Hi, I was just wondering if anyone might be able to help me out.

I have all the symptoms of PCOS (hursutism *very bad*, hair loss,2-3 periods a year, acne, obesity,skin discoloration) and a few of my family members also have PCOS. I talked to a doctor about this and she said PCOS is nothing serious unless I am trying to have a baby,but I know that's not entirely true, and with a family history of diabetes, it kind of worries me. I was put on birth control for quite some time and that didn't do anything to regulate my periods. I had a normal pap and ultrasound, but the doctor refused to test me for PCOS.

So, I went to another ob/gyn. The doctor told me I must be pregnant and that's why I don't get a period...even when the pregnancy test she made me take came back negative, she said it's not PCOS.

She ended up giving me a blood test, and to my surprise, she says I don't have PCOS..that everything is normal. I don't know if it's a relief or even more scary because I have no idea what could be causing my condition. Both doctors I went to made it seem like I have nothing to be worried about, but I am...

I tried to ask the doctor about treatments for the hair growth (since I'm only 20 and it's always been very embarrassing) and she said there's nothing I can do but laser it off. I really can't afford lasering it off and was wondering if there's any other cheap and effective methods besides razors and tweezing. I'm also worried about the risk of sterility since I never get a period..

I don't have insurance, I live on my own, and I'm already in debt over my head. I can't afford to see another doctor, and the payments I am making for seeing the last two and the lab work are overwhelming enough, so another doctor isn't something I have as an option...

I'm just taking a chance and hoping someone will be able to help. Even talking about this brings me close to tears because I don't know if there's any help available.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

I don't believe you DON'T have PCOS. The doctor did ONE test? What did she check?! There is no "one" test for PCOS. All my bloodwork is "normal" but I have PCOS.

Unfortunately since you don't have insurance it's hard to tell you go find a doctor who specializes in PCOS. They will run a thyroid tests and some other tests, if all those come back fine, THEN You do have PCOS.

Sounds like the doctor you went to doesn't even know what PCOS is or how to test for it. It's not a positive/negative blood test. They test everything and if it comes back all normal then you have PCOS. Did they check your testosterone levels? Even then testosterone testing is not very reliable and you may still have it.

But excess hair, off periods, and so on, means you have PCOS. I have almost every symptom of PCOS.

The only thing I can tell you is to start a low carb diet such as South Beach or Atkins, studies show women with PCOS, to lose weight, must have a diet that consists of less than 40% carbs. Cut out all white breads, pasta, rice, and so on. Eat minimal amounts of fruit, and stock up on veggies and lean meats.

My doctor is very knowledgable about PCOS and when I went to see her she took ONE look at me and said "you have PCOS I am sure." Then she did some blood tests, checked my thyroid, and when everything came back normal (my testosterone was slightly high if I remember correctly) she said she was sure I had it. A few weeks ago I went to her cuz I gave up trying to lose weight and she suggested South Beach, since last Sunday I have lost an additional 6 lbs (214 to 208). I tried months dieting eating right, low fat but my carbs were like 55%, since I've done South Beach I've eaten 18-30% carbs a day and the results are AMAZING.

I paid $4 with shipping for the south beach book- I suggest you lay off with the doctors for now until you can afford it and just try this diet- it'll be hard the first day or so- but it has helped me tremendously.

I haven't taken any drugs either, I used to take metformin and spironolactone and I saw no results, the only results I have seen is as I've lost weight my periods have started to come back, my dandruff has gone away, and so on.

Feel free to pm me- good luck!

for the hair, I love my epilator and couldn't live without it. Hopefully someone has suggestions on ways to get inexpensive treatment to get tested for these things.

beerab, is dandruff a symptom of PCOS or something that just went away with weight loss?

Thanks a lot for the information...Really appreciate it, I feel a lot less aggrivated knowing that pcos isn't ruled out...it would make sense as well then if I do have it why it is so difficult to lose the weight. What south beach book did you get? Where is a good place to get buy it? thank you!...can't pm until I have 10 posts, new to this sorry if reply this way isn't as convenient

My doctor said that diagnosing PCOS is more about gut intuition than numbers in the sense that there are not clear cut symptoms that are present in every patient, but you have enough of the long list of symptoms and it's pretty clear what's going on with the patient.

My hormone levels are all within the "normal" range, but I have a lot of other telltale signs that she said make it obvious I have it.

I've had success with limiting bread, refined sugar, and starchy foods - my favorites!

Oy. One test does not a PCOS diagnosis make.

You know, I was about your age when I got so sick of the cysts, the hair, the acne, the obesity, the lack of periods (and HORRIBLE periods at that). I went to Planned Parenthood, uninsured, got on the pill and began my weight loss journey. I truly think the pill and my diet, which was low carb (no bread, pasta, rice, etc...) helped rid me off all of my symptoms. I agree that a low carb plan like South Beach may help tremendously. I would also consider getting on some kind of hormonal contraceptive to regulate your periods.

This was something I had to take control of because no one else was going to. I'm glad I did.

Ringmaster: Yes dandruff is a symptom of PCOS- my dandruff has gotten loads better since my weight loss- before I couldn't wear dark clothes without feeling like it was snowing! It was so embarassing It tries to come back now and then, but I use that new head and shoulders with the hair conditioner Works wonders!

Deodo- glad to help- sorry didn't realize you couldn't PM.

Here is a great link:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/poly...y-syndrome.cfm

Tells you a lot about PCOS and when I google PCOS and weight loss so much about low carb diets come up. I use sparkpeople.com to track my food intake and just lowered the requirements for carbs to be from 0-100 for the day, usually that always gets me under 30% of my intake for the day as carbs. I usually get in from 50-65 grams of carbs a day, but this comes from veggies and so on.

The book I got on amazon used for $4, and that included shipping.

I just bought the regular South Beach book- nothing special:

http://www.amazon.com/South-Beach-Di...ref=pd_ys_iyr2

You can see for the used copies it starts at a penny I wish my doctor had told me about the south beach diet a long time ago! I would have probably been at goal by now!

Good luck girl! Once you get more posts definitely pm me with questions- I have read as much as a doctor about pcos lol.