resistance. I think the doctors are just as confused as we are about this stuff. If you would like to email me, we can chat more about our problem. It's always nice to have someone to talk to who understands.
Sorry to hear about your problem with your periods. Mine is sort of the opposit, I don't have them. I hope you are well now. Or as well as any of us can be. Don't worry about rambling that is my hobby.
Hope to hear from you again. Keep a stiff upper lip and we will all get through this together.
HI,
My name is Pat and I have had PCOS for years. My OB diagnosed me w/o any tests just as a result of how I presented to her. I became really concerned this summer when I developed high blood pressure. I started investigating PCOS on the web. This led me to look into Synrome X. There is a book out there by teh MD who has been investigating this for years ( iam sorry I didn't write his name down) I went to the library and did a search on Syndrome X, there weren't many books on it. I hope that helps. Basically teh conclusion that I came with is... It is a who came first thaing the chicken or the egg? Do women who have PCOS develop SX or the other way around. Both are felt to be caused by insulin resistance. Meaning that your body, as it processes food, overcompensates and sends out to much insulin to cope. It actually tells your body to store fat. ANd it also messes with the good and bad choloesterol. A low carb diet was suggetsed. The SX book that I took out gave a diet w/ it. It also had lab work suggestions and the normal and abnormal results. I have been on a low carb diet since mid July and the scale finnally moved!!!I feel so much better. I have had 2 regular periods in a row, PMS symtoms are almost nil. I will see an gyn endocrinologist in SEPT.
My suggestions( I am not a MD)
Do a search on Syndrome X, the gylcemic index, PCOS.
Discuss w/ your md about the benefits of low carb woe, some women have been put on a diabetic medicine to help w/ the insulin resistance.
If you check out the sugar buster forum here at 3FC. Click on the weekly thread. The first post has a link to articles and there is stuff on some of these topics.
Hi Pat. I have read the SX book by Dr. Reaven, he is the researcher you spoke of I think. I also have the books, The Glucose Revolution and The Glucose Revolution Life Plan. Low carb deffinately seems the way to go. I like you was diag. with pcos originally because the symptoms I presented with alerted the fertility specialist I was seeing. He is turn took a blood test, I have since had a couple of ultrasounds to reconfirm. It does seem to be the chicken and the egg issue with this. Some times I think about renting myself out as a science experiment. Thanks for the reply. I have checked out the soulcyster web sight and will now check out the other one you suggested as well as the sugarbuster page here. Glad to hear you are making progress with this. Let me know how things go in the future. Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Take care of you and continued good luck. Looking forward to chatting with you more.
Hi Jody,
I wanted to invite you to join us other low carbers on this thread. There is alot of support and info about low carb woe from the people who are regulars http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/sho...?threadid=8977.
Sound like you have been doing some great research. isn't the web awesome?
Hi Jody, I found these on the INCIID page, moderated by doctors, including Dr Sam Thatcher, who wrote the book PCOS: The Hidden Epidemic :
4.18 What is Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome?
Syndrome X, also called Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance Syndrome, is a combination of insulin resistance or diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity.
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4.19 What is the difference between Syndrome X and PCOS?
One of the biggest differences is that both men and women can have Syndrome X, while men cannot have PCOS. Syndrome X involves a cluster of symptoms found within the larger scope of PCOS symptoms — it is this metabolic disorder that contributes most to heart disease.
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4.20 Is everyone with PCOS also considered to have Syndrome X?
No. To be diagnosed with Syndrome X, one must have insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. It is possible to have PCOS without having all of these symptoms, and some women with PCOS may not appear to have any of them.
The direct link to the page is http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos4.html
if you want to read more. Sounds to me like it is a different cluster of symptoms, not as widespread as PCOS, but you still need to treat the weight loss in the same manner as PCOS as the obesity problem we all have is linked by the same problem of insulin resistance.
While Inciids information is true, it has basically been an understanding that Syndrome X is IRPCOS in women and Syndrome X is what labels men or menopausal women. Its like an "understanding" but not the rule. There are 2 forms of PCOS: PCOS and IRPCOS.
question about syndrome
Hello all. My name is Jody, I am 37 (almost 38), married with no children. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1989. Recently I have been having some health problems and as a result of MANY tests have been diagnosed with something called Syndrome X which from what I understand can be related to PCOS. The books I've read on Syndrome X did not make this correlation. I was just wondering if anyone here had ever heard this before. I would greatly appreciate hearing from any of you on this. Or just hearing from someone in a similar situation, i.e. needing to lose weight with pcos. 
Never heard of it, sorry!
Thanks for the reply
as we are about this stuff. If you would like to email me, we can chat more about our problem. It's always nice to have someone to talk to who understands. 
