PCOS - chatty thread

[Freddie3642]

Hi all, I'm 36 with 2 kids, and i've just been diagnosed with PCOS. I am not planning on more children, but would like to address the weight, irregular periods and hairdresser.

For those living with PCOS, what are the top lifestyle/non-medical things that help you manage it? I am in chats with my Dr about medical treatments, so don't really need any advice on those.

For me it's getting out in nature, and prioritising sleep(I know not ideal with kids!) I ended up starting mounjaro to address weight after my second child and it is working very slowly. I am ten years older but would say a good vitamin/supplement regime also helps have you looked into inositol at all?

@Cornishbelle thanks for the reply🙂.

I try very hard with the sleep, but between my 3 year old visiting me in the night, and my own hormonal night waking, my sleep can be hit and miss. But I will keep trying to improve it!

Getting out in nature is something I can do, as my kids are 6 and 3 and at the ages where it is a bit easier to get out for a walk and explore, and sometimes necessary to stop all of us getting cabin fever.

I started taking an inositol supplement a month ago, but recently I listened to a podcast on PCOS that mentioned that myo-inositol with d-chiro 40:1 can be effective. I also take Magnesium Glycinate, omega 3, a probiotic, and b vitamins.

The issue is that the NHS (not wishing to bash them at all, as the diagnosis process was great), haven't been that helpful with how to manage it outside of hormonal contraception and weight loss.

Can I ask how you went about being prescribed Mounjaro? My friend takes it for other health/weight related issues and says it's been really helpful.

I was diagnosed at 28, now 39 and have had two DC in the interim (one with fertility assistance, one natural conception). I took metformin whilst ttc and between DC, but i didnt want to take metformin forever so ive just recently started taking inositol instead (ive put the link below). My periods have been around 40 days since taking them which is way better than prior to the DC coming along, so I think its helping.

Between DC, I also lost 10kg by doing low carb intermittent fasting. I gained a lot of the weight back when I became pregnant with DD2 but hoping to lose it again.

The next thing id like to tackle is the excess hair - im thinking about electrolysis but need to find someone close to me who is recommended and havent done that yet.

https://novomins.com/products/inositol-gummies (I find it difficult to take tablets now after having to take 20 a day to control the preeclampsia at the end of my pregnancy / postpartum so I much prefer these gummy style ones).

@CrispAppleStrudels I also gained a lot of weight with DD, and didn't lose it before DS came along. I'd love to be the person that can lose weight easily, but I've only managed weightloss by going low carb, and to be honest, I always feel less bloated and more energetic when
I've reduced my carb in take. So annoying! As I love carbs in all forms.

I'm currently taking a Myo Inositol
Supplement by Free Soul, which has been good, but I'm planning on using this one by Time Health as it was mentioned by Claire Petitt on an Episode of the Food Medic with Dr Hazel Wallace podcast. I did ask my GP for advice and guidance, but got very little back from her. So I've taken to reading books, and listening to podcasts, and asking other women instead!

https://www.timehealth.co.uk/product/myo-d-chiro-inositol/?attribute_pa_size=120-capsule-bottle&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=AP%20Google%20Shopping%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=27566&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=8657145491&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwZDFBhCpARIsAB95qO3O-irKuaWnv15wdA-L1rKu0AIW0jju4VVVUt-h5SrJI52eM8hmMhEaAqQpEALw_wcB

I was diagnosed when I was 27, one thing I did want to mention just in case anyone didn’t know, because in my experience Drs really couldn’t care less, is that with PCOS you are much more likely to be insulin resistant and much more likely to develop Gestational Diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Push for annual HbA1C blood testing so that you find out as soon as possible.

i had GD and was not put on an annual testing cycle, found out last year I had T2 after feeling ill for ages and being fobbed off. Based on my test results I’d had it for years, by the time it was confirmed by a medical professional I already had eye damage and damage to nerves and circulation and I was immediately put on insulin as my sugar levels were triple what they should be.

@InfoSecInTheCity oh you poor thing! I hope you are getting treatment now? And I'm sorry it got that far. Luckily for me, though my Dr has been useless in treatment or any advice on management, the first test she did was a HbA1C, that was reassuringly normal. That being said ,I do have a feeling I may be insulin resistant, so will not be taking that normal result for granted.

You can change GP - go to another GP in your practice or even shop around the GPs in your practice till you find one that's knowledgeable and cares and you have a good relationship with. I did that and it worked. Perhaps start by asking reception or checking the website for a GP that has a special interest in women's health or endocrine. If you feel you need it, you can ask the GP for a referral to endocrinology for extra support in management (you could also go private for a general check in appointment and see what they say if you're not at the threshold for referral on the NHS as you're well managed). You can ask GP and if you do see an endocrine doctor as well about insulin resistant and the tests for it and about starting WLJ.

@Freddie3642 re the mounjaro, I have paid for privately so shopped around and first used med express, since used zava numan and pill sorted to take advantage of first customer deals. Sounds like it is set to get more expensive though unfortunately. I have most weight but it has been slow going around 9kg in 8 months but I have impending menopause in the mix too so I would have gained quite a bit I think without. Sounds like you have a good supplement regime in place, keep going and making little changes is the best ime

@Freddie3642 re the mounjaro, I have paid for privately so shopped around and first used med express, since used zava numan and pill sorted to take advantage of first customer deals. Sounds like it is set to get more expensive though unfortunately. I have most weight but it has been slow going around 9kg in 8 months but I have impending menopause in the mix too so I would have gained quite a bit I think without. Sounds like you have a good supplement regime in place, keep going and making little changes is the best ime

I was only diagnosed at 27, due to infertility. I'd always struggled with periods,weight and hair growth. I'm now in my 50s, post menopausal, had a total hysterectomy.
The thing that made the most difference to me was a very low carb, very low sugar diet. When I was not following that I was basically a big fat slug, no energy, just bleurgh. Losing weight also somewhat slowed hair growth, though that continued to be a battle.

@OhDorWheresthesalad yep! I was low carb, low sugar for weeks then massively fell off the wagon due to illness (me and the kids), plus a holiday, and did I feel the difference? Yes I did, I felt like a big, fat bloated slug. I think I'd forgotten that it isn't normal to feel that way.

@Cornishbelle I'm making small changes, starting with supplements and breakfast changes. After 6 years of motherhood and all the stress and sleep deprivation it comes with, plus a lifetime of issues around my eating and weight. I have some pretty ingrained habits that I need to unpick. Too many changes at once gets far too overwhelming! Thank you for the information on Mounjaro, I'm not sure that it is for me just yet, but it's an option if diet and lifestyle don't work on their own. We'll address the cost if and when I get there.

Hello all,

all your comments seem all to familiar, I was i diagnosed in early 20s now 40 and starting perimenopause. Weight has been an issue all my life, when I start losing the weight I feel great but once derailed that’s it.

the issue I am struggling with at the moment is hair growth especially on my face, I have resulted in plucking which is not good I know. Could I ask what you other ladies do to manage it?

im fed up of hating my appearance and feeling like a bearded lady 😓