PCOS and Phentermine

[sassygal33]

I have recently been diagnosed with PCOS. I have gained about 30 pounds in the last year. Weight gain is a major symptom of PCOS as well as it being very difficult to lose weight. Has anyone here been diagnosed with PCOS (or any other weight loss hinderance) and taken Phentermine and had positive results? TIA for any feedback!

[seabeeluvr]

I am interested too, I also have PCOS AND and underactive thyroid so I am hoping someone on here has had success with the phen.

[Miper70]

I was diagnosed with PCOS, put on Metformin and am also hypothyroid. I have lost about 27 lbs. and am now off of the Metformin because my blood sugar stabelized. I also exercise quite a bit, so that helps I'm sure.

[JewelryQueen]

I was diagonosed with PCOS 4 years ago, And I lost 75lbs on Phentermine. I also take Metformin because it helps regulate your hormones (not just your blood sugar) It is supposed to help you lose weight also. I am starting over after having a baby.
Good luck

[me_n_phen]

What the hec is PCOS??

[EBONY POETESS]

polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis but I think my doc is crazy
they put me on birth control pills but I didn't take them, bc pills make me big as hell
It occurs in obese woman and others as well
I have had it for a year
I have facial hair that i get waxed
My periods are crazy and painful
I have not excercised in a week in a half because of the low back pain and warm legs and bliatchyness,I sleep on a heating pad too

[me_n_phen]

Shoot girl! If you get chance you might want to get a copy of Kevin Tredeau's book "The Natural Cure" Awesome book about natural way of healing all kinds of stuff. Best of luck to you and thanks for the reply about PCOS.

[Paula G]

Wow, there are people out there with PCOS. I noticed something different with me.. I was loosing my hair and gain weight like crazy and the hair growth is out of control, under neath my chin I was getting hair really bad. My Dr told me that I had PCOS. But on track with that as well. Man this is great, there are people out there that have the same thing as me.. This site is great.. Much Love..

[Every1LuvzAngie]

I have it too, hence the fact I got most my weight around my middle... :-\
So does Phen really help with ppl with PCOS or should I be on Metformin still in conjunction with the Phen...like will the Phen alone help me lose?

[pjzsnowangel]

I also have PCOS, I was on Phen for about 2 months but stopped taking it because it lost its effectivness(appitite suppressant). I take Glucophage (metformin), it has helped my period become normal for the first time in my life!!!!
With regular exersise, and a healthy diet, anyone can lose weight, so dont let PCOS get you down, look how much Ive done and its been on my own with God's help!

[jacy]

Hey all,

I came on this site specifically looking to see if anyone who has PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) has used Phen in conjunction with their Metformin.

About 3-4 years ago, I lost about 55 pounds on my own with low-carb diet and took my Metformin on a regular basis ... gradually put on about 8 pounds but as I managed to maintain that weight for about 3 years, I thought it was clear sailing from there. So about a year ago, I stopped taking my Metformin, as my blood test results showed that all my hormones are balanced, with only slight elevations in testosterone.

So I stopped taking the Metformin....

Biggest mistake of my life!!! As a result. I found I was so sensitive to sugar and carbs, and even a normal person's serving of carbs made me pack on the weight! I have now in the past year put on about 40pounds and am so astounded! I only made the connection with the not taking metformin and weight-gain a few months ago when my doctor asked me why I stopped.

My understanding is, that your doctor has put you on Metformin for a reason. If you have PCOS and are overweight, you more than likely have what's known as INSULIN RESISTANCE, and no amount of diet pills will fix that. ONLY Metformin!

Metformin (also known as Glucophage or Diaformin) is a diabetic medication that assists in helping the person's insulin receptors take on Carbohydrates and utilise the carbs for energy like NORMAL people. If you are insulin resistant, your body will not be able to utilise carbs for energy, and will have to store most of it as fat. So it is not a case of supressing your appetite ... and it is NOT a case of cutting out carbs as they are very important for your energy levels and brain functions ...
If you have PCOS and insulin resistance, it is the imbalance in your insulin that has created other imbalances in you hormones (like your oestrogen, progesterone etc etc) ... which in turn created PCOS. Most women with PCOS have a family history of diabetes.

Take your PCOS seriously, and investigate it all you can.

There is a fantastic book called "PCOS DIET BOOK" by Colette Harris. It explains natural supplements, foods, and medicines that all help eleviate and manage PCOS.

NUMBER ONE RULE when you have PCOS - do not be duped by your gynaecologist into taking a simple contaceptive pill to eleviate problems with your cycle. It makes your symptoms WORSE! It is a synthetic hormone, and will make you pack on the weight, have a fake period, make you MORE insulin resistant and may cause greater risk of infertility - the exact OPPOSITE of what you need when you have PCOS.

Go natural where ever you can. Look for natural supplements to help your symptoms. Metformin however is a great synthetic drug for taking care of what you have in terms of insulin resistance. And as I found out, absolutely ESSENTIAL when it comes to managing your weight. If I don't take Metformin, and I eat a NORMAL healthy diet that someone say on weight watchers was having with cereal for breakfast and wholegrain bread for lunch I would slowly put on weight or find it EXTREMELY difficult to lose that weight. Metformin makes your body react like a normal person's body to carbohydrates.

Trust me, I am eat very healthily with the odd treat - so it is definitely because I wasn't taking my Metformin.

So now, as a result of packing on this weight in the space of 12 months, I want to lose this weight, but I now have terrible knees!!!! My knees are grinding from the sudden impact of all this weight, going down the stairs is a killer, and doing any aerobic exercise or brisk walking is hard, because after 20 mins my knees start to ache.

I have seen my doctor, and taken x-rays. At present, no cartilage or bone damage is detected, and the only cure for this is losing weight. But how can I lose weight if I can exercise for long enough??

This is why I want to take Phentermine. I want to get about 15 pounds off, and that will eleviate my knee problem enough for me to lose weight on my own.

BIG QUESTION - HAS ANYONE TAKEN METFORMIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH PHENTERMINE??? I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T TAKE A DIET PILL WITH METFORMIN.

Thanks,
J xx

[jacy]

I'm answering my own question here .... went to the doctor a couple of days ago, and he said there is no problem in taking Phentermine with Metformin.
Started taking phentermine a couple of days ago, and have already dropped 4.5 pounds! I'm eating healthily, no junk food, and drinking heaps of water... i think the trick is not to starve yourself when on phentermine, even though you may have no appetite, because the weight will pile back on when u stop taking it.
Cheers!

[pjzsnowangel]

Jacy, great to hear your having good results with the Metformin and Phen!
Im going to check out that book you suggested, thanx!

[Every1LuvzAngie]

Originally posted by pjzsnowangel:
I also have PCOS, I was on Phen for about 2 months but stopped taking it because it lost its effectivness(appitite suppressant). I take Glucophage (metformin), it has helped my period become normal for the first time in my life!!!!
With regular exersise, and a healthy diet, anyone can lose weight, so dont let PCOS get you down, look how much Ive done and its been on my own with God's help! I stopped taking metformin because I was gettin so sick on it I couldn't stand it, I would puke everyday and everything I ate, and I had constant diarehha....so i quit taking it...I was just wondering because I prolly shouldn't have stopped taking it...I'm not sure if my insulin levels or testosterone levels are normal or not cuz I havent had them checked in a couple years because my insurance ran out :-\ oh well...the phen is working great for me...

