Need help - confused - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Message Board

AUJenV811 · 05-03-2007, 01:41 PM

I am very confused with the lack of information on PCOs and I'm hoping someone can provide some guidance. Since age 13, I have had very irregular periods, sometimes not for a year at a time. I am overweight, have excessive hair growth, all of the signs of PCOS. My obgyn told me I have it after running hormone tests, and put me on Yaz. Since then, I have gained 30 pounds and have not been able to lose one pound since I have completely changed my eating and exercise. More to the point, I have not seen any change in hair growth, and somtimes have incredibly light periods (1 day of bleeding, no heavy flow). I do get my period every month now, but I just feel like being on the pill is making something else. When I am off the pill, I don't get my period, which obviously leads to a slew of health risks. When I am on my period, I can't lose weight, which also leads to health risks. Any advice? I have read about metformin, Clomid, provera, etc, but I don't know what is right for me. All I know is that I want children someday in life, and I don't want diabetes or cancer.

marinewife12 · 05-03-2007, 01:56 PM

I know that for women who do not want to have children right now (I'm assuming this is you?) birth control is the best thing. It may be a point of finding the right brand of birth control for you.

I'm not great at helping with this one. I have PCOS as well, but my husband and I are trying to have a baby so we would be taking a different approach. right now we're trying to stop my bleeding (I've been on my period for 7 weeks) and then I'm going on metformin.

Again, I think that if you are not wanting to get pregnant right now, then birth control is your best bet. You might need to tweak the brand. Some birth controls have more progesterone, which might be exactly what you need. I would ask about that.

Have you raised any of these concerns with your health care provider? What did they say? Did they recommend a specific diet?

Let us know, maybe we can help you further.

Mandie27 · 05-03-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUJenV811

I am very confused with the lack of information on PCOs and I'm hoping someone can provide some guidance. Since age 13, I have had very irregular periods, sometimes not for a year at a time. I am overweight, have excessive hair growth, all of the signs of PCOS. My obgyn told me I have it after running hormone tests, and put me on Yaz. Since then, I have gained 30 pounds and have not been able to lose one pound since I have completely changed my eating and exercise. More to the point, I have not seen any change in hair growth, and somtimes have incredibly light periods (1 day of bleeding, no heavy flow). I do get my period every month now, but I just feel like being on the pill is making something else. When I am off the pill, I don't get my period, which obviously leads to a slew of health risks. When I am on my period, I can't lose weight, which also leads to health risks. Any advice? I have read about metformin, Clomid, provera, etc, but I don't know what is right for me. All I know is that I want children someday in life, and I don't want diabetes or cancer.

Have your doctor check your insulin level. I was just diagnosed with PCOS and he said that he checks there insulin everytime he diagnoses someone with PCOS because most of the time they have insulin problems too. I just started taking Metformin to help with my insulin level and along with weight loss. So we will see if that helps with the weight loss.

AUJenV811 · 05-03-2007, 02:23 PM

I have not had my insulin levels checked, nor have I heard about Metformin until getting on this board. No doctors have suggested anything other than birth control.

Thus far, Yaz has been the only birth control pill I have been able to stand, which is low hormone. I also had luck with just taking Provera, but was told that didn't affect my cysts or hair growth.

As far as the diet, I have tried nearly every specific diet, and also the weight loss programs, and a rigid exercise programs. They have all led me to gain about 40 pounds in less than a year.

marinewife12 · 05-03-2007, 03:42 PM

If you want more drastic changes in your body, you may have to just take a higher dosage of birth control.

I was prescribed birth control, and I have to take 3 of the pills a day. My dr. said "Sorry, this is going to suck. But if you want things to get better, then you have to suck it up and deal with it and it will get better." He also gave me something for nausea just in case.

So have you asked your Dr. about ANY of these concerns? And what did they say?