(member)

11/06/2009 10:34

daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

My 26 year old daughter has PCOS. she was finally diagnosed last year but the condition has been building up for a while. She has the weight gain and excess hair symptoms. Her GP has been very good, he put her on Metoforin which she took for several months but the side effects were such that she had to discontinue it. I try so hard to keep her confidence up, like most young women she likes to look good and I know the facial hair and weight gain are difficult for her. The facial hair is fair so laser treatment is not suitable so she gets threading done. I was just hoping to get some adivce from another Mum on how to help my daughter.

(member)

11/06/2009 11:00

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago, and can sympathise. I didn't have much of a problem with excess hair, but weight gain was a problem. I have read that even if you can lose a small amount of weight it will help. I know it is harder, because of the condition, but I think low carb is best for this. But she should check this out with her GP first. I know it is difficult in a society where so much emphasis is put on looks. I think the best thing you can do probably, is do what you are doing, keeping her confidence up, praising her as much as possible and letting her know she is loved for who she is. I wish her well.

(member)

11/06/2009 14:10

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Hi there. My daughter has pcos.She has the weight gain,but not so much of a problem with hair.has she looked into threading? someone recommended that for another problem my daughter has elsewhere which affects body hair but is not to do with the pcos.
She is 25 and has gradually come to terms with it ( I'd say,but I don't know if she would agree)At this stage, although she is in a steady relationship, she doesn't think she will want children. I would imagine the possible difficulties in conceiving if someone wants kids might v stressful.
My daughter is fabulous, and she knows I think this,as I am sure yours does.Sorry I can't be more help.

(member)

11/06/2009 14:51

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Hi rjaly

just a quick reply to say, you can still have children with PCOS, although for some it is harder. I used a fertility drug to conceive the first but then had 2nd and 3rd naturally. Just thought you might want to know that re daughter in case you are worried.

(member)

11/06/2009 15:04

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Thank you. it is always at the back of my mind that my daughter might change her mind about children one day. Bless you

(member)

11/06/2009 20:41

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

One of the best things you can do is look at diet and exercise due to links with PCOS and diabetes, a low carb diet was advised to me when I looked into it for myself and don't lose hope, at 36 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last year with little effort xxx

(member)

12/06/2009 22:17

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

thank you for your replies. Your support is very encouraging. You know we just want to see our children happy and healthy. My GP told me that PCOS very often goes undiognosed and it is only when women have trouble having babies that it comes to light. Hopefully better treatments wil become available in time.

(member)

16/06/2009 10:01

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Hi, I had PCOS diagnosed very late, when we were trying for a baby and were being checked out for why it wasn't happening naturally. Back then, PCOS was a 'new' disorder, so I think there's a lot more understanding around now, which is good.

Two recommendations - re unwanted hair, I can definitely recommend waxing, upper lip and bikini/legs, though I know not everyone can tolerate it. It's a bit painful, but very quick, and the results are brilliant and last ages!

Secondly, infertility can definitely be defeated (I did!), and as rainbow says, sometimes all it takes is a round or two of fertility drugs to get those undeveloped eggs maturing! I was told by my gynae that in fact, because the problem with PCOS is that you get a lot of eggs that don't mature, if you can mature them, then you get a lot of ripe eggs, probably more than 'normal' women do (not sure if they jsut said that to cheer me up though.) But I have definitely recently read that fertility for PCOS women IMPROVES with age, rather than declines, and, again, Rainbow's experience is an instance of that.

Finally, if fertility drugs alone don't do the trick, then IVF is a very real possibility. I know the cost is scary, so how about if your daughter starts to put aside some money now, little by little, for a 'baby fund'. Then, if she does end up needing IVF, there is a nest egg (literally!) there to draw on, and if she doesn't, then it's there to spend on something else instead. I know she feels she doesn't want chidlren now, but as we all know, those views may change completely in the coming years.

All the best to her, and I'm sure there is a 'PCOS support group' somewhere up on the Internet - I'd be very surprised if there wasn't.

Julie

(member)

16/06/2009 10:29

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

My AD has this condition....she is 'coping' but I know it is soooo hard for her.......
Her main problem with this condition is hair loss....her crowning glory.....

(member)

16/06/2009 20:03

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

My daughter started having problems in her teens,but wasnt diagnosed with PCOS until in her 20s.She has had 3 children with a fertility drug,but it isn't an easy option.I have a friend whose 2 daughters also have PCOS and they,like mine also have thyroid problems.It has only recently been realised that the body's immune/hormone system is often linked like this.She spent a fortune on electrolysis in the past and was put on every pill/patch/etc around to balance her hormones.One thing that she has found helps,is to stay on the GI diet,so I would suggest that your daughter tries that.You are doing the right thing in keeping building up her confidence,good luck and hope that she finds her best way of coping.