[pjzsnowangel]

With most people when you first start taking Metformin it does make your stomach sick and give you the runs. My doctor said it is normal and it only lasts for a week or 2 because your body is getting used to it. And it was true, because a week later I was fine!

[Every1LuvzAngie]

nothing really helps with the facial hair tho...and thaz the biggest bummer :(

[jacy]

There are a number of things you can do to assist excess facial hair, or reduce it if you have PCOS, "Every1LuvzAngie". First off excess facial hair is a symptom of elevated testosterone levels. Believe it or not, being fat contibutes to elevated testosterone levels (put simply, your body synthesizes testosterone from body fat!)reducing your body fat (not just your WEIGHT - and there's a big difference there), reducing refined carbs in your diet, can significantly contribute to reduced testosterone levels in PCOS sufferers.
A natural herbal remedy that is commonly used in men to prevent prostate troubles, can, believe it or not, work for women with high testosterone levels and excess facial hair. it is called SAW PALMETTO and is quite safe to take. You need to understand that with any herbal supplement, you need to take it regularly for a number of weeks to see results. I have heard some people swear by it, and they have noticed excess hair reducing while on it.

[jacy]

Hey pjzsnowangel, hope you have found the PCOS book ok. I think you might be able to get it on Amazon.com if you can't find it at your library or book store. Good to read you are losing weight on your own and Metformin. Keep it up, and keep taking your Metformin regularly. I swear by it now. I'm only taking the Phentermine ("Duromine" here in australia) for a very short term basis to get some weight off as an emergency to relieve weight on my knees.

ADVICE FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH P.C.O.S.
If you are taking Metformin/diaformin/glucophage, you will notice that it is important to take your pill WITH a meal. This will reduce your "queeziness". I take it JUST before my meal for the best effect.

Metformin is also known, in rare cases to cause "lactic acidosis", a very serious disease. It usually occurs in people with prior renal (kidney) problems, and made worse still by drinking alcohol.

Probably one of the most important things you can do for your diet while on this medication, and in general, is reduce your intake of "acid-forming foods". If you are not aware of what foods are acidic and which ones are alkaline, just "google" it for more info. Generally speaking, most RAW fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, chicken, SOME fish are alkaline producing foods. (the optimum type of diet to prevent disease and reduce body weight). However, acid forming foods are as follows: rice, most grains, red meat, fish, processed foods, fizzy drinks like pepsi, alcohol etc etc. Over-indulging in acid forming foods can probably effect you even more so when you are taking Metformin. (alcohol especially).

Make sure you take a B vitamin supplement as Metformin can reduce your levels of B-12.

For those of you with PCOS, the most important piece of advice is KEEP IT NATURAL where ever possible. Do your research on the subject, and don't feel as though you are a helpless victim in all of this. It is a very very common disease, even more so these days with our highly refined diets. I say to keep it natural, because many doctors are misinformed about the best way to manage this condition, and would rather pump you full of the latest contraceptive pill and synthetic hormones, rather than deal with the under-lying issue.

This is a problem with your ENDOCRINE system (most likely, your insulin levels) which has manifested itself as a GYNAECOLOGICAL problem, not the other way around. So to see a gynaecologist for something which has deeper roots is a misinformed thing to do.

All research on PCOS will tell you that the best thing you can do for your long-term health is to have a healthy, balanced diet, and lose any excess weight. It's amazing how much your symptoms are relieved by merely reducing your body fat levels. The diet you follow needs to be one that is long-term and easy to manage. Always think long-term, because this is a disease that is TREATED and not cured. It doesn't stop, so just like diabetes, you need to have a sure-fire strategy to keep it under control. (otherwise, you will do what i did and pack on the weight again, because you think you can relax, and not watch your diet or take your meds).

The best thing I ever did, was see a natropath who specialised in hormonal issues. I was able to understand exactly WHY certain hormones were elevated and certain ones were low, and I was able to receive an understanding of how my diet and supplements could effect my symptoms. NO DOCTOR will spend that much time with you to explain these things. Even specialists in this field quite often pass you off as a simple overweight woman, who needs to take these pills to relieve her lack of period, and when and IF she wants to fall pregnant, we'll just fill her up with fertility drugs if there's a problem.

Take preventative action for your present health and future health. Be armed with KNOWLEDGE - know EXACTLY what's going on in your body, and don't take a backseat when your doctors tell you that you have this condition or you need to take this medicine. Ask questions, know why, be informed, and talk about it. It's your body, and you need to be in touch with it.

Hope that helps you all. We can beat these symptoms if we help each other.
God bless.

[lovinit06]

I can't help to see the huge coincidence in the fact that I was diagnosed with PCOS on Thursday (the day of the previous post)and my gyn gave me a prescription for Phen. I am new to the boards just today, so imagine my surprise when I saw a thread just about this! Thanks for the advice, I sure didn't know it is such a common condition. I'll consider your suggestions, jacy.

~ Tori

[sds1arm2]

I also have PCOS. I am encouraged to see that the Phen does work for some of you. I had started to take it a few months ago, but was having a really hard time sleeping.
I am so fed up with my weight so I am going to try to take it again, but start at a real low dose.

Ali

[PsyGlowKitten]

Originally posted by pjzsnowangel:
Jacy, great to hear your having good results with the Metformin and Phen!
Im going to check out that book you suggested, thanx! You went from 358 to 219!? Omg thats sooo good.I wanna follow in your footsteps!!

On topic, i found out i have pcos and metabolic syndrome.I take 1,500 mg of glucophlage a day.Iam 31 and me and my boyfriend of 11 years havent conceived yet:(..My time is running out.I hope that making my body more healthy, that maybe it will increase my chance of pregnancy.
I lost 18 lbs in 2 months when my dr prescribed phen.Now he wont refill it.He says i dont need it and pills wont keep it off, blah blah...I have Hap so he can be my only dr.He is a good dr and i know he cares about my health, but i need a boost...2 months wasnt enough.In the last month and a half i lost 1lb...Im very discouraged.I was going to give up.
I heard about lipodrene so i started that 2 days ago..so we'll see..

[Fatty9609]

Hello!! I am new to this site. Saturday I have my first appt w/a weight loss specialist. I heard that he is big on prescribing phen and will give you an ** that day. However, I also have PCOS, and I am going to a fertility specialist next week b/c my husband and I have not been able to conceive either. Do you know if the phen will worsen my chances of conceiving?

I was put on the metformin for a while also to help my hormones, and I was told it helps some conceive, but I had to stop after a month, b/c it gave me really bad stomach problems. I was just wondering if anybody had any info about the fertility aspect of PCOS? Thanks!!

