PCOS

[ShrinkingKristen]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in April of 2007 and now that DH and I are wanting to start a family, I need to lose some serious weight to help myself ovulate again. I'm not a fan of medication, so diet is the only other way.

[lotstoshed]

hi ladies.

I am new to this forum.

I also have PCOS and have 2 beautiful kids. I did have to go thru fertility treatments (letrozole) to have them but it wasnt that bad. I cant take metformin at all.

There is hope.....

[Utopia]

Hey cystas! I just wanted to drop a note of encouragement to all of you. I had a lot of cyst problems and I tried everything the doctors told me to do (mostly medication, etc.) I STILL was poppn' cysts every 3-4 months or so..... quite uncomfortable. So, I started researching different lifestyle changes to gain some control over my little ovaries.

The first program I did was the Body For Life progam - which I grew to love their exercise, but not really the eating method. (I wasn't able to eat as much as they were telling me to, and it made me really hungry). But, I DID feel so much better, and my cysts became less frequent.

So, I kept researching concerning PCOS and insulin - as I get low blood sugars easily..... When I started studying the diabetic diet, I realized how healthy it was - and South Beach Diet encourages a similar eating and lifestyle which I have found not to be faddish - but healthy - and similar to how the diabetics are instructed to eat. Because insulin and ovarian cysts can be related, I decided if I got a hold of my fluctuating blood sugars - perhaps, I could decrease the amount of cysts that I grow....

I can tell you this - the more I follow the food guidelines in the South Beach Diet Plan - the less cysts I get......... I can now tell you that I get them when I stop exercising regularly AND when my eating habits turn to garbage (bad carbohydrates). After several years of watching myself - this is what I have found makes my ovaries happy - and me happier. I have been cyst-free for nearly 2 years now - what a relief (this is just by changing my eating style by about 50% - I am working on making my eating habits even better).

Adios - Cystas!

[swirlything]

Hi. I'm new here too. I'm still on phase 1. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 8 years ago and have been on metformin ever since. About 3 days after starting the metformin, I got my first period in about a year and my cravings were decreased. I lost 90 pounds after starting the medication... due to diet and exercise. But it was the metformin that helped curb my cravings enough to make it possible.

In the last couple years I've crept up 20 pounds, and my current dose of metformin is not keeping my periods regular like it did when I was 20 pounds lighter and I am again having tremendous cravings for baked goods. Rather than increase my metformin, I decided to start up South Beach and drop my weight back down (I'm down 8 pounds already!). I'm finding that I have zero cravings on Phase 1 as long as I take the metformin. I forgot it yesterday and at 1pm was craving chocolate again, and just fought the urge. Then at 3PM, I realized I'd forgotten my pill and took it. 20 minutes later the craving was totally gone and I was fine the rest of the night.

I'll tell you that I think metformin is the most wonderful blessing for PCOS. I feel so sad for the women I see out and about who clearly have all the hallmarks of PCOS and don't know that they have it and that it is treatable!

[manzanita]

I also have PCOS and SBD does work for it. I started off with 500mg metformin in 2004, but by the latter half of last year, it was no longer working as I felt permanently hungover and drunk. I went up to 800mg late last year and that did help. However, I haven't had my metformin in a month now and I feel pretty stable on this way of life in terms of IR. Although, I really must order some more.

My periods are still a different issue altogether as I started one on 4th January and haven't really stopped since! Perhaps there is something else going on there as well...

The hair issue is still there but admittedly it has improved. I doubt I'll ever see a complete resolution of it all, but slower growth will do me fine for now!

There's not much more chemical help for me now as I'm up to the maximum dose of metformin and cyproterone, so unless I go in for gastric banding, the only other way out is weight loss and being sensible. Chemical help got me so far, but now it's down to me to help it out. Oh, I forgot, I can have Xenical if I want it but that it the last chemical port of call until it does become diabetes.

[ElisMommy]

I'm SO glad to see this thread!

I just started the diet on Monday and I'm hoping and praying it helps with my PCOS (The whole reason I started it). I have a 1 year old and hope to conceive the next one (in a few years) without Met.

I'm also very inspired by some of your stories, about the changes you have seen in your health since starting this new style of eating! It makes me want to stick with it (even as I face "pizza night" at home tonight ).

[MsSquirrel]

So glad I found this thread! I also have PCOS and put all my hopes in SBD.

[csimmons79]

I was diagnosed yesterday with PCOS, and along with my Metformin script, my doctor told me to get my butt on SB!! SO here I am, with hope, for the first time in 15 years, that I can be healthy again. I am really looking forward to FINALLY being able to drop weight. If anyone here needs a PCOS buddy, I'm here!! We can go through this crazy, misunderstood syndrome together!!

[sunqween21]

Just wondering if anyone is still on here and how they're doing. I am currently reading South Beach Diet Recharged and was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 years ago and hypothyroidism earlier this year. I've tried Metformin but the side effects are terrible. I wanted to try and lose some weight on my own for a month and if that didn't work, see an endocrinologist. Any progress you all have made would be great to hear. I realized the other night that I don't crave the "bad carbs" until after I've had some... Hopefully I can get this turned around...

[Raenstorm]

Hi

I was dx with PCOS in November of 2006. I am currently on Metformin. I'm doing ok. I am pretty tired a lot though.

[amyece]

Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2002. I was on Met but not currently.
I have gained sooo much weight. In 2002 I was quite overweight at 5'4 and 180 pounds. I am now up to 205.

I heard for years that SB was a great diet for us but I was too in love with my carbs to even consider it!

I did decide to give it a shot in January of this year and lost about 8 pounds during phase 1. On the last day of phase 1 my dad passed away and through grief and getting married a month later... the weight crept right back up plus a few pounds.

Now me and DH are trying it out together. I need to lose about 70 pounds and Dh needs to lose probably 30 or so.

I do hope to stick it out this time. I know that last time even during that short amount of time my cravings were mostly gone.

Hope to chat with you ladies on a regular basis.

[EKZZS]

Just joined here. Starting SB phase 1 as soon as I get to the grocery store (dont want to set myself up for failure with a limited amount of food at home!) and books are on the way!

I have PCOS...trying to conceive baby #2 (for the past 18 months + 2 miscarriages). Not doing this JUST for fertility reasons but hopefully its a good side effect.

[myshadow]

Seeing this thread is part of the reason I joined this form but I haven't posted till now. Its bittersweet to see so many other women on here with PCOS. My Dr. tortures (in the nicest way possible) me about my weight. I have not been put on any medications other than Birth control to stablize my TOMs but I know the reason why my doctor is always torturing me about my weight is because everything could so easily change. I never wanted children and even when I got the dignosis in 2009 it didn't completly hit me. I am 26 and starting to plan for my furture with the amazing man that has been my rock for the last 8 years. As we see everyone around us having children in the last 6 months this twang, for lack of a better word, has been telling me that motherhood is right for me. I need to start controlling my destiny and not letting PCOS do it. One step at a time and with SB WOE guiding me I can climb over PCOS and leave it in my dust!