Possible that I have PCOS/IR?

  • I've never been diagnosed and I don't know how much of this is paranoia, but I'm curious if anyone here ever has had a similar experience.

    In the past, I was a bit heavier. Not sure to what extent, but I'd say max mid 160s in the last couple of years of high school (was a size 14, then 12). My periods were really weird. Like, I could go 2-3 months without having one. I didn't really worry about that at the time given, well...they're not exactly fun. They were also super irregular.

    This wasn't the thing that alerted me though. When I was younger, I noticed my armpits were always a bit darker than everyone else's. I'd dismissed that as well, basically figuring that as a lighter-skinned person of my ethnic groups, it was normal to have darker skin where it was gathered. This didn't explain the dark ring around my neck and the fact that my sister didn't have this.

    Fast forward to now (I'm 22), where I'm a size 8. I have regular periods that last 5 days in the second week of every month (pretty much). The neck ring has also disappeared and I believe my armpits are a bit paler, but still noticeably dark.

    As for other symptoms, I've always been kind of hairy...but kind of dismissed that due to my North Indian background. But even then, I think I'm still a bit of an outlier in that regard.

    So, I have arranged for a checkup in a couple of weeks where I will bring this up. Do you guys think I have reason to do this? I don't know. I know it's stupid, but I think I just want some reassurance that I'm not a hypochondria.
  • Sounds like a reason to me.

    I have acanthosis nigricans -- look it up. That's the dark patches on elbows, knees, neck, armpit, groin etc that can stem from IR.

    I remember the doctor parade and feeling like maybe I was a hypochondriac or going crazy when I kept INSISTING I felt not right til finally I got the dx correct and it was PCOS. (Among other things!)

    GL!
    A.
  • Sounds like you may have it! Good luck with the doctors and remember to take the lead when it comes to your health, because you know your body better than anyone else!
  • I would get it checked out, it sounds like you have *something* going on. Only your GP can determine exactly what.