Can I get some info??

[cpc78]

Hello,
I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area. I'm 30 and I just got diagnosed with PCOS in January. I was really suprised to find out that I had PCOS. I know that I have gained a lot of weight in the past few years, but from childhood into my mid 20's I was very fit. I was very athletic and involved in all kinds of sports in high school, college and even after college. The doctor said that I've had it all my life and that I probably had to work out more than most people to maintain my fit body. Now that I think about it, I used to work out 3-4 hours a day 6-7 days a week and I obsessed about exercising and what I ate, which isn't normal. I went through eating disorders because I was obsessed with my weight because I knew that I could gain weight so easily. I could gain 30 lbs in a month if I let go of myself. Now, I'm 30 and I just can't keep up that kind of lifestyle. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed as bipolar by my psychiatrist because I was suffering from depression and anxiety. He put me on all kinds of mood stabilizers, anti anxiety meds and anti depressants. Before being diagnosed I had lost about 25-30 from exercising and eating healthy, but once he put me on these meds I was a mess...a total zombie. I stopped exercising and gained double the weight that I lost. I was on those meds for about a year. I eventually stopped those meds cold turkey because I just couldn't be convinced that I was bipolar and couldn't stand being a zombie...it was ubsurd to me. I got sick for a few days from quitting cold turkey but I slowly started to come out of my medication coma. A couple months later I lost my period and after month #3 of not getting a period I decided to go to the my gyno and he diagnosed me with PCOS. One question I have is do the bipolar meds I was on affect my PCOS and/or make the symptoms worse (I was on lexapro, geodon, lamictal). I feel better now that I'm off those meds, but something still doesn't feel right and it has been about 9-10 months since I stopped those meds. My gyno put me on birth control (Loestrin 24 FE). What should I expect? Is there something else that I should be taking or other tests that my doctor should run. Does anyone have any tips for me. I was really bummed about it back in January when I was diagnosed and have basically been ignoring it since then, but decided now that I have to address this. Does anyone have any advice. I've started biking and trying to eat healthier. What else should I be doing? This is really frustrating...

[drheather]

Hello,
I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area. I'm 30 and I just got diagnosed with PCOS in January. I was really suprised to find out that I had PCOS. I know that I have gained a lot of weight in the past few years, but from childhood into my mid 20's I was very fit. I was very athletic and involved in all kinds of sports in high school, college and even after college. The doctor said that I've had it all my life and that I probably had to work out more than most people to maintain my fit body. Now that I think about it, I used to work out 3-4 hours a day 6-7 days a week and I obsessed about exercising and what I ate, which isn't normal. I went through eating disorders because I was obsessed with my weight because I knew that I could gain weight so easily. I could gain 30 lbs in a month if I let go of myself. Now, I'm 30 and I just can't keep up that kind of lifestyle. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed as bipolar by my psychiatrist because I was suffering from depression and anxiety. He put me on all kinds of mood stabilizers, anti anxiety meds and anti depressants. Before being diagnosed I had lost about 25-30 from exercising and eating healthy, but once he put me on these meds I was a mess...a total zombie. I stopped exercising and gained double the weight that I lost. I was on those meds for about a year. I eventually stopped those meds cold turkey because I just couldn't be convinced that I was bipolar and couldn't stand being a zombie...it was ubsurd to me. I got sick for a few days from quitting cold turkey but I slowly started to come out of my medication coma. A couple months later I lost my period and after month #3 of not getting a period I decided to go to the my gyno and he diagnosed me with PCOS. One question I have is do the bipolar meds I was on affect my PCOS and/or make the symptoms worse (I was on lexapro, geodon, lamictal). I feel better now that I'm off those meds, but something still doesn't feel right and it has been about 9-10 months since I stopped those meds. My gyno put me on birth control (Loestrin 24 FE). What should I expect? Is there something else that I should be taking or other tests that my doctor should run. Does anyone have any tips for me. I was really bummed about it back in January when I was diagnosed and have basically been ignoring it since then, but decided now that I have to address this. Does anyone have any advice. I've started biking and trying to eat healthier. What else should I be doing? This is really frustrating...

Hello and thanks for writing in. I am sorry for your diagnosis but think it is great that you are choosing to take action in order to change how PCOS will affect you.

There are a few things that can contribute to changing moods and PCOS is one of them. Because there is a hormone imbalance and often progesterone is lower in PCOS we can see mood changes. Progesterone has an effect that helps to stabilize moods.

Lexipro may cause increased weight and can worsen insulin resistance, underlying cause of PCOS. The other medications are not associated with an increase in risk the research I have seen.

There are other medications that are used for bipolar disorder that are much more directly associated with increasing insulin resistance.

Birth control pills are often used in women with PCOS. It helps to regulate your cycles but does not really address the underlying cause.

With a diagnosis of PCOS, you do want to be careful with the type of birth control pill you use. Some can increase acne and other androgenic symptoms (hair loss, excess facial hair). Here is a link for more information: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm

From the website: The pills that are likely to cause worse acne and hair growth side effects are those pills high in androgenicity and low in estrogen content. Such pills might include:

* Loestrin® 1.5/30
* Loestrin® 1/20 Fe
* Estrostep® Fe
* Levlen®
* Alesse®
* Ovral®
* Norlestrin® 1/50

Keep in mind that MOST women on these above pills DO NOT have acne problems, just those that have a tendency toward androgenicity.

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, there are certain tests that should be done to evaluate for insulin resistance (fasting glucose and fasting insulin) and risk of diabetes. Other tests that can be done may be done to evaluate effectiveness of therapy, such as the ones just mentioned and testosterone levels, SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), DHEA-s, progesterone, FSH and LH. However, what tests are done may depend on your goals as well.

If your symptoms are changing they may assume labs are following and may not choose to order some of the others as often. But I would have labs checked at least every 6 months to be sure that they are responding to treatment.

It is great that you started to exercise and are working on changing your diet. These are two very important aspects that I encourage to embrace as this is where you have control to support your body.

I would also have you read and consider using the Insulite PCOS System. It is a non-pharmaceutical approach to addressing PCOS, cause, symptoms and future risks.

I also recommend, "The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility", by Nancy Dunne, ND. This is specific for women such as yourself. It can be very helpful.

Welcome to the community, women here are very helpful and I hope that you find the support you need to keep up the work you are doing.

Please let us know how we can help.