Just found out I have PCOS

[keep_shinin]

So over the years I had come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to have children. After my ex husband and I had not been successful in the 7 years we were together I just accepted the fact and moved forward with my life. Well, in the past year my periods have gotten worse and worse each month. Heavy, lasting longer & getting more painful. This last month was the worst it has ever been, I was in crippling pain & going so heavy I could not leave my house for fear it would be a disaster. I was out of work for an entire week & that is just absurd. I finally broke down and went to an OBGYN, and she done my pelvic exam-fine, pap smear-fine, and a butt load of blood work. Waiting the 2 weeks for the results of that were absolutely dreadful! My biggest fear was, they would tell me everything looked normal, when I know my body & know something is not right. When she told me I have PCOS, I felt so relieved that I just started bawling my eyes out right there in the room. As the days (3) have went by I just keep feeling more and more overwhelmed by all this information. I am sure there are plenty of ladies out there in this situation, so I'm kind of looking for some "been there, done that" advice!

Whew, sorry that was so lengthy! It sounded so much more condensed in my head!

 

[Sophie2]

keepShinin hey hun i have pcos now since 2011 i believe when i found out and i remember when they were doing my sono on my ovaries i i just started crying and the lady said whats wrong i said idk what im looking at but i know something isnt right and sure enough my dr told me i had pcos and that there was little cyst on my ovaries she didnt say i couldnt have kids but that it was gonna be a little hard since then i have been back and forth with ttc.... its hard at 1st trying to understand it but girl if u read success stories on here and go to groups that are for pcos ur get a btter understanding of it.. and now you have ME altought i do have pcos i never really got a period the bitch dont like me i have to take meds to induce her if i dont take them she wont come its been a fight but i think we can do this girl

 

[keep_shinin]

Hey Sophie!
I think me saying I am overwhelmed is the understatement of the year! Thanks for responding! As far as AF goes for me, she needs to take a xanax or something! One month I'm light as can be...next month, she is trying to kill me! I have been doing a lot of research & trying not to freak out (that is better said than done), but I have to stay positive or this will control me & NOTHING controls me! Done been thru too much shit, for this to get me down! They have me on Metformin 500mg once a day right now, then after a few weeks I am supposed to up it to twice a day.

Do you have any children?

P.S. Real name is Jessica

 

[ready4number1]

Hi ladies, I have PCOS as well. And although I wasn't formerly diagnosed with the disorder I knew I had it for years through my research. Most doctors wouldn't test me for it because of my small frame. They seem to think women with PCOS have weight troubles but that is not always true.

I am here to tell you RIGHT NOW that doctors do not know much about this disorder. They are quick to put you on birth control, metformin, or Clomid. PCOS can be under control naturally and easily. I have never been on metformin, and I still have the clomid sitting here that I was prescribed. I just prefer to put as many natural things possible into my body.

I had 2 chemical pregnancies. One was last month, but hey...I GOT PREGNANT!! I am getting closer to my goal. And like the poster, I would have a "period" that lasted for 2 months, just to let you know, that is not your period. It is a hormonal disruption.

Also, to the poster, your crippling pain is not something normally associated with PCOS. I would talk to your doctor about getting tested for endometriosis, that disorder has crippling pain as a symptom. The only way to know if you have that is through a surgical procedure.

I have "been there and done that," in terms of trial and error while correcting my PCOS. I believe I am at the tail end of fixing myself naturally, all I need to do now is monitor my progesterone which I will ask the Dr. for a prescription if my levels are low. That is all I involve them in when working on my PCOS.

Anyway, here is what I do that works like nothing else! I will not get detailed here because it is a lot of info but feel free to private message me and we can go into further detail.

1. I see an acupuncturist and get electroacupuncture which is excellent for PCOS. It stopped my bleeding when nothing else did. And it also helped bring back my period that when missing when I stopped my herbs.

2. I take Vitex (solaray brand) it is an herb that balances female hormones.

3. I take Maca (Magic Maca Tincture) it is kind of like a potato and it also balances the hormones while giving the body loads of nutrients. It also gives me a strong ovulation to the point where I literally feel myself ovulate.

