Just found out I have PCOS

Toridoll2004 · 09-04-2009, 02:36 PM

I'm just sad

I've been through two miscarriages and I guess this probably helped attibute to them. When I had the last one the dr ran all sorts of tests and nothing was found wrong with me and she didnt include this test.

Well, I had a miscarriage in April, had a period in May, and haven't have one since. I saw my dr. on the first and had some lab work and she also prescribed me Provera. So, I'm on my 4th day of that. then will wait for a period to come. So, i got a call back that my lab work was consistent with PCOS.

I will have to call back on Tuesday and come in for more blood work and also take a 2 hour glocuse test or something. I guess to see if I am insulin resistant.

So, I've been trying to read up on it. I haven't read a ton. Does anyone know if a reason for having it be because you are overweight? I will so blame myself for everything thats happened with those babies if so

I did read it could cause infertility.

What has been your experience with this, if you have it?

I'm depressed

CherryCola · 09-04-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toridoll2004

So, I've been trying to read up on it. I haven't read a ton. Those who have it, can a reason for having it be because you are overweight? I will so blame myself for everything thats happened with those babies if so I did read it could cause infertility.

Please don't blame yourself for this. PCOS (with its often associated insulin resistance) can make losing weight nearly impossible and actually result in weight gain...despite diet and exercise efforts.

It will definitely be helpful to get more testing but there are tons of options out there for controlling IR (if you have it) and also PCOS which might also help with fertility.

CramerNH · 09-04-2009, 03:13 PM

the insulin resistance contributes to a number of factors - one of which is how the body breaks down carbs, how it stores it, your hormones can go off the charts, you take on male-traits like male pattern hair growth and hair loss.... there are too many things...

Thats why lots of different types of blood work are done in order to see how it is affecting each person... Severity can differ from one person to another.

Mine is thanks to not being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes - bedridden for 6 months and then problems manifested afterwards.

Male pattern hair loss/hair growth, high insulin/blood sugar/estrogen/testosterone/androgens/Liver Enzyme #9, blood pressure through the roof.... Im a PCOS/Metabolic X Syndrome patient. Ive had one miscarriage about 7 years ago... I didnt even know I was pregnant... was later told that any attempts to conceive could very well take my life because of how bad Im affected by this... but, my case is extreme... the fact that I have to have Liver monitoring scares the doctors because, if the enzymes arent leveled and go through the roof again - that means Im quarantined until they come down. So far, knock on wood, I havent needed to be yet..

Losing weight for me has been a significant challenge. Right now, Ive gained a couple pounds, and Im at 250, so I have to update my stats.

Im seriously considering talking with the Doctors I work for in Boston about a specialist in my areas of affliction because mine is too involved....

Keep your chin up - as you go through the testing, think about the next steps as questions are being answered.... better to be in-the-know than to dwell on negatives...

Food wise - I gave myself a break because Paleo isnt working for me as recommended by my Dermatologist who is seeing me for my hair loss problem. Im going to go to low-glycemic and consult with an RD... Im gonna go for some specialized tests that might not be covered by my insurance, but if I go through the hospitals I work for, they will give me a break on the bills... (thank goodness)..

Chin up!!!!

Toridoll2004 · 09-04-2009, 03:31 PM

thanks guys for the info.
I did have a fasting glucose test in April when I lost the baby and It turned out okay.
But I read you don't have to be IR to have PCOS. I still have to take that 2 hour test. I guess we'll see how it all comes out.

brittone2 · 09-04-2009, 05:03 PM

CHeck out the soulcysters message board. It was so helpful to me when I got diagnosed 6 years ago!

Find a wonderful doctor who is up to date on research. My endo is a top expert on PCOS (only sees PCOS patients at a major university medical center) and she doesn't even bother with a GTT w/ insulin levels anymore (eta: because she believes metformin is helpful to most women w/ PCOS regardless unless contraindicated for other medical reasons). FWIW, I had that test done 6 years ago and mine came back normal, but I respond well to metformin (went through infertility treatments-injectables/IUI to have my son, and have had to surprise metformin pregnancies since then). I"m not overweight, and don't technically test + for IR, but I *need* 2000 mg of metformin to ovulate or get pg on my own. Way back in the day docs did not RX met for women who were not overweight or those who didn't technically test + for IR. There are studies now (well, for years now) saying metformin can help even those women who do not test IR (the GTT test w/ insulin levels isn't that sensitive in the first place) or who are thin or overweight w/ PCOS. INsulin is a master hormone and it being screwed up leads to the other hormones getting wonky.

