Any PCOS mamas in the house?

[sauceboss]

Hi bees! I've missed you guise!

After months of wondering Wtf is going on with me (can't lose weight, acne, no period at all, losing my hair, etc) blood work and an u/s confirmed my assumption of PCOS.  Gyno started me on metformin and BC. Besides that and a low carb diet/exercise, is there anything else I can do? I was considering getting hair and nail vitamins because my crazy hair loss is bringing me down. Any advice or experience is greatly appreciated! Feeling overwhelmed these days.

[kames12]

I don't have a confirmed diagnosis but I have some of the symptoms of it

[trutru127]

I'm the same as kames12 although I have had the most regular periods of my life since having E but have now being TFAS for a year with no success so who knows.

[sauceboss]

I have been normal period wise myself... until March this year I went 3 months with nothing. That was what finally made me seek a Dr. I had been Dr. Googling and suspected it. Fun symptoms like random facial hair and acne popping up, on top of not losing weight no matter what changes I made were becoming hard to write off. My blood work according to my general doc came back "normal" although Gyno requested it saying "normal" ranges may not really be..dependent on various things. The transvaginal u/s revealed polycystic ovaries for me. Perhaps you ladies want to talk to your gyno about an u/s if you suspect? Especially you trutru127, since there are various treatment routes for PCOS & TTC. My gyno based my treatment plan on me not TTC any time soon. Wishing you ladies the best with your symptoms, thanks for letting me know I'm not alone.

[nachellebeck]

I have PCOS. The facial hair, super irregular periods, not being able to lose weight, etc.

I was on Metformin & Clomid when I got pregnant with K. The Metformin helped me shed about 10 pounds before getting pregnant.

Currently I'm taking prenatals & biotin because the hair loss is redic...

[kames12]

My symptoms are irregular periods, acne and facial hair. DS was the result of an IUI. I'm not trying for a second and have an IUD to regulate my hormones.

[cynthia2007]

I have PCOS as well. Always had irregular periods so was on BC before. Acne is bad so I have to take better care of my skin more than I did before. Losing weight is very hard. I was on metformin before getting pregnant with A but stopped taking it 3 mo pregnant.
Unfortunately metformin is all that I was told that would help with PCOS and weight loss. It really does help with weight loss though. Taking prenatal vitamins helps with the hair loss but I still lose a good amount. I have thick hair so you can't really tell. A friend of mine has it and she uses hair treatments to thicken hair or make it look fuller so maybe check that out.

[sauceboss]

Thank you all! It makes me less insanely embarrassed whilst I pluck mustache hairs. I'm afraid to wax... way sensitive skin. I'm relieved to see the metformin works. I've been hating it so far since all I've experienced is cramps and toilet dwelling from it.

violet, When I want to TTC in a few years, would you recommend a RE right away? Are there any medical differences with PCOS pregnancies? I looked at the not too great stats and thought it may be classified risk? Congrats again!!

cynthia2007, and nachellebeck, what brand vitamins are your go-to? Thanks!

[kames12]

I waited about 18 months before seeing my RE. Needed to wait a year of trying before my insurance paid for it. I go get waxed about once every 5-6 weeks. In high school one of my friends asked if I was growing a mustache. He got smacked.

Clomid, trigger shot and IUI worked for me.

[nachellebeck]

Jul 13, 2015 10:16:13 GMT -5 sauceboss said:

Thank you all! It makes me less insanely embarrassed whilst I pluck mustache hairs. I'm afraid to wax... way sensitive skin. I'm relieved to see the metformin works. I've been hating it so far since all I've experienced is cramps and toilet dwelling from it.

violet, When I want to TTC in a few years, would you recommend a RE right away? Are there any medical differences with PCOS pregnancies? I looked at the not too great stats and thought it may be classified risk? Congrats again!!

cynthia2007, and nachellebeck, what brand vitamins are your go-to? Thanks!

So I'll chime in since I'm sure violet is busy.

I was had insulin resistant PCOS, which was why I put on the Metformin. (My mother actually takes it for her diabetes, as well.)

When I got pregnant, I was taking Metformin & Clomid (unmonitored, please please be monitored when taking Clomid). I was told to continue taking my Metformin until I was 13 weeks. I stopped then & had a rather boring normal pregnancy.

My body kinda "reset" after I had Kael. About 8 months post partum I started getting regular periods. I didn't seek help right away, since I was still having cycles.  After my surgery (to remove a cyst on my right ovary), my OB started me back on Metformin. I'm like 90% that screwed up my cycles again, because I haven't had a natural cycle since.

She doubled my dose & it made me feel awful. I found if I watched my carb intake, I generally felt better.

And any over the counter vitamin works. I think I'm using Nature Made right now since it was on sale & I got more for my money.
But I'm taking 10,000mg of Biotin & they are H.E.B brand (local grocery store) because they were BOGO free.

[sauceboss]

Thank you kames12, and nachellebeck, ! Jerk deserved the smack!

Another question I forgot to ask about since gyno prescribed BC. How long is too long with no period? I'm not sure what is PCOS normal and what a red flag (pun intended) is. I'm assuming the BC should regulate.... anyone still all over the period map on BC?

nachellebeck, my dad takes met for his diabetes, too. I've read it helps with the upped risk of m/c in early pregnancy. So after 1st tri it's typical to stop met? Sorry for the zillion ?s. There's so much info on the interwebs, it is hard to know what is standard and what isn't with TTC. Glad you had a boring pregnancy!

Thankfully SO is totally supportive... even after I have my "you don't have to stay with broken me" speech. Dramatic, I know... it is just a mindfuck that one drunk oops with the deadbeat gave me Sauce. Now that SO and I are making engagement plans and know we definitely want a kid or two down the road it's just too ironic that it seems like such a roller coaster ahead after sneezing and conceiving Sauce. I am so grateful I have an understanding and supportive gent

[nachellebeck]

I think it's typical that you stop taking Met after the first tri. Each doc is different. I've read that some women need to take it the whole pregnancy.

FWIW, when I was on BC, my periods were super regular...like down to the hour. I was on it for 4 years, but I had irregular periods prior to going on it. Like maybe 2 periods a year.

[kames12]

I was super regular on BC pill (not the mini pill). Since having my IUD, I spot every once and awhile but my period is basically non-exisitant. The mini pill wasn't enough hormone for me once I stopped EPing. Also with me, I have super high levels of prolactin which didn't help either with trying to get pregnant.

[sauceboss]

Thanks again guys for all your advice and experiences! I so appreciate it.

[cynthia2007]

sauceboss, I have cvs prenatal

For my mustache hairs I use the facial nair and it works pretty good. I do it every week.
I was on metformin while TTC and the first trimester and then they told me to come off. I haven't been back on it bc periods have been regular since A was born (I skip a month sometimes). One clomid and we got pregnant

[sauceboss]

cynthia2007, thank you! I'll try the Nair. You gave me hope TTC won't automatically be torture.

[sauceboss]

Thank you mcbush! He asked me to send him my perfect ring... which lucky for him isn't even a diamond center stone So I'm playing the waiting game for a month, a year, we'll see. Hoping for this year personally

Thanks for taking the time to tell me your experiences violet,! Never knew we had superb quality. So glad your fears didn't happen and you were successful. There is hope, yay! I may bite the bullet on the waxing... how sensitive are you? I have rosacea and am generally pink toned. Even when I tweeze my brows they are red forever. Terrified of ripping my skin off and drawing more attention to it.