[chrissyz]

fatty9606, Hi there did the doctor put you on the time released glucophage? I started on the regular ones 500 mg three times per day at meals and then the time released one came out. I have one child (Shes 10 now)and I think I was blessed with her because I had birth control trouble, changed bc different type for three months.(EX made me sick, break through bleeding , Ect.)and then just said 4 get it. And 1 month later I was prego. After I had my daughter was put back on the pills and ballooned up in weight again. I always new there was something wrong but the doctors just put me on birth control I have been on and off of it since I was seventeen (now 35) with no explanation just if you want to get your period you have to be on this :confused: . After I had my daughter The problems got worse. I was about 24 years old my hair started to fall out and again my weight went up. Then I went to an endocrine doctor and he advised that all of my problems were because I had PCOS. I told my gyno who claimed to be a fertility specialist that my endo had diagnosed me with pcos and he said you don't have that. All you need if you want to get pregnant again is this drug I have. I could have killed him. Here I had gone to a specialist and had all of the tests and he is going to sit there and not even listen to me and what the other doctor had said I was furious becase at this time there was not alot known about PCOS and I figured if he would listen it might help others in my situation. I shouldn't have to have help to get pregnant you stupid doctor if there is no problem. Well the doctor that made sense put me on gluchopahge and I had to choose to stay on the pill ot take progesterone to bring it on once per month. I lost over 30lbs. But after a while he wanted to put me on an additional medicine I can't remember the name but it made me feel dizzy and nautious and hot, so I stopped taking that. Eventually I stopped the gluchophage it made me feel like I had IBS. I agree with the previous posts that if you lose the weight your symtoms will be reduced. I also think that this depends on how bad you have it because my sister has it and she still gets her monthly friend and shes not on the pill. but I dont. I still do not cycle I can go longer than I did when I was prego. And that is not good for endo problems, so I stay on the pill and I am hoping if I get my weight down low enough one day my body will work on its own. If you want you can pm me and we can talk more. :)

[Fatty9609]

Hi There,

I need to look up the ** i was taking for Metformin, but I am not sure if I was taking a time released one. She put me on 750mg 2x a day, but it gave me horrible diahrrea, so I had to stop, I didn't even have a chance to see if it would work for me b/c it made me so sick.

My PCOS, has always been bad though. Even in high school when I was smaller (size 13). I think out of the last 12 months, I had my period for 9 of them. i don't have the problem of not having a period, I have it all the time, and it is really, really heavy. I used to have a wonderful doctor in Texas...he always told me that when I was ready to have kids to let him know and he would help me b/c he knew it was going to be a challenge, but now I am in Illinois, and the only thing the doctors want to do here is put me on birth control, and that is not going to help my fertility issue. I don't know it makes me very angry all the time, and I feel like it is never going to get better. And my fat butt is not helping it either, I know. So I have an appointment Saturday, to start w/a specialist on weight loss, so hopefully I will start feeling/looking better!!

[chrissyz]

I went and am still going through the same thing all they can say is BIRTH CONTROL

[chrissyz]

I went and am still going through the same thing all they can say is BIRTH CONTROL and it makes me sick :( . But the doctors that really want to help are far and few between. The metomorphin is just another name for gluchophage you might ask her for a smaller dose like 500 two times per day? Somedays were worse thatn others I had the same symptom especially when I would excercise that would make me have to run to the bathroom very quickly. That is why I finally stopped taking it. When it was given to me back in 1998 I was told by my doctor that it was not approved for pcos but they have had great results in giving this to pcos sufferers because they believed that the cause of pcos is the insuline resistance. I stopped because they were testing me every three months for kidney and liver problems. I thought well if I am going to have either I would rather have it be natural not a side effect from a medicine that was not even approved for the condition. And as far as the monthly cycle I dont get mine at all unless I use either the progesterone pills or stay on the BC to bring it on. The BC adds to the weight gain I believe I have been on it for sooooo long it isn't funny anymore. I hope your appt. goes well on saturday mybee this doctor will be one of the few?? I hope so take care. :)

[themunch_tx]

I'm new and just posted this big note on the new members board about PCOS, amongst other things. I wish I had known about metformin when I was diagnosed (10 years ago). The doctor put me on birth control. My next doctor kept me on it, but added some other meds to fix other hormone imbalances. Now I have diabetes, and I can't help but wonder if taking metfomin would have fended off diabetes longer. I got Type II diabetes at a young age - only 30! At least I'm on metformin now. How ironic. :)

I also take cinnamon pills, which is "nature's metformin." Perhaps those of you who can't tolerate the side effects of metformin can try cinnamon. For what it's worth, the metformin side effects do go away. It took me about 6 weeks. Luckily I was a full-time, stay-at-home student at the time!

Also, I take spironolactone for the "appearance" side effects of PCOS. It helps keep your hair from falling out, prevents new facial hair from growing (although it won't make the existing hair go away), and clears up your acne. It's also good for blood pressure (that's what it's usually prescribed for). Electrolysis works for facial hair, but is expensive. I "lucked" out. I had cancer and the radiation therapy killed off my nasty little follicles. The one silver lining in a very big cloud...

I'm glad to hear phen works on folks with PCOS. I call myself an endocrine nightmare because I have PCOS, hypothyroidism, and diabetes. Talk about a weightloss challenge!

[mechimpaired]

My endo and my gyno are in the same physicians group and after 3 rounds of fasting and blood work, not to mention 3 ultrasounds of my uterus, they came to the conclusion that I have PCOS but I just have high levels of male testerone, they tested my sugar over and over and it was perfect every time, I have no cysts anywhere or any period problems, but I do gain weight around the middle like a man and I do have a little to much hair. They concluded that my hormone levels were a genetic abnormality,so I have PCOS because of the hormones but not because of my sugar or that I was insulin resistant. My thyroid was also tested and it was great, so was cholestrohl(sp?), and I actually have low blood pressure. They said I was very healthy, they put me on phen but said it may not work with bc shot which is what I chose, I said ok. Well that was last year, and phen did not work. I went off the shot last Dec. and recently I was at the doctor and I asked for phen again she agreed, but said if I dont see some decent results within 2 months she would put me on Metformin, to stabilize my hormones along with the phen. I am now just wary of the side affects of Metformin.

5*8
CW-195 5/17/07
GW-145

[toobig]

Well here is my story. I have been diagnosed since age 12 with hypothyroidism, I have been big my wholle life except for 3 years in High school when I lost weight thru weight watchers. My cycles have always been extremely irregular and I was always told it was because of my thyroid. That is until 5 years ago when a endroconoligst diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on Metformin then Spironolactone. I never had a problem getting pregnant unless you think it being to easy is an issue and I do not have excessive hair growth on my face etc. I never have had cyst on my ovaries either. I had a hard time agreeing with this doc because I never had heard of this before, she insited Thyroid problems don't mess with your cycle. I feel she was looking for a diognosis to throw at yet another over weight patient. I took the Metformin, went to weight watcher joined a gym worked my butt off and only lost 30 pound in 2 years. The spirinolactone had me leeding all the time (at least that is what my gynocoligist came up with after various test to see why I started spotting two weeks a month in addition tomy period) So seeing that I had no extra hair growth I stopped taking the Spiro. I continuied with the Metformin though, now fast forward to two years ago my weight lose stopped I felt sick all the time nauseas, sudden bouts of diarrea and my thyroid level keeps changing but not for the better. I never feel hungry and only eat for routine, for instance I have to cook for my family so I eat with them even though I don't feel hungry at all, I usually jsut eat 1 meal a day. Now forward to this year, in October I was rushed to the Er for sevre pain in my lower right abdomine, I was tested over and over while tere and once the Doc heard I was Diagnosed with PCOS he said "well you ruptured a cyst" even though I told them I had no cyst. Two days after I started bleeding irregulary again and went to the GYN figuring that if a cyst had ruptured this might be an issue. Well he looked me and the records from the hospital over and said there is no way I ruptured a cyst and if they had looked at there results in the hospital then the Docs at the hospital they would have seen that diagnosis was wrong. His answer it was a virus. QUACK!!! It was the worse pain I ever had and I have had three c-sections. I was very angry about this and went to my regular doc explained the whole thing and what does he say it wasn't a cyst but a folical that burst the cause ? He says the Metformin is causing me to produce too many eggs and that this will happen again. My solution so I won't ever have this horrible experience again? Stop the Metformin. Meanwhile though I was seeing a nutritionist who said my Metabloism is all screwed up (DUH !!!) and I never feel hungry cause my body has gotten used to not eating and that I cant' lose weight because my body thinks it is starving, at the same time as all this though my thyroid meds have been increased up to 375 micrograms the highest I have ever had and the doc can't get the meds right. I am sick to death of being overweight but I feel no doc is on my side, I am just another fat lazy person that doesn't know any better with a minimal IQ according to them. I am sick of being put on all kinds of meds that give me awful side effects and don't help the weight loss but throw my system into all kinds of trouble. My doc wants to put me on a deit pill now but I have a fear of taking something that is gonna have me in the bathroom all the time. Does Anyone have any advise? Thanks

