Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

A friend of mine, his daughter, was diagnosed with this issue. I'm passed my reproductive years, but in all my years, I've never heard of this.

It is really a bad disease. His daughter's level for Diabetes are extremely high due to this, she has cysts on her ovaries and some side effects are excessive hair growth on the face and body, weight gain and depression. There are meds to help, but there is no cure and it doesn't end after menopause. It's generic or from enviromental issues. Her Mom has other autoimmune issues, but not this one.

GYN's don't diagnose it enough because symptoms are similar to other issues. It affects up to 30% of women and can start as early as 12 years of age. Had my friend's daughter not insisted on blood work for her hormonal levels, she may have never known she had it.

This disease has been around for a long time. I just think GYN's should order hormonal blood work for all patients, but then again, some insurance companies won't pay for it.

In all my years, I've never heard of it until now nor did my doctors ever inform me about it when I had similar symptoms.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Black Cat Back wrote:
A friend of mine, his daughter, was diagnosed with this issue. I'm passed my reproductive years, but in all my years, I've never heard of this.

It is really a bad disease.   His daughter's level for Diabetes are extremely high due to this, she has cysts on her ovaries and some side effects are excessive hair growth on the face and body, weight gain and depression.   There are meds to help, but there is no cure and it doesn't end after menopause. It's generic or from enviromental issues.   Her Mom has other autoimmune issues, but not this one.

GYN's don't diagnose it enough because symptoms are similar to other issues. It affects up to 30% of women and can start as early as 12 years of age. Had my friend's daughter not insisted on blood work for her hormonal levels, she may have never known she had it.

This disease has been around for a long time. I just think GYN's should order hormonal blood work for all patients, but then again, some insurance companies won't pay for it.

In all my years, I've never heard of it until now nor did my doctors ever inform me about it when I had similar symptoms.

Metformin helps this medical issue. But high levels of circulating insulin make weight loss very difficult for the patient to lose weight, I heard about it in the 70's.

ninjawife · ‎11-15-2011

My youngest daughter was diagnosed when she was 19. She is 21 now. She had a significant weight gain, heavy, irregular periods, depression and her A1C increased. I had her see an endocrinologist because I suspected she might have PCOS. The endo put her on birth control which has regulated her periods. She was also able to lose weight and her A1C went down as a result. It may affect her fertility but she doesn't want to have children anyway.

Skyegirl21 · ‎03-20-2010

This is the diagnosis that Whitney Thore has on My Big Fat Fabulous Life. I've heard of it and yes, it is life-changing (sadly, not in a good way). Best wishes to your friends daughter-

spumoni99 · ‎02-16-2019

My youngest was diagnosed with this when she was in college, I wonder if they were incorrect because she is very thin and doesn't seem to have any of the symptoms any longer. Yes it can be hard to lose weight with this condition and it can be dificult to conceive.

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

I was diagnosed with this also.......but when I was close to menopause. It can be a real struggle.

BlueFinch · ‎08-31-2019

PCOS is not uncommon, affecting millions of women. Sadly, it's difficult to manage and we have no cure for the condition, or any clearer understanding of causal factors.

Even ovary removal will not eliminate negative symptoms. There is no cure.

This is definitely a serious syndrome that needs more study, since it reeks havoc on the female body physically and emotionally. But I often feel women's health issues are placed on the back burner.

No surprise PCOS often goes undiagnosed for prolonged periods. It seems women are patted on the head and ushered out of the doc's office as being somatic.

I know, it happened to me. For seven years I saw docs asking for help with severe abdominal pain. Incapacitating many days.

Finally, as an RN, I found a doc in my hospital who agreed to scope me. I had a lap and he was shocked. He couldn't even pass the scope for the mounds of endometriosis that was so thick it looked like clusters of grapes.

When I finally had surgery, the doc said it was the worst he had ever seen. It covered my spine, kidneys, everything. Bowels were adhered to my abdominal wall, and had to be scraped off, almost resected. It was a mess. Needless to say, there was no chance of pregnancy by the time I finally received help. If I had received help with my first complaint, there are drugs that may have halted this destruction.

I'm sharing far too much info, but I want women to speak up and demand care they deserve. I have such anger and bitterness about my situation, even today. I lost years of my youth in misery.

I made it a point to be an advocate for my female patients and continue to do the same for neighbors and friends. No one should be ignored when they're practically begging for help. Early diagnosis is paramount in starting treatment for all health issues.

If this could happen to me, as a knowledgeable RN, honored with clinical excellence awards, how can others have their voices heard?

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

Thank you all for your honest and heartfelt comments. I never heard of this disease probably because my GYN's over the years had no reason to inform me of it since I didn't present with those symptoms. It took me worrying about having Sjorgrens since a sibling had it to even get a doctor to do a hormonal blood work up on me.

My heart goes out to you who have been touched by this difficult illness.

Black Cat Back · ‎03-21-2010

@BlueFinch wrote:
PCOS is not uncommon, affecting millions of women. Sadly, it's difficult to manage and we have no cure for the condition, or any clearer understanding of causal factors.

Even ovary removal will not eliminate negative symptoms. There is no cure.

This is definitely a serious syndrome that needs more study, since it reeks havoc on the female body physically and emotionally. But I often feel women's health issues are placed on the back burner.

No surprise PCOS often goes undiagnosed for prolonged periods. It seems women are patted on the head and ushered out of the doc's office as being somatic.

I know, it happened to me. For seven years I saw docs asking for help with severe abdominal pain. Incapacitating many days.

Finally, as an RN, I found a doc in my hospital who agreed to scope me. I had a lap and he was shocked. He couldn't even pass the scope for the mounds of endometriosis that was so thick it looked like clusters of grapes.

When I finally had surgery, the doc said it was the worst he had ever seen. It covered my spine, kidneys, everything. Bowels were adhered to my abdominal wall, and had to be scraped off, almost resected. It was a mess. Needless to say, there was no chance of pregnancy by the time I finally received help. If I had received help with my first complaint, there are drugs that may have halted this destruction.

I'm sharing far too much info, but I want women to speak up and demand care they deserve. I have such anger and bitterness about my situation, even today. I lost years of my youth in misery.

I made it a point to be an advocate for my female patients and continue to do the same for neighbors and friends. No one should be ignored when they're practically begging for help. Early diagnosis is paramount in starting treatment for all health issues.

If this could happen to me, as a knowledgeable RN, honored with clinical excellence awards, how can others have their voices heard?

@BlueFinch

Your courage and bravery to share your story and offer help to other women is so honorable. My heart goes out to you and all you endured. Yes, our medical system needs to respond to women (scary these days) and need to listen to us when we tell them how we're feeling.

Blessings to you for your determination.