PCOS misconceptions ...

Just because you have pcos DOES NOT MEAN you have Metabolic Syndrone. PCOS when combined with High Blood Pressure is when its called Metabolic Syndrone. If you don't have high bp you don't have Metabolic Syndrone you just have PCOS. I just wanted to clarify that.

The majority of people who have PCOS do develope high BP and of course the dreaded Metabolic Sydrome. I am what my Dr.'s call a text book example of both of these. I HAVE ALL THE SYMPTOMES NOT JUST ONE OR TWO. As far a heat attacks and strokes not happening out of the blue......I guess that is the reason how many people? fall over dead every day from having them. And I'm not talking about old people here. But any how.......... I myself have lost 89#. I had my first cycle in 8 years January. Which is still mind warping to me seeing how I've never had but probley 40 in my life and that including two years on the pill. I'm 36. My BP is stable but I still am taking 2 pills a day for it. I am not taking Gluecophage(MS?) even though alot of times I think in the back of my mind I need to. It made me SOOOOO sick though it just isn't worth it right now. My Dr said anyone with PCOS should take it to keep from becoming a diabetic. I haven't been to see my "suger" Dr in several years because I had a major falling out with his nurse. But I think all the time that I realy need to because as much as I appreciate my other Dr.s NONE of them understand this thing like he does. Not even the gynecologist. Anyhow.....didn't meen to post such a long one........ Have a great day. Sarah

Ok I'll start off with first. It is a national fact that majority of doctors do not know much about PCOS so unless you've gone through the loops to see a specialist in this field I wouldn't take everything they say as a fact. It took me 4 years to finally get to a specialist in it. Just some food for thought most doctors do not know the "Cutting edge" facts about PCOS. I'd highly suggest anyone to seek out a specialist in it as most of your questions wont be answered in total till then.

I would like to put my 2 cents in on this. If anyone is diagnosed with PCOS there is a test that can be done for insulin resistance. You may have normal blood work for years but you may be insulin resistant. I found this out the hard way. I had normal blood work for years. I became pregnant and became severly diabetic. My pancreas just decided after the years of overproducing the insulin to pretty much quit on me. I went on hundreds of units of insulin a day during all 3 of my pregnancies. If I would have been on a medicine for insulin resistance things could have been different for me. I had the surgery, lost 130 lbs, still have more to go but can't seem to get it off, and am down to 2 pills a day. No more insulin!! YEAH!! Hopefully my pancreas keeps working for a long time but who knows after all the overproduction it was doing how long it will hold out. My answer is kind of lengthy but I'm offering advice to go to an endocrinologist and be checked for insulin resistance before it goes to far. When you have PCOS and are overweight they go hand in hand. Good luck. Brigitte

Ha! Thank your for spelling endocrinologist! That is what I wanted to put in my post before but couldn't spell it so I put suger dr. That what his email is. Mine is great, like I said I need to get off my *** and go back to see him. Maybe his meen old nurse is gone. But you'ed be amazed at the Docs who have heard of PCOS but when you tell them with insulin resistance they go "HUH?". I had one Dr. tell me I couldn't be insulin resistance with out being a diabetic. I was like well....you need to talk to my endocrinologist then. They just figured I was confused. Oh-well. I just wanted to add my two cents in again! Sarah

I agree with Black. PCOS is something that we will have to deal with for the rest of our lives, but that doesnt mean that we will have to be treated for it the rest of our lives. Some of us will be about to come off our meds once our hormone and glucose levels become normalized. However that may never happen for others. If everything is normal then that does not mean you are cleared for life. Yearly your MD should follow up and do all the bloodwork again to make sure things have not changed. Weight gain makes things worse, so chances are if you gain any weight back then you will need to be checked more regularly. Once your hormones and glucose are in check you are NOT in the "7+" risk of heart disease and diabetes. What causes such illness' is the out of wack hormone and insulin levels. I am not saying that you are cured, however your risk is not the same once things are normalized. Taking meds also has its risks, so if all it normalized then it is better to get off medication if possible. I recommending working closely with an endrocrinologist and looking at each of your cases individually. I have been dealing with PCOS issues for 24 years now. I have moved around alot through Canada and US so I have had 6 different Endrocrinologists and have done much research. I have been through alot, and am looking forward to normalizing my body with weight loss. Good luck in all your journeys.\ Laura R.N.

Well said, Laura R.N., I agree. Continue to work closely with the endocrinologist and look at your individual case.