| Dream Doc
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There is also:
www.pcosupport.org |
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Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:44 pm |
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| Hopeful
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| Hi, I had a few questions for those of you with PCOS. I had tests taken on Tuesday because my doctor thinks I may have PCOS. I won't know my results until Monday but my doctor wants me to go ahead and start taken a prescription to start my period again. I have never been regular and have infact gone for months (5 or more) without having a period. Part of me is scared that I do have PCOS but part of me would almost be relieved because that would explain SO much! I am following SBD faithfully, I started December 29. My questions is, would anyone with PCOS be willing to communicate here with me? I am kind of scared to take the prescription because when I first got married I was on the pill and I am not sure if it was the pill or what but I was incredibly moody and depressed. I still suffer with that occasionally but now that I am off the pill it is much better. I just think if I had someone to talk to about it I would feel better and maybe be able to get some answers to some of my questions. Thanks |
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Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:43 pm |
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| sciconsult
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Hi...I don't know when I was officially diagnosed with PCOS, but I always knew something was "wrong". However, I have had 2 kids with the help of fertility medication. I started using chlomid but had no luck, but then used the injectible drug fertinex. The shots weren't fun but it worked for both kids! My advice to anyone looking to start this process is to look for a great reproductive endocrinologist and make sure you feel very comfortable there. It is an incredibly emotional process.
Hopeful - Is your doctor prescribing another birth control medication? That's all I am using. It is very important to have a cycle at least every few months or there is an increased risk of cervical cancer. I have had friends with symptoms like you described with birth control. One was a runner and after a few months found she couldn't even walk from her car to her office without being exhausted. After many doctors, they traced it to a switch in her birth control to a generic. They switched her back to her original and she's now fine. I guess what I'm trying to say is that each birth control affects people differently and if you feel like you are having side effects from one make them give you a different one! |
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Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:19 pm |
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| Hopeful
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| My doctor had me come in yesterday and she said that I definitley do have PCOS. She is going to put me on a birth control pill to help me have a regular cycle (strangely enough I started my period today so at least I won't have to take the medication to start my period also). I talked to her about my earlier experiences with birth control and she is going to put me on a different kind. I am hoping all will turn out well. |
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Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:24 pm |
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| ziana
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| I too was diagnosed with PCOS years ago. My depression is what led my doctor to this possibility so she sent me to an endocrinologist who made the diagnosis in 1998 based of my history. I took glucophage for a couple of years but had to stop when I lost my health insurance. Since quitting the meds, both my weight and depression have increased. My PMDD was getting life threatening so my doc at the community clinic (the only place I can afford health care) recommended BC pills. She started me with the low does tricyclic ones. They were horrible! My moodiness increased, I was bloated with tender breasts, full-on PMS symptoms for 2 months. Then she put me on the old kind, Orthonovum 1/35 with a steady dose of estrogen. Her theory was my own hormones were overpowering the low dose pills. I take 6 weeks of pills, then a week off. It seems to be working except that since I started the sbd I've had break through bleeding with bloating and cramping. I'm going to give them a few more months because they have really reduced my PMDD. I still have depression that I struggle with daily but I no longer spend weeks at a time in bed planning my suicide. It's kind of ironic that I'm on BC pills at a time in my life when I'm completely celibate! I struggled with diaphragms and other forms of birth control for years, uck. |
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Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:00 am |
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| ItsAllGood
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I have been diagnosed with mild PCOS and mainly pelvic congestion too. My pain problem is chronic pelvin pain and pressure. I have been dealing with this since February of last year. I am currently seeing a Pelvin Pain Specialist and have been on medication for a few months. I can't tell that what I have been taking has made much of a difference though. I still have the chronic pain. I don't have excess hair or anything like that, just the chronic pain, which I am told is from vericose veins on my ovaries! Ouch!
I am new to SouthBeach--Day 6 of P1. I want to get healthy and feel better and I'm hoping my new exercise regime will help with the chronic pain.