[augustbloom]

My gyn. first suspected I had PCOS around May 2006. Before I even went to to her, I Googled my symptoms and kinda diagnosed myself. She did blood tests and from the results, it looked like I had PCOS (high testosterone, oily skin, high cholesterol, excessive hair growth, irregular periods, skin tags).

Since I was 19 I've had chin hair but it had spread all over my jawline and was incredibly embarrassing. It had gotten to the point where I was shaving my jawline every day! Also, I had gained 35 lbs in about one year and carried most of my weight around my middle. My periods had always been very regular but then started to get outta whack around March 2006. There'd be months where I didn't get a period at all and then times where I'd get my period within two weeks of each other.

My gyn. put me on birth control pills to get my periods back on track and to possibly help with some weight loss. My periods became predictable again, but I would only have light spotting for a couple days. I didn't lose any weight so I went to my general doctor, who put me on metformin. The metformin always gave me diarrhea-like symptoms so I really didn't take it consistently.

At around September or October, I stopped getting my period altogether. I was still taking the birth control pills and taking the metformin sporadically. In December, I quit the birth control pills since they obviously weren't working.

Around Christmas 2006, I started working out at the gym consistently and decided I was gonna give the metformin a serious run even if it made me spend all morning in the restroom. In January, I actually got my period again! In March, even though I was still going to the gym, I had only lost about 5 lbs--very disappointing. I went back to my general doctor who put me on Phen. I was taking Phen and metformin at the same time for about a month but since I don't really like taking medication in the first place and my periods were normal again, I quit the metformin and stuck with the Phen.

Since I've been on Phen, I've lost 25 lbs, but that's also because I'm consistently working out. I don't have the embarrassing chin hair anymore cuz I started laser hair removal back in December. I couldn't wait until I lost 70 lbs to get rid of that beard! I still have a lot more weight to lose but I give a lot of credit to the Phen. The metformin was great for getting my periods back on track, but weight loss isn't one of the major effects. To me, the weight gain and the inability to lose it was the issue I wanted to tackle the most because then everything else would fall into place.

The thing about PCOS is that it's suspected that it's caused by obesity. The thing about obesity is that it's mostly caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. If you lose the weight, the symptoms of PCOS will go away. With PCOS though, it's more difficult to lose the weight and if you can't lose the weight, how do you get over the symptoms? Are you just supposed to treat the symptoms with pills for the rest of your life? Really, you don't wanna just treat the symptoms anyway--you wanna correct the problem that's causing the symptoms. For me, the Phen is treating the source of the problem because it helped with the weight loss, which in turn has kept my periods regular, made me more insulin sensitive, and will get my cholesterol down (my cholesterol was only in the high end of what was considered normal anyway). Also, being on Phen allows you to make better food choices, which builds healthier lifestyle habits. I rarely crave anything unhealthy anymore and food is only used for sustenance--not to fill a void when I'm bored. I eat more fruits and vegetables now without feeling like I'm missing out on junk food! I continue to lift weights in addition to doing cardio at the gym because it helps the weight come off even faster and because I don't wanna be flabby as I continue to lose weight.

A lot of my opinions come from what I've read on *****.com, wikipedia.com, about.com, among other sites. Hope this helps :)

[micahsmommy]

thought I'd bump this thread to see if there are any active women on here with pcos taking phen or phen and metformin.

[MNUNEZ]

How did you go about getting diagnosed with PCOS - I know there is blood work that has to be done, but what are the other tests? I've always had irregular periods - most of my weight is around my middle. I know I have high testosterone levels - just by my moods and behavior and such. I've been having some issues with TOM and it staying too long since I've started phen, I called the OBGYN, but I have to wait until it goes away for them to see me. Also what type of doctor diagnosed you? General doc or OBGYN?

[kimmieq]

I have done the self diagnosis thing myself. I have to shave my "beard and mustache" daily, I have about 15 skin tags under my arms, and my TOM is weird. I had it twice last month. I dont skip months, but sometimes get it twice in the same month. They are very painful, and I bleed very heavy. I take metformin because I am diabetic. I was on phen for about 4 months, lost almost 40 lbs. We moved to Ca and now I cannot find a dr to prescribe it for me. I am convinced I have PCOS, but have an appt with a GYN on the 5th of next month. I am hoping that she will prescribe it for me, to help me get this weight off. Since being off the phen, I have gained back all but 13 lbs of what I lost, and I am so upset about it. I cannot control my eating. The phen worked sooooo good for me. If anyone has any advice or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great day

[austexgirl]

I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 1989. Typically, most women find out they've got it after trying to conceive. Infertility is one of the symptoms. Here is a list of some other ones:

Apple shaped body
Inability to lose weight
Excess hair growth on face
Male pattern baldness
Irregular periods
Aggressiveness

Not everyone experiences all of these symptoms; these just seem to be the common ones.

Those who've posted about staying away from bc pills are right. Only thing bc pills will do for you is regulate your cycles. At least, in most cases they will. If you suspect you have pcos, best thing to do is have some blood work done. Fasting insulin, total and free testosterone, as well as estrogen and progesterone levels should be checked. Have your triglycerides checked, too, as they tend to be high in pcos'ers, while cholesterol tends to be low.

The culprit, as has already been mentioned, is insulin resistance. Excess insulin leads to excess testosterone, which leads to weight gain, which leads to more testosterone, which leads to ovulatory issues. As it was explained to me many years ago, the ovulatory issues contribute to the problem as well. In simple terms, women with pcos go through the first half of their cycles fine, but the eggs never release from the ovaries. After a while, these mature eggs turn into cysts which - you guessed it - give off testosterone. If you can lose weight, you'll be able to drop the testosterone level, but you cannot lose weight cause the testosterone won't let you. You basically end up chasing your tail.

It took me over 10 years to find a doc who actually knew what pcos was and would do something about it. She put me on metformin and I dropped 40 pounds in two months without changing a thing. Wonder of wonders, my cycles regulated, too.

I've still got a lot of weight to lose, and I went on Phen to even the odds a bit. Women with pcos face an even more uphill climb in order to lose weight, and I wanted all the help I can get. I'm still taking the met, and I will forever if the doc will let me. I also take spironolactone for the excess hair growth, but I cannot say it's made a huge difference.

