Calling all PCOSisters...

[michele4ad]

Hi! I was tested 2 years ago and my doctor told me I didn't have PCOS (no cysts). But after some reasearch I found out how diffucult it can be to diagnose, and that it can sometimes present with no cysts. I have so many of the other symptoms. Anyway, I read that low carb diets are a treatment for PCOS and so on Nov. 1st 2004 I started Atkins. In only two weeks I had my first TOM in about 3 years. Now that is encouraging!

[LCer09]

Originally Posted by maribelle

Hi Lettuce-lover, and Mariposa(congrats on your 11 pounds). I was diagnosed in 2000, and oddly enough the only trouble I had before getting pregnant with my son was yo yo weight, moodiness, and missing my period for a couple months after major stress, but pregnancy kicked the pcos into high gear
<snip>
PS I also tried Metformin for about a month...I immediately started losing weight, my period came back and my mood swings were almost non exsistant, but it made me SOOOO sick.

I could have written the above myself. Before getting pregnant I had mild symptoms, and a constant struggle to lose weight, but I did manage to stay around 150ish most of the time. My doctor said that I probably got pregnant so easily because I went off bc pills when I got married, and immediately got pregnant. As in two weeks later, LOL! I didn't give my body a chance to get off the cycle I had been on for years. But once I got pregnant? Oh lordy. I gained over 100 pounds in about 7 months (the first two I didn't gain, I was barfing too much, LOL!) and my symptoms kicked into high gear. I tried the metformin, I really did. Small doses, large doses, with different foods, with liquid, etc. It did two things. Made me sick as death, and made me feel completely worn out. I slept ALL the time. Yuck, no thanks. Atkins has fixed 90% of my PCOS problems, the rest I can live with, LOL! Stuff like clear skin after acne for 15+ years was an unexpected bonus!

[LCer09]

Originally Posted by michele4ad

Hi! I was tested 2 years ago and my doctor told me I didn't have PCOS (no cysts). But after some reasearch I found out how diffucult it can be to diagnose, and that it can sometimes present with no cysts.

Fact is, there's no positive/negative test for PCOS. There isn't even one for insulin resistance. Your doctor has to look at the overall picture and determine if you have PCOS or not. And a lot of bad doctors out there won't tell you you have it unless you have 100% of all the symptoms. Which few women have.

[BabiesMama]

My sister had read some info on a good connection between PCOS and Atkins, and suggested I try Atkins. I started yesterday. I sure hope it helps my PCOS symptoms.
When I first logged on tonight to this message board, the PCOS caught my eye, and as I read some of the stories, I teared up. I realized that I am NOT alone with this PCOS crap. LOL. I thought was the only one, and there was no one that would understand why I shave my face, and can't get pregnant.
I found out I had PCOS in May of 2000. My husband and I had been trying to have a baby for 8 1/2 years at that point. I knew I had other problems (PCOS symptoms, as I now know), but it took a specialist to run some blood work, and get my history to tell me I would not be able to get pregnant on my own. She said I would need invitro fertilization. So, I went back to college, lost 30 pounds, and got pregnant in Nov. 2000. I had a miserable pregnancy, sick ALL the time.... but I would do it all again
My daughter is 3 1/2, and we want another, so I need to lose weight to get pregnant again. I feel better knowing that by following the Atkins WOL, I might get pregnant soon, and not the way the doctor told me was the only way for me.

[kkat55]

Originally Posted by jillgarrison

I would love to join any forum -

I figured it out about 2 years ago....

I was an early started - started in the 5th grade I was 10 or 11 just remember no one else having to deal with such a thing.....

During school I wasnt "fat" per say - but I was shapely - (of course looking back on photos I looked darn healthy) I was always active in sports and led a stressful lil life -

I noticed my neck started to darken - I went to a derm. and he said I had Tenia-versa- colour (sp) which occurs in less than 1% of the African American people - I am not African American - white as snow - anyways I believed them - they are doctors - they gave me some meds - which could only be taken for short periods because of liver damage -

After I graduated high school it started to spread to my waist line my arm pits my inner upper thighs - went to the doctor and he said the same thing..... I just was beginning to believe I had some strange freak occurence..... (or maybe mom lied about dad LOL)

Anyways.... I have always been irregular - stress causes me alot of problems health wise....

I have the hair issue on my chin, the skin discolor, irregular periods, fast weight gain in the mid section, and so far not being to conceive after around a year of unprotected sex....

I want to say this though - Since I started Atkins -
periods are exactly 36 days apart
My discolored skin is lightening - almost not there

Just amazing - !!!!!!!!! And I have only lost 21 pounds

Wow! Your story is amazing!!!

Isn't it fantastic how just changing your diet and exercising can affect your health?

Keep up the GREAT work!!

[kkat55]

Does anyone have any updates on their conditions?

I'm being tested now with my GYN for PCOS. I had my bloodwork done yesterday and my sonogram will be done on February 2. I'm anxious to find out if this is why I'm never regular with my TOM, infertile and so easy to gain weight.

Thanks for starting this thread. It has been great!

[kkat55]

Just checking back to see if anyone here has some updates for us. Please let us know how you are doing.

[maribelle]

Hi KAT!!! Sorry, I haven't been in this forum for awhile! I actually tried starting a more up to date thread called PCOS Support Group (http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=31562 (ADBB PCOS Support Group)) and the moderators made it a sticky...no one has visited since. Seemed like a good idea at the time. My update is that I continue to have a cycle once every other month. It is wonderful, as they were either non existant, or I bleed for months for six years after having my son. It took almost a year of Atkins for me to see this improvement.

I didn't know you had trouble in this area. I hope you get the answers you need from your doctors...so many just don't know what they are talking about. Keep us updated!

[kkat55]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll try and explore it tomorrow at work.

[Miss World]

Hi everybody

I was diagnosed with PCOS late 1999 (I was 19), and now years later.. I'm still suffering. Its so frustrating.

I was a normal teenager.. I wasn't thin, nor fat.. just about 2 pounds over weight (which was normal since I have a small frame) .. and all of a sudden while on summer vacation after my first year of college, I gained about 20lbs in 3 months! that didn't really make sense since I was a very active person. My mom took me to a doctor and after tests and scans, I was told that I have PCOS and hormonal imbalances. At first I thought a month or so of pills would do it, but I was WAAAY wrong.

its 2006 now and I'm still suffering with the ongoing weight gain although I'm not much of an eater. I'm getting all the other symptoms as well... hairiness (yet my hair is falling), weight gain, depression, extreme painful PMSs.. u know the rest

its getting better now though, but I'm seriously fed up with the meds..I don't know about the whole firtility or infirtility thing becuase I'm not married but a gynocologist has told me once that my chances don't look that good.. ofcourse, I had a nervous breakdown afterwards.

now my doctor is telling me I HAVE to lose the weight.. the highest it has gone up to is 224lbs, I was trying to be as active as I can, dieted, and managed to drop the weight to 160lbs. then I had to change my medication and I was totaly out of it when I ended up gaining weight. I'm at 198 lbs now, and my goal weight is 130-132lbs -- so that is a total of 66lbs .. I honestly can't wait to lose it and be healthy again.