pcos

[ginge35]

I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 years ago, but have had the symptoms for the last 23 years (I started when I was 12 yo). Does anybody know a healthy way to minimise the Cysts or is there only the laser/hyster?

[{Dakota}]

I have this condition too, the only way is to have laser (hyst in extremely bad cases). I have been given a brand of Pill that reduces the amount of cysts (apparently).

Unfortunately it doesn't get rid of the effects of having PCOS :(

[ginge35]

I used to be on the Pill, but had to give it up cos I put on weight (not very helpful with PCOS!!) I'm now on Metformin which seems to help, but not as much as I'd like it to. Laser is out because my docs want me to lose 3 stone first cos my stomach would get in the way!! I've already lost 11 stone, but hey ho!

[{Dakota}]

WOW !! Congratulations you !!!! Is losing 3 stone going to be that difficult to you after having lost 11? I can only reiterate what I have said already, there's no other options available for us.

[ginge35]

Thanks. Losing the extra 3 stone is going to be difficult 'cos docs don't know if the PCOS causes weight gain or the weight gain causes PCOS :(

In my present situation where I live I do not go out of the house after 6pm because the bus service is crap and the area is rough!! I walk the dog before 6pm and then stay in ALL night.

[{Dakota}]

OK. The weight gain *causes* PCOS, so the advantages of losing it will be 10-fold. I have reservations about leaving my flat in the dark evening too, not so much of a bad area, but it's town centre and I don't trust drunks / petty thieves etc. so I understand where you're coming from. If you can take your dog out for a good period of time (say 1/1.5 hours) then you've already started taking those necessary steps (no pun intended) to lose the weight. Have a look through Amazon, or even post a question here, to find out all the good exercise DVD's / videos available for you to try - you might even be able to rent them from your library before you make that all important purchase. Workout DVD's don't *have* to have you bouncing around your livingroom like a right pillock, there are pilates, yoga, all sorts for you to try and they are all effective.

Before you have mnaged to lose the weight you have so far, I don't need to go into a healthy balanced diet, you've got that successfully covered :)

[joko]

weight gain does NOT cause pcos - being overweight can exacerbate symptoms or make them noticable or troublesome when they weren't before.

pcos causes weight gain - which is the problem - a vicious circle.

losing weight will help with symptoms but is not a cure - there is no cure

I was diagnosed at 10 and had had it for years and i was a very skinny child. most people have it as children but don't know it until they are older and trying for kids.

premature sexual maturation and short legs is a good indicator that you may have had it since childhood too.

It is in your system - removing cysts is like clearing up a patch of eczema - another one will probably appear.

try the verity website - http://www.verity-pcos.org.uk

[{Dakota}]

How odd, I was diagnosed last February and the doc told me that my weight was part of the cause. I promptly lost weight but never got the laser or anything, I don't think mine is bad enough to get that done? Is that possible?? I was told that I would have issues trying to get pregnant when the time comes for me to have a child and I should go back and see him then. Is my doctor being an arse?

[joko]

Hi Dakota,

I think he meant weight gain makes the symptoms worse, makes them problematic, and is what brought them to your notice. Though once you have it you always have it so the bigger you get the worse it gets , which is why they want you to lose weight.

one of the main symptoms of pcos is obesity.

if you went through puberty early or have had problems with your periods is a sign that you have it

I have never been over 10 and half stone and i am 5' 2" - a stone over my ideal but hardly obese

incidentally - early puberty, kicked of by the pcos, causes you to stop growing too soon, which is why many who have it are very slightly out of proprtion, with short legs, I suppose it may depend on the severity of your case.

Some people can have had pcos for years and have no syptoms at all and are only diagnosed after they have problems with getting pregnant.

others are in agony, get hairy, get fat, get moody, get masculine, etc

the laser treatment is usually not done unless the cysts are dangerous, i,e have grown large or are causing immense agony. they call the cysts a string of pearls because thats how they look on a scan.

laser treatment or removal, can lessen the ability to have kids even more, so docs are reluctants to do it, especially on younger women.

as i said, even if you do have laser treatment they will likely grow back - it is in your system, like acne, or eczema - you can only treat the symptoms.

[joko]

mine is worse on one ovary, and i was told if they take the bad one out the cysts just will return on the "good-ish working a bit one", thereby making it even harder to have kids - if you leave it as it is, it will centre on the bad one and hopefully leave the good one alone - though who knows. interesting point though.

It is still a very misunderstood thing and was pretty much unheard of up until about 30 years ago, and peoples symptoms were just dismissed as 'one of those things'

I was only diagnosed as once a month they would burst and i would be in agony and couldn't walk.

other symptoms, even though they are known to be linked to this have been dismissed! my hirsuitism was put down to 'my skin tone and hair colour' by one doctor, even though it blatantly said i had it in my records! - i had male pattern hair growth on my chin! (gone now thankfully, but at 15...aagh!!!)

i think because its not life threatening many docs don't bother to keep up to date with it.

check out that website, you can become a member and they will send you booklets and a newsletter and tell you all you need to know.

try the herb agnus castus too, though there are others that may help - trial and error depending on your symptoms. you will find details on the verity site.

also i have found 'the pill' (dianette) helps keeps my weight down - though i went through a few different brands before i found a suitable one. dianette is also the one most recommended for help with the hair growth too - but everyone is different so it may be worth asking your doc if you can kind try a few different ones.

good luck

[{Dakota}]

Thanks Joko,

My doctor hasn't told me half the stuff that you just told me, only that I will have difficulties getting pregnant and that it was the reason I have hair in areas where a woman shouldn't (between my breasts and down my stomach and I get ONE hair that I ave to pluck from my neck!).

I was 10.5 stone when I was diagnosed and the doctor told my I was seriously overweight (I didn't agree!), but I slimmed down and now around 8.5 stone (I'm 5'1).

I had a terrile time with periods when I was a young teen, I started menstruating at 11 years old and my period pains and the flow was horrendous - to the point I missed a few days of school each month as the pain was so intense. I was put on the pill at 14 (for that reason, not as a contraceptive) and I haven't had period pains and my flow has been light ever since.

Years ago, I went to the doc because I was getting pains that were terrible - and when I was menstruating either. He eventually put me to hospital because I was complaining so often and they found nothing wrong and told me I was "wasting their time". Years later, I went back as it was still bothering me and he told me I ave IBS - which is quite probably true as I *do* have to watch which foods I eat or I'm best friends with the loo for the day LOL, but I'm now wondering that when I think I'm getting an attack of IBS even though I have been careful with what I eat it's actually the PCOS hurting?

I'm sitting here downright furious (to the point I'm crying with anger!) with the docs for panning me off all those years ago.

Thanks for informing me Joko