4. I take cod liver oil capsules (fermented)

5. I take D3 and B6. Increases progesterone and something else lol can't remember

6. I take cinnamon bark after meals twice a day

***the cinnamon bark controls blood sugar just as well as metformin without the side effects. Insulin resistance is a huge part of PCOS and attributes heavily to infertility

7. I take the herb dong quai and that nourishes the blood and brings on a missing period which may really help the woman that responded on here saying she doesn't get her period often.

8. I take folic acid and a natural multi vitamin

9. I just started taking Vitamin C today because that also increases progesterone.

10. I just began charting this month to check my progesterone.

BTW...very important if you didn't already know...OPK'S do NOT work on women with PCOS because our LH is normally alway high..don't even waste your money. Even with everything I have done, my OPK's are almost always blazing positive. But, it doesn't interfere with me ovulating or conceiving.


It seems like a whole lot of pills and tinctures lol but it is absolutely worth it! Plus I take most of the pills once a day at the same time when I wake up. My period is now 28 days like clockwork with O happening on the 14th day. My last issue is simply raising my progesterone so I can carry my next pregnancy to term. And to be honest, it took only one month of this. And I first began only with dong quai and Vitex and I got my period within 6 days of starting.

 

[ready4number1]

Hi Sophie, I really hope you consider these herbs and tips I have mentioned. They really work wonders. I do not have to kickstart my period, though that was my doctors quick fix. My period now comes on its own...feel free to ask anything if you are interested or have questions.

 

[Kimbra83]

hey ready,

love all your ideas!!! I'd love to do acupuncture, just don't have the money. I have pcos and try to eat healthier, more exercising but because I got desperate now, started on metformin and clomid. Only thing I disagree with are that opks never work for ladies with pcos. I think that they do work for a lot of women and for me. I buy the internet cheapies and start testing on day 10 (clomid made me ovulate about day 14-16) twice daily, once with fmu and then when I come home from work. I always have a second line, but can clearly see the second line getting darker before ovulation.
Some women have a short surge, so testing twice a day can be better.

That's my two cents to the topic, wish you all good luck ladies!!!

 

[ready4number1]

hey ready,

love all your ideas!!! I'd love to do acupuncture, just don't have the money. I have pcos and try to eat healthier, more exercising but because I got desperate now, started on metformin and clomid. Only thing I disagree with are that opks never work for ladies with pcos. I think that they do work for a lot of women and for me. I buy the internet cheapies and start testing on day 10 (clomid made me ovulate about day 14-16) twice daily, once with fmu and then when I come home from work. I always have a second line, but can clearly see the second line getting darker before ovulation.
Some women have a short surge, so testing twice a day can be better.

That's my two cents to the topic, wish you all good luck ladies!!!

That is great that they work for you. On the box it actually has a disclaimer for women with PCOS. But, now that I think about it, there is another OPK kit that PCOS women can use. It monitors a different hormone. I do feel the OPK's will work while on fertility drugs such as Clomid.

But out of curiosity, did they work for you before you began the Clomid? I sure do wish they worked for me, but at least I can feel it happen.

I am happy you found this info helpful! To be honest, I didn't always do acupuncture and everything I was taking worked without the acupuncture. I began acupuncture to get my body on a healthy balance after it went out of wack again when I stopped my regimine. So, if you decide to stop Clomid and Metformin definitely give the natural a shot!! I don't think they mix well with clomid.

 

[keep_shinin]

Hey Ready!
Thank you so much for all of that information! I have been trying to some natural ways to handle this situation that has been thrown at me! I would love for you to private message me with some more info. If you have any websites that I could read up on that would be fantastic!

 

[Wtbam]

Ready4number1, your post gives me so much hope.

Just a little about my situation: I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18, and from what I remember, had regular (ish) periods back then.
12 Months ago, I started taking Dianette as a contraceptive. (I also thought it may help with my facial hair). During the 8 months I was on Dianette, I stopped my regular exercise and put on nearly 12 lbs.
Nearly 4 months ago, I stopped taking at as my OH and I decided to start TTC. For two months, I did not have AF. I didn't know anything about TTC so joined B&B and learned about charting.
I have been tracking my BBT, CP and CM ever since, and have not ovulated. I have been using OPK's but have not seen a single positive (they vary from stark white to slightly pinky).
I am now nearly CD100 and am coming to the conclusion that my lack of ovulation is not just because I am "still coming off the pill" like my doctor suggests.
I insisted on some bloodwork on monday which came back as:
FSH 7.1
LH 20
Testosterone 2.1

I believe this is all symptomatic of PCOS.
I am taking 1500mg Metformin (one tablet, twice per day), 2000mg Vitex, Pregnacare Conception (Zinc, B12, Folic Acid) and have been for just over one month.
I have just started exercising daily, and have started on a low GI/low carb diet. I have lost 5 lbs so far - but have noticed that most of the weight is around my abdomen (symptomatic of PCOS).

