Pcos

dlife · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 06:36 PM

I have PCOS too. Just came to know today. What do I do now?? I am so lost already with Diabetes and now this. I didn't find much information on this forum about PCOS, are there any other useful resources or other forums that I could use?

One more thing, I am looking up on PCOS and find out that it is uncurable only treatable/manageable. What does this mean...if you are on clomid or metformin as a treatment to PCOS and then your menstrual cycle becomes regualar, doesn't that mean that the PCOS is cured??

I didn't have any prominent symptoms for PCOS seperately but there were all the symptoms I had for diabetes plus my periods weren't regualar..so got checked and got the results today. The doctors act so wierd. Dunno why. I had to call to know about my test results and the assistant answers the phone and says "Yours results are consistent with PCOS. Continue with the metformin you are using. Come back again in April" That's it? Don't they make you understand what's PCOS, why does it happen and everything else about it? I have to find out about it myself now.

kmac · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 07:50 PM

Hang in there! I don't know much about PCOS but I am sure there are others on the forum who do and they will help you. I don't know why people are diagnosed with conditions and not provided with info to help them control their condition.
I have experienced that too. It is scary when you don't know.

There are lots of good people with lots of knowledge and support on the forum here, so I am sure they will help you.

Even though it is hard to think that one may have conditions for the rest of one's life, remember there are lots of people living happy, healthy lives by controling their diabetes. From your other posts, it seems you are gaining good control. That is the key!

Kathi

Amelie · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 08:34 PM

I have PCOS. My doctor told me it can be caused by insulin resistance, which is why Metformin can be used to treat it, as well as diet (reducing your carbs) and exercise.

To be honest, I don't want kids, so I hardly ever even think about my PCOS.

dlife · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 08:42 PM

Kmac, thanks for the kind words. I haven't yet gained any control...still on the way

Ya, I do hope I get help from this forum regarding PCOS too.

Amelie, though you don't want kids, it's not good to have PCOS. You need to get that in contol too. That much I know. Btw, you made a great progress in your a1c and your weight too. Congrats.

jillybean · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 08:51 PM

My understanding of PCOS is that it's basically a group of symptoms that didn't have a name, so they gave it one. You can't really run a test and say yes, you have PCOS. It's just sort of a diagnosis that's leftover when nothing else fits all your symptoms.

Treatment for PCOS usually includes similar treatment as for diabetes (since insulin resistance is a symptom of PCOS) and hormonal treatments to help regulate cycles (birth control pills).

PCOS has been mentioned to me as a possibility by multiple doctors over the years, but never formally diagnosed. I've had ovarian cysts and irregular cycles and now have type 2 diabetes, so it all fits in with the symptoms of PCOS, but I treat the symptoms anyway (by treating the diabetes and taking birth control pills), regardless of whether or not I get handed a formal diagnosis.

Amelie · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlife

Amelie, though you don't want kids, it's not good to have PCOS. You need to get that in contol too. That much I know. Btw, you made a great progress in your a1c and your weight too. Congrats.

Thanks.

But just to clarify, when I said I don't think about it, I didn't mean I don't think I need to do anything about it... it's just that the lifestyle changes I've made for my diabetes are the same changes one needs to make for managing PCOS too, so I'm already doing what I need to do. Beyond that, it's not something I dwell on. Does that make any sense?

I do understand that a PCOS diagnosis is far more upsetting to someone who yearns for children! My heart goes out to those who are in that situation.

Amelie · #7 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillybean

...(since insulin resistance is a symptom of PCOS)

Hmmm... my doctor told me it was the other way around. I guess I'll have to look into this further.

jillybean · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 08:35 AM

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome << Frequently Asked Questions << womenshealth.gov

Amelie · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillybean

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome << Frequently Asked Questions << womenshealth.gov

Wow, looks like my doctor doesn't understand PCOS.

So from what I read on that page, Type II diabetes can be a "complication" of PCOS. So, forgive my ignorance, but does that imply that I got diabetes because I had untreated PCOS? That would be very frustrating, since I've had symptoms of PCOS since puberty, and was going to doctors for years about my symptoms, but didn't get a PCOS diagnosis until just shortly before I was diagnosed with diabetes, last year.

jillybean · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 01:57 PM

My honest opinion is that IR and PCOS are not related, but that both are exacerbated by excess body weight, so they are often found in the same patients. JUST my non-professional opinion.

Lots of people have ovarian cysts. Lots of people have irregular cycles and difficulty conceiving. Lots of people have IR. But when the same person has all of the above, they call it PCOS. I honestly don't believe any one "causes" the other.