PCOS advice, experience Q

Hi there -
I have much of the same problem, although my periods have now been regulated for about 3 years. Exercise and diet are vital, as this helps with the insulin resistance which accompanies PCOS in a lot of cases. I've tried metformin on and off, which I think helped the "internal" hormonal problems but didn't help with the weight loss, although it works for a lot of people. Ultimately I made the decision that I dont want to take medication for life, but I may have to as I just cannot lose weight.

good luck!

With the Metformin, do you have to take it every day/week? Do yoiu have to pay for it on presription or with it being long term is it free?

I have it too, and although I have never had really terrible problems with my weight I do tend to go from a size 10-12, to a size 14 when I am not on any medication. My problems were more with recurrent miscarriages and terrible skin.

I have been on Dianette on and off for over 20 years. I've been on it for the past 2 years now. It mostly works for me, although recently I've noticed my skin acting up a bit. I do keep a very healthy diet and exercise a lot, which is why my specialist thinks I don't have problems with insulin resistance.

If we do decide to try for a baby again my specialist wants to put me on Metformin, as that has some documented success with recurrent m/cs.

Is it really as straight forward to live with as good diet and exersize and the set medication?

I used to take it every day, its a daily dose. there's debate as to what the best dosage is, I was upto 1500mg a day. Its not free as it is only free to diabetics (who this medication is originally intended for). I didn't have any of the horrendous side effects that some have, though.

I take Metformin and have been doing since June 2005. I take 1500mg a day. I did have side efects whenI first started taking it, but the side effects have gone. When I first started seeing my Consultant for PCOS I weighed 15 stone 8lbs. A year later in June 2006 I joined WW and weighed 14 stone 8lbs when I joined, by November 2008 I had managed to get down to 11 stone dead on. Unfortunately my weight has since crept up and I have put on 2 stone, but this is due to the stress I have been through in the past 18 months as my main two symptoms with PCOS seem to be weight gain and recurrent miscarriages.

The range of symptoms and effects of the condition really is different for every woman. For me, yes, I can easily live with it with a good diet, exercise and the Dianette. However, if I want to have babies, it becomes a lot more complicated.

Your best bet is to wait for the diagnosis and if it comes back as PCOS then insist on a referral to a specialist at the local hospital, who can really help with the drugs etc and make sure that you are having the regular check ups you need.

Edited to add - I don't want to scare you into thinking that PCOS = definite problems with fertility. That can be the case, and unfortunately is for me, but I have plenty of friends with PCOS who have had healthy children with no problems at all.

Mrslf ?

Thank you for all the advice, Hopefully the blood test results will give me some definite answers as to the symptoms, and then work from there!

Thanks again, any advice or tips are gratefully recieved!