I am so keen to find someone to talk about this with, as my OH thinks I should just relax and let it happen. I don't see how it CAN happen unless I make some changes. Surely with such a high LH level I am never going to be able to ovulate?

Before I went on Dianette I had 3 months of writing the dates of my period in my diary, and they were very regular. I wonder if this excess weight is the problem? Perhaps the extra fat is causing excess Oestrogen?

I wish I knew more. I wish I had an at-home blood testing kit!!

I would love to chat to you all about how this all feels, and how we can fix it.

My game plan is to work my BUTT off for 3 months with the GI diet and exercise, and try to ovulate naturally. If I can't I will try Clomid, but at least then I will have given my body 3 healthy months to grow some good eggs (I sometimes wonder if PCOS causes miscarriage because unhealthy eggs (perhaps from insulin levels) are forced out and fertilised, then can't grow??)

Thanks for reading!

 

[Wtbam]

I found this really useful:

Polycystic ovaries develop when the ovaries are stimulated to produce excessive amounts of male hormones (androgens), in particular testosterone, by either one or a combination of the following (almost certainly combined with genetic susceptibility[15]):

the release of excessive luteinizing hormone (LH) by the anterior pituitary gland[citation needed]
through high levels of insulin in the blood (hyperinsulinaemia) in women whose ovaries are sensitive to this stimulus[9]

Also, reduced levels of sex-hormone-binding globulin can result in increased free androgens.[citation needed]

The syndrome acquired its most widely used name due to the common sign on ultrasound examination of multiple (poly) ovarian cysts. These "cysts" are actually immature follicles not cysts. The follicles have developed from primordial follicles, but the development has stopped ("arrested") at an early antral stage due to the disturbed ovarian function. The follicles may be oriented along the ovarian periphery, appearing as a 'string of pearls' on ultrasound examination.[citation needed]

Women with PCOS experience an increased frequency of hypothalamic GnRH pulses, which in turn results in an increase in the LH/FSH ratio.[26]

A majority of people with PCOS have insulin resistance and/or are obese. Their elevated insulin levels contribute to or cause the abnormalities seen in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis that lead to PCOS. Hyperinsulinemia increases GnRH pulse frequency, LH over FSH dominance, increased ovarian androgen production,[9] decreased follicular maturation, and decreased SHBG binding; all these steps contribute to the development of PCOS.[citation needed] Insulin resistance is a common finding among women with a normal weight as well as overweight women.[7][12]

In many cases, PCOS is characterised by a complex positive feedback loop of insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. In most cases, it cannot be determined which (if any) of those two should be regarded causative. Experimental treatment with either antiandrogens or insulin-sensitizing agents improves both hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance.[citation needed]

Adipose tissue possesses aromatase, an enzyme that converts androstenedione to estrone and testosterone to estradiol. The excess of adipose tissue in obese women creates the paradox of having both excess androgens (which are responsible for hirsutism and virilization) and estrogens (which inhibits FSH via negative feedback).[27]

PCOS may be associated with chronic inflammation,[9][28] with several investigators correlating inflammatory mediators with anovulation and other PCOS symptoms.[29][30] Similarly, there seems to be a relation between PCOS and increased level of oxidative stress.[31]

It has previously been suggested that the excessive androgen production in PCOS could be caused by a decreased serum level of IGFBP-1, in turn increasing the level of free IGF-I, which stimulates ovarian androgen production, but recent data concludes this mechanism to be unlikely.[32]

PCOS has also been associated with a specific FMR1 sub-genotype. The research suggests that women with heterozygous-normal/low FMR1 have polycystic-like symptoms of excessive follicle-activity and hyperactive ovarian function.[33]

 

