AN, Facial Hair, & Menstruation

Hi... I wanted to talk about my Acanthosis Nigricans. I've really only had this problem on the back of my neck and in the crease at my arm pits. It's been a problem since the early 90's and I've always felt so embarrassed. Putting my hair up was out of the question unless I was at home. Since surgery, the problem has greatly decreased. It's not gone...but I'd say it's decreased by 85%. I'm glad!! I hope it goes away fully. Also, I've had a facial hair problem just as long as I've had the AN. I used Nair (facial formula) to get rid of my mustache and I had to do this weekly. And my chin, I'd pluck every day. Such a pain in the butt. Well, I Naired my mustache off over 3 weeks ago...and it's still gone. Very NOT normal! And my chin hair is growing in much more slowly. I'm enjoying this! Again, I hope this damn hair problem eventually goes away all together. As for my period...I never got it without inducing with Provera or BC pills. The day of my surgery, I got my period and it lasted 6 days. Pretty heavy, which is as unusual as getting the period itself. I figured this was a fluke...my body just being jarred from surgery. Wel, the same happened 34 days later. Now I'm waiting and hoping it'll show up again. This week sometime. :::gulp::: So I've experienced some PCOS improvements. What has your experiences been??   

You sound like me!  My AN was bad...neck, bra line, legs, elbows...ick.  And since my WLS it's gone.  AN is related to IR.  The first time I saw my endocrinologist many many moons ago she looked at me and told me I was IR before running any labwork.  As your insulin levels go down...the AN goes away.  Way cool huh?  Congrats on having (so far) regular AF too.  Like you I never cycled...Provera did nothing for me.  When I went off the bc patch at 12m post op I had regular 36 day cycles.  A first for me!  As for the hair...mine on the chin and lip is still bad.  It's not gotten worse...but hasn't gotten better either.  Unfortunately for me because it's the dark coarse hair I'll have to do the laser removal to get rid of it forever.  But I did notice that the 'peach fuzz' on the sides of my chin is gone.  I've also noticed that my acne is much better...almost gone entirely.  How about you? Kristy

Oh, I forgot to mention the acne! It's so much better. It's not all gone, but greatly improved. I think I only have one or two tiny ones at the moment. It wasn't unheard of for me to have 10 to 15 at a time. When one went away, there'd be another cropping up to take it's place...and they were mostly all around my chin area. Since you mentioned BC...I have an appointment with my gynecologist next Wednesday to speak with her about going on BC. I'm not sure what to choose. BC pills made my blood pressure go up...not sure if that'd still happen and I've heard they might not absorb correctly and leave one unprotected. I'm allergic to latex and spermacide. I've never had a baby so I hear an IUD is out because of it. So that leaves the patch and getting shots. I'd rather go with the patch, needles aren't my thing. It's weird to have to worry about this after 18 years of marriage and 13 years of using nothing at all and never getting pregnant. Thanks for listening! 

I also started bleeding as they preped my for surgery which is not my norms cause I do not bleed unless it is brought on by pills or provera  and it came back one month after surgery but never came back so I just started Balzivia so that I can bleed wish me luck.

Balzivia is a BCP correct? I hope it works for you, dear! 

I have PCOS and is also insulin resistant. A month or so before surgery my endocrinologist told me to stop all medication.....I was taking spironolactone, metformin and Yasmin......My last check up with her on Oct 3rd she said to stay off the meds....so I have not taken anything since surgery on 7/18/07..... Well in the beginning my "beard "was growing in faster than was usual and I would have to shave everyday.....now about three months after surgery I can say that rate of hair growth for my "beard" is slower and I shave every two days...... Usually after not being on spironolactione for a month I usually start scratching my head like a maniac and swear that I would go mad or have a haed that is a big sore from all the scrathing....and it did start to happen however now at 3 months it is not bad at all and maybe it is the tar shampoo I am using but it never worked before...... And lastly the biggest and most annoying thing is that my period came on the day of surgery 7/18/07 and for the last 3 months it is like flipping clock work right on time the 18 - 20 of the month.....I am happy about this developement since it show that ther e may be some improvements with my PCOS symthoms but I hate hate my periods and having them However I have only lost a bout 30lbs so far...... angela

What type of surgery did you have, Angela? I have IR as well. It's fun, eh? I'm still hoping I get my period this month. It should be NOW. I don't feel it tho. No cramps or anything. I want it to come, but it sure is a pain to live through when it does, lol.

I just visited my endo yesterday to get the results of my recent lab work.  My male hormones went up even after losing 35 lbs.  I have to shave everyday.  My endo advised me not to take the spironlactone, Byetta, Glucophage that she previously prescribed.  She did however say that if the male hormones (shaving) has not improved after continuing to lose weight she would prescribe another form of medication.   My menstrual cycle started four days after surgery and lasted for one full heavy week.       

I hope your hormones improve!!! Good luck!!! ~Brandi