Pubmed.com is a great place to look up abstracts/studies. The soulcysters board also has a board w/ studies you can show your docs if you can't get someone to RX you metformin. In numerous studies, metformin has demonstrated an ability to reduce (in many cases significantly) the rate of m/c in women with PCOS. Better to know the face of your enemy and what you are dealing with so you can get the best treatment, although I know how much the dx sucks.

Fasting glucose won't tell you much about IR. Even fasting insulin doesn't tell you that much. The longer the GTT (with insulin levels, a GTT alone without insulin levels drawn won't give neough info either), the more likely it is to pick up IR (so a 3 hour can pick up more IR than a 2 hour, or at least taht's what I read a few years back), but even then the test doesn't really tell us that much. IMO most if not all women w/ PCOS, thin or overweight, have some wonky insulin stuff going on.

It is a chicken and egg phenomenon...you didn't cause this

Insulin issues can make it easier for you to gain weight in the first place. Losing weight can help some people's hormonal profile fall back into a more normal limits. But even thin women can have PCOS and miscarriages as a result of wonky hormones. Looking at the whole picture is important...there is a lot of interplay between hormones, insulin, etc. It isn't as simple as being overweigiht causing PCOS. If that were true, there wouldn't be thin women w/ PCOS, and there are quite a few of us. But for those who are overweight, losing weight especially by limiting carbs can definitely help fertility and long term health, which is a good option to have

Seriously, get over to soulcysters.net if you can. Great, great site w/ a ton of helpful info.

Read up on vitamin D and PCOS, along w/ minerals like calcium. Some studies have shown supplementation w/ D (those with IR/PCOS/diabetes tend to have lower vitamin D levels) and calcium can help with cycles and PCOS issues.

GardenGirl639 · 09-05-2009, 03:29 PM

(((hugs)) Tori. I'm so sorry.

Don't blame yourself. Just a little FYI, there is a genetic component to PCOS. In my family, PCOS goes back at least 4 generations. Of course, at the time, they didn't know it had a name.

We live in a wonderful day and age because there have been tremendous advancements in the treatment of PCOS and, I believe, will continue to be even more.

09-04-2009, 02:36 PM	#1
Toridoll2004 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Henrico, VA Posts: 2,490 Gallery: Toridoll2004 Stats: fat/depressed/110 WOE: my own thing	Just found out I have PCOS I'm just sad I've been through two miscarriages and I guess this probably helped attibute to them. When I had the last one the dr ran all sorts of tests and nothing was found wrong with me and she didnt include this test. Well, I had a miscarriage in April, had a period in May, and haven't have one since. I saw my dr. on the first and had some lab work and she also prescribed me Provera. So, I'm on my 4th day of that. then will wait for a period to come. So, i got a call back that my lab work was consistent with PCOS. I will have to call back on Tuesday and come in for more blood work and also take a 2 hour glocuse test or something. I guess to see if I am insulin resistant. So, I've been trying to read up on it. I haven't read a ton. Does anyone know if a reason for having it be because you are overweight? I will so blame myself for everything thats happened with those babies if so I did read it could cause infertility. What has been your experience with this, if you have it? I'm depressed __________________ ~Victoria www.mywedding.com/vickiandjonathan 4 days until I get married!!! Last edited by Toridoll2004; 09-04-2009 at 03:02 PM..

09-04-2009, 03:13 PM	#3
CramerNH Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 257 Gallery: CramerNH	the insulin resistance contributes to a number of factors - one of which is how the body breaks down carbs, how it stores it, your hormones can go off the charts, you take on male-traits like male pattern hair growth and hair loss.... there are too many things... Thats why lots of different types of blood work are done in order to see how it is affecting each person... Severity can differ from one person to another. Mine is thanks to not being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes - bedridden for 6 months and then problems manifested afterwards. Male pattern hair loss/hair growth, high insulin/blood sugar/estrogen/testosterone/androgens/Liver Enzyme #9, blood pressure through the roof.... Im a PCOS/Metabolic X Syndrome patient. Ive had one miscarriage about 7 years ago... I didnt even know I was pregnant... was later told that any attempts to conceive could very well take my life because of how bad Im affected by this... but, my case is extreme... the fact that I have to have Liver monitoring scares the doctors because, if the enzymes arent leveled and go through the roof again - that means Im quarantined until they come down. So far, knock on wood, I havent needed to be yet.. Losing weight for me has been a significant challenge. Right now, Ive gained a couple pounds, and Im at 250, so I have to update my stats. Im seriously considering talking with the Doctors I work for in Boston about a specialist in my areas of affliction because mine is too involved.... Keep your chin up - as you go through the testing, think about the next steps as questions are being answered.... better to be in-the-know than to dwell on negatives... Food wise - I gave myself a break because Paleo isnt working for me as recommended by my Dermatologist who is seeing me for my hair loss problem. Im going to go to low-glycemic and consult with an RD... Im gonna go for some specialized tests that might not be covered by my insurance, but if I go through the hospitals I work for, they will give me a break on the bills... (thank goodness).. Chin up!!!! __________________ STARTING WEIGHT: 300.0 Last Weigh-in: 249.6 Current Weigh-in: 247.2 Goal Weight: 170.0

