PCOS Help?

Have you ever considered alternative medicine? There is a lot of information out there on taking the alternative route instead of medication. I really like curezone.com, They have a lot of good information and suggestions. You can also find a naturopathic doctor who usually can recommend alternative nutrition.

Hi L.,
Sorry you are going through such a rough time. I don't even know what PCOS is, but it sounds like you are not getting the help you need from your physician. I have recently been seeing a naturopathic physician. She is very caring, and works with supplements, herbs, and homeopathy, as well as prescription meds. I suggest you look up some naturopaths in your area(I'm in AZ), and consider trying that.
Some of your symptoms sound thyroid related. Have you had that checked?

Good luck!

S. H.

You're not alone L.! I'll be 29 in August and was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001 by my OB GYN who just mentioned it in passing, gave me a little information pamphlet and prescribed birth control pills-not very helpful! She told me I would never be able to conceive until I lost weight. Doesn’t she know that losing weight when you have PCOS is practically impossible?! Finally I made an appointment with an Endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. Dr. Laurie Roust CHANGED MY LIFE! She actually listened to me and gave me answers! After a whole slew of tests, blood work and even an ultrasound to see the cysts I was put on a different medication-Glucophage to treat my insulin resistance (this is very common for women with PCOS-that’s why we can’t lose weight!), the Yasmin birth control pill (a safer more natural hormone), I saw their dietitian and eventually had my larger cysts removed laproscopically by the Mayo surgical gynecologist Dr. Roseanne Kho (voted the BEST Surgical Gynecologist by Phoenix Magazine in 2004). I did see another surgical gynecologist for a second opinion before surgery but she didn’t have the capability to perform the surgery lapproscopically and the healing time would have been a hospital stay and 2 weeks healing instead of an out patient procedure with immediate results! Once the larger cysts were removed, I had immediate pain relief. By cutting out ALL WHITE and PROCESSED foods and switching to hormone free milk and meats (Whole Foods baby!), and increasing my exercise from never to every day, I was able to finally lose weight. I made a deal with myself that I could not watch TV unless I was on my treadmill-eventually I narrowed it down to my Oprah hour on the treadmill. I’ve lost a ton of weight and am now completely PCOS symptom FREE! As far as the infertility problems I and most every other PCOS patient has, once I got healthy my husband and I had no problems conceiving and I gave birth to TWINS last summer! Both of my babies are perfect in every way and I’ve even been able to lose my pregnancy weight!

I know there are online PCOS support groups. I didn’t join any but did visit a few by doing a Yahoo search. Please email me if you have any questions! I hope this helps you and anyone else with this nasty problem!
Good luck!

Sincerely,
H. in Gilbert, AZ

For more information, check out these sites:

Glucophage and PCOS…why you may be insulin resistant!
http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com/Metformin-and-PCOS.php

What is Glucophage and do I need to take it to treat my PCOS?
http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/glucophage-metformin-pc...

Mayo clinic PCOS treatment information:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/pcos/

Dr. Lori R. Roust, M.D. my Mayo Endocrinologist
http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/10279628.html

Dr. Rosanne M.C. Kho, M.D. my Mayo Surgical Gynecologist:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/11467126.html

L.,

You sound like a riot...and I'm sorry about all your trouble. I don't know if I can help or not. I have been involved with a company callled Synergy Worldwide. They are a health and wellness company and the products we have are amazing. Frankly, I got involved as a business concept, not for the products. But they are doing so many amazing things for so many people, I have changed my view! I can understand your frustration in "knowing more than your doctor" -- my mom is a nurse of 50 years having moved here from the Chicago area and she said the medical care in this state is atrocious!! We have one product in particular that has helped people with lowering cholesterol, lowing blood pressure, and getting people off insulin. Basically, we take a whole body approach to health...treating the body vs. treating symptoms. But the doctors on our medical advisory board are nationally renowned and really know what they're doing with respect to these products. There's too much to go into any further depth here, but if you would like to call me and/or get together, I'd be happy to share what we have. Again, I don't know if it will help...but you never know. My name is M. and my cell is ###-###-####. Good luck!!

