Re: Intro & Questions
From: Katie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 2 Jan 2002 07:56:29 -0600 (CST)
Carrie, I hear what you are saying!!!
I have been there, the unexplained weight gain, the depression, mood
swings, constant tiredness, lack of sex drive etc etc. Like the other
girls have already said, you need a good doctor/endocrinologist who
understands this disease. A lot of us have been given the run around by
the medical system, many doctors just want to put us on the pill and
tell us to lose weight - it is infuriating! They tell us to lose weight
and that will fix other symptoms, yet the weight gain is a major symptom
itself! And PCOS makes it very difficult to lose weight the usual ways
doctors recommend.
About 18 months ago I finally found an understanding, progressive
endocrinologist. He did blood tests, and told me I was insulin
resistant, which is usually the underlying problem in PCOS. I have been
on metformin (also known as glucophage, glucohexal and diaformin,
depending where you live) for 18 months now, taking 1500mg a day. I
have lost 16 kilos, have heaps more energy and feel happy once again!!!
So please do not give up hope, metformin has worked wonders for so many
of us. I've also changed my diet, I don't stick rigidly to any
particular diet but avoid white bread, potatoes and other starchy foods
high in processed carbs. I find complex carbs are fine, eg multigrain
bread, bran cereal etc. There are answers for you!! You have come to
the right place here, everyone is very supportive and many of us have
very similar stories to tell.
Best of luck dealing with PCOS, please let us know how you go. Welcome
to the Board!
At Tue, 1 Jan 2002, Carrie wrote:
>
>Hi! I just stumbled upon this group and am very excited to find others
>who understand what I'm going through. I was diagnosed at about age 16
>as having PCOS, after being through every other test in existance and
>dealing with 6-week-long periods since 5th grade.
>
>In the 10 years since that time, my health has gradually gotten worse.
>I've continued to lose energy, gain weight, and suffer from depression
>to the point that I barely have the ability to keep myself awake 10
>hours a day. My life is suffering and I'm tired of it! My general
>doctor makes me feel like I'm just lazy and all my problems would go
>away if I'd just lose some weight (although she gives me no ideas as to
>how I might accomplish this). She sent me to the gastro-surgery people
>(I thought it was a referral to a weight loss program not a surgical
>unit) which they discouraged me from pursueing. She sent me to
>Pulminology who decided I have a sleep disorder. After that treatment
>didn't work, I ended up in neurology who has decided to put me on
>ridalin to give me energy. I feel buzzed, but still lifeless inside.
>
>I have had severe weight gain and have gained over 100 pounds in the
>last 3 years, to the point now where I often feel hopeless. I'm going
>to start back on a diet (schwarzbein) in the next couple of days and see
>if I can beat my 6-weeks-and-then-give-up track record.
>
>I feel like I'm still too young to be this unhealthy. I have no sex
>drive and have lost all ambition. I am too tired to cook dinner and
>clean house and I feel like I'm failing my husband.
>
>The doctors keep pumping me full of drugs ... antidepressants,
>stimulants, birth control, you name it. I recently stopped the BC pills
>and antidepressants and feel like I may be getting a little sex drive
>back, which is hopeful, but I need to go back to my evil doctor and get
>some other medication to treat the PCOS. What else is prescribed
>instead of Birth Control pills? Are the symptoms just as bad?
>
>I know I need to lose weight and that it certainly can't help but make
>me start feeling a little better, mentally if not physically. I feel
>like a failure that I can't make myself do it. I usually make it to
>about 4-6 weeks on a diet before something snaps in my head and it's all
>over. Meanwhile, my health and weight keep spiraling out of control.
>For every diet I've been on, I've gained back everything I lost plus 30
>pounds. I can't keep doing this.
>
>And on top of all this .. that biological clock finally kicked in. Kids
>were never something I wanted when I was younger, but lately it is on my
>mind more, and I don't want to end up in an "oops, sorry, too late"
>scenario where I've missed my window of opportunity. My husband wants a
>child badly. I've told him that I will start working harder toward
>losing weight and getting in shape so that we can try. But will the
>trying lead us to disappointment? It makes me so hesitant to look
>forward to things like that. I leave my future in a grey blur for fear
>of getting my hopes up.
>
>Anyway, I'm sorry I rambled so long. I needed to get some of that out.
>Thanks for listening. I know I can't be alone (at least I hope not!)
>and I hope to hear advise, words of encouragement, or any other
>information you might be able to pass along.
>
>Here's to a happy year to come. -- Carrie
--
Katie
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