Cysters walkin' the beach (PCOS)

NIKA1234 · Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:45 am

Hi everyone. I too have PCOS. I was diagnosed many moons ago when all this nasty excess facial/body hair came about. They told me back then that I wouldnt be able to conceice without drugs, but 2 kids later, I am here to tell you that they were wrong. I am so impressed with all the information that is available now about PCOS! Back when I was diagnosed, there was nothing. They just told me I had this, which explained the hair and the lack of a period, and was told to lose weight. So up until about 3 years ago I was struggling with the losing weight thing, until I found this awesome new WOE. I now know why the low fat diets never worked for me no matter how hard I tried! i have to say that I love the SBD and for me, it is so easy! I am never hungry, and I even sometimes feel like I am cheating because of eating 6 times a day! I am only on day 6 (for the second time around) but I know that this isnt just a diet for me. It is my new lifestyle and eventually all my dreams will be realized! Now that I am beginning to lose weight my period has come back finally. I never ever thought I would be happy to have that back! Anyhow, I look forward to chatting with everyone!

EnchantedPiXie · Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:20 am

I posted this message in Phase 2 Discussion as well.

Hey Girls...I also have PCOS and was basically diagnosed at puberty since all the symptoms were full blown right away for me. I have been dealing with all the devastating symptoms for a very long time. I'm now 25 and suspect things will probably get worse over time. Though, with this new way of eating, I feel things are beginning to look up for me and hopefully for all of you as well. I have lost some weight, slowly but surely, it's coming off.

I finally started back on Metformin again and feel I have to up the dosage very slowly while eating this way. At 500 mgs., the first 2 weeks, I could barely stay awake and I felt spacey and sleepy the most within about 1 hour of taking the Met. Now I have started taken the 500 mg with breakfast and 250 mg(half) with dinner. Again the sleepy, spacey symptoms have reappeared. I did find that having a glass of milk with dinner seems to help a bit.

I don't really know why the Met affects me this way. Do any of you take Met, if so, have you experienced these symptoms? I thought maybe I wasn't eating enough good carbs, so I started the milk with dinner and as of tonight it seems a bit better as far as drowsiness goes.

I also take Diane-35 BCP, I really don't think it helps all that much with my symptoms but at least my cycles have been regular for the four years I have been taking it.

Well, I thought I would finally post, since, I usually just lurk around reading posts on a nightly basis. I hope you all will keep this going, I know I could use the support considering I have hit a stall. No weight loss in two weeks, errrrr! Oh well, gotta stick to it and I really enjoy this way of eating not to mention all the new found energy that I have. Good Luck Girls! :)

kristabelle · Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:52 pm

I also was really glad to find this thread.
I don't know anyone else who has PCOS besides me.
I was diagnosed when I was 19 (i'm 24 now) and have been on birth control (Yasmin which I loved) since then up to like a month ago.
No health insurance and no doctor so I couldn't get it refilled and I have been meaning to go to a clinic and get more.
I was relieved to see on this thread that going on the SBD can help because I was fearing that being off birth control would just make it worse.
That just means I have to work that much harder!
Thanks for this!
I'm going to check the other board someone messaged as well.
xo

NIKA1234 · Mon May 07, 2007 6:26 am

wow this thread is pretty quiet. How is everyone doing?

books4me2 · Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:23 pm

I started taking Met about 2 months ago. I noticed shorter days on my cycle so far. And they are not a painful. I don't know what to expect. I know that I was on Met for a year in a research study for PCOS. I lost some weight, more with SBD, and my bones were denser. I am more worried about my bones than anything else.

I just started back on SBD and I will make my new goals. Stress...life...I let them control my eating and now I have to get it back. I am doing great and so glad to find others with similar issues to mine.

RunGVegas · Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:35 pm

Well, I'm a newbie here. Here goes.

My name is Becky, and I live in Greenville, SC. I was diagnosed in May/June, after 3-4 years of on-and-off symptoms. About six years ago, I dropped from 185 lbs. to 125 lbs. - at 5'9" tall, no less - in less than 9 months. I had just begun running, having never worked out regularly before in my life. After much medical journal investigation, I believe this period is what set my PCOS symptoms off...after that weight loss, I was never the same and my cycle was never okay again. I have been extremely active for 6 years now, doing long-distance running and half-marathon training, weight lifting, swimming, walking, pilates, spinning, etc. for over an hour, six days a week typically. I have 15 lbs. to lose, so I consider myself to be extremely lucky. I felt like we'd never find a doc who would take me seriously, mostly because I don't fit the PCOS stereotype. I want you all to know I respect your journey and your challenges greatly.

