~PCOS Support Thread~ Spring 2008

[123Nkechi]

Starting a new thread...

I have been very cranky lately. I am thinking it a combination of hormones and pollen sensitivity. I have MAJOR PMS attitude . I've been taking my metformin but still missing a dose here and there. I am sure my mood will improve as soon as TOM shows up. It always does...

[Nik]

Been there, done that. Last cycle was the WORST! Let's have a great spring.

[123Nkechi]

Today I feel a little better but last night I was very cranky. Today I am just a little tired but that is usually my final stage before TOM arrives. I always look forward to TOM

[KrystaLyn]

Hello, ladies. Just marking my spot! I have been having a bumpy last few months, but hopefully I am back for a while!

And Nik, can I just saw how FABULOUS you look!

[Doing this Again]

I want to read here regularly since I have PCOS and am horribly under informed and confused. Right now I actually have a specific question, and am so glad that you started the thread on this 123. For me, it’s just in time!!

Okay so, I’m doing Atkins now, and have been since late January. I’ve done Atkins before, the first time Oct 2003-July 2004 successfully 80-100 pounds. The PCOS diagnosis was April 2001. I’ve have several failed attempts to get back on the wagon from 2004-2007. The first time I did Atkins after about 3 months I got a weird side effect, a CONSTANT period. Each attempt to get back on Atkins since that has the same result. For example April 21st I will have been at these 3 months. That’s still over a week away and I’m on day # 7 of TOM # 4, since I started on January 21st. No sign of stopping, and they’ve been longer, like 9-11 days.

When it started happening in 2004, I freaked out. I had to wait until summer when my health insurance kicked in at a new job before I could go to a doctor. I was scared mindless, and had no idea it could be related. It was a symptom that should have sent my mother to a doctor in time to diagnose and treat cancer. I finally went to doctors and they did ultrasounds and blood work. They (a primary care & a gyn) both told me it was a fluke. They put me on progesterol (I think – round orange pills) for a week or so to stop it, then BCPs thereafter. This stalled my weight loss. Eventually I got discouraged and went off Atkins. I regained EVERYTHING.

This time around I decided I would know what was coming, not get so scared, and just deal w/ it. Running to the doctor would mean BCPs, and stalled weight loss. I decided to deal until the weight was gone THEN go to the doctor. I’ve been so frustrated w/ it lately though that I made an appointment w/ an endocrinologist. So I have 2 specific questions:

1) My health insurance doesn’t require a referral; I just made the appointment. This would be my first time w/ this doctor, and they want all my lab work. I don’t have any. My previous doctors all sent that back and forth between each other, and I don’t have copies. In 2004 I could not get my 2001 PCOS diagnosis, the doctor had died. My most recent lab work is from 2004, and I don’t go to those doctors anymore, or know which one of them would have it. Should I contact the gyn, the primary or the radiologist that did the ultrasounds? My primary did the blood work. Assuming I can’t get a hold of anything will the endocrinologist be able to do anything? Should I start at the beginning w/ a new primary care doctor?

2) Has anyone else had this side effect? Know why it happens? Know how to find a doctor? I’m pretty convinced I should cancel the appointment w/ the endocrinologist. But who should I see?

[Nik]

Krysta! Great to see you, sweetie! Thanks for the encouragement. I'm swiftly approaching onederland and a total loss of 100 pounds.

Doing This:
I know that when you shed a lot of weight, it releases hormones that were stored in fat cells. Some people have different "colors" of PCOS, in that their hormone types are different. It sounds like you may be a PCOSer who produces, then stores, LOTS of estrogen. When that fat starts to dissolve, the estrogen is released into your bloodstream. This massive dose of hormone could cause longer cycles.

I hope you're getting plenty of iron in the form of whole foods like meats and green leafy veggies. If you're taking an iron supplement, read the labels. Many tell you to avoid certain food combinations in order for the iron to be absorbed best.

Other things to consider: uterine fibroids and/or ovarian cysts can be fed by estrogen. This could be causing bleeding.

If you stay on the straight and narrow, a stall would not be a death sentence for weight loss. It's okay to lose slowly, even though I know that NOBODY wants to do it!

If I were in your position, I would cancel with the endo and see a gyno. The gyno will be able to run your labs, give you a clinical diagnosis of PCOS for your official records, and give you an ultrasound to rule out any fibroids/polyps/cysts/masses in your general pelvic region. I think you need a more comprehensive evaluation rather than a specialized one. The endo will automatically be thinking, "How is this related to hormones?"

GOOD LUCK!!!

[SuSUN]

Why are you taking Metformin?

Is it for PMS or the PCOS?

Thank you

[123Nkechi]

Hello Doing this Again and SuSUN

I don't know about other people but my gyn put me on metformin to regulate my hormones and cycle. My androgens were way up along with my insulin. I started out taking 500gm 2x a day but now I take an extended release version 3x a day (when I don't forget ). It was also supposed to help me lose weight but after the 1st 10lbs or so the weightloss stalled. But I keep trying...