Good luck to everyone! |
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Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:43 pm |
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| Dream Doc
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| ever consider acupuncture? just wondering. i don't know much about it. |
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Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:00 pm |
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| dini
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I am new to this thread, although I have been using the others for a few weeks now. I would love to communicate with you Hopeful, and all the others on this thread.
I was diagnosed with PCOS 5 years ago when I was 20. My mother had a stroke, was only 58, and I didn't want to end up like that, so I went to the doctor and requested my mother's doctor.(there are 6 Docs in the practice) because 2 years prior I had seen my doctor, and told him I thought I had PCOS, and he ran a test on my testosterone level and said it was normal, so I didn't have it. That was before they knew that you could still have it even with a normal level. Anyway, the doctor ran an insulin test and found that my insulin levels were more than 2 times what they should have been. I started metformin, and it made me terribly sick, so when the XR (time released) version came out, I switched and it made a world of difference. I decided to try Atkins, but actually gained weight. When I quit my job and lost my insurance, I stopped taking the metformin and bc, and about 1 year later, my cycles got screwed up again.
The difference between me and most "cysters" is that instead of never having a period, i used to get them every other month, because it seemed that I couldn't ovulate from my left side, and it was painful. Then I started bleeding and never stopped. This has happened 2 times to me, and the last time lasted over 8 months when I finally said "enough" and went back to the doc. Now I am on BC again, as well as metformin XR. My doc recommended SBD, so here I am, and doing very well, I feel better, and my periods have gotten lighter. I am getting married at the end of July, and planning to start a family (or trying to anyway). My mom tried for 19 years before she had me, and it was when she had lost 70lbs that I was concieved. They diagnosed her with Stein-Leventhal syndrome, which we now know is PCOS. She passed away at 61 years old from complications of diabetes and coronary artery disease, both of which were caused by here PCOS, insulin resistance, and not living the lowfat, high carb diet that was recommended by all doctors back then. I vow to never have that happen to me, and am so grateful to have found this WOE.
Sorry this was so long, I promise I won't do it again :!: |
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Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:54 pm |
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| bananajan
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I just found this thread after doing some other net research on PCOS. My body seems to be exhibiting some of the syptoms such as acne, heavy weight around the mid-section and abnormal hair growth on the neck, breasts, etc.
I'm considering going to my doctor to see if she will at least check for any hormone imbalances that will explain the hair growth. I have been on Accutane for my acne for several months now, and I am steadily losing weight on the SBD so I am not QUITE as concerned about those symptoms. However the hair growth seems to be the thorn in my side.
I've been reading that several women were sent by their doctors to see gynecologists in regards to whether or not they had PCOS. I was wondering how it is determined whether or not you have it. This may seem weird, but I am abstinent and have never been sexually active and don't plan on it until I'm married so I've actually never been to a gyno. If I am referred to one however, should I be expecting a full-blown examination 'down there', or will they be more likely to draw blood and do tests that way if they know they are specifically looking for PCOS? Maybe I'm a little naive on this subject, but I know I would be very nervous and uncomfortable going to a gynecologist.
Anyway I know you guys have all been through this so I was hoping that somebody would be able to share with me what I could expect! |
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Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:07 am |
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| ziana
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My understanding is that PCOS is a syndrome, not a straight forward illness. This means that there are a group of symptoms; not all sufferers will have all the symptoms. I think an endocronologist usually diagnoses this syndrome. They take a thourough history and look at your overall health. A gyno could ultrasound your abdomen to see if you have large cysts on your ovaries.
I think it's a good idea to visit a gyno at least once a year even if you are celibate to screen for breast cancer and a pap smear. Although sexual intercourse increases the likelihood of certain illnesses everyone still is at risk. |
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Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:11 pm |
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| Lilabet
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Hi, all-
I have never been officially diagnosed with PCOS, but when I was in high school I did the hormone testing and the results said they were all out of whack. I have had acne problems since I was about 12 years old (14 years now), always had problems loosing weight, irregular periods and just recently started to see the abnormal hair growth increase. It used to be fine, light colored hair, so I didn't really care, but now it is starting to concern me. Oh, I also have hypoglycemia, I don't know if that has anything to do with it. And I had an ovarian cyst removed last year.