[Sophie2]

oman theres so much information going on here lol which is always good lol

i would love to start taking vitex.. just ti see if it would really help but for some reason the only time af shows for me is when i take the prometrium if i dont take them i will not get af but ive notice that this cycles i spotted about a week ago and now af is started almost thought i was gonna get a BFP happy i didnt test ... lol

P.s hi Jessica nice to meet you and all you ladies

 

[Kimbra83]

Hey ready,

the opks worked for me before clomid as well. However I had to be patient as I sometimes ovulated day 25 or so. Also, I had a surge but no ovulation fro time to time and then another surge 14 days later with ovulation. PCOS can really crinkle your crumpet sometimes, you have to be so friggin patient...
I always have two lines though but on the day of the surge (today e.g. yay!) two dark lines, I am also one of the lucky ones with a long surge for 2 days, so I have enough time to get bd.
Lots of exercise and low gi diet is definitely recommended for PCOS and I try my best to follow it with a few piggy days in between. Found out recently, after some baking (after kneading the dough my hands got superitchy) that I must be allergic to gluten or wheat. Have given it up for 2 weeks now and feel so much better already. Maybe going glutenfree will finally help me get pregnant. Am so desperate after over 1 1/2 years.
At least the sun is coming out more often to lift my mood.

Wish you all lots of sunshine!!!

 

[crystalnjimmy]

I would love to join if you ladies don't mind having me? I wasn't "technically diagnosed" with PCOS but my general Dr thinks that I have it, as do I. When I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 3 years ago, my Dr at that time ran some tests and did an ultrasound and said she thought I did not have PCOS, no cysts etc. My current Dr didn't do an ultrasound but said judging by story of how rare my periods are etc, he thinks it is PCOS. He said it can be hard to pin point. I don't have excess facial hair which is a common symptom of PCOS apparently. He told me to find a gynecologist but at the moment I don't have insurance. Looking into that. He gave me spironolactone to start tomorrow and take it for a month. If I do not see results, he gave me metformin to take next month, by then I hope to have a gynecologist I can go to. I have always thought I might have PCOS. I never get periods anymore on my own. I haven't had one on my own in at least 2 years. I took provera in Feb 2013 to have a period but I don't ovulate. I hope to find some helpful info on here now that I have been hit with this info. Good luck and hope to stay connected!

 

[keep_shinin]

Hey Ladies, sorry I haven't responded! I think my medication mixed with my diet pill was making me ill, as I was feeling quite dizzy & nauseated. I stopped taking the diet pill today & feel much better! I seen on here one of you ladies said something about a GI Diet; what is that exactly. I have done so good this week with my eating habits. I have bought wheat bread (now that is a change) & ate fruits and veggies for breakfast and lunch. I only ate out 3 times this week, for some that is even a lot...but as ashamed as I am to say, that is a very big cut down for me! As far as all that goes I feel much better....AF came as scheduled, but is light, dark & absolutely NO pain!

Sorry I was rambling- Ready, I got your message but have no clue as to how to write you back. Not ignoring you, just computer illiterate! haha

 

[ready4number1]

Hey Ladies, sorry I haven't responded! I think my medication mixed with my diet pill was making me ill, as I was feeling quite dizzy & nauseated. I stopped taking the diet pill today & feel much better! I seen on here one of you ladies said something about a GI Diet; what is that exactly. I have done so good this week with my eating habits. I have bought wheat bread (now that is a change) & ate fruits and veggies for breakfast and lunch. I only ate out 3 times this week, for some that is even a lot...but as ashamed as I am to say, that is a very big cut down for me! As far as all that goes I feel much better....AF came as scheduled, but is light, dark & absolutely NO pain!

Sorry I was rambling- Ready, I got your message but have no clue as to how to write you back. Not ignoring you, just computer illiterate! haha

Hey, I am so happy you are back! I can't find our private message anywhere to finish messaging you. I see we are both having issues with the messages lol!

Anyway, just to let you know, my acupuncturists tells me that rye bread is the only bread safe for PCOS.

And the only safe fruits are apples and pears because of the sugar in other fruits. But vegies are fine. I drink lean shakes from GNC. They are lactose free and only have 2 grams of sugar in them. They are a meal replacement. I am not trying to lose weight, I am just making sure I have enough protein. But they are filling so it may be good for you to look into!!