[123Nkechi]

Originally Posted by Doing this Again

I want to read here regularly since I have PCOS and am horribly under informed and confused. Right now I actually have a specific question, and am so glad that you started the thread on this 123. For me, it’s just in time!!

Okay so, I’m doing Atkins now, and have been since late January. I’ve done Atkins before, the first time Oct 2003-July 2004 successfully 80-100 pounds. The PCOS diagnosis was April 2001. I’ve have several failed attempts to get back on the wagon from 2004-2007. The first time I did Atkins after about 3 months I got a weird side effect, a CONSTANT period. Each attempt to get back on Atkins since that has the same result. For example April 21st I will have been at these 3 months. That’s still over a week away and I’m on day # 7 of TOM # 4, since I started on January 21st. No sign of stopping, and they’ve been longer, like 9-11 days.

When it started happening in 2004, I freaked out. I had to wait until summer when my health insurance kicked in at a new job before I could go to a doctor. I was scared mindless, and had no idea it could be related. It was a symptom that should have sent my mother to a doctor in time to diagnose and treat cancer. I finally went to doctors and they did ultrasounds and blood work. They (a primary care & a gyn) both told me it was a fluke. They put me on progesterol (I think – round orange pills) for a week or so to stop it, then BCPs thereafter. This stalled my weight loss. Eventually I got discouraged and went off Atkins. I regained EVERYTHING.

This time around I decided I would know what was coming, not get so scared, and just deal w/ it. Running to the doctor would mean BCPs, and stalled weight loss. I decided to deal until the weight was gone THEN go to the doctor. I’ve been so frustrated w/ it lately though that I made an appointment w/ an endocrinologist. So I have 2 specific questions:

1) My health insurance doesn’t require a referral; I just made the appointment. This would be my first time w/ this doctor, and they want all my lab work. I don’t have any. My previous doctors all sent that back and forth between each other, and I don’t have copies. In 2004 I could not get my 2001 PCOS diagnosis, the doctor had died. My most recent lab work is from 2004, and I don’t go to those doctors anymore, or know which one of them would have it. Should I contact the gyn, the primary or the radiologist that did the ultrasounds? My primary did the blood work. Assuming I can’t get a hold of anything will the endocrinologist be able to do anything? Should I start at the beginning w/ a new primary care doctor?

2) Has anyone else had this side effect? Know why it happens? Know how to find a doctor? I’m pretty convinced I should cancel the appointment w/ the endocrinologist. But who should I see?

The only times I have had extended periods is when I did a lot of strenuous exercising (which is not too often of course ). My problems were the opposite. NO PERIOD at all. When I would go to the Dr and ask questions, the Drs try would just try to give me BCP's. I finally just started using natural progesterone cream (NPC) and it worked. I really had to learn and do research on my own. The thing that I kept running into is that everyone just wants to manage the symptoms and not address my issue of PCOS until I am ready to conceive. I also tried other natural remedies such as evening primrose oil and black cohosh but then got scared becuase of some of the stuff I was reading about hormones and cancer and herbs so I just stuck with the NPC until I found my current Gyn and he put me on the metformin. I got my diagnosis when after he gave me a blood test to check my hormone levels. I have never had an ultrasound. Again I think this is because I am not ready for TCC and I have never had any symptoms that would suggest cysts, etc. I have read that we really need to watch our processed foods and eating organic proteins. Eating organic is very expensive though but I am making small changes to do what I can. I now buy the Tyson chicken that has not been treated with antibiotics. I figure the small changes will make a difference in the long run.


Nik, I have a question for you. My hair is thinning a little more in top. It's not bad but I used to have VERY thick hair and I've noticed that it is not as thick as it used to be and now I have a little breakage in the top. Many of the research that I've read says take biotin but what else can I do to?

[Doing this Again]

Thanks guys. I truly appreciate teh info. I will definitely cancelt he endo appointment and try a gyn. I'm thinking of researching some more to find a gyn who is also a primary or also an endo. We'll see what I find. But it sounds like I need to get a whole new diagnosis of PCOS. Which is a time sucking problem before I can get this adressed now, but my own fault for not keeping copies of my own records in the first place.

I'll ask about Metformin too.

[Nik]

I'm using this shampoo called Nioxin to help stimulate hair growth. So far, nothing. I have no other advice...

[SuSUN]

The hair loss sounds like its the androgens.

I asked about the metformin because I didnt understand how it worked. DD took it on her last IVF cycle and she got pg, not sure how it worked but it did. She doesnt take it now though. She does have the irritable and crankiness before her period. I wonder if it would help with that?

Sounds like you have read well up on this topic. I admire you for changing your eating to organic.

Someone told DD to take Vit B1 and B6 for her PMS. Did they work for anyone here?

Thanks,

Susan

[123Nkechi]

Thanks Nik and Susan for your input. I know I need to increase my vitamin intake. I bought some along with the biotin a while ago but have not been taking consistently. It's so hard though because I think the metformin may have a reaction to some vitamins/minerals - specifically calcium. I need to do some research but I have had the worse heartburn after taking both. I don't know what's up with that. Having to take the met 3x a day, it's hard trying to fit in more pills too.

