PCOS - anyone else suffer? any tips?

[pickyvic]

Talking to my GP today and she wants to test me for PCOS - (however when it took me 3 years to conceive DD i did have a scan and it did show cysts on both ovaries - that was over 12 years ago now and i was with a different GP)

ive been doing WW - and on 20 points a day and 3 X 60 mins of exercise per week im actually gaining weight! my WW leader said this wasnt normal and said to see GP, (i was tested about a year ago for underactive thyroid and tests came back normal.) but no one thought of PCOS until today.

i also came of the mini pill 6 months ago and to date have not had a period. i do have more body hair (tho not to a terrible degree and i shave/wax/pluck anyway)....but wondered if anyone else suffers? i know its shallow but the weight thing is really the one thing that is getting me down and im having to fight just to remain the same weight (and im now officially in the overweight range when i do a BMI calculation) its so depressing and none of my clothes fit.

im 37. im lucky as ive got my kids so no probs there, i did have problems TTC but dont want any more so in that respect im ok.
anyone else have any experience?
thanks.

How bizzare, I was about to post the same thing. I have been told today that I too have cysts on my right ovary. Am totally freaked out by it. I have been struggling from mad weight gain for a while and also very hairy.
will watch thread with interest as I have a whole series of tests coming to find out what sort of cysts they are.

ive only just embarked on mine - though like i said i do know when i had a scan years ago it was mentioned but nothing was done after that because i did eventually get preggars!

what tests are they going to do goingslowlyroundthebend? ive got to start with a blood test. im pretty sure ive got it, but the weight thing is pissing me right off. i should be a size 6! im eating like a bird and exercising like a loon!

should i google? or leave it? if ive got it am i right in thinking there is no treatment anyway?

Hi,

I have PCOS.

I have hairy toes (boak) and more facial hair than usual, although this is easily dealt with.
I also have had problems with adult acne.
I can put on weight very easily but after i had my dd (almost 9 yrs ago) I was advised to use the mirena coil as it can help with the symptoms.

Now i am pretty much ok, skin is good as long as i stick to a routine and my weight is now constant, (i am a size 10-12 depending where i shop). The weight i control by the usual adages of regular exercise and decent diet.

PCOS is ok once you get it under control, loads of different people will tell you loads of different miracle treatments but i really think it is one of those things you just need to trial and error for yourself.

There are lots of different treatments depending on what you want to acheive- some doctors prescribe Metformin which is supposed to help on the weight side (it makes me feel sick) - the other thing I've heard a couple of times is that low carb diets work best - this seems to work for me best (though is still a struggle) - that said other specialists have said that this is crap!

is this the time to confess to also having hairy toes....noticed as much today as i wore flip flops....not a good look. im not wolf man hairy - but am having to shave/wax more and in more places! (toes will now be on the list!)

im just sick of eating so sensibly and exercising and seeing nothing for it other than a slightly flabbier tummy the following week and another pound gained.

im was a size 8. then went to 10. then went to 12. and in last 2 years have gone to a 14. i know im not obese but im very self conscious of it as im not tall and dont carry weight at all well and im eating more healthily than ive ever done before! im very glad i had my kids young as im not sure if and when ill see another period. my skin isnt bad, but i do get the odd cyst-like spot on my face that takes weeks and weeks to go (god im making myself sound such a catch!!)

ill get the bloods done and go back - see if they will scan me again.

I feel for you, it is a pain in the arse at times.

You could ask if there is a doctor at the practice who has an interest in PCOS, they may be able to discuss treatment/strategy in more detail with you.

Don't google, the advice is way too conflicting, do make a double appointment to talk this through properly with your gp though.

Re the weight gain, are you looking at what you are eating? Keep a food diary and make a note at the end of each day how you feel. ie are you bloated, sluggish, feeling good.
Also look at when you have a bowel movement and if it is ok (solid but soft) or are you constipated/retaining water?

I found that a lot of my tummy was bloating, cut down the carbs and it is much better. Also i was getting constipated alot which according to my doctor was hormone related. She prescribed buscopan to relax the muscles around the bowel and it is much better now.

thanks for that - all and any advice gratefully received. i will go and speak to the gp once my bloods are back and good idea to keep a food diary...thought about doing that to prove how virtuous i was being in case the gp thought i was lying to myself about what im eating...but could be useful for my own use too i guess.