PCOS: For Women's Eyes Only (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Member Name: Clotho

Product:	Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Date:	27/12/01 (984 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Learn to be more food savy, Treatable with Dianette

Disadvantages: Weight gain, Acne, Horrid Period problems

Periods! Periods! Periods!

Ok, that got rid of all the men, now, let's talk frank about PCOS:

Tiredness, weight gain, excess body hair, pimples, horrid periods, cramps and infertility are just a few wonderful bonuses of PCOS.

PCOS stands for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, which in its self doesn't tell you much, which incidentally, neither did the Doctor that diagnosed me (Told me much that is!).

The "ins" and "outs" of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (here on out called PCOS) is a bit difficult to diagnose, as the effects can mimic a variety of other diseases, such as iron deficiency (Always tired), diabetes (problems with sugar resolution, weight gain), cancer (often severe weight gain), and, dermatological acne (this one doesn’t need explaining methinks!)

I only came to a diagnosis after having an unrelated benign fluid cyst and left ovary removed (the cyst was the size of a soccer ball =( I didn't even realise I had a problem, just thought I put on weight.) and had to have a follow-up Ultra Sound scan. During the scan I could tell *something* was wrong, as the technician asked the departmental head to come in, and kept asking me to partially empty my bladder “just a little bit more”. (when you have a scan you’re required to drink a litre and a half of water), and of course THEY wouldn’t tell me anything. I had to take the results (and of course by now I’m neurotic, to the doctor, but I peeked first ;) and looked up PCOS. There was very little information in the health journal we had at home about it. So I searched the net, and found all sorts of hell stories, not unsimilar to mine: Horrid cramps, irregular heavy periods, tiredness, weight gain, furry bodies, acne, you name it, it was there.

To be honest, I never thought that my body was excessively hairy, but that my hair grows a bit thick and fast. I shave my legs at night and by morning it
217;s black with stubble. (Not too sexy I must admit). Wax them, and it lasts for approximately 3-5 days before hair regrowth kicks in. Luckily this does help somewhat in relieving the darkness of my hair. (My husband no longer claims I’m the missing link in evolution!).

My periods are horrendous, with cramps so bad I get light headed, and often throw up or pass out. Thankfully, there is something out there, Dianette, which doesn’t cure PCOS, but helps it. It’s a birth control pill, that not only regulates the hormones that go screwy in your body, (which is, yes you guessed it, another side affect of PCOS,) but also clears up your complexion as well. (Dianette is also prescribed for just acne.) With Dianette, I “Tri-cycle” which means I go two packets on, one week off, instead of the conventional one packet on, one week off. This extended time gives me relief from my periods. Dianette has also lessened my periods greatly. I still suffer from PMS (the American short for PMT) although I find it’s not as bad.

I worry greatly about the future, as with PCOS there is lowered fertility, which is often linked to weight. (And boy is weight easy to put on with PCOS, as PCOS can sometimes imitate Diabetes and cause low metabolism.) Dianette, if you are on it, also links to weight gain. Also, with PCOS you’re eggs aren’t properly “ejected” into your fallopian tubes, which also complicates pregnancy somewhat. Ectopic pregnancy is thought to happen more often in patients with PCOS, so family planning with my husband is definitely in order. We will be trying for a child at the end of January, under very close Doctor supervision.

If you think you may have PCOS (that is have any combination of the above symptoms) then get into your Doctors, talk it over, and request an ultrasound, as you don’t have to live with all the problems of PCOS.

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