Anyone aound who can chat to me about PCOS

[aSilverLining]

I have a niggly doubt I may have it, but don't know a great deal about it, just what I can recall reading about it in the past and thinking it sounded like me. I have..

painful periods
irregular, heavy periods (but less so since having DS 5 yrs ago)
oily, spotty skin for last 15 yrs (from age 12)
depression
facial hair problem - have today noticed dark hairs on the sides of my nose!!

Also as I am assuming this is to do with hormones, I will also mention that I am super sensitive to oestrogen, can't take oestrogen contraceptive pills as they make me sick, and had bad hyperemesis in pg.

Is this something that is worth going to the doctors about?

You and me both......

Hi FG It is one of those niggly things I always put on the back burner as there is usually something more pressing I should sort first but it is irksome.

ta!

Too right! Everytime I mention it to my doc I end up back at square one and yet I still feel there must be solution. Bulging spots and painful periods that can soak through a towel and a pair of jeans in minutes = a right PITA!!

look here for more info - definately worth speaking to your GP about (although you may find they don't know very much either, adn fob you off, espcially if you're not currently ttc) as there can be long term problems (increased risk of stuff). Sadly there's no cure and no proper treatment for the syndrome as a whole, it's just individual symptoms. And annoyingly, the best self help stuff is low GI diet combined with moderate exercise.
Also have a look at books by Colette Harris (they're linked from the Verity website) - she's very good.

frumpygrumpy that is heavy I thought I had heavy periods!

Thanks for that link shrinkingviolet, I will have a read this evening when DS in bed. I am not TTC, and have actually had to promise my gynae who I saw about my prolapse (rectocele and cystocele) that I am having no more children.

If I were to look into it I would just be asking GP to refer me back to gynae as he very good. Stupidly I didn't think to mention it to him when I went for other issue.

either a gynae, or an endocrinologist (as it's a hormone imbalance).

You need Attilathemeercat. Put a call out for her. She's full of knowledge about PCOS
The extra hair is horrid. I keep finding, what I think is an eyelash on my chin only to discover it's attached the my face!

Apparently a low GI diet is very good at keeping symptoms to a minimum.
I'm yet to find out if laser hair removal is available on the NHS for PCOS sufferers

The hair thing is getting worse for me. On my nose! Short little dark hairs! I mean what's that about?!? I don't even know what to do with em, hair bleach maybe? Upper lip aswell, and I get those thick dark hairs too, the odd stray one, on my chin, or half way down my thigh. Sigh.

Oh I like Attila she is lovely (holds hand out for cookie).

What is low GI?

fruitbatlings - in some areas you can get laser on the nHS, but it's a postcode lottery - I know some people who've managed and lots of other who haven't .

aSilverlining - at it's simplest low GI is swapping "white carbs" for "brown carbs" - so wholemeal bread rather than white bread, wholemeal pasta not ordinary pasta. Basmati rice is good, but not long grain, new potatoes are OK, but not any other kind. Avoid sugar as much as possible, but I think that good quality dark chocolate is not that bad . I don't know any websites off the top of my head (as I'm very bad at monitoring my diet - I know what works for me, but don't abide by it very often ) but if you google you'll get some.

thanks for that info shrinkingviolet, we eat a lot of wholemeal anyways so low GI maybe not as bad as I thought, and I do like dark choc too (any chocolate will do I don't discriminate).

Hi a SilverLining

Thank you for the virtual cookie.

All that you describe symptom wise could very well amount to PCOS. I would go to the GP and relay your symptoms to this person, if they prove unhelpful then I would ask for a referral to a gynaecologist.

Re the hirsuitism, Collette Harris also discusses this in her books too. I think some PCOSers have electrolysis but there is really no permanent solution.

PCOS is something that does not go away and there is no cure (the causes of PCOS are not fully understood) but it can be managed.
It is a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently.

DO look at Verity's website (I see that Shrinking Violet has given you the details of this) and do also read the publications written by Collette Harris. Infact the more knowledge you yourself have the better as knowledge is power!.

Some PCOSers find following a low GI/GL (glycaemic load) plan helpful and you would not have to say a fond farewell to your vices of tea, alcohol and chocolate.

Re the painful periods (and particularly if you have suffered pain for years) this may well be due to endometriosis particularly if pain is worse during and leading up to menstruation.

Also I note you are sensitive to estrogen; endometriosis is very much estrogen dependent.

HTH a bit, any other questions just ask.
(I was diagnosed several years ago with both PCOS and endometriosis by the gynae and these are unconnected to each other).

I have PCOS, diagnosed in 2006. The hair, weight gain (not much but still), the heavy painful bleeds, etc.

In first pregnancy the cysts grew as quick as the baby and I was recommended to have a CS. I'm newly pregnant and history seems to be repeating itself.

Haven't had treatment, am fertile but would definitely advise anyone thinking they have PCOS to get it checked and confirmed by a GP, OB/Gyn. Best to know what you're dealing with.