Please Help!!! I have just found out I have PCOS

Hi all,

Just thought I'd introduce my self. My name is Kelly and im new to this forum. Im 25 and just found out I have PCOS. I thought id find a forum on this topic to help me find out more and also be able to talk to others that have this.

I have my first appointment with a gynocoligist next week and am wondering what this appt will consist off.

Any help with be appreciated

Cheers Kel

Hi Kel

I also have PCOS and was only diagnosed last year after TTC for way to long.My gyno was great and very thorough...now lets see if I can remember what he did!

I had a full physical exam
Blood work done
An ultrasound
Went through medical history and any symptoms I'd been having
Asked if my periods were regular
I think thats all but I have probably forgotten something........

After I got all the results back I made another appoinment where he informed me I had PCOS and that we'd try clomid to try to get me to ovulate again.Clomid worked really well for me as I was on it for 2 cycles and got normal periods both times and ovulated!

Hi Kel

I also have PCOS and was only diagnosed last year after TTC for way to long.My gyno was great and very thorough...now lets see if I can remember what he did!

I had a full physical exam
Blood work done
An ultrasound
Went through medical history and any symptoms I'd been having
Asked if my periods were regular
I think thats all but I have probably forgotten something........

After I got all the results back I made another appoinment where he informed me I had PCOS and that we'd try clomid to try to get me to ovulate again.Clomid worked really well for me as I was on it for 2 cycles and got normal periods both times and ovulated!

Hi,
I also have my first gyno appointment next week, I was diagnosed with PCOS last week after a million tests and lots of lovely internal examinations, and am scared to death... we are TTC so this was a big set back, at least i know why i have put on much weight (15kgs in a year) and have bad acne, plus a lots of other symptoms...
I was also wondering if aswell as Comid to most dr's recommend Metformin or is that only in extreme circumstances?

Thanks for you help...

I was put on Metformin, with a view to starting clomiphene after 6 weeks. (but Metformin alone re-established my cycle, and I got pg on 2nd cycle!). Apparently Metformin helps your body respond to the Clomid better.

I think from my understanding your put on metformin if your symptoms are a bit more extreme.I didn't really have that many of the symptoms, like no cysts on my ovaries or anything like hair on my face or chest or acne (although I had put on weight around my middle but not that much)the main thing was I wasn't ovulating.But it may also depend on your doctor and what they want to do.Clomid does have some side effects like for me it was hot flushes and general PMS all the time, ovulation pain etc.I don't really know if metformin has any side effects.

I've got cysts on my ovaries and AF disappeared completely for 10 months. My OB actually diagnosed me PCO rather than PCOS. I'm not overweight (have only just reached my ideal weight! have always been underweight) and my skin's good, no excess facial hair or anything. But he put me on Met. Maybe it's the blood results too. Perhaps he could see that insulin resistance was the major part of my problem. *shrug*. All I know is it turned out that Met was all I needed. Which I'm glad.. coz both DH and I did not want multiples (a big risk of Clomid).. friends of ours had twins about a year and half ago.. and they're a lot of work!

Side effect of Metformin is diarrhoea (for the first week or so as you get used to it). I didn't have this at all, but I felt a bit unwell, and really thirsty for the first couple of weeks. Nothing since. OB is also keeping me on the Met for the first trimester, as it can help reduce the risk of miscarriage, which is higher for women with PCO(S).

Hi Guys,

I was diagnosed with PCOS on the weekend, and am still coming to terms with it...

My Dr and I have decided to wait a couple of months to see what happens, then if nothing, we will be off to the specialist and onto the clomid!

Maybe we could start a sticky TTC with PCOS thread somewhere, for us all to get to know each other and help each other through it all???

Hey Guys,

Thanks heaps for your comments. Im so very scared. I had another cyst pop on me just yesterday. Like Ivana_baby i to am not over weight and my skin is great. I really dont understand some of what is really going on with me. If anyone can let me know in people terms that would be great...

