overweight - facial hair -no periods

[lollymoo]

I'm currently over weight - weight roughly 22stone am having huge problems loosing weight i'm constantly hungary - my period are eratic i keep getting black hairs growning on my face / chin / neck can anyone offer any advice at all -i'm scared to go to the doctor in case he says it my own fault for letting my weight get so out of control

Sounds like a thyroid thing, lm. I will go and google for you

Lolly, I have many of the problems you describe - just posted a thread about metformin as it is what my doctor has just prescribed to help.

Go see your doctor and be tested for both your thyroid and polycystic ovaries. If you have either problem it is not your fault about your weight. Of course there are things we can do to lose weight but it is much harder if you have either of these. For the record, I have both an underactive thyroid and pco.

Don't be afraid to ask for help - your doctor should be supportive.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) .. classic symptoms .. get it checked out

this isn't a diagnosis by the way

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a real possibility and can be easily investigated. That would explain weight gain/facial hair/erractic periods. Please do get this checked out - don't be afraid, these are very real symptoms which are not your fault, no more than asthma or eczema are anyone's fault.

Other thought is diabetes, but that wouldn't explain facial hair IIRC.

If it is PCOS, standard advice is to loose weight I'm afraid. Not in a 'this is all your fault for being fat' way, in a 'PCOS causes you to put on weight and makes it harder to lose but if you can fight back and lose weight it will reduce the severity of symptoms' way. If that's the case, then ask your GP for support to lose weight - do they have any clinics/groups that support people trying to lose weight for health reasons? Having other people around you who are facing similar battles really does help.

'lose' weight, obviously, not loose weight!

Oh, prob not thyroid then, even given PinotGirl's condition. (Is it common to have both, PG?)

JanH, I don't know, to be honest. I think I'm just hormonally messed up in most ways. I don't think there is a link between pco and hypo-thyroidism - it's just bad luck.

PCOS and PCO cause all of the problems you describe. Apparently 1 in 6 women have PCOS/PCO. Unfortunately the weight gain also makes them worse. Typical catch-22. There are lots of treatments to help. I found huge doses of evening primrose oil helped. A GI diet suits me too. I also found that the hormonal changes of pregnancy lost me a stone. Get to the doctor as soon as possible and ask to be checked.

There's a really good self-help book on PCOS by Colette Harris, who has it herself (and edits Health Plus magazine). Can't remember the title, but she really knows her stuff and it is full of practical advice that does actually help. Any bookshop should be able to look it up and order it for you.

thanks for this everyone i really apreciate it.