PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

I am in the midst of testing for PCOS, and wanted to hear feedback from other women who live with this, and any lifestyle changes that they've undergone. I am familiar with the medicinal treatments for this, but wanted to know how you have dealt with it.

If I come back testing positive for it, it will explain a lot of weird little details about my health, and hopefully help me lose weight easier.

Thanks!

I have been told I have this but the Doctor never said anything to me about what the symptoms are and so on. All I knew is that I get extreme cramps and facial hair but didn't know they were related. I also didn't know until last night after stumbling upon the PCOS support group on here that it causes weight gain and makes your hormones wacky in some people.

The only thing I was ever told by my Doc was that I have many cysts on my ovaries and it was up to me if I wanted to have them removed but warned that sometimes that can leave scar tissue and in either case leaving them or not leaving them can eventually turn into cancer and that I should have regular pap exams.

So in answer to your question I have noticed facial hair (excess) since I was about 19 on my neck and chin and very painful cramps during that time of month, weight gain but I had no idea the two had anything to do with eachother until like I said last night when I read that on here.

Good luck.

If you are diagnosed with PCOS I know several people that have found the following book has been very helpful, both with weight-control and reduction of symptoms....obviously in conjunction with any prescribed medication..   The Low GI Guide to Managing PCOS by Jennie Brand-Miller.

Original Post by kindal:

I have been told I have this but the Doctor never said anything to me about what the symptoms are and so on. All I knew is that I get extreme cramps and facial hair but didn't know they were related. I also didn't know until last night after stumbling upon the PCOS support group on here that it causes weight gain and makes your hormones wacky in some people.

The only thing I was ever told by my Doc was that I have many cysts on my ovaries and it was up to me if I wanted to have them removed but warned that sometimes that can leave scar tissue and in either case leaving them or not leaving them can eventually turn into cancer and that I should have regular pap exams.

So in answer to your question I have noticed facial hair (excess) since I was about 19 on my neck and chin and very painful cramps during that time of month, weight gain but I had no idea the two had anything to do with eachother until like I said last night when I read that on here.

Good luck.

 Just to clear this up, so there is no misunderstanding. Pap exams (smears) test for cervical cancer NOT ovarian cancer. The only way to see the ovaries is ultrasound. The only way to test for ovarian cancer is with a biopsy. A pelvic exam will help your GYN *feel* for masses, cysts, etc.

I have PCOS and grew a 7+ pound mass off my left ovary. The ovary got removed with the mass. I've never been told that it's removal (or the non removal of the right ovary-very cystic) could cause cancer. John Hopkins was one of the hospitals involved in my case. My information should be pretty accurate.

Just about every PCOS website suggests eating lower carb and only eating carbs that have a low glycemic index.  I have been doing this for a few months and have lost about 10 lbs from it.  My acne has also gotten a lot better.  I take metformin which helps to regulate my period.  The cramps are still really bad.  From my understanding, pcos is either caused or related to insulin resistance, so its important to watch your sugar/carbs to keep from having insulin spikes.  This should also help to lose weight, which will help reduce the symptoms of pcos.

jessicasbc is correct. A diabetic like/type diet is the best way to go for PCOS suffers.

Sherea..........well excusssssssseeeeeeeeee me damn

Just saying what the doctor told me , not stating it as fact. Get a grip

I  have a pretty good Doctor as well so maybe there is something more to it.

Wow, I just didn't want anyone to be misinformed! Sorry for my intentions.

Didn't really think my posted need to "get a grip". Yikes!!

How can you be sure they are being misinformed? I'm telling what my Doctor said.

Maybe they should just talk to their own Doctor and get their own information. That would be best.

I'm not saying your information isn't correct but maybe mine isn't either. Oh whatever.............

Original Post by kindal:

I have been told I have this but the Doctor never said anything to me about what the symptoms are and so on. All I knew is that I get extreme cramps and facial hair but didn't know they were related. I also didn't know until last night after stumbling upon the PCOS support group on here that it causes weight gain and makes your hormones wacky in some people.

The only thing I was ever told by my Doc was that I have many cysts on my ovaries and it was up to me if I wanted to have them removed but warned that sometimes that can leave scar tissue and in either case leaving them or not leaving them can eventually turn into cancer and that I should have regular pap exams.

So in answer to your question I have noticed facial hair (excess) since I was about 19 on my neck and chin and very painful cramps during that time of month, weight gain but I had no idea the two had anything to do with eachother until like I said last night when I read that on here.

Good luck.

Your last sentence of paragraph #2 is what conerned me. This is not your information or my information, this IS fact. Pap (smear) test (maybe you should have said pelvic exam), does NOT detect ovarian cancer. A PAP SMEAR test for CERVICAL CANCER. That is why ovarian cancer is called the silent killer. By the time someone knows it's there, it is often too late. Even if a woman sees her GYN yearly.

Until recently, my own mother was misinformed. She was under the impression that a pap smear tested for both ovarian and cervial cancer. Even with all she has been through medically with me, still misinformed.

My intention was to clear up the information, not offend you.

Okay

to the OP, if you do a search on here for PCOS you will find many threads about it....lots and lots of women here have been diagnosed/living with it and there are lots of different experiences of it.

For me, my doctor insists on diagnosing me with it, despite my lack of auxillary symptoms like facial hair, acne, etc, she says that my hormonal imbalance, irregular periods,  and weight problem are enough to merit a diagnosis. Whatever, makes no difference to me, not like there's a cure and I don't want kids, so I stay on birth control pills as they lessen the mentrual cramping and irregularity. If I ever did want kids, some medical intervention may be needed. And losing weight, they say, also lessens the symptoms, so that's just one more reason to lose weight (to add to the already long list!)

For a long time after I was originally diagnosed, I was relieved and somehow felt vindicated; being fat wasn't my fault, it was the disease. I wasn't lacking in self-control, or lazy, or cursed....there was a very good reason I gained weight. But somewhere along the way, I started to feel like it was more of a burden that a relief. I've given my life a good hard look, and I think that while PCOS may have made it much easier for me to gain weight, in the end we all make our own choices. I can't blame the disease...or maybe I can, but so what? The solution CAN be in my control. Is it harder for me than other women who don't have PCOS? I will never know for sure, I only can know my own experience. And now, I fight against it, I even tried to get undiagnosed but that was a no go :). I want to feel like I do have control over my body and my life....so I make it so.

I have PCOS and it sucks right now because i am unisurable due to this disease!!!  Well anyways since i have that rant out of the way, it really helps me if i eat a low carb high protein diet i lose alot of weight that way.  I am exercising 5 days a week at the YMCA too.  Exercise is important.  The endocrinologist i see has me on a new drug called Glumetza i take 2000 mg daily.  It has less side affects than metformin which gave me awful diarrhea!! Good luck!


Clarice

I have been living with PCOS for all most 7 years now.. They put me on brith controll pills that was the only thing that would cause me to have my monthly, now after being on them for years they took me off of them because of my blood pressure was up while on them.. Long to behold it's still up.. I was also put on metformin to help with the cramping and pain... But now i'm ready to start planing my family, and the doctor told me i'm to fat and need to lose weight... How can that be? I've lost 30 pounds and i'm not in any pain and still have not got any better.. I have no drive if you know what i mean!!! Dose anyone have any ideas tho help with this the sex drive issue?....

kristi