Anyone treated PCOS without meds?

06-20-2007, 03:42 PM

My dr thinks I have pcos because I have a dark patch of skin on my neck and no periods in a year. I am overweight and all of this seemed to start after the birth of my 3rd child. I was just curious if anyone else has had any success treating this without medication. I have started using progesterone cream and still no luck with the period, but I have only been on it for 2 months. My dr wants me to take metformin and birth control pills to try to regulate my periods and lesson some of my symptoms. I cannot take the metformin, it makes me extremely sick. Anyone elses experience with this would be wonderful, it feels as though I am running around in circles.

06-21-2007, 05:24 AM

Metformin made me sick to but then the doctor told me to taper onto it slowly and use the XR formula and that helped a lot. They also say following a strict Atkins diet can help - no carbs at all. I have not tried this as i have kidney disease so can't.

06-21-2007, 06:17 AM

I was also wondering if anyone has cholesterol abnormalities from PCOS. I have read that they go hand in hand with PCOS. I currently have good cholesterol and so I was just wondering if this is something I am going to have to look out for in the future.

06-21-2007, 10:12 AM

My cholesterol has always been high, even when I was a vegan.

06-21-2007, 11:15 AM

see that is what makes me wonder if I haven't been misdiagnosed. I have never had any blood work done to check my fasting insulin levels. I have always had the dark pigmention on the back of my neck ever since I can remember. It is just really frustrating when u don't know what is going on with your own body. I have always had normal cholesterol and tryglecerides(pls forgive the spelling lol) My total cholesterol is 150 and my tryglecerides are only like 75. I just would like some answers, all of this started right after the birth of my last child and I am just at a loss for what it could be. I am not comfortable just taking my dr's word for what is going on and wish I had some definitive testing to back up the diagnosis.

06-21-2007, 07:34 PM

I had PCOS and had normal cholesterol and trigliceride levels. According to the NIH standards, you need to have Cushing's ruled out so you need a lot more testing to make sure your cortisol is ok. Also get a copy of your ultrasound report (as well as your bloodwork) to make sure that all your tests are consistent with PCOS - in that you have multiple cysts and that your LH and FSH are in the ratios that meet the diagnosis.
I say that as I had Cushing's disease too and it is unusual to have both. The symptoms overlap.
Good luck to you.

06-21-2007, 10:05 PM

Did a family Dr diagnose or were you going to your OB/GYN? I have just been going to my family Dr and he hasn't suggested me seeing an GYN so I am unsure of who to go to for the testing.

06-22-2007, 08:17 PM

I have PCOS and have had it for a long time just didn't realize what it was. All of my labs always come back normal. However I have most all of the symptoms and my ovaries are covered with numerous cysts.

I was diagnosed originally by my GP but I'm being treated mostly by my Endo who I saw originally for a different problem.

Anyone treated PCOS without meds?

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