[moanie77]

I found out about 5 years ago that I have PCOS. I have a Dr. that I really trust and he's an ob/gyn, infertility specialist, and handles high-risk pregnancies. I chose him as my Dr. in 1999 when I was pregnant w/ my daughter (I had miscarried 2x before that point). I ended up having my daughter via c-section because her cord wrapped around her neck.

Before getting pregnant I had never had weight problems, facial hair problems, etc. I am 5'9" and weighed 150 pounds dead on. I was completely happy with that weight as I was a very athletic person. I also figured my chest had to account for a some of it......lol. I wore a consistent size 7 and found that in the summer time I would wear cut-offs over my bikini because my hip bones stuck out too much (sure wish I had THAT PROBLEM again! lol)

Because I was high-risk I was put on bedrest for the first 5-6 months of my pregnancy. During my last trimester my Dr. allowed me to take 1 class at the local college, but it had to be a 2x per week class ~ not a M-F thing. I think he did it mostly for my sanity, as I was going crazy sitting at home.

The day I went into labor I weighed 253 pounds. Ten days after my daughter was born my mother suddenly passed away & I went into a deep depression. The only thing that saved me was my daughter and her father (who is now my husband), because of my daughter I had to get up everyday & take care of her.

In 2002 I went to see my Dr. because I wasn't having regular periods. I would only have 2-3 per year. I weighed 315. The Dr. gave me a medication to take for a week or two (can't remember exactly) but it kick started those periods going. And boy did they start going......lol.

The Dr. also told me that I had the symptoms of PCOS and explained to me that in most cases it is brought on because of a woman being overweight and not the other way around. Yes, once your body wears down enough and PCOS develops you will likely gain weight at a slow & steady pace (fast forward from 2002 @ 315 to 2007 @ 352) and it is difficult to lose the weight, but if you can lose the weight the PCOS almost always corrects itself & dissappears altogether.

Currently I have the almost ever constant bleeding. In the course of a month I will probably bleed very very heavily for about 2 weeks. I spend about another week bleeding more lightly, and I have about 5-7 days a month (and it's never a constant stretch of those 5-7 days ~ I'm lucky if I get a 2-3 day window) where I don't bleed.

I have the every dreded facial hair that loves to grown under my chin and of course where a guy would usually grow his side-burns at. I was them both with avengence and find that this helps me quite a bit as I'm afraid to actually shave it & have it turn into a full-blown beard. I usually have to wax it about every 3-4 weeks.

Of course I ended up with the ever so exciting "happy trail" too......lol. This one I deal with a little better, as it's not noticable to the public. I wax it like 4x per year and that seems to do the trick.

My favorite one though is the WONDERFUL patch of back hair I have aquired in all of this........lol. It is about 7 inches below my hair line located smack dab in the middle (crossways). It's LOVELY to try & attack that one, considering I cannot even reach that portion of my back....lol. The strip is about 4" wide & maybe 1 1/2" tall where the hair grows & I get about 40-60 of the pesky things.

My wonderful 14-year old (she's my cousin that I am in the process of adopting & have had her since she was 7 ~ but that's another story) takes perverse pleasure in waxing it & watching me cringe.......lol. Luckily I only have to endure that one about 3-4 times per year also......lol.

Needless to say that I am ecstatic about Phen. I'm in my 3rd week now & at my 2nd week weigh in I had lost 13 pounds. When I get to my goal weight I will definitely be having laser hair removal done to get rid of the pesky hair.....lol.

[Radine]

these posts are so very interesting and informative! thanks for sharing your knowledge! i also have PCOS, it was almost the last diagnosis...it was like the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for my family doc. i love him and trust him completely, he has helped me thru some hard times. in 1985 pregnant with our second son i developed gestational diabetes(blood sugar levels went back to normal after delivery), my mom and dad both have diabetes... next was the hypothyroidism, i take synthroid for that. 1988 after son number three was born, my monthly cycles went haywire, they were so long & heavy it was scary! gyno tried several different bc pills and other meds, nothing worked, resulting in hysteryctomy at age 36,(as per a gyno) next diagnosis was insulin resistance after a 20 lb weight gain in less than 6 months, started metformin 500 mg twice a day. thankfully the only bad side effect i have is if i take it on an empty stomach, i know the consequences, but dummy me...still happens every once in a while :o

I have always been active, and never really overweight, had stayed about 130-135 for many years! and other than a dr pepper addiction have always eaten healthy. Despite working out 3 to 5 times per week, i was unable to lose even a pound of this weight, matter of fact, i gained more :mad: its really hard when nothing in your closet fits! its very sad and makes you feel outta control! weighing in at 179 lbs in june was when family doc decided to try the phen. he recommend that i try about 1200 calorie diet, exercise (preferrably jogging) at least 6 days a week and continue the thyroid meds, metformin and phen. oh, and in 2004 my mom passed away, i fell into a very dark depression and was taking effexor, just got off those about 2 months ago, that type of antidepressant causes weight gain! of course!!

as of today i have lost only about 16 lbs since june 07' i am really pretty satisfied with it tho, seems like lately i have hit a plateau, but i will not let this get the best of me!!! its not some of the great weight loss as some of the others on this board, but with the health issues i face, i have earned every last lost ounce :D i know i have a ways to go, but as long as i can see some progress i will keep fighting the fight! its amazing that losing just 16 lbs has made painful knees and lower back pain almost non existant!

i am sorry you all have to deal with these issues, but its comforting to know that i am not the only one with these same health issues :rolleyes: and when i want to "waaa waaa" i know you will know what i am feeling and why:p i love this forum and the ladies here are the greatest...thanks to all of you that share your knowledge and lend an ear...have a great weekend;)

[chika]

Ok would like to add my name to the list of those whom have the PCOS monster :o

[chika]

I would like to add my name to the list of PCOS'ers. I am new. :)

[Rachelneeds2lose]

i think i have PCOS as well. My family doc said i may have them since i took a blood test and it was neg for pregnancy. Maybe it is endometreosis, who knows. But anyway... i have always had a problem with loosing weight until phentermine. i am so happy with it but im worriedi may have a big problem with this pelvic pain and random spotting... any suggestions or comments:confused:

[AMANDA77]

I have read all the posts in this fourm.

I looked to see if you have any contact information but you don't. If you ever come back on this site please drop me a message where I can email you.

I have pcos... and I have had it longer than I can remember.
I didn't realize how much it would effect my life when I was diagonised with PCOS, but now being 30years old and being married for the second time with no children and still not getting my periods regularly has been really hard for me. I don't feel like a normal female anymore. I feel like I am going to be coming back on here at 40 still no kids and probably no husband either.
The PCOS has made me into a person I dont want to be. I always feel very agrivated and often fight with my husband for no reasons. I know that it is the hormones,,, but GOD will it ever stop. I take metoformin 500 one a day, I should be taking more but I get so sick when I take it like everyone else. I am going to try to take it more because I am at a point where I feel so lonely and really want to have just one baby. I also am taking phen one a day. I started 2 months ago and have lost only 7 pounds, but its better than nothing.
I would like to know if any other ladies are going through the same thing I am and if we can support each other every step of the way. I would also like to know if anyone went through what I am going through and got pregnant? And if so how did you do it?
I take provera too get my period without it I don't get it at all. Some months I take it and some I don't. I just hate having to take provera just to get my period when everyone is just getting it... Many people on metoformin are getting the period regular but I am not. I don't know what I am doing wrong. But I really need some help.
I wish for everyone in here the best and I wish that if you have been diagnoised like me to do the things you are told to do by the doctor because in the long run you will have a harder time getting pregnant and many other things come along with that.
Good luck everyone!