(member)

17/06/2009 09:22

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Hi - I'd agree with everything that Maribou says, except that in my own personal experience, the fertility treatment wasn't really that hard.

Things may have changed in the last nearly twenty years, of course, but in my day what I had to do was this:

- firstly, I had to take drugs (I think it was a nasal spray several times a day as I recall) every day at a certain point in my period (can't remember when, to be honest), and what those drugs did was basically shut down my own menstrual cycle. The drugs are hormones, as I recall, that basically give you a temporary menopause, so you get ratty, etc, but that's all.

- secondly, once my own menstrual cycle had been shut down (took a couple of weeks I think), I took different drugs to start a new 'artificial' cycle that basically gave me a 'super-cycle' - these drugs (hormones again!) simply accelerated the growth of my eggs, until they were completely ripe. This bit of the treatmetn was a bit tougher, as, alas, the drugs have to be injected. Some people go to the doc every day to get it done, but lots just DIY - I did, and it really wasn't that bad. I just had to jab my thigh (it doesn't hurt once it's through the surface layer) and press the squoosher on the syringe..

At that point you have two choices. You can go at it 'au naturel' (!) when your eggs are totally ripe, and you are massivley fertile, and trust that nature does the trick and you get pregnant naturally.

Or, you can do the whole thing in vitro, as in IVF, and have the eggs collected (under sedation, but not necesarily general anesthetic, it's your choice), and fertilised in a test tube. Then you wait a few days to see if they've 'taken' and started to divide into embryos, then you go back a few days after that and have the embryos (up to two I think now) put back in (think reverse smear test!), then you just wait to see if you get a period or not....ie, are you pregnant.

Julie.

(member)

22/06/2009 13:08

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Many thanks for all your replies, they all help. I found it very interesting what Maribou said about there being a link with thryoid problems as I am on medication for an underactive thryoid. I have always made sure that both my daughter and son have been tested for this condition. My daughter did follow the GI diet and is generally a very healthy eater but she still finds it difficult to lose any weight. I suspect if she gave up alcohol for a while it would help, not that she is a heavy drinker but does like to go out! She hasnt had a boyfriend for a couple of years and i think she is reluctant to let any one near because of the hair problem. She doesnt live at home and can get touchy if I ask too much how she is. However she is quite sensible and I can only hope she is happy. I think that is all we want for our children.

(member)

22/06/2009 17:43

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

She really, really shouldn't get too hung about the hair! Has she tried waxing? I really do recommend it. She should certainly try it once as it is a brilliant 'instant cure' - quite transforming.

If it hurts, take a painkiller beforehand, to numb the pain - but it's very quick - effectively it's like having plasters ripped off you. Over very quickly!

Exercise, too, is the other half of the weight equation, and exercise also has the huge benefit of really lifting the spirits and giving you an endorphin rush. It improves confidence and erodes the pernicious body dysmorphia as well.

All the best, Julie

(member)

24/06/2009 09:27

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Quote:

My 26 year old daughter has PCOS. she was finally diagnosed last year but the condition has been building up for a while. She has the weight gain and excess hair symptoms. Her GP has been very good, he put her on Metformin which she took for several months but the side effects were such that she had to discontinue it. I try so hard to keep her confidence up, like most young women she likes to look good and I know the facial hair and weight gain are difficult for her. The facial hair is fair so laser treatment is not suitable so she gets threading done. I was just hoping to get some advice from another Mum on how to help my daughter.

************************************************************************

I am Kafferlilly's daughter, and mum showed me your post and I felt I just had to reply personally.
My experiences of PCOS has been very up and down. More down than up really! I'm 36 years of age, and most my life has been dominated by weight and food. It feels like a very very heavy weight around my neck (sorry the pun!).

I lost about two stones a good few years ago, whilst living in Wales. I joined Weight Watchers at the time, and with a combination of exercise, and cutting out all saturated fat, and walking up all those Welsh hills, lost two pounds in weight!
It was only when I moved back home and to another lifestyle, that the weight crept back on and has stayed on since.

I've tried all sorts of things. Metformin, was the most useless thing I've ever tried. It had no effect on my weight control and I gave it up last year. The thing is, I know what is right to eat and what is not. Exercise, I think, has to be the most important consideration in losing weight if you have PCOS.

I bought a treadmill and now try to run 10 mins every day. It does seem to help, and I do loose a few pounds, although, if I stop running or doing any exercise for two days or more, it piles all back on!!!!

