PCOS....can someone help me?

[Lunar]

I got an ultrasound report back this afternoon and will be seeing my doctor in the morning but really would like some info now. It seems that I may have Polycystic ovary syndrome. I would really like to know from others who have it how it effects their lives. I gave birth to #2 3 months ago and I am pretty sure our family is complete. Does it have to be managed and how?
Any info would be great.
Thanks in advance.

[draught]

I have PCOS but am not much help as I was diagnosed when I was TTC so my treatment was focussed on getting my body to ovulate etc. I understand that there are different forms and different levels of it - it can affect your metabolism, you can have high levels of testosterone and therefore excess body hair etc - but not everyone gets all of these symptoms so it is hard to give advice. There are some good support sites for it but I can't recall any addresses off the top of my head - perhaps a quick google could be a start??

Sorry to not be a great help - my OB just says that once I am finished my family then the pill will help with keeping everything in balance - but I know that this is not a solution for all.

[sueb31]

You probably know this, but there is a difference between polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovarian syndrome: The first is a not uncommon finding on ultrasounds, the second is when you have the ultrasound findings plus overwight/obesity, excess hair (hirsutism), period problems and a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Sue

[Lunar]

This is where I am confused....:confused:
I am not overweight, I'm a healthy size 12. I have had probs with periods, my mum has diebetes, I am easily stressed and suffer depression (which is also a sign, so I read).
I had some trouble falling pregnant with #2. The scan results showed at least 20 folicles in one ovary. I read on a web site about PCOS that there can be 10 or more for it to be PCOS. I am just nervous about what the dr is going to say.

The site also says that you do not have to have all of the symptoms to have it, only some, but it is primarily discovered by u/sound and the amount of folicles the ovaries have.

[Worm'sMum]

Hi - sorry I'm not going to be much help, but my sister has just been diagnosed with it and she doesn't ovulate at all...the pill did help her but as she is wanting to start having children in the next couple of years she has gone off the pill...I think she is going to check with her doc next week as to how she can help her body to ovulate if possible. if you decide to have more children there is treatment you can take to help achieve this,other than that, I'm not sure if it needs to be managed or how, but when my sister goes to her doc - I'll let you know what they say. Another friend has PCOS as well and I don't think she is taking anything at the moment. Good Luck!:fingerscrossed:

Draught - sorry if a personal question, but did you ovulate/get your period at all before you started ttc?

[Worm'sMum]

Emy'smum, that is very similar to my friend, she is a size 10, gets her period but it is very irregular, her mum suffers depression, and they had trouble ttc #1 and that's when they found hers?? And hers as well as my sisters were discovered by U/s - I'm sure you will be fine though, it does seem to be quite common and if there was anything to worry about the doc will let you know. Write all your concerns down before you see your doc and discuss them....:hugs: :fingerscrossed:

[draught]

Hi - sorry I'm not going to be much help, but my sister has just been diagnosed with it and she doesn't ovulate at all...the pill did help her but as she is wanting to start having children in the next couple of years she has gone off the pill...I think she is going to check with her doc next week as to how she can help her body to ovulate if possible.



The pill doesn't help you ovulate - it helps your body to simulate menstruation without ovulation - so she would have had regular periods but no ovulation.


Draught - sorry if a personal question, but did you ovulate/get your period at all before you started ttc?

I had very irregular periods and some were without ovulation it appears - they could be 5 or 9 weeks apart, were very light and short (which at the time I thought was a good thing!!) I was overweight but certainly not obese (a size 14 but I'm short so should have been slimmer for my height - I am lighter now). From looking at my history I had had it for years but it was never an issue until I was TTC.

[Worm'sMum]

Thanks for that Draught:) Show's how much I know!!:o

[borntobemummy]

Hi Kris,
Just saw your thread about your U/S;
I have or had PCOS, now it's just PCO! What happened with you that made you get the U/S? It is really treatable, especially if you don't want any more children. I would advise natural treatments rather than the pill- as that really messes with things. PM me anytime, I'm here for you:hugs:
Joelle

[Lunar]

Thanks J. Ok TMI Alert!!!
I originally thought I had another infection like after K was born, as I was/ am still having really bad pain in my stomach and I got a period (I'm on depo I'm not supposed to get them) and had 2 huge clots that were not blood they looked like skin...ew I know. So off I trotted to the dr and he sent me for a scan, it also came back that my edometrial lining is thickened so I will prob have to have another d&c soon, but dr will decide that.

[borntobemummy]

wow.. that sounds serious, hope the doc gives you the answers u need:hugs: :hugs:

[Lunar]

Thanks J. I hope he gives me some answers too.