09-04-2009, 05:03 PM	#5
brittone2 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 403 Gallery: brittone2	CHeck out the soulcysters message board. It was so helpful to me when I got diagnosed 6 years ago! Find a wonderful doctor who is up to date on research. My endo is a top expert on PCOS (only sees PCOS patients at a major university medical center) and she doesn't even bother with a GTT w/ insulin levels anymore (eta: because she believes metformin is helpful to most women w/ PCOS regardless unless contraindicated for other medical reasons). FWIW, I had that test done 6 years ago and mine came back normal, but I respond well to metformin (went through infertility treatments-injectables/IUI to have my son, and have had to surprise metformin pregnancies since then). I"m not overweight, and don't technically test + for IR, but I need 2000 mg of metformin to ovulate or get pg on my own. Way back in the day docs did not RX met for women who were not overweight or those who didn't technically test + for IR. There are studies now (well, for years now) saying metformin can help even those women who do not test IR (the GTT test w/ insulin levels isn't that sensitive in the first place) or who are thin or overweight w/ PCOS. INsulin is a master hormone and it being screwed up leads to the other hormones getting wonky. Pubmed.com is a great place to look up abstracts/studies. The soulcysters board also has a board w/ studies you can show your docs if you can't get someone to RX you metformin. In numerous studies, metformin has demonstrated an ability to reduce (in many cases significantly) the rate of m/c in women with PCOS. Better to know the face of your enemy and what you are dealing with so you can get the best treatment, although I know how much the dx sucks. Fasting glucose won't tell you much about IR. Even fasting insulin doesn't tell you that much. The longer the GTT (with insulin levels, a GTT alone without insulin levels drawn won't give neough info either), the more likely it is to pick up IR (so a 3 hour can pick up more IR than a 2 hour, or at least taht's what I read a few years back), but even then the test doesn't really tell us that much. IMO most if not all women w/ PCOS, thin or overweight, have some wonky insulin stuff going on. It is a chicken and egg phenomenon...you didn't cause this Insulin issues can make it easier for you to gain weight in the first place. Losing weight can help some people's hormonal profile fall back into a more normal limits. But even thin women can have PCOS and miscarriages as a result of wonky hormones. Looking at the whole picture is important...there is a lot of interplay between hormones, insulin, etc. It isn't as simple as being overweigiht causing PCOS. If that were true, there wouldn't be thin women w/ PCOS, and there are quite a few of us. But for those who are overweight, losing weight especially by limiting carbs can definitely help fertility and long term health, which is a good option to have Seriously, get over to soulcysters.net if you can. Great, great site w/ a ton of helpful info. Read up on vitamin D and PCOS, along w/ minerals like calcium. Some studies have shown supplementation w/ D (those with IR/PCOS/diabetes tend to have lower vitamin D levels) and calcium can help with cycles and PCOS issues. Last edited by brittone2; 09-04-2009 at 05:17 PM..

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09-04-2009, 03:31 PM	#4
Toridoll2004 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Henrico, VA Posts: 2,490 Gallery: Toridoll2004 Stats: fat/depressed/110 WOE: my own thing	thanks guys for the info. I did have a fasting glucose test in April when I lost the baby and It turned out okay. But I read you don't have to be IR to have PCOS. I still have to take that 2 hour test. I guess we'll see how it all comes out.

09-05-2009, 03:29 PM	#6
GardenGirl639 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,692 Gallery: GardenGirl639 Stats: 229/178/145 5'3" Start Date: June 25, 2007	(((hugs)) Tori. I'm so sorry. Don't blame yourself. Just a little FYI, there is a genetic component to PCOS. In my family, PCOS goes back at least 4 generations. Of course, at the time, they didn't know it had a name. We live in a wonderful day and age because there have been tremendous advancements in the treatment of PCOS and, I believe, will continue to be even more.