PCOS – just found this group!
Question:
Hi Everyone, I just found this group after browsing the newsgroups. I had no idea there was one established for sufferers of PCOS. What a relief to find kindred souls! I’m 36 and was diagnosed with PCOS about 5 – 6 years ago. Actually, my OB/GYN KNEW I had PCOS for about 3 years before that, but never bothered to tell me or explain it to me. I ended up taking myself to an Endocrinologist and that’s how I started treatment for PCOS. I’m single, not trying to have children, so it was the perpetually missed periods over the years that drove me to find an answer. I don’t know all my numbers on the various tests, but since 1992 I have been taking Aldactone (Spirolactone), a blood pressure medication, for my excess androgens/testosterone. My levels tested normal-high and have been right in the middle of the normal range ever since. I take 200mg. per day (one dose at night and the other in the morning). If I miss a dose I really feel it as I start to bloat up. The Aldactone is also a mild diuretic and that really helps. I also take a small amount of Synthroid daily as my thyroid is just a little bit sluggish. Aside from that I understand that nothing else can really be done for the condition? I have, what I understand to be, a mild case of PCOS. I had a vaginal ultrasound and my ovaries are mildly enlarged. My hirsuteness is (thank goodness) limited to my chin and midline tummy. I notice I easily gain weight (naturally) and have a hard time losing it unless I eat a higher protein / lower complex carbo diet. I do best with lots of salads and veggies and lean meats. Brown Rice and Beans are the death of me. I took a macrobiotic cooking class once years ago (which is a VERY low fat, all veggie/grains diet) and I was the only one in the class who gained weight! Most people lose weight. That’s when I knew I could not eat the carbos like everyone else. I can eat them in small portions and only occassionally. Of course that only makes me want them MORE. When I was first diagnosed I had cystic acne, which I never had as a teenager. Also, my hair thinned out quite a bit–especially on top . My skin has since cleared up with the help of the Aldactone plus Retin-A plus thyroid. I started using Minoxodil about 6 months ago for my thinning hair and that has helped a bit. My hair still seems thin to me, but I definitely notice improvement. As for my weight–it’s a struggle. I’m about 40 lbs overweight. I seem to carry a large amount of fat in my abdomen. I once read that this is a symptom of PCOS (called "Adrenal Obesity"). I fantasize about Liposuction and a flat tummy <g>. I’m curious if others have the same set of symptoms as I do? Are there new treatments out there or new meds I should know about? I decided not to go on the pill as I suffer from depression and the pill makes that worse. I’m curious as to what others are doing for their symptoms. Well, enough for one message. Thanks in advance to all you PCOS folks! Natalie
Response:
Natalie– Welcome!! I assume you’re doing websearches too? There’s tons of info out there about the insulin resistance-PCOS connection. You may also want to check out the PCOSupport website. michaela ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Director of Public Relations Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association http://www.pcosupport.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Response:
Filed under: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
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