[pri17cess72]

Hi Just stopping in to say Hi!

I started my Met on Jan 30 and finally got a regular cycle. It was only 4 days late!! Yay!!

Doing this...I have not had any problems with long cycles so I have no advice to give, but it sounds like the other ladies gave you some good info. I hope you get the info you need from you doc to help you out.

My doc told me that my Met "zaps" the B vitamins out of my body so I need to use a B vit supplement. I have noticed that the B vits help me with more energy and I dont get as cranky around TOM.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[123Nkechi]

Originally Posted by pri17cess72

Hi Just stopping in to say Hi!

I started my Met on Jan 30 and finally got a regular cycle. It was only 4 days late!! Yay!!

Doing this...I have not had any problems with long cycles so I have no advice to give, but it sounds like the other ladies gave you some good info. I hope you get the info you need from you doc to help you out.

My doc told me that my Met "zaps" the B vitamins out of my body so I need to use a B vit supplement. I have noticed that the B vits help me with more energy and I dont get as cranky around TOM.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I am glad you said something about B vitamins because I really need to take some because I am usually in a B****y mood during TOM. Of course I have some that I am supposed to take and I know I need them but I forget all the time. Thanks for the info!

[123Nkechi]

Just checking in. Here is an article about Metformin and Fertility.

Chatcha Lata !

[skinnhold]

I keep trying to take Metformin and it makes my blood sugar so low I've tried the regular and the xr versions. I wish I could take it though.

[Hel]

Okay, well ... first Hi! I don't come here as often as I should.

Since my last post, I've lost an inch off my waist and a pants size

I have had pretty unregular periods since I've had periods. I went to the doc when I was 30, and the only thing he did was give me birth control pills, and I hated them. So, I continued to have crazy periods and often they'd come like twice a month. Then, I had a year where they came like once every 3 months. Then, last year I had one that lasted 3 weeks. That's when I went to a doc recommended by a friend. He did bloodwork ... sugar, androgens and all that and then ordered an ultrasound.

Turned out I have PCOS and fibroid tumors. He saw one about the size of a golfball sitting on top of my uterus .. and he said there were probably more. The ultrasound was the one that goes inside, so it doesn't pick up as larg a space as the belly one does.

Anyway, he said that heavy bleeding during the period was more than likely caused by the fibroid. But, the longer period was due to PCOS.

The uterus has a tendency to build up all this stuff and then your cycle will be longer as the uterus tries to shed it all. I took the progesterone pill the day he said start it, and I got my period the next day.

I went on the metformin and thus far, my cycles have been regular. I still have big cramps, and a heavy flow, but for instance ... I knew when I had it last month and so when this month started I was waiting and it's only 2 days late. And not a day early ... so, I'm very pleased with that!

Nik, I was wondering how that herbal thing went? The stuff from that website?

[Nik]

ICK! Sorry to hear about the uterine fibroids, Hel!

I took a month's worth of the vitamins, but I didn't renew. I didn't see much difference in anything, but I really think I would have to work on it for longer than a month. I only ordered a month because I'm TTC, and the website advises against the supplements during pregnancy. Alas, no pregnancy, and I ran out of meds. Maybe I'll try again later?

[KINDERHORE]

Doing this: I had the SAME reaction to doing low carb. I have PCOS and when I was younger I had a period that lasted MONTHS.

I went to the gyno, she did a uteral biopsy and found no problems then gave me progesterone to "flush out" my uterus (super painful HEAVY (about 12 tampons a day, TMI I know but real)) followed by BC's.

They gave me Yasmin and I had no problem with weight loss (loss 85 pounds in a year) and have never felt better.

Maybe try a new set of BC's?

[pri17cess72]

Just stopping by that I got my period only 1 day late this month. It was 4 days late late month.

I have been on Met for about 4 months now and it seems to be working. I have noticed that my periods are much heavier and crampy than I am used to. Other than that, I am so pleased to have my cycle return back to normal. The met has helped a bit with weight loss as well.

Have a great day everyone!

[123Nkechi]

Hello all! I haven't been posting a lot lately but I wanted to stop by. We will need to start another thread soon since spring is almost over...

[Nik]

Well, my regularity that I was enjoying this spring is completely over. I waited, waited, and waited for my period (last one was April 1.) At this point, I figured, it's never coming. True; I won't have it till around March of next year, because
I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY! We hoped the weight loss would work, but we're still kinda shocked that it actually did!

[123Nkechi]

Originally Posted by Nik

Well, my regularity that I was enjoying this spring is completely over. I waited, waited, and waited for my period (last one was April 1.) At this point, I figured, it's never coming. True; I won't have it till around March of next year, because
I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY! We hoped the weight loss would work, but we're still kinda shocked that it actually did!

CONGRATULATIONS Nik!!!

[wannabe]

I hope you all don't mind if I join in here. I also have PCOS, am on Metformin and we're trying to conceive. I'm so glad I jumped in this thread because Nik you give me hope! Congratulations!!