Oh L., sounds like your hormones are out of balance. Have you ever heard of Dr. john Lee? check out his website www.drhjohnleemd.com
when our systems are out of balance, we need to help them.

I market a product that can help you balance our hormones from Arbonne. If you can relate to what he is talking about, contact me. my website is www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com

Hope this helps,
T.

L., My heart goes out to you. I also have PCOS and was diagnosed about 5 years ago. I also happen to be a Certified Nurse Midwife which gives me an edge in accessing information on this disorder. First, I would try to find another OB/GYN or be referred to a reproductive endocrinologist that is comfortable treating you. BCPs are only one of a few treatments and some types of the pill work better than others. I'm not a huge fan of birth control pills because they have side effects and risks as well. The most effective strategy to manage my symptoms (45-60 day cycles, mood swings, hair loss, fatigue, etc) was adapting my body to a low carb, higher protein diet combined with both aerobic exercise and weight training. When I lost just 10 lbs , I noticed a huge difference in how I felt and the length of my cycles became more predictable. Please be proactive and find a Dr. you like and that can help you with PCOS--they are out there. If you act now, you may save yourself from developing diabetes later. I'm so thankful that at 28 and then a newlywed I was able to make some serious lifestyle changes that allowed me to obtain and now maintain a normal weight for my height, stop having irratic menstrual cycles and have a healthy daughter and now a son on the way. PS: If you are tempted to try herbs, please seek the care of a naturopathic doctor and have him or her manage your PCOS. Herbs are drugs too and can both help or cause harm. Best wishes! R., 34 (Stay at home mom of 1 since 2005)

If I were you I would seek a second opinion from a naturopathic physician. I know an excellent doctor in women's medicine. Her name is Dr.Farra Swan. She is located in Mesa, Arizona, not far from Banner Dessert Hospital on Dobson Rd. and the US 60. I am not sure how far away you live from Mesa, so maybe another naturopathic physician would be more realistic, but they have so many wonderful ways to get to the root of what is causing everything versus just covering up the symptoms, like in your case by trying to give you a birth control pill, which would even add additional side effects to the mix.

Best of luck!!!
C.

Hi L.,

I don't have personal experience with PCOS, but it sounds miserable. I'm responding because I have been seeing the midwives at the Tucson Birth & Women's Health Center (near TMC) for years - both for my pregnancies and for all my other GYN care. They are so knowledgeable, especially about natural and alternative types of treatment. If I were having the kind of trouble you describe, I would definitely go there, because I would anticipate really good attention and thorough, well-rounded care from them. It doesn't sound like you are getting that from your current doc.

Good Luck!
-S.

Herbs are available to assist in regulating our endocrine system, which include our hormones. That is the path I would seek, finding a good herbalist who has the knowledge and experience to help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_ovary_syndrome

Has your Dr. prescribed this brand of birth control?Following is info about Dianette, a contraceptive pill which is also beneficial for hirsutism ( hairy problems )and also info about an alternative approach. Read the whole article by going to the site above

sincerely. C.

Treatment of menstrual irregularity, prevention of endometrial hyperplasia
If fertility is not the primary aim, then menstruation can usually be regularised with a contraceptive pill. The purpose of regularising menstruation is essentially for the woman's convenience, and perhaps her sense of wellbeing; there is no medical requirement for regular periods, so long as they occur sufficiently often (see below). Most brands of contraceptive pill result in a withdrawal bleed every 28 days. Dianette® (a contraceptive pill containing cyproterone acetate) is also beneficial for hirsutism, and is therefore often prescribed in PCOS.

If a regular menstrual cycle is not desired, then therapy for an irregular cycle is not necessarily required - most experts consider that if a menstrual bleed occurs at least every three months, then the endometrium (womb lining) is being shed sufficiently often to prevent an increased risk of endometrial abnormalities or cancer. If menstruation occurs less often or not at all, some form of progestogen replacement is recommended. Some women prefer a uterine progestogen implant such as the Mirena® coil, which provides simultaneous contraception and endometrial protection for years, though often with unpredictable minor bleeding. An alternative is oral progestogen taken at intervals (e.g. every three months) to induce a predictable menstrual bleed.