[Taylah]

Hi I know a little from what my friend has told me in the states.
She has this. She is on medication and is trying to lose weight - there seems to be a problem with the metabolism of insulin and cysts
on the ovaries. Losing weight is the hardest thing to do and yet this is the thing which is going to help.
Try using some of the good search engines on the net and putting
in "PCOCs" - some sites give you terrific information.
The other thing is : speak with your dr and try and get as much info. as you can.
I am now faced with some health issues myself so i can understand why you are going through. Apparently, you can still have a very
successful pg and can conceive once this condition has been treated.
Good luck and hope all goes well for you!

[nicoleE]

Just a couple of things...

PCOS is one of those things that has many varying symptoms which you can have two or more of but not necesarily them all....

For instance both my older sisters have PCOS and I'd say they would be a size 6... certainly no weight problems, quite the opposite actually!

I am a 8-12 (dont you just LOVE womens clothes! lol) and have just been diagnosed by my GP and am seeing a fertility specialist for further diagnosis and treatment for TTC. It can run in families, I read if your sister has PCOS you have a 50% chance of also having it.

You CAN have PCOS and NOT have cysts on your overies... you can also HAVE the cysts but NOT have PCOS (as in the 'syndrome')... confusing isnt it! IMO Probably the best way to clarify it (in simple terms, not the be-all-and-end-all) is that PCOS commonly has the cysts but also has other hormonal abnormalities (such as high testosterone) which can bring on other symptoms, PCO is for one reason or another cysts on the overies however without the other tell tale signs of PCOS. Again, this needs to be discussed with your fertility specialist for the full story and proper diagnosis.

http://www.posaa.asn.au/modules.php?name=Forums is an informative site and forums for PCOS diagnosis, treatment, support and TTC.

[BubbaNoogie]

I had undiagnosed poycystic ovaries when i went on the pill 6 years go to regulate my periods. which caused me to go from 50kg to 72kgs in 3 months. i went to get checked to see what was wrong and was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries syndrome.(apparently the weight gain caused by the pill set it off)My main issue has been my weight ,the pcos makes it incredibly hard to lose. I was worried about my fertility because my doc said I was lucky to have had my daughter, so when i meet my husband we started trying straight away because thought it may take years,it only took 6 weeks!!but we lost them and i fell pregnant 6 weeks later and we now have beautiful Mari. We have been very lucky.

[Priscilla]

Hi, I really hope I don't confuse things after all the info from other mums.

I have PCOS. As per a few other mums' replies, having polycystic ovaries is different from having polycystic ovarian syndrome. At 19 I was told I had polycystic ovaries. At 22 I was diagnosed with the syndrome. In all honesty, I don't know what the EXACT differences are, but I do know these points with PCOS:

* you have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
* susceptible to obesity
* susceptible to a lot of body hair (there is a name for this but I cannot remember it)
* high levels of testosterone and other male hormones
* no/irregular ovulation
* acne

It's scary to know you have a 'syndrome' and something that affects your fertility and lifestyle, but it is treatable and is not a serious health issue. I don't look like I have it as I'm not overweight (size 10), do not have acne, do not have ALOT of body hair (i think its the normal amount!) but I do have 24 cysts on my right ovary and 28 on my left, and I don't get my periods. My periods have never been normal and by about 17, they'd practically stopped. Since then (I'm now 26) I've only had about 6 periods without the pill. I did take the pill to flush out any of the lining in my uterus once every six months or so.

My obstetrician actually didn't believe me when I had to get an u/s last year until he saw for himself. I ended up falling pregnant (:eek: ) and as I don't get my periods, I didn't find out until I was 5 months pregnant .....

What I also know of PCOS is that whilst it can be treated medically, it is also a lifestyle issue. PCOS has been known to correct itself if you make some lifestyle changes. Regular excericise and a low GI diet. You'll find that these two points do help with the obesity (obviously) and with the risk of diabetes.

I have just re-read your first post and realised that you sent this last month. How did you go with seeing the doc?

In answer to your question, it's not affected my life that much now that I'm used to it. I started regular, light excercise and modified my diet a little so that I have more low GI foods. The only thing I've noticed is that my skin is smoother. On the down side, I don't get to eat as much fatty, junk foods which I love. The diet change was hard as I had to limit all the foods which i love - rice, pastas, potatoes, sweets..... Also, the getting used to the idea that I couldn't conceive.... until of course, I fell pregnant!

[Mum2Lucas]

you can get a few books on managing pcos naturally. one i recommend is called
The New Glucose Revolution: Managing PCOS
it's by prof jennie brand-miller, prof nadir r. farid and kate marsh
hope all goes well.