Thanks you are all so wonderful

Hey,
My doctor has advised that i have to go on a low GI diet as well as seeing my gyno for medication, I have looked into the whole low GI diet thing and its so hard to understand. I have decided to go and see a Nutritionist, she is in Hawthorn in Vic, so hopefully she will get me on the right track. Has anyone else been to see a Nutritionist and has it helped?
Also as a said in my last post, I have my first appointment with my gyno next Wednesday, I was just wondering did anyone take their partners along with them, I don't know if it will be to weird and awkward for him....

All

We seem to be at very similar stages!
I have very first appointment on Thursday morning and DF is attending with me. We figure two ears are better than one! Rach, it may be good to give your DP an insight and understanding on any info and what you may or may not face / be going through. Hopefully be a little de-sensitised by the time labour is on the cards! :-k
I am going to Jean Hailles Clinic in Clayton. I have heard they have a really good reputation.
Before TTC (about 12 months ago) I had an internal ultrasound for an unusually painful period and results indicated 15 and 12 follicles on ovaries which "neither confirmed or ruled out" PCO. After a great deal of personal research, I have a lot of yukky symptoms of PCOS. We have been TTC for about 6 months or so and saw GP who referred me to spec for invest. I have been charting and suspect I have only ovulated once since TTC.

I heard the GI diet was specifically helpful for insulin resistance (as part and parcel of PCOS)..not sure on details / outcome as a result

I wonder if my spec will move onto medications straight away?

Hope all goes well at spec for you :D

I will def post and let you guys in on what happens with appt on Thurs. May or may not be of help since I haven't been officially diagnosed as such #-o

Kelann, do you feel the cysts burst? That sounds painful :-s

i was diagnosed in my mid teens with endo and only last year with PCOS (oficially)during my second round of lap. So when it came time to TTC when were only given three months if i wasn't "normal" in that time then i was to start clomid - so when my Af only turned up after three months i was put on clomid next cycle (ish) and fell pg straight off - unfortunately m/c....i was put on metformin when my GP suspected i was PCOS ish - but was only diagnosed officially with insulin resistance - metformin was to help reduce weight.....not when TTC

Hey all,

I had another cyst pop on Monday!!!

Yes snowflake they do hurt. And boy do they hurt. I have never experienced pain like that before.

I guess i can only wait to next Thursday to see what the Gyno says... I was suppose to go this week but had to pospone it...

My doctor doesn't think it sounds great with two cysts poping in a month.

Who knows, we'll just have to wait and see...

You guys have been a huge help.

Kel

Hey all,

I had another cyst pop on Monday!!!

Yes snowflake they do hurt. And boy do they hurt. I have never experienced pain like that before.

I guess i can only wait to next Thursday to see what the Gyno says... I was suppose to go this week but had to pospone it...

My doctor doesn't think it sounds great with two cysts poping in a month.

Who knows, we'll just have to wait and see...

You guys have been a huge help.

Kel

As a fellow sufferer of PCOS and a Type 2 Diabetic, I regard Metformin as something of a miracle....I hadnt been ovulating for years, and after a few months of taking it, lost weight and got pregnant first try! I wish you the best of luck in your journey...

Hi everyone, sorry to hear about your troubles with PCOS but I think that its great that you stay positive.

I was just wondering if anyone knew if doctors could diagnose PCOS before TTC. I'm waiting 2 years before TTC but am clucky now. Some of the symptoms sounds like me (weight, insulin issues, acne at 23, facial hair even though i am fair) and I don't know if I ovulate because of my Implanon birth control means no periods.

Did you guys know about PCOS before TTC? Should I find out?

You could probably see your GP and ask if they can do blood tests and ultra sounds. Apparently a lot of women have it and don't find out until they have trouble conceiving. No harm in asking the dr anyway :) Hope you don't have it tho!

When I was about 17 I had ultrasounds and things because of irregular periods, and they suspected cysts on my ovaries. But I've only officially been diagnosed this year.