Alternative approaches
D-chiro-inositol (DCI) offers a well-tolerated and effective alternative treatment for PCOS. It has been evaluated in two peer-reviewed, double-blind studies and found to help both lean and obese women with PCOS; diminishing many of the primary clinical presentations of PCOS.[12] [13] It has no documented side-effects and is a naturally occurring human metabolite known to be involved in insulin metabolism.[14] Contrary to common — but false — claims, DCI is not a drug but rather a nutrient (as defined by the DSHEA) and is commercially available as a nutritional supplement in the USA.

Ian Stoakes, a UK-based scientist has recently claimed some success in treating PCOS through tailored diets, believing that there is a strong link between PCOS, diabetes (and associated diseases) and inflammation caused by the failure of the blood to absorb specific foods.[citation needed] Blood samples are tested to see how they react to different food types to provide the patient with a list of foods she can eat and foods to avoid. Weight loss, alleviation of symptoms and successful pregnancies are claimed for this approach.[citation needed] It remains a totally unproven approach with no research papers listed in PubMed by Stoakes concerning PCOS.

Has your doctor prescribed Metformin (Glucophage) for you? I had non-existant and/or irregular periods for years because of PCOS, and as soon as I started taking this, my periods became fairly normal. We started trying to get pregnant a few months after that, and within 3 months, I was pregnant. I was 40 at the time, and I won't say how much overweight I am! I'm not sure how it will help with all the other symptoms you have, but it's something for you to look into and ask your doctor about. Sounds like maybe you need a new doctor too! Good luck!

I don't have any knowledge of your syndrome and I wish you luck with finding help but my very first thought was that you should find a new dr. or if that sounds too risky, at least get a second opinion on the treatments that are available. If you have a dr. that is not educated on your syndrome you have the right to find one that does.
Good luck to you.

L., I have battled PCOS since my late teens. I have had every test, done every option, and been to more doctors than I can keep track of. The only things that have truly made a difference for me is eating a primarily vegan diet with the bulk being raw vegetables and fruit, fresh veggie juices, and a small portion of cooked food like whole grains and brown rice. I also have to exercise like there's no tomorrow as I have the same issues with maintaining weight. The thinner I can get, the better I feel. It stinks but it's true. Also, get acupuncture and do a lot of yoga "hot flow." Most doctors will do a bunch of tests on you, load you up with a ton of drugs, and they will no really do anything for you. It's not worth it. You are probably way more knowledgeable than your doctor. I had to self-diagnose before I went into the doc because they had no clue and still don't. My worse problem now is that I have a lot of lower extremity edema. Currently I'm pregnant but I still have to do all the things I've done to keep from getting sick. I've been bedridden, without hair, and covered in cysts. Right now I look pretty good even though I'm in my third trimester. Let me know if you want to talk further. I'd be happy to answer as many questions as I can and help you in your research. It's nice to know that you are not alone. Send me a message and I'll give you my email address. :-)

Oh goodness! I can relate to what you're describing!! I don't have all the symptoms and to the same degree that you do, but I have been on a hormonal roller-coaster ride for many months (years actually) and after lots of research (online and in books), I finally feel I understand (sorta) the processes that can lead to hormonal imbalance and how to correct it. And I know what you mean -- I feel very much that most doctors don't fully understand or care about looking at the "big picture". My gyn wanted to put me on birth control pills and my family doctor wanted to put me on anti-depressants. I opted not to do either, and I'm feeling better these days than I have in a long time. I'll see if I can sum it up in a nutshell without leaving out important pieces. It is SO important to take care of yourself (diet, exercise, sleep, minimize stress, take supplements etc). It may sound impossible (I know that feeling - I have 2 toddlers and I own a business that I run from home), but you really have to find ways to make it happen for you and your family! Because your symptoms really do sound worse than mine, I don't want to make it sound like you don't need medical advice and/or prescribed medicine. It sounds like low thyroid function - which you probably know. But every system in our bodies affects other systems, so as to what is driving what...who knows. BUT, the big thing I have learned over the past several months is just how important diet really is to how our bodies function. If you told me 6 months ago that I needed to cut out sugar, alcohol, and caffeine from my diet I would have said forget it - it's not worth that!! But once I realized how horrible those things were making me feel, and how good I feel when I eat "right", it became so much easier to make the right decisions. To be honest, I'm not perfect on my diet but am WAY better than I used to be and it truly has made a huge difference. I think rather than rambling on and on, I will list here a few books that I HIGHLY recommend that you read. I feel so passionately about people taking charge of their own health, because honestly the big picture DOES matter and just treating individual symptoms will not solve underlying problems.