[aerinl]

hi just thought i would let you know my experience with phenteramine it actually curbed by appetite i didn't want to eat which i thought hey im not eating and have energy so obviously ive got to be losing weight well being on it for a month i actually gained four pounds well i was devestated so i work at a PT clinic and talked with a trainer and they told me since i had PCOS that i had an insulin deficiency which since ive been put on Metformin and with that deficiency me not eating regularly would send my body into a shock and store the food in return making me gain weight i have not since been on them but my conclusion if you have PCOS and taking phentaramine i would also talk to my doc about getting on Metformin to regulate your insulin to keep your body moving slowly and actually been on Metformin for about 2 weeks and lost 4 Lbs so good luck out there!!!

[Mommy2Aaron]

I'm new on the board and have PCOS too, I do take 500mg Metformin for my PCOS daily, I was on 1000MG for my diabeties but my doctor took me off of it for that and left me on some for my PCOS. Its hard having high B/P,PCOS and being a diabetic while trying to loose weight its like i'm trying to win a loosing battle at times but it can be done and I have faith and a very supportive family and doctor and I can't ask for anything more. Well yeah I can but we won't go there today..lol

[Nursy Lori]

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1994. I took BC pills for 5 years to regulate my cycle. My OB/GYN put me on Metformin a couple of years ago to try and regulate them and help me lose weight. All it did was cause me to gain weight, so I stopped taking it. I'm hoping I have more luck with the Phen.

[Motown Girl]

I was diagnosis with PCOS and I just started on the Metformin last week. Whe I was taking it three times a day it would make me extremely sleepy, so the nurse suggested I start with one a day. Also when I was taking it last week it did curve my appetite, but this week its throwing my menstral cycle out of wack. My period is lasting longer. I started Sunday and I'm still on my cycle today, and its Thursday.

I want to ask does it make anyone sleepy?

Please Advise,
Motown

[Trisha B.]

I was diagnosed with PCOS 19 yers ago and managed to concieve two children without the help of fertility drugs. The first one was a fluke and the second one was right after because your body is tricked into a regular cycle for a short time after birth.
I have struggles with the side effects (missed periods, hairy upper lip and chin, weight gain and etc...) for so long that I do not know how much of my weight is PCOS or just being fat!

I have had Gastric Bypass 4 years ago and got down to 155 lbs for a short time. I did not stop my emotional eating therefore I know weigh 193.5 lbs again.
I am loving the feeling of being on the Phen but am sick and tired of stuggling my whole adult life ( and most of my childhhod) with my weight.

I really do believe that there are some people that can eat more calories and do less excerise then some and not have to worry about their weight. Unfortunatley I am NOT one of them.

I do not think tha DR's have made much strides in treating PCOS but if someone out there knows something that I do not, please share the knowledge!!! Any insight would be much appreciated.

Good luck to all in this journey...

[RChopkoj]

Well here is my story. I have been diagnosed since age 12 with hypothyroidism, I have been big my wholle life except for 3 years in High school when I lost weight thru weight watchers. My cycles have always been extremely irregular and I was always told it was because of my thyroid. That is until 5 years ago when a endroconoligst diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on Metformin then Spironolactone. I never had a problem getting pregnant unless you think it being to easy is an issue and I do not have excessive hair growth on my face etc. I never have had cyst on my ovaries either. I had a hard time agreeing with this doc because I never had heard of this before, she insited Thyroid problems don't mess with your cycle. I feel she was looking for a diognosis to throw at yet another over weight patient. I took the Metformin, went to weight watcher joined a gym worked my butt off and only lost 30 pound in 2 years. The spirinolactone had me leeding all the time (at least that is what my gynocoligist came up with after various test to see why I started spotting two weeks a month in addition tomy period) So seeing that I had no extra hair growth I stopped taking the Spiro. I continuied with the Metformin though, now fast forward to two years ago my weight lose stopped I felt sick all the time nauseas, sudden bouts of diarrea and my thyroid level keeps changing but not for the better. I never feel hungry and only eat for routine, for instance I have to cook for my family so I eat with them even though I don't feel hungry at all, I usually jsut eat 1 meal a day. Now forward to this year, in October I was rushed to the Er for sevre pain in my lower right abdomine, I was tested over and over while tere and once the Doc heard I was Diagnosed with PCOS he said "well you ruptured a cyst" even though I told them I had no cyst. Two days after I started bleeding irregulary again and went to the GYN figuring that if a cyst had ruptured this might be an issue. Well he looked me and the records from the hospital over and said there is no way I ruptured a cyst and if they had looked at there results in the hospital then the Docs at the hospital they would have seen that diagnosis was wrong. His answer it was a virus. QUACK!!! It was the worse pain I ever had and I have had three c-sections. I was very angry about this and went to my regular doc explained the whole thing and what does he say it wasn't a cyst but a folical that burst the cause ? He says the Metformin is causing me to produce too many eggs and that this will happen again. My solution so I won't ever have this horrible experience again? Stop the Metformin. Meanwhile though I was seeing a nutritionist who said my Metabloism is all screwed up (DUH !!!) and I never feel hungry cause my body has gotten used to not eating and that I cant' lose weight because my body thinks it is starving, at the same time as all this though my thyroid meds have been increased up to 375 micrograms the highest I have ever had and the doc can't get the meds right. I am sick to death of being overweight but I feel no doc is on my side, I am just another fat lazy person that doesn't know any better with a minimal IQ according to them. I am sick of being put on all kinds of meds that give me awful side effects and don't help the weight loss but throw my system into all kinds of trouble. My doc wants to put me on a deit pill now but I have a fear of taking something that is gonna have me in the bathroom all the time. Does Anyone have any advise? Thanks

Hi toobig,
I have PCOS as well. I was diagnosed when I was 18 and I went on metformin. It did make me sick when I first started taking it but I found that if you eat food with it, it will help and sickness goes away over time. I take 2,550 mg (850mg 3x day) a day of metformin and I used to be heavier than this but with exercise and eating healthy I lost 30 pounds.
I read your post and wanted to respond. First, do not despair. You are not fat and lazy with a minmal IQ. You are reaching out for support and trying to better your situation. There is hope. Have you read jacys post about PCOS earlier in this thread? I would like to highly recommend that post for it is extremely informative. I think that you should see a new endocrinologist for your hypothyrodism and PCOS. I see one in Syracuse as well and a holistic doc and am very happy with them. If I may ask, which docs are you seeing now for your PCOS and thyroid? I have been to many and could perhaps help with a recommendation for Syracuse, NY if you would like.
I don't think that you should stop your metformin, but perhaps talk to someone that specializes in PCOS about lowering the dose so you won't be in pain. I know I am not a doctor. However, it is very important to eat enough so that your metabolism does not get messed up. Maybe that's why your thyroid and metabolism are having problems. All these are connected. I would recommend researching PCOS (google it) and find out as much as you can about hypothyrodism through research as well. I also know from my doc that your that your thyroid has a huge part in how your body manages weight. However, it is essential to eat properly and to eat enough calories spread out during the day. I think you should ask your nutritionist about that. May I ask, are you still exercising? That helps metabolism as well and would of course help with weight loss. I think it is important to find an exercise that we each like and make sure to do it regularly. I like yoga and running and dancing.
I looked up PCOS on a medical website and it said that a symptom of PCOS could be mild to severe lower pelvic pain.
I think that you should find a doctor that, again, specializes in endocrinology/PCOS and go from there. You might consider starting fresh with just one medical doctor that supports you and do your research and also as jacy said a naturopath to help you holistically in conjunction with the metformin. Then you would not have to worry about taking the wrong meds or too many meds or bad side effects from them, for there would be fewer meds to deal with if you let no one but a really good endocrinologist and holistic doc treat you. I think sometimes we have to look at things holistically AND medically.
Remember, there is hope. You will be ok. I have been there and felt out of control and not known what doc was right and why what med was doing which effect. (No offense) But I think we need to take control of our destiny and educate ourselves through a LOT of research and not be afraid to ask for second opinions. I kept looking until I found a good PCOS doc to treat me and additionally found another holistic one to learn more about my body and why all this was happening. Feel free to post feedback or PM me and we can chat.
God Bless,
RChopkoj