Ruth, a number of years ago now, I had a few months without a period which lead me to get the internal ultra sound, which confirmed some cysts, which were described as pin head like. Soon after my periods returned to normal (I think following a weight reduction) and hadn't really been too concerned about it since. Due to the hair issue, we suspected that it could be a lingering problem. We started TTC in about Jan of this year and after a few months got involved in charting my temps etc. This is what highlighted to us that it didn't appear that I was ovulating.

I would suggest charting (as a pre measure) but obviously bit difficult if you are on birth control. Charting is very helpful to know your cycles and you may find some clues there.

Of course, if it is bothering you, I would see your GP, it can't hurt to find out. It's also possible that the symptoms may not be related to PCOS. Also, keeping in mind that you can have cysts on the ovaries (PCO) and not huge symptoms, and no / minimal cysts but suffer the symptoms PCOS "syndrome". Can get quite confusing. Are you past the pimple stage?

Good Luck :luck:

I'm still yet to find out all the gory details! 8-[

:D

Hi guys
I was diagnosed PCOS last year. I came off the pill in march 04 and got one period 6 weeks later then nothing for 2 1/2 months so I went to GP, who did a scan and saw cysts. As we were TTC I was referred to a spec who confirmed diagnosis and I have been on ART since october 04.

PCOS is where there is an imbalance in the production of FSH which leads to anovulation. About 10-20% of women have it in some form or another. Sometimes if you are overweight (I am) losing weight can reverse a lot of the symptoms.

Clomid is a drug that tells your brain that your ovaries are not producing enough FSH and intiates increased production.

FSH injections stimulate the ovary directly.

PCOS and insulin resistance are closely linked and therefore metormin +/- a low GI diet ( which basically means the less processed the better) can help reduce symptoms.

Hope this helped. I have done 4 cycles of clomid and am currently undergoing my third cycle of AI. I feel pg last cycle but unfortunately m/c at 8 weeks.

We will all get there.

Hi there everyone,

So I'm hearing that losing weight/a low GI diet can help PCOS? I want to lose weight anyway b4 TTC (I'm 114kg). Did other people have sucess with this approach? What are you doing to lose weight?

Ruth B

Hi Snowflake,

I've got the odd lot of pimples but they are mostly that small, rashy, kind of red pimples than your full-on zit. It's a bugger, because it makes me look younger than I am, and I already look quite young for my age. Nothing seems to make the pimples go away, even a strict skincare routine.

I will think about going to the Dr about finding out, but I guess even if I do have it then all I can do at this stage is lose weight, which I need to anyway.

Ruth

Snowflake,
If by pimples, you mean... big red nasty painful alien like creatures that are seem to spawn with a life of their own... Well I'm there NOW!!!!
It is so bizarre... in that I have NEVER before in my life had skin like this - my friends used to envy my skin - not one blemish!! it is awful.. I dont know if it is because I had been on birth control (ie pill and implanon) since I was 15 and they had masked this problem... bit in the last couple of months it has gotten BAD and nothng I do will help... I clean my face, dont wear makeup, use a very light moisturiser and nothing helps!!!! ](*,)

But did I notice you said it was a stage... Do they go away???? If you have gone thu it do you have any suggestions what I can do???

I have been diagnosed with PCOS just in May this year, as Grace was a honeymoon baby, we didn't understand why it was taking so long this time around.

My Gynie was great, he sent my straight for tests, he suggested that I might of had it at my first appointment, as I can shift any weight and a no cycle whatsoever. I have started on a low GI diet, but am still have the occassionally slip up every now and then. My cycle is also gradually returning and the weight seems to be going slowly by surely.

Hope to chat to all of you more.

Sorry about the confusion, when I asked about the "pimple stage" I was asking, was Ruth through her typical pimple stage iykwim.. I haven't had the pimples as a symptom but rest assured I copped the hair part. I had it quite bad but luckily there is laser treatment! I know that there is some connection there with the pimples and the hair follicle, sharing the gland.

