Oh no. You'd be hard-pressed to NOT find a PCOS sufferer. I was diagnosed at 16 years old. And I never took the medication or birth control. I'm researching alternative ways to treat it. Basically, Doctors don't know near enough ABOUT PCOS for me to trust them to know how to treat it. So yeah. You're not alone.
I was diagnosed back in May. I see a REALLY good Endocrinologist and take 1000 mg of Metformin a day. fun fun!! It's not easy to find a doc that has a really good knowledge of PCOS from what I am hearing. There are LOTS of us out here, sadly, but it's nice to find eachother too, we know more about what's wrond with us than a Dr . hippy Freak--what kind of alternatives are you finding?? I hate taking the Metformin.
Yeah, freek - I'd love to hear your findings as well. I feel like I'm slacking on the health-front these days. My business has finally been picking up a little as of late and it seems like all I can do do keep that up, eat one meal a day, and keep my house semi-livable! But if you happen to know of any herbal supplement or anything that might help (even just a once-a-day thing or a tea - I'm uninsured so even if I wanted it Metformin would be out of the question...)
LOL--You want MY Metformin!! i'd be happy to send it AWAY! I HATE IT!! It makes me feel so lousy, that I keep "forgetting" to take it, so it does me no good anyway. If I can come up witha better alternative that will serve virtually the same purpose, I would love it. I am due to see my Endo again on the 6th, and he's going to want to increase my dose, but I just can't take more than I already do.
Well, I've been researching the cleansing ways of FASTING. Building up to a week-long fast, or mono-food diet to allow my body to reset itself and cleanse of toxins. I think once I finished a good week-long mono-food diet, I'd start to add in good whole foods, and organic foods. But completely cut out the wheat and casein. Because wheat and casein allergies can manifest in so many different ways, who's to say that PCOS isn't an allergic reaction to wheat? I mean, I did the Dr. Atkins diet. And it worked. My insulin levels went normal, I lost weight. I felt good. And while I know the Dr. Atkins diet is a big fucking mess, it did make me do one thing: I cut out wheat altogether. Maybe wheat is a culprit.
Mama, is your endo checking your blood levels, fasting AND non-fasting? Doing complete hormone and blood chemistry screens with each dose increase of the met? If not, don't allow a bigger increase. Remember, you're paying HIM. So he works for you. Make him work.
I have PCOS. It took two years and a round of Clomid to get pregnant with my son. I'm surprised to hear you all speak out so adamantly against Metformin - I haven't heard anything (good or bad) about it. What's so bad about it? I was planning on bringing up the subject of alternate treatments to my GYN and I was going to mention Met - maybe I won't. I've noticed a BIG improvement in my symptoms since I went vegetarian. I've had regular periods since I stopped eating meat. Now I'm working on cutting out sugar to see if that will help more, because we're trying to get pregnant again. Is there anything else I could be doing? I can't fast because I'm breastfeeding.
Well..I had some exciting news! I'm pregnant! Found out today at my visit and I get to go tomorrow for an U/s. I called the Endo to ask about the Met. though, because I have heard that it not good to take it when pregnant. This was my 2nd month on the Met!!
Really?? I have read mixed reviews on taking it so..definitely wanted to be safe. I didn't BF with my other ones, but am really going to make a go of it this time.
Glucophage can keep your hormones intact so that your breasts produce milk. Some women with PCOS have over-abundent supplies. Some have normal. And then others, like myself, have low to no-supply. And metformin, when taken during pregnancy, and during the breastfeeding relationship, helps to make breastfeeding possible. You go for it, hon! Feed your baby!
Yeah---I finally did hear back, and they said it was find for me to keep taking it for now. So it was just nice getting confirmation..so now I get MS and sick from the Met..LOL FUN! They also said they are waiting to send my blood to the lab after my visit today because the results would be errouneous (sp) if they were to send them without the other information. SOmethign like that..LOL! Did you ever get things straight so you were able to BF?? I don't remember. I have so much anxiety today...2:30 can't get here fast enough.
No, I didn't know about the glucophage being able to help until she was almost 2 months old, and by then, it was too late to make any different, and she weaned at 7 weeks. All I can tell you is keep on the glucophage, get with a PCOS-knowledgable lactation consultant (make sure they are an IBCLC) early and often, BEFORE baby is born. And give it three weeks before you give up, unless baby is getting really sick. Maggie Sugar is full of info if you're really serious about breastfeeding your little one.
I knew you were trying to get the Glucophage, couldnt remember anything after that. I already got my breastpump for when I'm at work. I'll ask my Dr about the IBCLC next time I go in, she may have one she can refer me to. Thanks for that info!! I know I tried to BF with my first, I was young, and just hated it, with my second, I did pump for the first few weeks, but wouldnt BF, and was able to pump lots too, so hopefully I'll be that lucky this time, and with my third, I was told by the LC at the hospital that I would be better not to BF him because the way his mouth was shaped it would have been extremely painful for me. Wish I wouldn't have listened to her. But I know much better and more of what I want to do this time, so am preparing REALLY early..LOL
