Turtles and PCOS

vinesqueen · March 23, 2006

Questions, questions, questions. That's all I have. I have no answers, but I'm looking for them with my questions, questions and more questions.

How many Turtles have been diagnosed with PCOS?

How many Rabbits and Nomies have been diagnosed with PCOS?

Is there a connection between being a Turtle and having this diagnosis?

A few days ago, the question of whether PCOS was a red herring for Cushing's was raised on that board. And it's got me thinking and asking more questions.

In many cases, a diagnosis of PCOS is made by looking at a list of symptoms and if you have X% of the symptoms, you are told you have PCOS wether or not you actually have the "string of pearls," the string of cysts on your overies.

So many of the symptoms of Cushing's and PCOS overlap, with additonal symptoms for Cushing's. I have to wonder how many women who've been diagnosed with PCOS have Cushing's.

maudeispam · March 23, 2006

I have the lovely string of pearls (PCOS) and am a slow loser. It's just not fair!

JulyBandster · March 23, 2006

I am a turtle, and I have PCOS! I'm taking 1500 mgs of Metformin and Yasmin Birth control each day to try and control symptoms.

banded_for_life · March 23, 2006

I have many of the symptoms of PCOS, but have never had it official diagnosed.

Tricia K. · March 23, 2006

I was diagnosed with PCOS ~5 years ago but I do not have cysts on my ovaries. I suppose I'm considered a Rabbit though.

There's a way to diagnose even if you don't have cysts on your ovaries. I was given a pill that is supposed to shut down a particlar gland and fasted until blood was was drawn the next morning. If that particular gland was still producing, it proved that I have PCOS. Well, my fasting test did show that the gland was still producing.

Midnightwitc6 · March 23, 2006

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 yrs ago, with failed attempts at the evil metformin/glucophage. I simply cant take it.

Remains to be seen if I'm a turtle or a rabbit, I have a funny feeling I'm gonna be a turtle.

kimalicious · March 24, 2006

I was diagnosed with PCOS and have the lovely pearls you speak of, but seems to be less of them as I lose the weight. I am also on Yasmin to control periods and of course not not have kiddos yet. If I am doing the right thing I lose and if I'm not following calories in calories out I don't lose. It has never actually affected my weight loss. I do that to myself with caloric intake! Ha! When I work at it and do the right things though I can drop pretty quickly! I was also tested for cushings and I'm sure you remember how the endocrinologist told me that people that have cushings lead a very uncomfortable life and he basically treated me like an idiot for my pcp sending me there because he told me if I had cushings I would definately know. Hopefully he was just a bad doc, I'm just glad I will never have to see an endo doc again if I can keep losing and become healthy.

lianna · March 24, 2006

I have PCOS (and insulin resistance) and take Metformin. I am not a rabbit by any means, but I am losing fairly steadily. I was afraid I was going to be a turtle but the loss has been very consistent. I am almost 5 months out and almost 30 pounds down so I am averaging a pound and a half a week. So I guess I am in between turtle and rabbit.

doubletrouble · March 24, 2006

I have PCOS and take glucophage and aldactone. My doctor did all the cushings test about two months ago because I was losing my hair in such a large amount. Luckly everything came back OK. As far as a turtle before my band I was absolutely a turtle. I have been banded for seven months and I have lost a little over 80 pounds. But PCOS sucks, I had two miscarriages before they diagnosed me with the PCOS. They fixed my last pregnancy with progesterone during the first trimester and everything was fine. I have three year old twins now (hence the doubletrouble) I feel truley blessed. Vinesqueen have you been diagnosised with cushings or are they just thinking that you might have it. My doctor said usually people with cushings are pretty sick. It is also mostly caused by a pituitary tumor that is non cancerous and once they tumor is removed that people have avery rapid and huge weight loss.

Marimaru · March 24, 2006

How do you get diagnosed with PCOS? And how do they check for the cysts?

Thanks!

Tricia K. · March 24, 2006

How do you get diagnosed with PCOS? And how do they check for the cysts?
Thanks!

Please see my earlier post about diagnosing PCOS. Also, an ultrasound was done on me to see if I had cysts on my ovaries. Thankfully, I don't have any. If you think you may have it, I suggest making an appointment to see an endocrinologist.

CCBSTX · March 24, 2006

I had PCOS pre-banding. One of my symptoms was, of course, was irregular or non-existent periods (mine was mostly non-existent). Now, after banding, I have monthly periods (every 4-5 weeks) with no medication intervention?? Hmmm

I suppose I am a rabbit.

Also, someone said they were a turtle and "lost 80 pounds in 7 months." That is a RABBIT in my book????

Shawn

JanetC · March 24, 2006

I've been diagnosed with PCOS via an ultrasound -- my doc saw the lovely pearls in my ovaries. I went to read up on it & had many of the symptoms on the list, except for the missed periods (mine are regular, long & VERY heavy).

When I read about Crystal's possible Cushing's, I went & read up on it. And of course I had many of the symptoms on the list... scared me to death!

So far I seem to be losing (about a pound a week), so I think I'm going to stick my head in the sand & say I have PCOS without Cushing's.

I hope they can clarify your diagnosis soon, VQ! You deserve an answer!

Rockin' Robyn · March 24, 2006

I was diagnosed with PCOS 14 years ago. All the typical symptoms....string of pearls, painful cysts, non-existent periods for years at a time, and 8 years of infertility treatments.

I was on Glucaphage before when I was trying to get pregnant many years ago. Never really helped with weight loss. However, since my banding I was again not having periods, and at one point felt I was going to start one (retaining Fluid like crazy...gained 8 pounds in a week with no change in eating habits)...but never did for the next 2 months. I asked my doc to start me back on glucaphage to jump start my period (since I can't take birth control pills), and the glucaphage worked for me within days. A week later I had taken off the 8 pounds and then some. I am a rabbit and have had good success with the band.