My biggest question for all of you is if anyone has found something that works for the acne. I was using Proactiv, which worked really well for about two years, but then it abruptly stopped being effective. I've tried all the over the counter stuff and am afraid of the Accutane. Especially because I'd like to start trying for kids within the next year or so.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I am planning to talk to my obgyn at my annual visit, but that's not until May and the acne is driving me nuts. Thanks so much. |
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Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:40 pm |
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| bananajan
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Honestly, nothing has worked for me for the acne except for accutane. I actually started a thread for it here in the health section awhile back, so you could check it out if you want Lil.
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26577
If you have any questions that aren't answered there about Accutane please pm me or we can continue on the acne topic over on that thread if you like! |
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Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:06 pm |
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| yellobeuty
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HI Everyone, boy am I glad to have been directed to this thread. I just found out I am insulin resistant and they are suspecting I have pcocs. I am going to an endo in April and am going for a scope ultrasound of my overies as soon as I make the appt.
Lil1lila - for the acne, the only thing that has worked for me was Tetracycline (sp) you need a perscription for it. now I take Minocycline. It is gentler and I don't get heart burn from it but, it doensn't work as well. I have to double the dose if I am ovalating or menstrating.
I've been doing sb since July o4, and was following a similar diet since Dec 04. I haven't been able to lose weight. Now they say I will only lose weight with the meds and diet and exercise. So far, My dr loves the fact that I'm doing southbeach.
my syptoms are the rapid weight gain, not being able to lose, acne, rosacia, high triglycerides and high insulin level (even though my sugars are ok.) and heavy flow with TOM.
I'm glad someone mentioned hair on the neck and chest. The drs keep asking me if I have a mustach. I don't but I do have hair on my neck and chest. first the chest then the neck. I thought that the hair on the chest was because I was getting older.
so here is my question if you are getting your TOM regulary can it still be pcocs?
Audreyh1, thanks for sharing this link with me! |
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Sun Mar 06, 2005 12:09 am |
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| Lilabet
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Thanks for the suggestions, bananajan and yellobeuty! I'm still a little afraid of the Accutane. My cousin has been on it either two or three times with no results, so I'm not really excited about trying it. Not to mention, my job keeps me in front of clients a lot, and the dryness would probably be a bad thing. (At least you can cover up the acne with good makeup!) I tried tetrocyclene and minocyclene years ago with very little change. Oddly enough, over the past week, I went back to a clean and clear face wash and neutrogena astringent and I'm doing pretty well. We'll see how long that lasts!
Thanks again! |
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Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:25 pm |
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| dini
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Hi everyone, glad to see there has been some activity on this thread.
Yellobeauty, you can certainly have regular periods and still have PCOS. I was diagnosed 4 years ago when I was 21. I tried to get my doc to listen to me when I was like 17, and he said the tests were negative, but all he tested was testosterone, and they know now that you can have normal levels of testosterone and still have PCOS. I for one have yet to have any major excess hair growth (due to the fact that my testosterone levels are normal). The acne has gotten better since starting SB actually, and it was never severe except when I was a teenager.
I am also insulin resistant, gain weight rapidly (like 40lbs in 3 months) and have a very hard time losing. I finally got back on Glucophage, and that coupled with SB has helped quite a bit. My doctor diagnosed me, because of a former ultrasound that showed many small cysts on my ovaries, and all of my history. If your doc wants to put you on Glucophage, my advice, go on the XR version, which is time released, it seems to have less side effects, especially when taken before bed time.
I can tell you, PCOS sucks, but at least now they know how to treat it, my mom had it, and they had no idea what it was or how to treat it. She passed away from complications of diabetes, which was caused by her insulin resistance. Sorry this is so long, I talk to much when it comes to PCOS. |
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Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:59 pm |
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