PCOS. No period. Terrible acne/weight gain/body hair.

[eg-elska-tig.livejournal.com]

So here's some backstory. I'm 22 and have had issues with PCOS since I was 16. It first started out with me missing periods for 6 months. Went on the pill for a few months and got it back. Went off the pill with the hopes that all I needed was to get everything back in order. Cue a year and a half where I lacked a period. From then on until a year ago I went with having no period to having one every few months. I was able to get a period every month that would usually last 3-5 days and would be a light to normal flow.

I was on birth control briefly last year, but I had to discontinue for various insurance and financial reasons(this was before I learned about Planned Parenthood). Still, I was able to carry on having a period monthly, so everything seemed well. That is until two months ago when I stopped getting my period. Since then I have noticed that I have gained a little weight, my skin has gone from manageable to acne ridden, and the various other body hairs have come in at a highly noticeable amount. It's getting to me quite a bit and I've been feeling terribly self-conscious about it as of late.

I've recently received my medical benefits, so I'm planning on visiting the doctor soon and seeing about getting back onto birth control to keep my period regulated. But what I'm wondering is if there are any other women out there with PCOS who have had something similar happen to them. Anything at all would be very helpful. Thanks!

Comments

[abitofanenigma.livejournal.com]

I have PCOS too. In a sense I'm kind of the opposite, I have freakish PCOS symptoms, as in instead of not bleeding I bleed constantly and heavily for long periods of time, then don't have a period for ages. I've noticed that deviating from taking the pill regularly makes it all come back and I bleed and bleed and bleed again.

The pill doesn't solve anything, but in my case it means a regular period and no anaemia! Yay! Plus it's healthier as well to have a regular bleed in your case, where you miss periods, because it can lead to various health problems. It's far better to try something like metformin to control the insulin side of your PCOS as well as the pill. If you haven't already been on metformin, mention it when you go to the doctor. It's certainly helped with my weight gain.

Have you changed your diet at all either? It's better to have a diet high in veggies and protein rather than lots of carbs (especially "white"carbs, it makes your insulin production go whack which in turn upsets the hormones).

[eg-elska-tig.livejournal.com]

Well so far what I've noticed is that I generally feel and look physically better when on birth control. It seems to help keep everything regulated beyond my periods. I was on metformin for several months at the end of last year and going into this one. Of course when I could no longer attend college and lost my health insurance, I had to give all of my medication up.

My diet hasn't change too much since then, really. I don't eat a whole lot of carbs and I tried to eat as any vegetables and lean meats as possible. It doesn't work out the best since I work Monday-Friday during doctor office hours. :\ But I'm hoping that since I've acrued my earned time off and am going to be getting my car soon that I will be able to make the time to see a doctor and get all of my much needed medications back. Hopefully I'll be able to manage my symptoms soon.

Thanks so much for the information though!

[buzzgirl19.livejournal.com]

I was on the pill for four years, went off it, and then gained weight, got hair on my chin, went acne crazy, got really oily hair... it was just bananas.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Apparently, the pill was supressing the symptoms by taking over my hormones. When left to their own devices, my hormones needed a while to get used to managing themselves again. It took nearly two years, but the acne went away. I use a low g-i diet to manage my weight and wash my hair daily. Sadly, the facial hair just keeps getting worse and the tweezers are my best friend. I think when I can afford it, I'm getting laser hair removal, but that might be a while away. :( I'm also really self-conscious about the hair, but less than I used to be, just cos I have no choice. I have dark hair and you can see it through the skin before it emerges and can be plucked.

Weird though - I get regular(ish) periods, the ultrasound showed my ovaries were 'normal', my hormones were in the 'normal' range and according to my blood tests, I have no trouble with insulin or blood sugar. I still have PCOS though cos of the symptoms. It's a major pain cos doctors are crap at treating it when you only have the symptoms and none of the apparent causes. I just get told to go on the pill or lose weight. I don't want to be on the pill, and um... lose weight, with PCOS? Like it's that easy.

Anyway, my point is - either going back on the pill or time may help you with some of your symptoms. And I feel your pain.

[eg-elska-tig.livejournal.com]

I have very dark hair and a fair complexion, so when hair comes in, it's fairly noticeable. I feel you on the laser hair removal, though. I hope to someday be able to afford the procedure. It seems like I could deal with my acne while I had my periods, but these past two months it's been horrible. Nothing is really helping.

I do very much plan on going back onto birth control. I plan on being sexually active sometime in the near future, so I figure I might as well have two for one. Ugh, and don't get me started on the weight... :\ I lost a little before my period started acting up again, and now it's all back. Sucks.