PCOS misconceptions ...

Ok .. as a disclaimer .. I know all Doc's have different opinions. And this is only my Doc's opinion ... but since alot of people read this board in place of seeking medical help I wanted to address something that seems to be believed in the PCOS world. I am 2 years post-op ... down 100lbs ... which I lost within the first 10 months ... then NOTHING!! ... lol .. I have only lost 10 lbs in the 14 months since the innitial weightloss. I sit at an okay 183lbs ... give or take 5 depending on if I got dressed and had my coffee before weighing myself I've known I had PCOS for about 5-6 years ... but only got sick of it and seeked out a diagnoses 3 years ago. But I moved from Canada to the US, and lots of things happened, so I never actually got treated for it. Then I had WLS, and was focusing on that ... but, my PCOS has NOT been cured from losing 100lbs. Sure ... it's helped lower some numbers, and stuff ... but PCOS is NOT curable. Even if all your tests come back normal, you still have a Medibolic Disorder that they have no cure for. In woman it causes PCOS and other things, in men it's call Syndrome X. My family is riddled with this. What I want to caution anyone who may not be seeking medical attention is this: Just because people on here say they were cured or have no insulin level issues since WLS and losing the weight ... PLEASE know that normal numbers do not take you outa the 7+ times risk for heart disease,stroke, diabetes, etc ... I say this, because I did lurk here for three years before getting medical attention and being put on Metformin. My Doc is soooooo adament that the health risks are soooo far beyond getting pregnant, or having facial hair, and anyone who had PCOS should be treated for life ... no matter what. Your dose can be lowered, but just because your #'s get normal, doesn't mean you go off your meds. I love my Doc, because he is the first one I have ever met that truly believes that Metobolic Disorder is most certainly life threatening. And not something "Fat" people blame their problems on. My WL Surgeon's office strongly stresses being treated for your PCOS after weightloss as well. It is not curable, only managed. That said, I think it's great to hear people feel fabulous and don't need their meds. But since weight gain is simply a symptom of Metabolic Disorder, losing the weight does not solve your problem. It only hides it till your older and feeling like crap Love ya All! Meaghan

Congrats on your weight loss! I agree...PCOS is not cured...the symptoms only get better with weight loss. I still worry about the potential effects of it later in life. Well said... Kristy EDD 8/6/06 28w4d It's a girl - Alice Kay

Thank you for posting and congratulations on a successful weight loss. I self diagnosed myself about 6 years ago, but no-one would listen. Just recently, I decided to go to an Endocronologist and he looked at me and told me I had Metabolic syndrome. The blood tests confirm it and he is sending me a script in the mail. I'm not blaming my weight gain on PCOS but combine that, Thyroid problems and lathargicness from that couple with a mild depression, from time to time and you have one chubby messed up body. I will take the meds and hopefully feel better, as the Synthoid is doing.

"PLEASE know that normal numbers do not take you outa the 7+ times risk for heart disease,stroke, diabetes, etc" I'm sorry, but that makes NO sense to me whatsoever. If my numbers are normal, what would the medication be treating? I'm not going to take a medication that is having no recognizable effect.......so if it's actually doing some good, there has to be a yardstick somewhere that shows that. If not bloodwork, then what is it? --BT

So you do bloodwork labs every week? Numbers change, and with Metabolic Disorder, and PCOS ... you don't know the numbers are bad until they are causing awful side effects. Your body is your's to do with what you want. If you feel that PCOS is not life threatening, there is nothing I could say that would matter to you. It's just my Doc's opinion .. and I wanted to pass it along, because he's the first person to take my disorder seriously. Make no mistake, this is not a disorder that is merely annoying to have. It can kill you if left untreated ( when your old ). Some have it way worse than others, and they can't explain it medically. But I don't wish to ignore mine till I'm 60 and a ton of organs are failing ..... Meaghan

No, of course not - and I'd bet good money that neither do you. But I do have my bloodwork checked regularly enough to satisfy my PCP. But I'm asking you for facts, not opinions. If bloodwork is good, then what is happening that is causing those serious side effects you're referring to. They must show up somewhere, and if not in bloodwork, then where. Stroke, heart disease both have signs - they don't just pop out of nowhere. "But I don't wish to ignore mine till I'm 60 and a ton of organs are failing ....." And I SERIOUSLY doubt that is going to happen without SOME sign of it somewhere. Organs don't just up and fail without warning. If you have medical research, clinical data, or facts to back this, I'd like to see it. Otherwise, these are just scare tactics, and I'm not interested. --BT

Ummmmm .... lol ... This was the first sentence of my original post: "Ok .. as a disclaimer .. I know all Doc's have different opinions. And this is only my Doc's opinion ... " What made you keep reading if it's only facts you are interested in ? Don't answer .. it's retorical.

I agree with you, if your numbers are normal as mine are..why take meds that are treating a symptom that isn't there at the moment. My periods are normal, Hemoglobin a1c is NORMAL so why take metformin? I follow ALL of my doctor's advice..my blood levels are checked every 3 months, and my doctors are happy with the results. If they see a deficiency they address it...they don't treat me for something that "might" appear..if it appears, they will most definitaly address it! Margo

*For those of you that might read this in the future* - You should not be seeking medical advice from an internet forum where anyone can say anything they want with any kind of authority they want to. It was obviously lost on some, that I was intending to caution you to go seek medical advice, as I did NOT ... only until I felt terrible. How terrible that a disease be spoken of in scarey terms ... eeeewww ... PCOS is such a nice ailment to have, good thing I have some bandaids in the drawer to cure it ... Funny, there is always someone who doesn't understand the meaning of "Support Group" .... Meaghan

I have had this very concern. The internist that works with my surgeon said that I will be able to get off metformin after surgery. I have gone from 8-9 month "cycles" to 28 day cycles. But what concerns me is that dip in blood sugar that I get without my meds. Especially since I often read of post -ops blood sugar dipping. Maybe I can convince him that if I feel I need it, that he will Rx. I am willing to try w/out, but it would not bother me to be on the rest of my life if it makes me feel better!!! Debbie