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Hi my name is Melissa.  I think I belong here.  I have been told I possible have PCOS but never dx.  My story: I have been everwieght since my car accident when I was 15.  At 17 I was 25lb over and by 18 balloned to 75lbs over.  I got married at 19 and gained 40lbs in four months.  I guess, I was not out partying like I used to, so I didn't burn the calories.   Dh and I tried getting pregnant right away.  Took us 8 months and many times to the Drs.  No cyst.  But exterme pain.  So they were going to start looking at endomatrisis.  Then all the sudden, I am pregnant.  I was GD with her, but diet controlled.  Only gained the minal 30lbs.  Never lost my baby wieght though.  Got pg 5 months later and had another daughter.  My periods after my second child was lasting me 14 days and I was having a period every 2 weeks.  I was on BC and they changed my BC to LoOval.  That stoped my long periods.  Skipped on day on my pill, and found myself pg with my son.  I was about 316lb by this time.  (BTW I am very tall, 6'1)  They found a cyste on my ovary when the begging of my pregancy.  I became GD with him and it was so severe I was on insulin, and I never got it under control.  After I had my son I was placed in the hospital hosptial for heart failure (a pregnancy related conditon that has resolved itself)  All this by 23.  After my son I went to 350lbs.  I didn't get my period when I should have and wasn't really till a year out that I started back.  GYN tested my blood for PCOS and said it was fine.  I think eventually I made it up to 400lbs.  Not sure, was never able to get on a scale to that could wiegh me.   My grandma always wanted me to havy RYN but I told her I could do it on my own.  With little sucess.  I was at a nurolgists office for migranes and he mentioned I should have the surgery considering my situation.  He said I was most likly PCOS and it was a matter of when I got diabetis not if.  I looked at him and said, "But I have kids?"  So my jouney of WLS began there.  I have told by a couple other DRs as well I "may" have PCOS.  I really stoped having periods about 2 years ago, maybe 2 or 3 a year, until recently.  I went in for my well woman/physical with my PCP and was dianosed with diabetis.  Expressed my conearn over the period issue and she said also I may be PCOS.  But first wanted to get things under control with my diabetis (BTW I am 28)  and then look into it.  But the medication she put me on is metformin, which she told me treats PCOS as well.  Surprising my periods have come every month since Feb and being on the meds.  A couple weeks ago I found myself in the hosptial with extreme pain.  Was dx with bladder infection and a cyst on the ovary.  So there you have it.  My symptoms Weight around the waist, lower belly. thining hair the whiskers on the chin, I pluck about 10-20 a day diabetis high cholesterol no period AN Acne skin tags Thankfully BP is normal My A1c is pretty good at 6.7 but Dr wants it below 6.5 So, will you take me even though there has not been an offical dx yet?  I am on my journey for RNY.  I am waiting approval from insurance.  They have requested for additinal info.  they needed a nutrional eval.  Luckily since I was DX with Type II Diabetis in Feb.  I have been going to diabetis managment.  I talked to my nutritionist and she should be faxing it over on Thurs.  People think I am crazy for having my babies so young, but I honestly feel if i didn't I may not have had babies. I know I would not get pregnant now if I wanted.  (DH had the big V after the DX of the heart condition and told not to have any more kids or I could die)  So I am very blessed but scared.  Has anyone symptoms gotten better since surgery?  Like the Diabetis, High cholesterol, thining hair, excess hair growth in unwanted places?  Could this reverse PCOS?  If you read this long post.  Bless your heart and thank you!

You need to see an endocrynologist for a PCOS diagnosis.  There are 100's of 1,000's of people who are type 2 diabetic who don't have PCOS so you need to get all the proper test. My symptoms are completely gone since my RNY and have been gone since 6 weeks post op!!

Hi, WOw. you have been threw a lot. But I think your doctor made the right dx when they said PCOS.. you sound like you have the classic PCOS symptoms.. heavy in the middle, irregular periods, hair growth where you don't want it and for some of us hair loss where we DO want hair.. ugh. I also had Gestational Diabetes with my pregnancy and was put on insulin.  THe thing about PCOS and why it is often missdiagnosed is that not everyones syptoms are the same.. it is a syndrome which means it has several markers to diagnose it. You may only have a few of the markers or you may have them all! For me it was weight gain, hair on the chin, dark patches of skin under my arms and thighs, Insulin resistance, Cysts on the overies during altrasound, Irregular periods and misscarriages. I think your right about not waiting to have a baby.. with PCOS it seems the older you get the harder it is to become pregnant and the more problems you have during pregnancy. I can not speak for everyone but that is how it was for me. I had waited till I was 30 and it took me till I was 38 to have a baby.. lots of tears and fustration. I think had I not waited I would have had a much easier time when I was younger. I was not Diagnosed with PCOS untill I was 35 and when I was younger my symptoms where not as bad. They really didnt start till my late 20's.  I am still pending my surgery and I am very hopeful that most of my symptoms will go away. I would love to get off of the metformin ugh!! Good luck to you and isnt it nice to know your not alone and that your not nuts?!? for years I thought I was crazy not knowing what was wrong with me..lol.. then to actually put a name to what was going on was an eye opener!! wow.. I am not crazy after all!

by the way I totally agree with teresa.. you should get a referall or self refer to an endocrinologist they are the ones *****ally can make a proper diagnosis for you. Since I was trying to get pregnant when I was diagnosed I had gone to a Reproductive Endocrinologist some will see you even if your not trying to get pregnant.. just need to ask when you call if they treat PCOS patients who are not trying to get pregnant. some do and some don't. Otherwise a regular Endo can help too.

How far into the process are you for your surgery?

Thank you for the warm welcome.  Type II for me was not an intial idicator for the PCOS.  I have a strong family history of Type II on my maternal side of the family.  My mom is proablly the only one who does not have it.  My grandma lost a baby due to diabetis.  So for me it was not surpising I have it.  Luckily it is not severe.  And I am only on half the "normal" dose of metformin as of right now.  My doctor chose not to increase it the last visit.  Of course that could change next week.  I really appreciate the welcome! 

Rny gastric bypass cures 85% of type II diabetes, with most people no longer taking medications right after surgery. You can search the Journal of the American Medical Association to get all the scientific studies supporting that, http://jama.ama-assn.org/.  I am 25 and have PCOS...I had my RNY last year, March 2007. I feel better now than I ever have. My endocrinologist said I probably have PCOS too...there is no one test that says yes or no you have it. As far as most people blogging here about if the excess hair gets better....most say that it doesn't get worse but it doesn't get better...which has been my experience. I was insulin resistent before surgery and I don't know if I still am. I need to go for my follow up to see how things look for me now that I have lost 108 lbs. I no longer have alot of mood swings, my energy is up, and my periods are regular when last year I missed 4 months in a row and have never been regular. Good luck!!! ~ Christal