What now?

[Sfinch]

I received a diagnosis of PCOS two weeks ago after 15 years of struggling with symptoms. In the last 6 months the symptoms got worse and my GP ran a host of tests and found my SHGB to be low. My self esteem is at an all time low, my anxiety level is up. The GP says they can’t treat the acne because I’m overweight, they can’t treat the excess hair because I’m overweight, The answer is I need to go away and lose weight. I tried explaining that the weight was the reason I came to see you three years ago- it won’t come off . I’m

Already on cerazette and have been for 5 years- it’s stopped my periods which is great but isn’t helping with other symptoms. I work out everyday and eat a healthy diet- I also have IBS so need to avoid a lot of foods. I had to convince him to refer me to a nutritionist as the idea of following a PCOS diet and an IBS one combined makes my head hurt but he won’t do anything else to help. Should I be asking for an insulin resistance test? Or referral to gynaecology? Will they even be able to help? I’m losing the will to fight it, it’s been 15 years of telling docs there’s something wrong- I finally get a diagnosis and get told off you go, get on with it

[Lozaimee]

Hi there, I haven't personally tried but you could try a low-gi diet this is supposed to help pcos sufferers. I would say if eating healthy and exercising regularly isnt doing anything go back to the doctors and push them for treatment or further tests for the insulin resistance (although I would have thought they would have done this when being diagnosed). Pcos has also been linked with anxiety because of all the crap that comes with it ie, weight gain, acne, excess hair, heavy periods, no periods etc etc. It's a funny old diagnosis that can have so many symptoms unfortunately. I was also told by my doctor that cerazette was a bad pill for someone that has pcos to be on as I had this before ttc. Push your gp because it is horrible and they can do something about it eventually. Best wishes x

[Sfinch in reply to Lozaimee]

Thanks so much. I’m going to make another appointment and push for the insulin Resistance test, I’ve started on a low GI diet so hopefully we’ll start seeing some changes soon. Xx

[Hols969]

We do need to eat considerably less than the norm to lose weight. If we ate the RDA we would still gain 2lb a month so over a stone a year so it is a battle. For me exercise just confuses the matter.

As Lozaimee says, try low GI as you can tweak it for the IBS too.

As the GP for vaniqa (your weight should not be an issue), it is a cream that slows down the hair speed but isnt often mentioned as quite expensive. Also try and wet and dry epilator as this helps (obviously laser or electrolysis is the best but expensive but it is the best thing I ever did). Do not bother with IPL as it is not as good as laser.

Ask to be referred to an endocrinologist is pcos is their area and not a gynae. Nutritionists are hit and miss when it comes to pcos as most do not understand the condition tbh.

I am on yasmin the combined pill and it keeps the majority of my symptoms at bay and makes losing weight a bit easier too - can you go on a combined one cerazette is a pop pill isnt it so wont help from a pcos point of view.

[Hidden]

Unfortunately I have found my local GP to be fairly unhelpful with the symptoms of PCOS as well. I am not currently taking any form of contraception as find this makes my depression and anxiety worse. Before I quit smoking (November 2017) I hadn’t had a period for a year, now seem to be getting one every other month or so which is good. I have found in terms of acne the best thing I’ve done is stop drinking milk and lowering the amount of cheese I eat. I substitute almond milk instead and my spots really have cleared up. In addition to this I use Lush’s Mask of Magnaminty face mask and Tea Tree toner water. Seems to help keep things in check. Hair, unfortunately I just have to get the wax out fairly regularly. I’m on week two of a diet and have lost 5lbs so far, eating 1,200 calories a day (using Sci Mx diet pro replacement shakes for breakfast and lunch and a high protein low carb dinner, usually chicken). I’ve also been doing Couch to 5K which has helped me feel generally more positive and proactive. I was approaching 17 stone and am now just under 16.5 stone, have enormous boobs too (L cup) so if I can do it anyone can Just trying to keep the motivation up and not tell myself off too much if I slip up! Hope this helps.