Questions Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

J.-
I too have PCOS. When I stared planning a family is when I was told I have it. It effected me mostly when trying to concieve, luckly I was put on Clomid and it worked the 3rd time around. I have to struggle with weight and some of the skin problems. I found that going back on birth control has levled my hormones out and I can tell a improvment. Its a daily struggle anyway you look at it. Please feel free to contact me with any question.
Best of Luck
-D.

J.,

You're way ahead of where I was at your age (now I'm 39, but didn't know about PCOS until 2004). There is soooo much more info out there now. Google will yield tons of info, including support groups. I think someone recently posted a Dallas group on Mamasource: http://www.soulcysters.net/

I haven't officially been diagnosed, but the doc thinks I have it. Getting off sugar, white-nothing flour, and caffeine have made a huge difference. I find a higher protein diet (modified low-carb like Somersizing) makes me feel better, and my cycles are now about 34 days apart (instead of months)!!! I'm expecting my fourth baby now. I'm exercising more and hoping to avoid gestational diabetes.

I agree with the mention of getting enough sleep. That will help you fight the empty food cravings and insulin resistance.

Sounds like you are well on your way to a healthier life. Congrats on your baby and health!!!

B.

I was told that I had this while trying to become pregnant with my first child. I never thought anything about having irregular periods. Just thought that was just my body because I was always doing something athletic. Finally after having baby 2, I am on schedule now but still suffer terrible facial hair growth. :( I am planning on having laser hair removal. I stay very active also by lifting weights and running.

Found this website that might be a goos resource, if you have not see it already.

I, too, was diagnosed with PCOS while trying to get pregnant. Had to do Infertility shots for my first child. Was put on Glucophage (to reduce the insulin resistance) and became pregnant on that in 2 months and no infertility meds at all. And the third was a miracle from God.

The best advice is EXERCISE, eat right (no refined carbs, low sugar, lot of veggies/fruit.good protiens) and sleetp right. You know all the stuff Moms have time for :-)
Just try to get in a little exercise (even if it is not at once)

Hi J.,

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I came off the pill to start a family. While there is a whole range of ways it can affect a person my worst problem was fertility and it took 5 years and a range of treatments to finally conceive our son (with the help of IVF). I was extremely lucky and had a fantastic specialist who told us that my hormones would be as close to normal as they ever would for the 12 months following the birth of our son so if we wanted to conceive a second child normally that would be our best chance and we were fortunate to get pregnant with our daughter. Then nearly 12 months to the day that our daughter was born my other symptoms slowly came back, terrible periods with extremely heavy bleeding and with no regularity to them, weight gain etc... Since we feel incredibly lucky to have the family we have and this was disrupting our time with them I had an ablation to ease my period symptoms which worked great for me. I still get periods but they are very managable now. With regards to the weight gain I have this managed now and its just being aware that it can happen very easily and to stay on top of it with exercise and maintaining a very healthy diet so that I can have the odd treat. If you do have anything specific to ask please don't hesitate to get back to me.

Take care

T.

Hi I am 29 and have a 21 month old. I also have endo. I can relate to what you are going through.... one thing after another. Just wondering what made your first doc think you had endo. Did he do a laparoscopy? Just wondering because some of the symptoms of pos are what I have. Just by typing in the Pos in google tons of research and support came up. Hang in there and make taking care of yourself a priority! If you dont then everyone else suffers as well as you. Your 7 month old knows when Mommy is happy. Just take day by day and put your self first. After trying for a long time to get pregnant and finally getting there with my son. I know 100% that God is there. Not that I did not before but you get discouraged when times are tough. So when you get down about all of these things send a prayer up to God and just say... I cant do this with out you. He is there and always is! Take care

Hi J.!

I am also 29 and I too have PCOS. I've been told it's nothing to worry about by 3 different doctors. Apparently, it affects many women. In my case, it's prevented me from getting pregnant since my body doesn't ovulate on a regualar basis. I'm undergoing IVF in May. Check out information from Mayo Clinic. I found tons of helpful information about PCOS from their website! I hope this helps!

C.

Hi,

My daughter (17) has been diagnosed with this as well. I figured that is what she had a couple years earlier based on her symptoms. They are finding out it is related to being insulin resistant: Here is a website with some good information: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/ Also, Here is a bit from the website http://www.dreamababy.com/pcos-insulin.htm

"recent studies have shown that PCOS, and the hormone problems that result from the condition, are often a result of Insulin Resistance (IR) and Glucose Intolerance (GI).

We now believe that many women with PCOS become resistant to the hormone insulin, which is normally responsible for carrying the sugar glucose into the cells. As the cells become more insulin resistant, sugar levels increase in the blood, eventually causing glucose intolerance, along with many of the problems we commonly see in adult-onset diabetes. In fact, PCOS may be a very early type of adult-onset diabetes. It is the excess insulin that is apparently responsible for directly stimulating the ovaries to produce an excess of male hormones, throwing the entire system out of balance."

Hope that helps some.

M.