Ruth, my spec advised that weight can definately help to get your PCO under / in control. I am considering a lap band but not sure if I qualify, I cannot seem to stick to anything after a 10kg loss. Must be a mental thing.. ](*,) Weight loss is hard to stick with, that's for sure! Let me know if you find anything great

Hi Tatty :D this site is very helpful and enjoyable

Hi,
Pimples thats me... and i discovered over the weeekend i am growing a moustache.... HELP... I have never been hairy never... i can put up with the pimples and weight but hairy no way.... what can i do....
About the weight i went and seen a dietician last week and she put me on a low GI diet, i have lost 2kgs in 5 days, i know it is a small amount but it is working... she was brilliant... she said that as i am only 80kgs, i was 60kgs 15 months ago that i would only need to lose about 5kgs to help witht he symptoms of PCSO, but i want to get down to my normal weight of 60kgs again... i am working hard.... i just have to get rid of the pimples now... i need a miracle I think....

Nothing a few wax strips can't fix Rach! :badgrin:

As mentioned, I just get zapped, I put up with the excess hair for too long, no sign of it now!

That is a great weight loss! :cheer: Good on you!! :cheer: My spec advised me that 10% could yield great results in helping PCOS.

Mind blowing how much weight can influence things, isn't it?

Hi,

My name is Sarah. I was just diagnosed with PCOS yesterday. I am still in that initial shock and I am not sure where to go with it. I don't think I completely fit in this discussion page because I am not trying to conceve, however I just need to hear more about managing this. Because I am not currently trying to get pregnant, my doctor has put me on orth-tri-cyclen Lo. My biggest concern is in the future when I am ready to have children. What are some of these medications that are supposed to help? Are they fertility drugs? If someone can help me with this I would really appreciate it.

Hi Sarah
Sorry about your diagnosis hope the symptoms aren't too bad. The drugs discussed here so far are clomid FSH and metformin.
Clomid and FSH are fertility drugs that aid in ovulation induction hereas metformin is a hypoglycaemic which is usually prescribed for diabetes. There has been a link betweeen insulin resistance and PCOS so that is why metformin is being prescribed.
HTH

Hi Snowflake,

I find it really, really, hard to stick to a diet, I just have poor impluse control, so if I want something, I generally eat it. My sister, who is quite obese, had a Lap band, and it didn't do anything for her! She's had all kinds of tests etc. and they said that she was a good candidate for it, but it didn't do anything to her appetite or feeling full. She just burbs a lot now, which is disgusting. Think carefully about it, because it might not work for you.

My technique is to try and exercise heaps. (Well, it seems like heaps to me). I ride for 45 minutes 3 days a week and do 10 minutes of strength exercises on the other days. The gym near me has just opened up, so I will definately be doing more - probably 3 x 1 hr sessions at the gym in addition to what I'm doing now. I try to go low-carb and low-GI but I have such a sweet tooth! Plus, we eat at other peoples houses heaps and parents house etc. so it is hard.

I'm down to 113.5kg from between 118-122kg at my maximum - that was 9 months ago - so I've very slow going!

I'm off to have all my excess hair waxed off soon. Ouch!

Ruth

Hi

New to this and just wanted to intraduce myself I'v got PCOS and wanted to know if there was hope for me ever getting pregnant?

Of course there is hope for you slix.

Many women with PCOS fall pregnant without any medical intervention at all.. some need Metformin (I have just started that), some need Clomid, others need more...

Chat to your GP... they can refer you to a gyno if you need more help.

Good Luck

Hi Slix

Welcome to BB.There are many of us who have PCOS and have conceived with a little help.I'm living proof that you can have PCOS and get pregnant!

You need to find yourself a great gyno/fertility specialist, trust me it makes all the difference!

Slix,
I have PCOS and have a beautiful little girl.
Although I think I have had every fertilty treatment done to me.
Small procedures often make a world of difference.
I second finding a doctor that understands PCOS and research, don't be afraid to suggest ideas.
Good luck
Bec