I'm trying to decide if I feel that I need metformin. My doc tells me to try and control this w/ diet, but I feel like I need the help with my blood sugar randomly crashing. I have only had success on a SBD or Atkins plan, and SBD seems to work best for me, so I am starting back on that. Ice cream is my true love after family, husband, and the gym. This will be the same challenge, all over again.

I don't have children right now; I am 23 years old, about 1 year post-college, and working full-time. However, in about 2-3 years, we hope to start trying. Gestational Diabetes runs in my family (and is a key issue w/ PCOS), so I want to get my weight down to 135-140 before I begin trying, so that I can hopefully keep my post-pregnancy weight in control. I am scared to death that I'll gain 60 or 70 lbs. pregnant and never be able to do the things I love again. I know to some this may seem silly, but I was very chubby as a child, was teased mercilessly, and I don't ever want to go back to that.

So, if you see me around on here, always feel free to talk to me. I'm a writer and I often blog about my issues with my health, so I'll post my blog URL when I have done my reguisite 10 posts. God bless you all!

teeteehawk · Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:20 pm

Well I have a huge bonus this month...I started the sbd when I was on day 4. Well for the frist time in YEARS I had a 28 day cycle...yes you heard me right...28 day! I was so excited. I am just amazed at how the sbd helps all aspects of life. It helps with weight, with overall help, with thyroid problems, with pcos...it is amazing!

EnchantedPiXie - yes i do the same thing with Met. My doctor started me off on 750 mg...I was exhausted! She had me increase my protein to 30g at one meal (for me breakfast) and take the Met with that meal. It helped ten folds. Since milk has a lot of protein that is a good thing to take it with and probably the reason it helps!

books4me2 · Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:27 pm

TeeTee,

That is great. I remember my cycle adjusting before. The met has helped a lot. I will try your increase protein & take pill to see if that is any more help fo me.

Run,

I haven't seen 125 in over 10 years. Of course I am not as active anymore. At 30 it went all down hill. I gain almost 100 pounds from a serious car accident. It was then that I also was trying for a second child, and was diagnosed. I have battled the weigh since.

I don't think I want to take up running, even if I could. My knees were damaged too much to ever run. I do walk now and then, and that is the extent of my activity.

oh_what_a_wabbit · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:29 am

Hello all, this isn't a very active thread, but I'll introduce myself anyway.
I'm 29, and have been diagnosed with PCOS for about 5 years, but the doc says I've probably had it since age 14 or so.
The meds I am on are for High Blood pressure, hypothyroid, migraines, Birth control & meniere's disease (which has to do with balance, vertigo & dizziness).
I've gained about 120 lbs in 10 years, and it doesn't want to go away. Hubby and I have been thinking about starting a family, but I know it'll be easier to conceive if I lose some weight first. (I want to lose at least 75-85 lbs before even considering getting off the BCP!!)
The doc says I could try now, but that it would probably be very difficult to conceive, so the weight loss would really help. That's why hubby and I started on SB. I'm on day 13 of P1, and as of day 12 I Lost 17 lbs... so I sure do hope this is the answer for me. SOOOO tired of being tired, and the crazy periods (even on BCP the timing is right every month, but sometimes it's just cramps, Nothing blood, and other months it's "LOOK OUT WORLD.. I'm going to DIE because I'm bleeding so much!) I REALLY hope SB is going to help me feel better. I have the occasional acne, and the hair under my chin which I LOATHE!!
Well, that's all out of me, just hope that everyone else that has this horrible curse is doing well with this WOE.