[disneybride]

WOW I MUST SAY THAT AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THIS AND HEARING WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY IT IS MAKING ME WONDER IF I SHOULD BE TESTED FOR IT. I MEAN I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I WAS YOUNG BUT NOW IT IS WORSE THAT EVER AND I HAVE THE FACIAL HAIR THING GOING ON ALONG WITH SKIN TAGS. BUT HOW DO THEY TEST SOMEONE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE IT? IS IT JUST BLOOD TESTS OR ULTRASOUNDS? AND IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH IT DO YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THAT MEDICATION FOREVER?? I'M VERY INTERESTED...

[bookdiva]

Ditto. Diagnoed in 1991, had my one and only child in 1992, hysterectomy in 1995, Insulin Ressistant in 1999. Doc is checking my thyroid, again. It has always been low but not low enough. She says if it is not hypothyroidism we can try phentermine. Will find out in a couple of days.

[leigh981]

i too have PCOS and i hate that it controls my whole life. i've been married for almost 2 years, and we have been trying to get pregnant since we got married, and b/c of the PCOS. i take 500mg of metformin 2x daily and on day 5-9 of my cycle of take clomid. i was having to take provera to start my period, it is so discouraging! all i want to do is give my husband a family, and i feel i can't provide that for him.

this past month i took some time off trying to conceive to try and lose some weight, hoping that would help, thats when i started phen. i don't want to be on phen when i get pregnant, i don't know if there is any side effects when getting pregnant on phen, but i know i have a higher chance of miscarrage b/c of the PCOS and i don't want to add to that. i think a miscarrage would distroy me...and my husband.

well this month i got my period on my own, without the provera. this suprised me b/c i thought the phen would mess with my period. i have only lost 11 lbs so far, just about 5% of my weight. i don't know if i want to stop phen and try to conceive this month, or if i want to just ignore this new cycle and continue w/ the phen.

i hate how this just consumes my every thought and action. i have friends younger than me, who are getting pregnant left and right...if i have to hear "so when are you going to start a family" one more time, i think i'll scream.

[syl2008]

I also have PCOS.. I have had it since i was a teenager. I am 38 years old with 2 kids.. I conceived my son quickly after getting of the pill in 1998... my daughter was another story.. i had 2 miscarriages b4 her.. I too was on metformin.. but it did not help me.. PCOS has so many stages.. some can conceive, others can't, some are able to menstruate others can't, some lose weight others don't... bc i had 2 miscarriages i started doing lots of research, i found that i was able to conceive but not hold the baby... once i new i was pregnant.. (very in tune with my body) i quickly started taken progesterone inserts for the first trimester.. this helps your progesterone levels... progesterone is the hormone that helps you carry a baby.. due to my lack of menstruation i don't produce much progesterone.. anyways... by my second trimester my progesterone levels were high enough to hold... also when u become pregnant ur placenta starts creating more of this hormone.. anyways..i had my daughter.... 8 pounds 6 ounces... a year after she was born.. i started getting lower abdominal pain.. not knowing what this was.. i went to the ob for an ultrasounds.. she told me i had PCOS and nothing else was abnormal.. i did more research finding that natural progesterone cream help alleviate the pain... so a month ago i started the natural progesterone cream.. which has helped me with my pain.. well just wanted to post and share my story so woman who are in somewhat my situation that are able to conceive but not hold a baby.. can talk to their obgyn about progesterone insert... I thank the LORD each day for my kids... Good Luck.. oh i have been on phen for 1 week and have lost 6 pounds... about 50 to go..

[YANIE]

Hello ladies

Lots of dialogue on this topic! I have been diagnosed with PCOS since 2007. I was prescribed Metformin then, I lost weight,b ut stopped taking it because it made feel funny. Well I gained the weight back and then some. This year I started phen in May, lost 13. June started taking Avandia(diabetic med that regulates blood sugar, due to being insulin resistant) My insurance did not cover this med. My doctor placed me back on Met mid June and now, I have lost double the weight. July I started taking spirolactone to regulate hormone levels. Spirolactone, is similar to a water pill. As of today, I am 34 lbs lighter. This is the most weight I have ever lost! PCOS, is not a pleasure, but it is manageable. Just eat carbs that are easy for the body to break down. Try not to have a high carb diet. As a matter of fact, I read where Metformin, gives us an aversion to particular foods....like sweets!

[jrk84]

I found out I had PCOS 3 months ago. Metformin doesnt do anything for me in the weight dept. I have actually put on weight since I've been on it.
I have taken Phentermine back in Oct - January of last year and in those 4 months I lost 35 pounds. That was before I new I have PCOS. Anyways I have been trying to get pregnant for the last year. My dr. started me on provera to start a period and then Clomind to make me ovulate. I did the meds for 3 months and still not pregnant but still putting on weight slowly. So I'm taking off all the meds to just chill cuz I am soooo stressed out from constantly getting negative pregnancy test every month. I cant take much more.
So I was wondering if I get back on Phentermine to help me loos some more weight while I'm not trying to get pregnant will it hurt to keep taking the Metformin at the same time?

[happycamper2002]

I also have PCOS. I stopped the Met a couple weeks before starting Phen but as always you should check with your doctor. The good news...sometimes losing weight is enough to start menstruating normally and yes, getting pregnant! Phen might be just the help you need!
I realize this is not a PCOS site but please check out ChiralBalance.com and Google the clinical trials done on d-chiro-inositol. I took the dchiro from chiral balance after not having a period for 9 months...two weeks later I had one! I've lost weight,, the sever cramping has subsided, my mood is up and I'm ready to try and get pregnant. Phen is great for the weight loss but d-chiro-inositol can help most women with all the other side effects of PCOS including infertility. Good luck!

[happycamper2002]

Please read the studies on d-chiro-inositol on women with PCOS. The pharmacuetical companies won't produce it becuase there is not enough money in it...there's only one place I know of to buy it. It's very expensive but in my case, very effective. I get reg. periods for the first time in my life, I lost weight, I felt better, happier..more energy and am now going for the gold (trying to get pregnant). I am confident for the first time in my life that I can be "normal" thanks to D-chiro-inositol.
If the price of the supplements scares you, you can eat buckwheat farinetta (whole buckwheat flour) by making muffins and pancakes. It's the food with the most d-chiro but you have to eat a lot of it to get the same mg as the pills. Good luck!

