PCOS Symptoms

Hi Christine! Sorry for the delay in responding.  I have been so sick :o(   Most women with PCOS have high levels of testosterone and very low estrogen - which is the complete opposite of what a woman needs.  I didnt realize the effects of too much testosterone until I watched a show on Discovery Health about hormones and had my "Aha!" moment.  If I can find the name of it, I will let you know.  It affects aggression and adrenelin (sp?).  In my case, that added boost on top of dealing with day to day life and the misery of PCOS (plucking or shaving every day, having hair where its not supposed to be, losing the hair I should have, etc, etc) made me one MISERABLE woman!  LOL  I ended up going to a psych doc and now I am on Effexor XR, which is a Godsend.  I still have days where I feel like I am coming out of my skin.  I have given up the idea of having another child, not by choice tho.  I am 40 now and am high risk just because of that.  We have tried for 5 years now, since my miscarriage with no luck.  I am grateful for my baby girl and guess its just meant for me to have her. I am right there with you on the other side of the looking glass!  I wonder every day, wish sometimes, that I was "normal".  My hubby gets so mad at me for "wishing my life away".  As good as he is, he just doesnt get it.  I would love to go into the bright sunlight without worrying about everyone seeing my beard. I would love not to have to spend money getting laser treatments and still having to shave or pluck.  I would love to have soft, supple, bump free skin.  I would love to wear a bathing suit without having to wax, shave, etc so I dont look like a cavewoman.  I would love to have thick, full hair again instead of thinning.  I would love to not have a huge stomach and look like tweedle-dee or tweedle-dum  LOL  OK, im done  LOL Dont ever feel like no one understands.  I can tell you that I do, completely and totally! Kathy :o)

I was prescribed Spironalctone and the Metformin (loose bowels for a few days that was it) but Yaz birth control pill was added. As the dr explained it was a very light dose but it would help keep the hormones in balance, I did get a very light period 2 -3 days a month with only some cramps but none of the usual PMS stuff. Since I wasn't in a relationship I wasn't trying to have a baby so the combo was fine. THe gyn also pointed out that if i decided to have a baby coming off the pill would be easy and it might be enough to keep my body on track for a few months after the pills stopped. This worked for 8 0r 9 years controlling most of the symptoms but I couldn't loose all the weight.

I just had RNY bypass and had to come off the Yaz a month before the surgery, my period took 7 days and I cried the entire time. A week later I had the operation and the surgeon took me off the all meds when he sent me home. AHHHHHH I was worse that ever, retaining water and constantly crying.... The surgeon had no idea how to treat the PCOS so I had to see the gyn - she gave me the Nuvaring (sp?) since the pills are out of the question- and then my GP - back on the spirolactone at a much reduced dosage crushed of course- just to get some relief.

Right now I'm wishing I never had the surgery,but to be fair it's only been 18 days so maybe time will change my attitude. Work with your doc, you'll find a way to be ok with the PCOS.

I hope you have better luck with the nuvaring then I did! I couldnt even stand to be in a room with myself and my employees were walking on eggshells I was so darn b****y. Maybe you should consider the shot?

LOL I was an emotional mess when I saw the gyn and the ring was the fastest way to get me to a point where I could have some control - I was crying nonstop- so the ring won. By the time I left she was the one upset....lets just say she needs better aim...

I have to go back in three weeks to finish our conversation, although she offered me the patch but since turned out to be allergic to the adhesive on the tape the hospital used I think that's a poor choice. And she did mention the shot but I'm not so sure, I took progesterone pills for the first year of PCOS treatment, I was a b***h, my coworkers were on egg shells, and I ended up in the hospital dehydrated and sick from too much blood loss. The gyn says the shot won't have the same affect. How strict is the shot schedule, I travel often for work so being in her office every 12 weeks could be difficult.

i have to say i love...am IN LOVE with yaz. it has totally helped curb my crazy and i mean CRAZY emotions. all thanks to stupid PCOS!!! i just went off my yaz, and pain killers! because my surgery is coming up...today is the third day, and already i'm feeling my emotions start to slip! i'm wide awake right now when i should be asleep, i'm worried, axious, mad, sad, and getting worse!   i don't know how im going to be in a few days, or after the surgery. I'm so worried!! (adding to it *lol*) blah.   Is there any hope???

Funny thing I just had my follow-up with my gyn this week, the nuvaring wasn't working for me. Anyway one of the things she mentioned was that she could prescribe other non-BCP meds to help with the hormones /PMS like madness that's dogged me since I stopped the yazmin. She wasn't specific and I'm not sure if what she has in mind could be used pre-op but call your gyn, see if there is something they can give you to help with the pms that won't interfere with the surgery. Since I'm 5 weeks post op she's put me on the chewable BCP - it will only be about 70% effective in preventing pregs but it should deliver more of the hormones I need so I can have some normal days. It's a trade off that I'm willing to make. Good luck with the surgery.

hmm! i will ask. go****'s so ridiciulously hard to get an appointment with my lady though. she's always booked up! oh well, just a little more than a week til my surgery...i just keep telling my husband to be reaaaaaallly patient with me *lol* i didn't know there was a chewable bcp either!! thank you for the advice, i'm going to have to call even if i can't get an appiontment *lol*

Hi! I have PCOS and was diagnosed in 1993 after trying to get pregnant. I was referred to a reproductive endocrinologist and he actually diagnosed me by reading my health history. He actually helped me conceive and now I have a 10 year old daughter. I was put on Metformin after her birth and have taken it ever since without any problems. I did eventually have to have a hysterectomy and my right tube and ovary removed due to endometriosis and severe cysts. I have not had WLS yet but I know that the insulin resistance associated with PCOS makes it extremely difficult to achieve any long term weight loss. Maybe once you loose the weight pregnancy will come easy for you. I have noticed several people on OH are pregnant post op. Good luck to you and if you feel that your doctor is not addressing your PCOS please ask them to refer you to a reproductive endocrinologist. That was one of the best things that has happened to me.