hnandez · Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:47 pm

So this is my first time reading on this forum, and it is so awesome! My battle with PCOS began several years ago, as a young girl. At age 9, over a period of just a few months, I went from being a skinny, active child to suddenly gaining 20 pounds and needing my first bra. My battle with weight began at 9 due to the constant teasing from other kids. In 7th grade, I had my first period, which lasted for 2 weeks and was horrible! I also began to grow facial hair, and hair on my stomach. To my 12 year old self, this was too embarassing to mention to anyone, even my mom. In 9th grade, I became sick of seeing all my skinny friends in their skinny clothes, and I started a four-year battle with anorexia. The ironic part was, though I was starving myself and exercising three hours daily, my weight would not drop below 145. I'm 5'8", so I'm pretty tall, but I was still baffled that all my 110 pound friends ate whatever they wanted and I was still a size 9! (Now I would love to be a 9!). During this period, I only menstruated once. After meeting my husband, I began eating normally. Within 2 months, I had gained 70 pounds, started growing more facial and body hair, and began experiencing crazy mood swings. After 2 years of this, I asked my doctor to test me for hormone problems. My testosterone was so high, I jokingly asked my mom if I was really a man;) My doctor immediately put me on yasmin, and later metformin. After about 1 year, we added spironolactone for facial and body hair. Now, three years into my treatment, I have lost 20 pounds, most of the facial and body hair, all the acne, grown my head hair back, and no longer suffer from horrible mood swings. Last week, after seeing a good friend lose her baby weight and more on SB, I decided to give it a try. Today is day 2 of phase 1, and I feel thinner already! I am mostly hoping to regulate my blood sugar so I can avoid diabetes, get my weight down to 165, and regulate my hormones even more so we can eventually try for a baby! Thanks everyone for your stories, they really are helpful. Sometimes PCOS makes you feel so alone and almost like a freak! It's nice to see I'm not the only former "bearded lady!"

JMCP · Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:06 pm

Hello all!

I just found this thread. I knew *something* wasn't right with me way back when. My doctor just told me that I had an irregular cycle and put me on BCP to regulate me. It angers me that it was a bandaid that masked my true issue for over 10 years. I went off BCP last year and was finally diagnosed with PCOS. Metformin (2000 mg) hasn't helped me become regulated at all. DH and I want to have a child, but without certain medical gymnastics, it's never going to happen. Losing weight is the one thing I can do myself to help the situation. My best friend is a doctor and recommended SBD since I carry all of my weight in my midsection. So far, so good. I'm glad to see the support in this thread! :D

Lori83 · Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:09 pm

Hello,

glad to see this thread! I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. I never had any problems conceiving. I have 2 boys (ages 2 and 6) and I am 26 years old. The doctor gave me Metformin and Spirolactone (don't know if I spelled that right) but I haven't started using them yet. I haven't started the SBD yet. I am waiting on the books so I can start planning. ( I ordered the book from Amazon) I feel that this is going to be "the one". I have been on SO many diets: Low fat, Low Calorie, Atkins (which worked the best until my period disappeared), 6 week body make over, slim fast, and tried just doing smaller portions. I have not been dieting for about 2 years now. I almost gave up. The doctor recently told me to do Low GI. I have been looking for low GI plans and ordered some Low GI cookbooks, but its a bit confusing because when it comes to dieting... I just about need someone to tell me EAT THIS and not... 30 g carbs 15 g protein etc... So, I am SOOOO happy I stumbled upon this forum! I didn't know that the SBD is pretty much LOW GI. This seems to be a lifestyle change that I can work into my family needs. I can't wait to start!!!!!!!!

Lori

teeteehawk · Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:49 am

Lori - glad to hear you are excited and starting this WOE soon.

Well guys...gotta love the PCOS (cause if you hate it...you will be hating your whole life.) This month I had out of control hormones, horrible headaches and the period was late. I HATE when it is late after it being normal...cause then I wonder, "am I pregnant". I realize that most likely I am not...but there is always that hope.

SBD is working good for me. I am in it for 2 months almost and loving it (most of the time). I need to be better about veggies like I was when I started though.

Lori83 · Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:58 pm

I was wondering.... I have had mood swings (sometimes HORRIBLE :shock: ) for awhile. It's gotten worse over the last couple of years. Also this last few years my PCOS has gotten worse. Are the two related? My doctor said mood swings is not a symptom, but I can't help but wonder... Honestly, half of the time I am a very loving, caring person, then a quarter of the time I am angry and mad at the world and everyone/everything in it, then the other quarter I am crying my eyes out over everything (even sad commercials lol)

I guess I just assumed it was PCOS, but like I said, my doctor said it isn't. Have any of you had terrible mood swings that you feel is because of PCOS? Thanks

Lori

teeteehawk · Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:11 pm

As my doctor said: "Anytime you have inbalances in your hormones, it will affect you emotionally. Your hormones are out of wack..you are going to be more emotional." That is what I have always been told at least. Case in point: Premen & menopasal women tend to be a bit emotional in bursts...cause there body is going through HUGE hormone changes.

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