Just diagnosed with PCOS - feeling sorry for myself

[Nightfall1983]

Can anyone please offer me either some kind words or a kick up the bum?

I saw my doctor today to discuss the results of some blood tests; bloods were taken because of my lack of periods (none since July) which in turn is a problem because we want to TTC. Bloods show hormone imbalance indicative of PCOS, doc has referred for a scan. She seemed pretty confident that it was/is PCOS.

Just feeling sorry for myself; need to lose a tonne of weight, I mean i needed to loose it anyway but now I REALLY need to loose it.

Background just FYI: have always been fairly spotty, have a fair amount of hair though not too crazy. Have previously had fairly regular, very painful periods. Struggled a bit to conceive DC1 due in part to irregular periods which I had though were caused by coming off the pill. DS is now two and I have gained so much weight since having him, am far far heavier than I have been in the past. That's it I guess. Just feeling a bit down...

Fellow PCOSer here. Was diagnosed over a decade ago.

PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently. The commonality is the cystic follicles on the ovaries; these can and do disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles.

Are your periods still very painful; if so I would definitely mention this as this may have another cause like for instance endometriosis. PCOS does not cause painful periods.

Your other symptoms may well all be linked to PCOS as well. There is no real evidence to suggest that the pill is responsible for failure to ovulate but what it can do is mask symptoms of any underlying problem; that is what has happened here.

I would look at Verity's website as this has lots of information on it about PCOS. www.verity-pcos.org.uk.

I would try to follow a low GI/GL eating plan as this can be helpful to PCOSers.

Am glad the doctor appears to be on the ball here but PCOS is a problem really outside a GPs remit; you should be under the care of a gynae ideally.

Any other questions just ask.

I was misdiagnosed with PCOS before I found out I actually had endometriosis. A scan won't show that though unless the endo is very obvious and the scanner an experienced specialist, so it's probably worth asking for a separate gyne referral.

Thank you both. The doctor has said that after my scan she will refer me to a gynaecologist.

My periods are still painful but on on the level they were when I was a teenager - plus more absent than not at the moment. If the scan doesn't show cysts I will definitely push for further investigation.

Even if the scan shows cysts I'd still take up the GPs offer of the gyne referral as you can have cysts with endo.
Lots of luck

It is possible to have both PCOS and endometriosis, I was diagnosed with PCOS initially and then endometriosis post surgery.

I would suggest that you keep a daily pain and symptom diary if you do not already do so as this will give the gynae clues.

I have had more internal ultrasounds than I care to mention and endo was never spotted. My endometriosis was only seen and dealt with (it was removed by laser) when laparoscopic surgery was performed.

I was diagnosed before having dc1 as my periods took a year to return after stopping the pill. The biggest piece of advice I can give is around losing the weight. Cutting out white refined carbs worked wonders for me in both weight loss and the appearance of my skin. Good luck.