--Ultra-Metabolism by Mark Hyman, M.D. (he also has a good website www.ultrawellness.com). Even though this sounds like a "diet" book, it's filled with great information on how our bodies work and how to get and stay healthy.
--What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause by John R. Lee, M.D. (website is www.johnleemd.com)
--Dr. John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins

I really hope you can get a hold of these books (and I'm sure there are so many others that would be equally good) and really figure out your path to "wellness". I know there are doctors who speciaIlize in thyroid and hormone balance, and that may be another important place to start (maybe an endocrinologist?).

I would be happy to share anything else that I've learned - if you have any specific questions for me please let me know! I'm certainly no expert, but I would be more than happy to share what I've learned and will tell you honestly if it's just something I'm not sure about.

Hi L.,

PCOS is affecting more and more women today and its symptoms can be very frustrating!! Fortunately, as you know, they have found a connection between PCOS and insulin resistance. It's important to look at why you developed insulin resistance, including checking your thyroid. Traditional medical doctors accept a wider range of thyroid activity as being normal, but naturopathic doctors want your thyroid activity to be in an ideal range. First have your thyroid checked to see if you need supplementation, and then look at an appropriate diet, exercise and micronutrient regimen to improve insulin sensitivity. Once you are no longer insulin resistant, your PCOS symptoms should improve.

Sincerely,
L. Weeshoff, ND
Life Sculpting
www.lifesculpting.biz

Well... I dont even know what it is... but if its womanly issues and you havent found anyone who knows... then you should try Dr. Dowswell OBGYN..... he is located in Mesa and has a office in Gilbert as well..... I was having issues with ovarian cysts.... no one knew what to do to help me control them..... I even had a docter who wanted to have me do a hysterectomy!! At age 26!!!! ANyways...,he is AWESOME and if he doesnt know what to do to help you then Im sure he can direct you to someone who can!! His number is: ###-###-####.... Good luck to you!! ;0)

Get a new doctor with experience in PCOS. Try the folks at www.psosupport.org for starters; you can also call your local hospitals and county medical association to find someone with the expertise you need. That's really critical going forward because this is a chronic condition and you'll truly benefit from expert help all along the way. Good luck!

L.,

I don't know much about this, however I am always impressed with Dr. Kathy Fry who is on KEZ 99.9 with Beth and Bill each month. She approaches femalse/ob/gyn issues with medical and holostics approaches. If you insurance doesn't allow you to see her maybe you could e-mail or call in next time she's on. My friend has been going to her for years and I'm thinking of moving to her. She cares about her patients.

DO NOT stay with a provider that doesn't understand your disease.

I know a great OB/GYN. I don't see him because he is a family friend (too awkward) but I know he has an incredible reputation. Dr. Burt Webb. He is a very caring person and I once had someone walk up to us while we were speaking and say to him, "Did you know you saved my life".

He is based out of Scottsdale. Good luck.

T. C.
Spa Girlfriend Parties
www.spaescapescottsdale.com

You should see a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist (even if you're not trying to get pregnant). They have a lot of experience helping women manage their PCOs. The recommendations are usually the low-carb diet, 1 hr walking per day, plus lifting weights, and use of metformin (this actually helps ladies with the weight loss, and/or staying on the low-carb diet).

