My name is Cassie Davis and I am 22 from Fort Smith Arkansas. I guess I should start from the beginning. I believe that I have PCOS, but my doctor hasn't a clue. It started really when I noticed in high school that my menstral cycles were never really set. I mean that I would have two or three months in between cycles. I also noticed that my weight always fluctuated. It never shot up like it's done since high school, but it always spiked up and down at the drop of a dime. I also noticed hair growth in places that I thought were just embarrassing, but my mom had hair there too so I thought okay it's a genetic thing. I am always going to have to Nair my mustache off and the hairs under my chin I can pluck. But the excess hair on my stomach and the few on my breasts were just alittle frightening for me.

I never really got scared until I didn't have my period for over a year. I finally broke down and said to my mother that I have to go to the doctors and I don't care if I am paying for it the rest of my life I have to know whats going on. Well I went and saw him and he said sure it's not normal so lets run some tests. They took some blood one week and then two weeks later they did a pelvic ultrasound. The technician told me that other than a tilted uterus there was nothing wrong and my doctor told me that my blood tests were good. My thyroid level was actually fantastic for my family history and he said my estrogen and testosterone levels were normal.

I normally would take my doctor at his word, but my sister and I were watching a program the other night on TLC called Mysterious Diagnosis. There was a lady who had PCOS and she was describing her symptoms and how her doctor never had a diagnosis for her until she was older. I told my sister that I had all those symptoms and my sister told me that she thought I probably had it. I talked to my mother (who is a surgical technologist) and she told me to talk to my doctor. Well I just got back from a camping trip with my church youth group and I was talking to one of my youth leaders. Come to find out she has PCOS and she said that it sounded like I had it.

What I want to know is how can I definately tell if I have it? What kind of tests do I need to make my doctor run? And I know you can control some of the symptoms with diet, but which one?

Right now I am so scared because kids are the one thing that I wanted to do with my life and now it's starting to look like that is going to be the hardest thing to do with my life. I know it's not impossible because of the lady on the show and my youth leader. But it was darn hard. Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated and any advice no matter how small would help, because right now I am just going on pure scaredness ( I know its not a word) and I can't really think straight.

Having PCOS is not such a bad thing hun....and yes most of the symptoms can dissapear with a lowcarb diet....so do not despair

I was diagnosed with it quite a while ago, but I'd had it for a long time before one doctor FINALLY told me what it was...like you, my period had stopped for a whole year....so I know what you are going thru, it's scary BUT look at me today, I have 2 kids....yes the 1st one I had to go through what they call "super ovulation"...but after I lost 80 lbs after the 1st baby I got pregnant on my own for the second one, and since I've been doing a lowcarb lifestyle I have regular periods which I never had before....and yes I have 2 healthy children

As for the hair, there are medication you can take to help control it...I'm taking what they call here in Canada "Flutamide", and since I take that I rarely have to shave my legs not to mention the facial, breast and tummy hair...all gone

So you see, it's a treatable syndrom (I don't like to call it a disease...makes it sound so scary).

Anyways, hang in there, follow a good lowcarb lifestyle (Atkins, South Beach if you can't give up fruits, just to name a few)...you have to think of it as a lifestyle not a diet....and you'll see it work wonders on your body....trust me! Skin will improve too.

...and don't hesitate to post your questions/concerns here, there are many knowledgeble women on this board who also have PCOS....you might want to also check the soulcyster group wich is a board on PCOS....loads of information there.

Take care!
xoxo

Your doctor didn't look at your bloodwork correctly. The hallmark of PCOS is an inverse relationship between FSH and LH. They can even be in the normal range, but if one (can't remember which, I think it's the FSH, but you should google it to be sure) is higher than the other that is a classic sign of PCOS.

The other is cysts on the ovaries. The ovaries sometimes look like swiss cheese on the U/S.

My PCOS is aggravated by some past reactions to meds so mine has been intractable. Weight loss has not helped, but the majority of PCOSer who lose weight and watch the sugar are fine. You may need some asistance to achieve pregnancy, but it could be as minor as a pill.

Just keep in mind, that you'll want to try for a baby sooner as opposed to later once you get married. Don't wait because age really works against you.