I have recently been to my doctors and she has prescribed XENICAL, which is the sister tablet of Alli, (but a little stronger). These tablets are supposed to help with weight loss by stopping any fat absorbing into your body. I haven't started it yet, as I do want to keep exercising first, and when I get to a weight plateau, I'll begin to take the Xenical.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you my experiences with PCOS. I do really really believe that you need to FEEL good about yourself, what ever your weight. I'm not slim, but curvy with huge breast (no complaints from the guys!) though, I am quite small in height. You have to keep positive and happy within yourself, and not pay too much attention to stupid paint sprayed, unhealthy and unrealistic models in the media.
Feel sexy about yourself, because you are beautiful and special.

(member)

30/06/2009 20:06

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

thank you Kafferlilly's daughter for your kind and thoughtful reply. It has been very helpful. My daughter is having a great time socially for which I am glad and she seems to have a great attitude. However I cant help worrying as the PCOS can be a touchy subject and I dont bring it up unless she does. I just hope she talks to her friends or at least her best friend about it so she has an outlet. Good luck to you for the future.

(member)

30/06/2009 20:18

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

My daughter started down the PCOS route whenshe was in her teens and had odd periods and was heavy and hairy. Dr's said Oh no too young.......She married last sept aged 21 and as her husband is older started trying for a baby almost at once. She gained more weight nad was not pregnant.......made a fuss ...tests etc.....PCOS....cant see a consultant till she'd lost weight.......vicious circle.....anyway started to fee very sick....yes you guessed...she is due 23rd December!!!!!! Please dont loose hope for the future. Good luck. Buckup

(member)

30/06/2009 20:44

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

My first post....so go easy with me!

Just had to reply on this thread.

My daughter (25 this year) was diagnosed with PCOS just over a year ago. Explained her weight gain, she also suffers with bad skin but fortunately not so much the excess hair.

She is married and would love to start a family but nothing happening.

Now the bad bit and it makes me so angry, the doctor has told her he can do nothing other than keep prescribing her the Metformin she currently takes......why......because we are in the wrong health authority!! She keeps reading about Clomid being very successful but the only way she is likely to get it is to lie about living in another area and register with a doctor in that area to get referred to the local hospital, bear in mind this "other area" is approx 7 miles away. (This advise was given to us by the Doctor!).

It makes my blood boil and I work for the b****y NHS!!

(member)

01/07/2009 10:45

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

It's daft, isn't it. However, if you didn't want to go the 'deception route' (not that the NHS deserves that courtesy!), you could aks how much a private prescription for Clomid would be. Hopefully, you would only need one cycle of it to 'take', so it might be worth investing in (finances permitting, of course.)

All the best, Julie

(member)

01/07/2009 11:02

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

I just looked up Clomid (clomifene citrate) and found Chemist Direct, which says that every 50 mg tablet of Clomid costs 32 pence (site says Recommended Retail Price is 37 p per tablet). The site says you need a doctor's prescription for this drug (which to me indicates the site seems relatively safe???). (I know you can get your GP to give you private prescriptions for drugs not on the NHS - I do that with my son as I want him to have an extra Epipen that is not within the NHS allowance per child. I then take the PP to Boots and pay whatever they tell me!)

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/clomidclomifene-citrate-50mg-tablets_4_11942.html

A US site says "How should Clomid be Used?
Clomid is taken orally on specific days of your menstrual cycle. Most women start off with 50 mg per day, on days 3-7 of menstrual cycle, or days 5-9 of the cycle (three days after your period starts or five days after your period starts). Most women continue on this dosage for a cycle or two. If there is no improvement in ovulation, the dosage can be increased to a maximum of 200 mg per day. The drug is taken orally and should be taken the same time each day for five days. Your doctor will probably have you keep a bbt chart or use an ovulation prediction kit to see if you have ovulated."

If I understand this correctly, it means you only take Clomid for five days per cycle (is this right?), so each month's requirement for Clomid should only cost you 5 x 32p = �1.60.

Actually, that seems SO ridiculously cheap that I must have understood this totally wrongly. I mean, why on earth would the NHS not fund a drug costing so little??? It doesn't make sense. So I guess I must have misunderstood.

Nevertheless, why don't you pop into Boots etc and ask the phamacist how much a private prescription of Clomid would cost, and what 'dosage' is usually prescribed (ie, how many cycles)

All the best, Julie.

(member)

01/07/2009 19:37

Re: daughter with PCOS. any advice welcome

Thanks Julie,
Just typed out a reply to you pressed send and the b****y thing disappeared!!! So am doing it in word first this time.

Thanks for all the info you�ve included. Up till now I�ve just been going on what daughter said, perhaps I should start looking myself to see what I can find!

Don�t really want to change doc unless we have to, he�s one of the better ones!.

She has always had irregular periods but those seem to have stabilised at the moment and she is managing to lose weight slowly (down to the Metformin I gather).

Will check out about the Clomid myself I think, don�t want her to get her hopes up too soon, she�s had too many knock backs recently.
Thanks a lot.

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