Hello L.. I think that you should find another doctor who knows more about your syndrome. Having a doctor that does not even want to try to find out more about the syndrome is not helping you at all. Maybe you should call different doctors and ask if they know about the syndrome or if they know any doctors that specialize in your condition. You are to young to be so miserable.I hope that you can find relief soon!

Hi L.,

Don't worry, I am a newbie here too and its strange because I don't normally read the emails but today I just happened to scroll down and see this.

Anyway, I have PCOS too and there are natural remedies you can try. I don't have insulin resistance but I have been taking cinnamon pills and chromium which is supposed to help with regulating blood sugar/insulin. I feel much better since taking these supplements.

Currently I am trying for a 2nd child so I am under the care of a Reproductive Endocronologist but I am pretty sure there are OB/GYNs out there that deal with PCOS. Not sure of any personally though.

Oh, and I know for most people losing weight definitely helps with the symptoms and its good to not be overweight but I have the exact opposite problem. I am very thin and still struggle with the symptoms. When I was 30lbs heavier I felt the same as I do now.

Hi,

I'm with the Shaklee company and they have a fabulous weight loss program that has been hugely successful with diabetics as it balances sugars and such. From what I've been reading on results it also helps with certain hormone levels as well. It has quite a bit of fiber which will help with the acne as it cleanses your system. You many wish to check out the Cinch website and see what you think. There is a 30 day guarantee if you are not satisfied and I really think this may help. If you have any questions or concerns I would love to help you all I can. I hope that if this is not for you, that you will find something that does work for you. E-mail me anytime.

Take care,

D. Friedl
Shaklee Independent Distributor
www.shaklee.net/denise_friedl
www.cinch.com/denise_friedl

What does PCOS stand for?

Your post sounds like something (I) could have written - even down to our height/weight! I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) when I was a teenager and had my first period at 16 - that lasted 10 days :O

They put me on birth control pills which seemed to keep most symptoms at bay (except for excess hair). But, when I got married and wanted kids (and got off the pills) my cycles were all off - lasting 39-41 days with lots of PCOS symptoms coming to a head. Getting pregnant was hard. We had a miscarriage by the time we realized that my progesterone was low. We used the Natural Family Planning Method (and Dr. Lee's advice on progesterone) and today, we have 4 beautiful kids. I had to take progesterone to get and stay pregnant, and I am still on it today to maintain my hormone levels. It's made a big difference!!

As far as weight goes, I have found that a low carb diet/high protein diet, Omega 3's (flaxseed supplements), a daily multi-vitamin, lots of clean bottled water, extra calcium and a Vitamin D3 supplement (and - ugh - exercise LOL) have helped me lose weight - and PCOS symptoms! So far, from my heaviest to now, I've lost about 14 pounds.

I've read some message boards on PCOS where women have been successful in getting their health insurance to pay for laser hair removal - with an official PCOS diagnosis! I haven't pursued that yet, but that's promising news :)

There are some great support/info sites out there too:
http://www.pcosupport.org/

http://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/what_is_pcos.html

http://www.vitaline-slimming.com/pcos/

Best of luck to you ;)

First find your self a doctor that knows alooot about pcos it helps tremendously. I use doctor steven eddie his practice is wonderful. His np are women but very informative too. Have you been give metformin. It helps regulate your insulin levels and in turn helps regulate you hormones. Combining this with Birth Control several years ago helped me go from a size 20 to a 14. Also it helped a ton with my hair falling out (i swore i was going bald & my husband would comment on the clumps of hair he would find everywhere) the other embarrassing hairs cleared up. Metformin does make you have extreme stomach issues if you eat improperly so you have to make sure to cut processed junk watch you sugars. I have 3 books that are wonderful 1st is PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome the hidden epidemic by samuel s thatcher. 2nd the insulin resistance diet by cheryle hart & mary kay grossman. The 3rd i cant find but i was called the pcos diet. this one is extremely helpful in giving alternatives to medicine & combined with the insulin resistance diet helps with the weight loss. I bought all the books on amazon. Also just remebering did you doctor prescribe birth control that was low in estrogen or progestren i produce to much of one so i have to have birth control with low doses of one hormone but high doses of the other or they do nothing for me.