Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome ...

[Candle 11]

Did you have hyperandrogenism induced hirsutism?

I've been doing some reading and I definitely have a slight (luckily!) case.

In the past I did the laser hair removal on my upper lip and chin and it worked great but the past few months I've had to wax again.

Did you notice a difference after weight loss?

[if this is too sensative of a topic you can PM me instead.]

[anonemouse 1]

I definitely have hyperandrogenism induced hirsutism. My PCOS is rather severe. I literally have to shave at least once a day and my stomach has as much hair on it as my brother's does. I am hoping there will be a difference after surgery, but from what I have heard from other people, there isn't much of one. Having the surgery might prevent additional hair being stimulated to grow, but the hair that has already been stimulated will probably continue to grow.

[TracyinKS 7]

I have PCOS and my biggest symptom is period irregularity and infertility (I even underwent fertility treatment in my early 20's) charting, pills, shots... double and triple amounts of pergonal) NOTHING worked.... until I found low carbing in 1999......... if I eat at induction levels my periods will straighten right up... I had 3 misscarriages in 99-2001, then I went into depression.... then i got a divorce.... then I met the rebound guy.. then I started low carbing again.. then I got pregnant again... and now I have a 3.5 year old son... and thank god the rebound guy is gone

I bleach my upper lip hair, but I've never had any problem with other areas.

[Yvonne 0]

Hi,

I've got PCOS too - was hoping it would get better with the weightloss :phanvan mmm - I think I'll invest in a laser hair removal machine - found one that scans the area and can remove about 20 at a time - better than farting about and trying to zap them one by one!

Do any of you ladies also have really greasy skin and acne? I've been prescribed antibiotics and the acne has all but gone but my skin is greasy still - I get shiny only an hour after washing/cleansing!

Take care,

Yvonne

x

[lianna 3]

Luckily the hair on my face is blond, but I have a lot of peach fuzz on my cheeks that waxing will take care of for months (and it probably isnt noticable to anyone else anyway, it just bugs me). The bane of my existence is the darker coarser ones that sprout on my chin!!! I had electrolysis done once (15 years ago) and never went again....it was painful and uneffective. I would love the laser removal, and have been considering having that done. My morning makeup routine includes spending a minute tweezing anything I can see or feel. Unfortunately for me, the weight loss has made no difference in the amount or rate of growth on them. My periods are like clockwork now though.

[*susan* 1,709]

Ugh, the dreaded Hair growth. I have PCOS, and while losing weight has helped some of my symptoms, I have not noticed any change in my hair growth whatsoever. I am still eternally waxing my upper lip and shaving my chin. I absolutely hate that and have been considering looking into laser hair removal myself lately.

[anonemouse 1]

Do any of you ladies also have really greasy skin and acne? I've been prescribed antibiotics and the acne has all but gone but my skin is greasy still - I get shiny only an hour after washing/cleansing!

I do. I can't even wear make-up because it is all melted off in an hour or two.

[coltonwade 27]

I too have PCOS and was hoping the band will help my symptoms. ( im not banded yet , hopefully next month) I do not have periods unless they are induced my provera. I cant take the pill because of Migraines. The pill makes my migraines MUCH Worse.

I was wanting to do the laser hair removal too, I was tryign to decide if i should do it now, start it now or wait until after surgery . It sounds like though surgery doesnt help the hair problem . I too have the nasty hair on my stomach ,the line of dark hair woman get when they are pregnant , mine never went away . Also I have "peach fuzz" On my breasts. Some of the hair is dark. My biggest problem from PCOS by far ( other than weight) is the hair. I get waxed every week on my chin. I have a WONDERFUL Aesthetician that does my waxing and if i have those hairs that pop up on my chin that are dark but do not need a full wax, she will sit there for 20 mintues and pluck every single one of those suckers. I have to go in for a eyebrow, chin and lip wax every 2 weeks then in between that i go in so they can "Pluck" me basically lol. It costs me about as much as it would to just start the laser treatment. So i need to do that.

UGHH Lovely PCOS .

For those of you who have the pcos , how has your weight LOSS been with the band ?

Mindy

[anonemouse 1]

I forgot to add in my last post that I also have bad acne. I only found out I had PCOS after I had been on Accutane for 6 months. If you don't know, Accutane is a very serious acne drug that is super expensive (1st month cost me $1200 out of pocket) and has a lot of really bad possible side effects, like liver damage, suicide attempts, etc. It is usually only used as the very last resort. Unfortunately, the Accutane didn't work, other than getting rid of the worst of my cystic acne. I even had to take antibiotics while I was on it, since I would have flair-ups that the Accutane couldn't handle.

I hadn't been seeing a gynecologist beforehand, and I started seeing one when I missed 3 periods in a row, about 6 months after I stopped taking the Accutane. You have no idea how pissed off I was at the doctor who prescribed it to me for failing to diagnose me with PCOS, since my OB/GYN later told me that standard procedure for someone who fails to respond to Accutane is to check for metabolic and hormone problems.

[Candle 11]

I am hoping there will be a difference after surgery, but from what I have heard from other people, there isn't much of one. Having the surgery might prevent additional hair being stimulated to grow, but the hair that has already been stimulated will probably continue to grow.

I would be ok with that. When I did the laser, it worked really well. They said it gets rid of about 70-80% of the dark hairs - I think it was a little less for me but still very effective. It just bugs me that I spent all that money and I have new hair growing in now. If that stopped, I'd be ok with spending the money to do the laser again.

I did like 3 sessions of electrolosis before the laser - NEVER! AGAIN!

[coltonwade 27]

You have no idea how pissed off I was at the doctor who prescribed it to me for failing to diagnose me with PCOS, since my OB/GYN later told me that standard procedure for someone who fails to respond to Accutane is to check for metabolic and hormone problems.

I have learned that many docs do not even " believe " in PCOS . Espically male docs, they tend to over look it. It wasnt until i TOLD my doc " Im pretty sure I have PCOS " HIS (I now have a female doc) response was " What makes you think that " He was very condisending . After I told him my symtpoms he said " well I guess you could have it if you buy into that theory "

Needless to say I switched docs .

Some docs just do not either think to look at PCOS or dont want to . I think its better now than it was 10 yrs ago .

Mindy

[coltonwade 27]

I would be ok with that. When I did the laser, it worked really well. They said it gets rid of about 70-80% of the dark hairs - I think it was a little less for me but still very effective. It just bugs me that I spent all that money and I have new hair growing in now. If that stopped, I'd be ok with spending the money to do the laser again.

I did like 3 sessions of electrolosis before the laser - NEVER! AGAIN!

I would be ok with the slower Hair growth too .

Here is a tip though . Many people have told me If you have PCOS and get laser hair removal DO NOT Tell them you have it. If you do they wont gurantee the hair removal and you will have to keep paying when new hair pops up . From others with PCOS I have heard laser does work but it requires more treaments than "normal" So Just FYI .

Mindy

[leighhoffman 0]

I have lost my weight and I stil have to wax. My PCOS gone into remission though. I can tell you that great news. I am 4 months pregnant. Surprise Surprise!

[coltonwade 27]

I was lucky and never had any acne or fertility issues. But as I sit here tonight and try to pluck my "Noticeable" Hairs on my chin and my neck I told my husband "I HAVE HAD IT , im going to look into laser treatments Monday" I cant take this anymore. Sometimes I feel like people think im a man lol

Mindy

[Shesha 1]

Not to go all Jessica Simpson on you, but....

A friend of mine used proactive for her acne and it really worked. It wasn't real bad though. it might be worth a try.