[happycamper2002]

My doctor said it's like putting a puzzle together. Your doctor will review your mentruation history for irregularity, probably suggest a pelvic ultrasound to look for cysts . I was nervous about the ultrasound but it was a piece of cake! The doctor will also want to talk about any history of depression, abnormal body hair growth and possible thinning hair on your head. After discussing your diet and amount of excercise, a good doctor will piece it all together and let you know if you have PCOS or not. Another way they diagnose is by treating for it (with Metformin or hormone therapy) and if it works, there ya go. I've posted this a couple times already but d-chiro-inositol is the best treatment for PCOS with no side effects like prescription drugs.

[kellyxmarie]

I have been diagnosed with PCOS since I was 17, am now 24. When I was first diagnosed I was on Metformin for about 2 - 3 years. It did even out my testosterone levels and helped with the loss of hair. I went off of it for a long time and my doctor gave me a prescription for it back in September, I started it some time in November and was on it for about 2-3 weeks. I was tired of the bathroom problems so I came off of it. I just went back the 29th and asked him to prescribe me Phen. He said he only wanted me on it short term, so I have to go see him 1/27. I just started the Phen today (1/1) and I'm hoping it will work. I'm not sure if I will conjoin it with the the Met or not.

[ntr_lovr]

So, did you know when they say on the BC commercials that bc increases the risk for blood clots, they aren't kidding? I had NO IDEA how much the risk for blood clot is increased.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia, and my family doc, who was awesome, said that I may grow out of it, or it may become more complicated when I get older.

When I was 19, I went to my doc, who was different, since I was at the university and my family doc was no longer around. I was suffering from severe periods, with cramping and sickness that was incapacitating for several days at a time. My new doc (at the university clinic) recommended putting me on depo-provira, the 3-month shot. I was on that for 3 years, and in that time I gained 80 lbs. The only response I got from the doc was to stop eating so much junk. That didn't go over well with me.

When I was 23/24, I found a new doc, ob-gyn, who said I had PCOS, and she put me on a metformin / bc combo. As to losing weight, I managed to lose about 15 lbs that first year, but then my body stopped, it wouldn't go any further. After 3 years of watching my struggle on my own, she sent me to a bariatric weighloss clinic. The weightloss clinic put me on an ultra-low calorie diet that was way too expensive. After about 3 months, I had only lost 7lbs, my body was rejecting this method, just as it had rejected every other starndard method of weightloss. I continued taking the metformin throughout, but it made me so sick, when I was on the ultra-low calorie diet (definitely not a recommended combo).

Shortly thereafter, my migraines started getting really bad. They actually were testing me for MS, because of the damage the migraine did to my brain tissue. So, I went through a whole series of trials to find the "right" migraine meds. At this point, I was so focused on the migraines, that the weight loss went by the wayside. I could only handle one health crisis at a time. I finally found that topamax had the least amount of negative side effects, after about 5 or 6 different meds. I've been on it ever since, and take it religiously.

So, at that point, I was taking bc, metformin, and topamax. Then I busted up my knee for the first time last spring (2008). I was a little slow on the recovery, and despite my meds, packed on another 25 lbs, because I was extremely limited on what I could do. I was getting back into the swing of things again in the fall 2008, only to reinjure my knee over christmas. The doc sent me to a surgeon, and the surgeon told me that she would give me some in-home pt to see if the swelling would go down, to avoid surgery. After a month with no progress, it seemed that surgery was imminent.

As I got ready for surgery, she asked if I was on bc. Yes. Ok, so, they decided I needed an aircast that would pump air and put pressure on the knee after surgery, to prevent clotting. No one said I should go off the bc, so, I didn't. I was working really hard to stick to taking my pills like I need to. Since the surgery wasn't "that big of a deal" they talked about the potential of a blood clot, but no one told me what to look for.

Ten days after surgery, I was admitted to the hospital ER in an almost dead state. I was put in the ICU upon being admitted to the hospital, because they didn't know if I was going to make it. What they could only define as a "fluke", almost killed me. By the time I was admitted to the ER, my lips and mouth were blue, my finger nails were blue, and I couldn't move without being short of breath. I had somehow developed a DVT (blood clot) that was 14 inches long in my leg, and bilateral PE (clotting in both lungs). I was on oxygen, and in so much pain that they were shooting me up with morphine every 2 hours.

The "fluke" that they told me about, they also called "perfect storm" like conditions. Because I was overweight and on birth control, my risk was already elevated. It didn't help that I wasn't moving around as much as I needed to be, because of my bum knee. The surgery was the tipping point.

So, upon being released from the hospital, I've been back to my doc, and part of my PCOS therapy the bc is gone, for good. From what I've been reading from some of the old posts, good ridence. But that is what I was told, 6 years ago about how it was supposed to be treated. I don't necessarily get my monthy "visitor" in any regular basis. I mean, before surgery, I had had 1 visit in a year's time. And they had me on bc to force me to have it more regularly, which didn't work very well. I suspect the stress of the hospitalization, and the new drugs in my system has changed it up a bit, because I've been getting one about every 5-6 weeks. But, wow, I'm back to my 19-year-old days. I'm in so much pain when it comes. The only thing missing is the migraine (thankfully).

So, I've seen some posts with topamax, metphormin, and phen... and it seems that these don't seem to interact poorly with each other? (depending on the person, I guess.) today is my first day on phen. I also have another list of drugs that I'm on because of my clots/surgery, which includes coumadin and a water pill to reduce the swelling from the leg where the clot is.

A part of me is feeling over drugged, but at least three of those listed above are essential for my daily function. The prospect of almost not making it to my 30th birthday (this past sunday) really scared the bejesus out of me. At this point, I'm admitting I need help, and can't do it on my own. I've thought for the last 10 years I could do it on my own, but when I tipped the scale on 300 after surgery, I was not a happy camper.

And now, its just as bad. I mean, I'm slowly getting my walking ability back, but I don't have my lung capacity back. My doc said it could be at least a year before I'm back to where I was in terms of being able to exercise. Despite being overweight, I've always been in decent shape. I used to play soccer, do karate, and go hiking/biking all of the time. Now I can't walk 2 blocks without getting winded. This is all because of the PE not my own laziness, but it doesn't help with morale. I mean, even up until I went into surgery, I was still going to the gym and doing laps in the pool several times a week, since it was about the only thing I could do without lots of pain. Now, I have to stop and catch my breath after every second lap, which is better than what it was at first (every length).

The coumadin complicates things, because of the limitations on diet.

If there is anyone out there who's had similar struggles, I'd love to hear more about the progress you've made. Reading through this forum has given me a little more hope today.

Unfortunately, I won't get to utilize remedies such as Saw palmetto, because it would react poorly with the coumadin...

[LynW]

Just wanted to say that I also have PCOS, take Metformin and just started Phen (also hypothyroid and endometriosis)! I'm actually hopeful for the first time. I'm an administrator on a website for PCOS and if you want to learn more here's the addy

www.pcosworldwidesupport.com

It's a great site and it looks like there are a few women on here with lots of questions. Up to 10% of women have this so the more we get the word out the better! If you're diagnosed with PCOS you are at a greater risk for many types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more. Let's all lose this damn weight and get healthier!