Girly problems (warning tmi)

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Question about PCOS... I think I might have it, and I'm wondering - do you take medicine for it? I read the symptoms, and I'm pretty sure I have it, or something similar. I've never had regular periods, have had issues with gaining/not losing weight, etc, etc. Is it dangerous to not have treatment, or is it something you just kind of... live with? I have NO clue how to tell my mom. We don't talk about personal stuff like that, so if it's not imperative that I get treatment, I'd rather not even tell her. Once I have my license, I can tell my dr. and stuff, but up to this point, my mom comes to the dr. with me and stuff since I can't drive. So idk how to bring it up without it being incredibly awkward. Which is why I'm asking because if I'm gonna die or something w/out medicine, then I'll just bite the bullet and ask to go to a dr.

 

[Laurelin]

Question about PCOS... I think I might have it, and I'm wondering - do you take medicine for it? I read the symptoms, and I'm pretty sure I have it, or something similar. I've never had regular periods, have had issues with gaining/not losing weight, etc, etc. Is it dangerous to not have treatment, or is it something you just kind of... live with? I have NO clue how to tell my mom. We don't talk about personal stuff like that, so if it's not imperative that I get treatment, I'd rather not even tell her. Once I have my license, I can tell my dr. and stuff, but up to this point, my mom comes to the dr. with me and stuff since I can't drive. So idk how to bring it up without it being incredibly awkward. Which is why I'm asking because if I'm gonna die or something w/out medicine, then I'll just bite the bullet and ask to go to a dr.

No, you won't die but PCOS can have some really serious side effects if left untreated. Diabetes is more common in people with PCOS, heart disease, etc. There's a lot of that. It also can make you infertile or have some really hard time conceiving if it's left on its own. I would definitely just go to the doctor. It's hard to get diagnosed with PCOS sometimes so you may have to look for second opinions. I was diagnosed easily, but my friend thought she had PCOS and went to several doctors before finally getting a diagnosis.

They will probably do a pelvic ultrasound (not fun) and likely will do a test on your insulin. I had a fasting blood sugar test (I think that's what it's called). A lot of people who have PCOS are insulin resistant and will need to be put on metformin, which is a pill for diabetics.

It really depends on how bad your PCOS is. Mine is pretty bad but I am not insulin resistant (yet, it's always a possibility in the future). Most can be treated with hormones and diet and exercise. People with PCOS generally need a different kind of diet rather than just a 'eat healthy' type of diet. Most similar to a low GI diet really. They use Yasmin a lot to treat PCOS symptoms and it usually really helps me.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Thanks for all the advice! Wow, all of that testing sounds really sucky. I'm dead afraid of needles, and the pelvic ultrasound? Wtf. O_O But I think I'll definitely tell my dr. next time I'm in. I've been reading about it more, and I think it might be a serious candidate for what's making me have my headaches, lack of period (for several months at a time, and really heavy when I do have them), weight gain/loss issues, depression, etc. If taking some medicine, or going on something like Yasmin could help me with all of that, then maybe it's worth all the tests and embarrassment of telling my mom. Thanks again.

 

[Laurelin]

Also, I have read somewhere that they estimate 1 in 10 women have PCOS but most go undiagnosed. So it's always best to get yourself checked out if possible.

 

[Laurelin]

Thanks for all the advice! Wow, all of that testing sounds really sucky. I'm dead afraid of needles, and the pelvic ultrasound? Wtf. O_O But I think I'll definitely tell my dr. next time I'm in. I've been reading about it more, and I think it might be a serious candidate for what's making me have my headaches, lack of period (for several months at a time, and really heavy when I do have them), weight gain/loss issues, depression, etc. If taking some medicine, or going on something like Yasmin could help me with all of that, then maybe it's worth all the tests and embarrassment of telling my mom. Thanks again.

It took me FOREVER to tell my mom. I waited until I was 21 and had no period for over 10 months and was weighing well over what I should. I would definitely recommend going in. The doctors think I've had it since I was really young. When I got my period I rapidly started gaining weight and I had always been pretty skinny before that. It's kind of hard to tell what causes what but my case was very textbook.

The ultrasound wasn't fun but in the end it was worth putting a name to all the problems I had and knowing what to do from there. After I was diagnosed, I was put on BC and changed my exercise routine and I lost a bunch of weight and started feeling much better. I lost 40 lbs in a few months without much work really. Unfortunately I stopped that once my mom died and am just now back to weight loss. Right now I am 10 lbs down from my starting point. Long ways to go, but at least I know what to do.

 

[MandyPug]

It took me FOREVER to tell my mom. I waited until I was 21 and had no period for over 10 months and was weighing well over what I should. I would definitely recommend going in. The doctors think I've had it since I was really young. When I got my period I rapidly started gaining weight and I had always been pretty skinny before that. It's kind of hard to tell what causes what but my case was very textbook.

Ugh... This is sounding more and more like me. I've not had a period off birth control and it's been probably going on 6 months now, plus i never had a period before i started birth control. They had to put me on progesterone only to get one started. I went on BC to control my acne (and it's gotten worse again going off) and my weight shot up and now just sticks to me no matter what i do which makes the whole diet and exercise thing really really sad for me since no matter what i do i never see results and i give up.