What do you mean by your period is dark? Dark brown or red?

 

[keep_shinin]

Apples are about the only fruit I have been eating. Lots of veggies! I am getting used to it, but my digestive system...not so much! I am assuming it will take some time getting all that gunk out though.

It was dark brown, but like I said before my period last month was absolutely horrible! It might have been leftover? Didn't even really feel like one, then last night it was back to my normal color & today gone. Probably the best one I have had in a long time....maybe not the healthiest, but it didn't try to kill me so I am okay with it, lol.

I am going to go to the local GNC this week and see what they have in there....it is very hard for me to eat in the mornings, most of the time I have to choke down food & if I have to up my dosage I will need to eat something. So I am going to look into shakes or smoothies or something to put in my stomach.

 

[ready4number1]

Yea, I know what you mean about bleeding heavily like that! I am glad you had some red in there. yes maam the shakes will be a great option for you then. Just know that they are packed full of vitamins and when I drink a shake with my multivitamin i feel like i have a vitamin overload so space it out. Good luck sweetie! Still over here waiting to O.

 

[Wtbam]

Hey Ladies, sorry I haven't responded! I think my medication mixed with my diet pill was making me ill, as I was feeling quite dizzy & nauseated. I stopped taking the diet pill today & feel much better! I seen on here one of you ladies said something about a GI Diet; what is that exactly. I have done so good this week with my eating habits. I have bought wheat bread (now that is a change) & ate fruits and veggies for breakfast and lunch. I only ate out 3 times this week, for some that is even a lot...but as ashamed as I am to say, that is a very big cut down for me! As far as all that goes I feel much better....AF came as scheduled, but is light, dark & absolutely NO pain!

Sorry I was rambling- Ready, I got your message but have no clue as to how to write you back. Not ignoring you, just computer illiterate! haha

Hey, that was me!

So this is why I am doing to GI diet, and my understanding of it.

1) The underlying problem of PCOS is insulin resistance, which is where your body is resistant to the effect of insulin when sugar is digested (Insulin helps the bodies cells to absorb sugar), therefore the pancreas has to release much more insulin for the same amount of sugar.)

2) If there is a sudden intake of sugar (or sugar is eaten that is quickly digested/highly digestible) there is a large peak of sugar and therefore an even larger peak of insulin in the blood

3) Insulin floats around the blood and into the ovaries. High levels stimulate the ovaries to produce testosterone. High levels also cause the hypothalamus and pituatory glands to be affected, and affect the hormones GnRH, LH & FSH - and the levels in the blood (Increases LH, Decreases FSH).

*This was shown in my recent blood results - high testosterone, high LH, low FSH

4) High LH and Low FSH causes lots of immature follicles to grow but remain immature (hence the poly 'cystic' ovary appearance.... they aren't actually cysts, they are just immature follicles, so I am hoping that they will be reversible), it also prevents one single follicle from becoming fully grown, therefore halting ovulation

4a) Increased testosterone causes excess hair

5) Foods can be Low GI, Medium GI and High GI, depending on how digestible the carbohydrate within them is (and so how much insulin is made in response to it). The idea is to eat lots of Low GI food to keep the insulin levels low.... and therefore restore LH & FSH, and reduce testosterone!

Hope this helps, if anyone can add to it that would be great!

 

[keep_shinin]

Yea, I know what you mean about bleeding heavily like that! I am glad you had some red in there. yes maam the shakes will be a great option for you then. Just know that they are packed full of vitamins and when I drink a shake with my multivitamin i feel like i have a vitamin overload so space it out. Good luck sweetie! Still over here waiting to O.

Best wishes to you on your O...When is it supposed to happen?

 

[Loo89]

Hi girlies,
I found out towards the end of last year that my right ovary is very cystic, but left one is fine, and (if I don't get my BFP this month) I am due to have blood tests on CD1/2 and CD21 to find out for definite if I have PCOS.
My consultant was talking about putting me on metformin (sp?) as a way to improve fertility and decrease my weight - does anyone know what the other side effects are? Ready, I think it was you who mentioned it?
I also have ME so find it difficult to exercise daily as a way to keep weight down. I didn't know about the sugar & insulin aspects of PCOS, so thanks for all the information on this thread! Going to look into low GI diets as well.
Good luck to you all