I would not waste any more time with your regular doctor, but go directly to an endocrinologist or gynecologist. Be sure to ask the receptionist if they have experience with PCOS. PCOS is still not well known or mainstream medicine, you need a specialist who is up-to-date on PCOS.

Also, it could be Metabolic Syndrome which is very similar to PCOS but w/o the cysts and some of the other hormonal markers they look at.

Either way, you need a specialist.

Good luck

F

hey there. i totally understand how you feel. i was diaganosed when i was 21. i went to the doctors when i was in highschool, and they said i was fine. i would go a year without my period, and when i did get it, i was screaming of pain. when i was diagnosed, i was devestated. i just couldn't believe that this was happening to me. i had an 'incurable' disease. all i wanted was babies.
well, things got a lot easier. we tried for a baby for a while, and then i had a miscarriage. after about 2 years off, i got pregnant again. i had to use clomid, but here i am with a beautiful 7 month old.
i was in your shoes. a lot of us were, or are. but there is always hope. things will get better. here's my advice. find a doctot. when we were trying the first time, i had horrible doctors. they could have cared less for me. but the 2nd time around, i had an awesome doctor. one who cared, and was truely concerned. that is the best thing. i was relaxed and carefree about the whole thing.
so just take a deep breath and know that you will be fine. if you need someone to talk to, i am here.

rachel*

Don't worry yourself to much. I found out about 6 years ago that I have PCOS. I used to have about 3 periods a year, now that I am lc'ing & on meds I have one every month like clock work. I have 3 daughters, 2 also have PCOS. My oldest has it, and she just gave me my first Grandchild in April - she had to have a c section because the little guy was headed in the wrong direction with his feet over his shoulders. When she had the section, she also found out she only has 1 ovary - so what I am saying is, even if you do have PCOS, don't worry!!

I'll just throw this out here but gluten sensitivity or celiac disease also causes a lot of infertility and miscarriages.

You're definitely smart to be looking into dietary changes so early in your life. I'm personally quite convinced that a Paleo type of diet is the healthiest you can eat. And the wonderful thing about discovering the link between diet and disease is that you don't need a doctor's permission to treat yourself.

Good luck!

I don't know a whole lot about PCOS, but wanted to drop in here and let you know that my stepdaughter was diagnosed with PCOS shortly after she got married.

She went on a low-carb eating plan, and five months later, turned up pregnant. She's due on August 17th. She's 24.

I really believe that low-carb might help with this - especially after hearing of my stepdaughter's situation. She lives out of state, so I'm not "up" on all the details, but I do know that low-carbing made a big difference for her.

Hope that cheers you a bit. Hang in there.

I went to a nurse midwife for infertility way back in 1996 because my periods had completely stopped and and she did a ultrasound and found the pcos, I dont think they could miss the pcos through ultrasound , but anyway my pcos was completely cured through just losing the weight after losing only 20 pounds I had my first cycle and was suddenly pregnant!, I did not believe the doctor when they said I was pregnant , I did not think it was possible because of all the other treatments we tryed to get pregnant (even fertility pills) and they dident work it was not till I gave up on trying and I lost 20 pounds I was pregnant and never again had a problem with pcos, as long as I keep my weight under 170 pounds I dont have a problem, my periods are right on the same date every month, sometimes I now wish they would go away for a while !,lol.
this may not be a cure for every women but just losing weight cured me!
I went on to have 4 healthy baby girls my last one was born aug 4th 2002!.
Love Lisa

Hi, I just wanted to add my story if I may. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS in June of this year. I've been married for 12 years, never conceived, and will be 40 years old next year. Doctors had been misdiagnosing me for all these years. Count yourself lucky that you are a young woman, because with low-carb dieting and medication, you can virtually eradicate the symptoms of PCOS. I wish I'd learned about PCOS in my twenties, things would be a whole lot easier for me. My Doc says I've had it since puberty. Good luck to you!!!

where can I find the SoulCysters group discussion? thanks SO much in advance

appreciate this!!

ozzycrazy3, are you still taking flutamide? Is anyone else taking it?