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Theresa
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 9:23am | IP Logged
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Hi,
I was wondering if anyone would have any good websites or information that they could share about PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
I've been having symptoms on and off for the last 4-5 years and the doctor thinks this might be what is going on. After seeing him yesterday and just giving him a list of the things that have been going on for the last 4-5 years this is the diagnosis that stood out to him. He wanted a couple of weeks to do some reading on it as it has been some time since he has treated a patient with pcos. I am going in for lab work and a possible ultrasound in two weeks but I'd like to start reading about it.
I'm also wondering if it would be better to be treated or seen by an endrocronolist?
Thanks.
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Theresa
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Taffy
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 10:10am | IP Logged
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No websites but I've heard that keeping a low-carb diet is supposed to be very helpful.
Actually, the blogger from Frugal Abundance suffers from PCOS and is trying the GFCF diet to help with her symptoms. She's reporting some early successes.
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Susan
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Susan's Soliloquy
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Theresa
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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Thanks Taffy. We are doing GF with my son and are going to be soon adding in CF so I am very interested in reading more about the GF/CF diet to help with smyptoms.
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Theresa
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Anneof 5
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 5:25pm | IP Logged
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In a hurry and cannot find the site but do a search for "The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility" and Dr. Nancy Dunne. My dd has the book and they are having a live tele-conference this Wed. night online with the doctor, etc. They have a ton of info on their site, too. HTH
Anne
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momtimesfour
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 7:16pm | IP Logged
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This has been a helpful forum:
http://www.soulcysters.net/
I've also known I have PCOS since about 1998-ish. I had very good success with a nearly vegan diet and 7/day/week exercise - that has been very hard for me to get back to doing. (I just don't have the same "free time" with 4 kids that I did with 2 kids, lol.) My 3rd kiddo has speech delays and possible developmental delays (no one has made a diagnosis yet) and we have him on a GFCF diet as of 3 weeks ago.
It's too soon for me to say if it's helping, BUT a friend who is in a similar boat (PCOS for her, speech issues with ds) has said that going GFCF has helped both of them immensely. Just thought I'd throw it out there, even thoush it's anectdotal.
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juststartn
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Soulcysters is a good website (there is a thread for Catholic women in the Faith and Healing forum, btw). Be aware that there are a lot of diverse women on there--so that is something to definitely keep in mind...
A low carb diet is essential. Cut out all of the sugars you can, and look into the glycemic index for foods--just keep that in mind when eating/purchasing foods.
I've found it worthwhile to try and use a 2:1 protein to carb ratio in my foods (so it means I get the big steak, lol). I drink nothing but water anymore...and don't really mind it.
I was dx'd with PCOS in Aug 2006. There are certain herbal helps you can use, depending on what your issues are (there is a forum on SoulCysters for Alternative Remedies)...
Remember, you may not have every--or even MOST symptoms, but still have some....I don't have cystic ovaries. But I have hair growth/loss issues, weight gain, infertility, wacky cycles...have dealt with the acne in the past...I've dealt with some of them with herbal treatments, before...
A standard treatment is Metformin. It is used, typically, for folks with diabetes but they have found that it seems to work well for women with PCOS, who may or may not have insulin resistance (I don't, but it worked for me). You CAN take it when ttc/pregnant--in fact, I would recommend staying on it, as it helps lower the astronomically high rate of m/c and gest diabetes amongst women with PCOS. I stayed on it the whole pregnancy with my twins, and had no problems related to the PCOS.
But you can get yourself on a lower carb diet now (alot of ladies have success with South Beach), as well as slowly ramping up your exercise.
GL, and if you want to chat about it, drop me a pm... 
Rachel
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Teakafrog
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| Posted: June 18 2008 at 2:09am | IP Logged
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I too have PCOS, and once it was finally diagnosed, I got proper treatment and a lot of my symptoms, like very irregular cycles (months and months long), severe acne, migraines, etc. have gone away or diminished.
The biggest thing I want to point out it that birth control pills do NOT treat PCOS, they only mask the symptoms. Many many docs will try to prescribe BCP, but it does nothing to fix you, only makes your symptoms go away for awhile--they usually come back worse when you stop taking it. Seeing a reproductive endocrinologist is usually a good bet, many regular OBs don't know a lot about it.
The standard treatment is metformin. It has worked wonders for me. Another thing that helps me is a low-carb diet. No sugar or white flour, only whole grains, lots of veggies and fruits, and no processed foods.
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Theresa
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| Posted: June 18 2008 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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Thank you all for your replies. The doctor mentioned BCP but I shot him down immeadiately. Even though I can no longer bear children (due to a hysterectomy) I feel VERY strongly against BCP.
I think that they usually prescribe BCP to regulate menstural cycles but I don't have them so I would think that it wouldn't be an effective treatment for me.
I don't want to only put a band aid on the symptoms. I want to get to the root and find ways of healing my body as naturally as possible.
Praise God that the name of Jesus is higher than any other name including PCOS!!!
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juststartn
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Theresa, seriously check out the Catholic forum over there...check out the others, too, but definitely check out the Catholic Cysters over at SC. We're a good bunch--not the most talkative, of course--but hey, we're Catholic! (and believe me, when you're in such a mixed crowd, you need all the support you can get).
Teak is *right on* about the met/low carb--and on the BCP. Esp if you've had to have a hysterectomy, it will just be a bandaid. Met can help regulate things (esp in combination with diet and exercise), enough that the hormones start dropping a bit. There are herbal "remedies" that also help. But you would want to have a full panel and all of your numbers on your hormone levels, so you don't end up taking something that inadvertently raises the wrong hormone levels...
Rachel (I use the same login there)
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juststartn
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| Posted: June 18 2008 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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Actually, wait a minute. I either use that one, or mater234now. can't remember (too many boards, too many names...  ).
LOL
Rachel
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Lily 3/11/00
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Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
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Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Topic: PCOS