 

[Laurelin]

It's funny... birth control usually makes people gain weight. I was off it a long time, shot back up to where I was before being diagnosed. Now I'm on it 2 months, not changed diet or exercise yet and down 10 lbs... If I'm off BC I can exercise all I want and nothing changes. I will still gain it seems. And acne... awful when I'm off BC. This is why I'm really hoping I can get this sorted out so that Yasmin is working for the period regulating stuff too.

It took me forever to figure out why I was having problems. I went in as a teenager telling them my periods were always really far apart and very heavy when they did come. They told me it wasn't abnormal and not to worry.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Wow, your symptoms sound SO much like mine. I was always a really good weight as a kid, and then when I hid puberty, I started gaining weight, and have just kept gaining. I'm overweight right now, and have been dieting and exercising since I was young, and it does NOTHING for me. Occasionally I'll lose 20-25lbs but eventually gain it back. I'm 19 right now, and I need to lose weight, and have been trying with little luck. I'm definitely going to ask my dr. about PCOS.

 

[Laurelin]

Yep it's definitely worth checking it out! Losing weight for me requires MUCH more of an altered lifestyle than most people. It kind of sucks but it is what it is. I'm anxious to get going again (happy that I'm 10 lbs lighter than a month ago at least). It's amazing how much better I feel on BC and after losing even just 10 lbs. I know when I lost 40 lbs I felt just awesome.

 

[Grab]

I don't have PCOS, but I have had bleeding issues. Previously, I was only able to take one BC pill..the one with the highest estrogen level (my doctor called it the 'last chance pill')..anything else would result in constant bleeding. Being off BC would also result in occasional lengthy bleeding.

Twas fun times

 

[Miakoda]

What Laur said.

I'm in my thirties now and really starting to suffer from the negative side effects of this disease. In fact, I have my first endocrinologist appointment on the 6th.

I did have fertility problems. But I was actually really thin and had low body fat thanks to soccer and whatnot all through college, so I didn't really have any issues other than irregular periods and no periods at all (and the bleeding for a couple months here and there when I did have a "period"). But now, 3 kids later, I've gained almost 25 lbs after losing 40 after my 3rd child. NOTHING that I do will get the weight off (hell, I was eating 1,000 cals a day, walking/jogging for an hour straight, & doing P90X or another video workout and was losing and gaining 5 lbs repeatedly....grrrrrrrr........). Now some recent bloodwork showed my cortisol level really high (stress hormone), calcium level low normal/low and my vitamin D3 was extremely low. My skin is breaking out. I'm losing hair off my head like crazy (though thankfully it's not causing any hair loss issues). I'm itchy all over and have to take claritin daily. I am HOT all the time.....as in hot flashes out the wazoo.

Basically it's like menopause....but you get to keep your irregular period.

I'll let y'all know the results from this appointment, but basically I'm fed up with all this crap right now.

So yes, Dixie, bring it up to your doctor. Even if nothing else is an issue right now, you could begin having other health issues that could very well tie into PCOS and would help explain them.

 

[wcladymacbeth]

I don't know how or why it works, but high doses of ibuprofen have been shown to help with heavy vaginal bleeding. I don't know if it will work for you since you also have pcos, but typically our first line of treatment of extended heavy vaginal bleeding is to prescribe ibuprofen 800mg three times a day for 2 weeks. if that doesn't work then we try progesterone or something, or if it's really bad just send them to a gyno. Your best bet is to call your doc of course, but since it's a holiday weekend and it's relatively safe (unless you have stomach problems or something that prevents you from being able to take ibuprofen), it might be worth a try.

 

[wcladymacbeth]

Disclaimer: I got the information from a medical book at work, but if you would like an online source whose credibility I am not certain of, it's also stated at Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding - causes and treatment options . It's always worthwhile to do your own research before starting any new treatment, even one prescribed by your doctor.

 

[Beanie]

I have been told to take ibuprofen to stop heavy bleeding before also. I thought it was crazy when they suggested it to me, I have no idea how or why it might work either. It never worked for me, but I'm dealing with endometriosis, not PCOS. It is definitely worth a try...

 

[Romy]

I have been told to take ibuprofen to stop heavy bleeding before also. I thought it was crazy when they suggested it to me, I have no idea how or why it might work either. It never worked for me, but I'm dealing with endometriosis, not PCOS. It is definitely worth a try...

That is just weird to me. Isn't ibuprofen a blood thinner?

 

[Saeleofu]

Question about PCOS... I think I might have it, and I'm wondering - do you take medicine for it? I read the symptoms, and I'm pretty sure I have it, or something similar. I've never had regular periods, have had issues with gaining/not losing weight, etc, etc. Is it dangerous to not have treatment, or is it something you just kind of... live with? I have NO clue how to tell my mom. We don't talk about personal stuff like that, so if it's not imperative that I get treatment, I'd rather not even tell her. Once I have my license, I can tell my dr. and stuff, but up to this point, my mom comes to the dr. with me and stuff since I can't drive. So idk how to bring it up without it being incredibly awkward. Which is why I'm asking because if I'm gonna die or something w/out medicine, then I'll just bite the bullet and ask to go to a dr.

That's basically the same boat I was in. I'm going to a doctor this month to see if that's the problem. I've researched it a lot over the past few weeks and it seems like metformin is a pretty common treatment.

 

[Laurelin]

Metformin really depends on if you're insulin resistant or not. Since I'm not, they won't use it for my PCOS. But a lot of people that have PCOS also have insulin issues too.