After blood tests and a transvaginal ultrasound, I have been diagnosed with poly cystic ovary syndrome. The GP has recommended I start the contraceptive pill and lose weight.
I am worried. A little research says it increases the risk of type two diabetes. I am already at risk because of my weight and the fact that I take olanzapine. I don't want diabetes.
Anyone else have this? How does it affect you?
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
My partner has PCOS, underactive thyroid [once sufficiently medicated, this is not a barrier to losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight] and has been on olanzapine and other weight gaining anti-psychotics in the past. She lost weight from morbidy obesity to now a healthy BMI with Slimming world and is on the contraceptive pill to regulate periods/hormones. Her risk of diabetes is high too as it runs in her family at abnormally young ages, and because she is on quetiapine.
As far as I understand it the medication risk factor increase is a lot smaller than the weight risk factor. I believe there is a little bit of debate on the chicken or the egg relationship of weight and PCOS, some people feel PCOS is worsened by weight, and some people believe weight is gained because of PCOS, the reality is probably that both are in play.
Some people have very little problems with their PCOS, I don't know why that is, or what makes a bad case and a relatively unsymptomatic case but the symptoms associated with PCOS are only treated if they occur.
Losing weight is probably the best thing you can do for both diabetes risk and PCOS. It just means you need to eat healthily and be screened for diabetes regularly. Ask your GP how often he would like you to be tested, but I would guess at something like once a year given the medication you are on.
I imagine part of the increased risk of type 2 diabetes is because PCOS is often associated with weight gain/difficulty losing weight, I think. A friend of mine has PCOS and though she was, for a long time, quite overweight, she made a conscious effort a few years ago to lose a lot of weight, and is now a healthy-ish weight.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
If you don't mind me asking, how is Slimming World? I've considered it, but worry about the whole being weighed in front of people thing. I do need to lose weight, even more so now.
Just the pill, Emmabob. She said that I will probably need a referral elsewhere if I want to conceive, but that's it. She was a stressed locum running an hour late though, so she may not have been the best person to speak to.
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
A friend of mine went to SW and lost an enormous amount of weight over just 9 months. She also had the support of the GP-gym-program thing (though only for the first 12 weeks and then she had to pay). I went to one session with her, and frankly it seemed too much hard work (like, you'd need to plan your meals in advance, you couldn't eat whimsically). But then, my friend made it work with two tiny babies. At most things (slimming world, weight watchers) you can ask not to be weighed in front of people, I think.
It doesn't matter where you come from; it matters where you go.
No-one gets remembered for the things they didn't do.
We won't all be here this time next year,
so while you can take a picture of us.
We're definitely going to hell,
but we'll have all the best stories to tell.
The cause of PCOS is not totally clear, but one factor that is thought to play a part is insulin resistance, which is why there might be a slight increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Some women with PCOS are treated with Metformin which is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.
But remember there are other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and being overweight from PCOS and/or medication doesn't automatically mean you will get type 2 diabetes.
There has been a bit of a debate as to whether I have it or not - one GP said yes, whilst another said no so I'm not too sure where I stand. But I understand your worries and your struggles, particularly with weight loss.
I too have PCOS. I was taking yasmin for my symptoms which worked brilliantly and I lost a lot of weight that I'd struggled to lose. However, it made my blood pressure dangerously high so I was taken off it and referred to an endocrinologist.
I was then pprescribed metformin, which is actually a drug for type 2 diabetes but works well with PCOS. Not sure why? I don't think its licensed for use in PCOS but it is being used more and more. Both my sister and I are taking it for PCOS.
Whilst I was between medication, I joined slimming world and found it IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. When I went onto metformin, I was losing weight quite quickly through slimming world.
Metformin isn't exclusively used for diabetes. I have known people being prescribed it for the side effects of high blood sugars from other medications and as an aid to loosing weight when on medications that make it harder to lose weight.
Slimming world is in my opinion really good. But of course it wont be for everyone. As for being weighed in front of people, you're not, you are weighed a couple of metres away from the rest of the group who are lined up and they cannot see your weight on the table, its flat and the screen is such that you can only see it if you are veiwing from above. The person who reads your weight will not tell you your weight [you can see it], they will just tell you 2lb off or 2lb on etc, and then give you your card back. Other people there are really respectful and give you space.
Thanks everyone. I've now been referred to gynaecology by the inpatient psychiatrist, as she was less than impressed with the GP's response. Does anyone know what to expect from a gynaecology appointment? Something needs to change. I've been bleeding since May 11th with no let up. It's not heavy all the time, but it's there and I'm a bit fed up now.
Can't SW when inpatient, but will definitely give it a go when I'm out. Thanks. :)
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
I've been seen a lot by gynaecology and I'm glad your Doctor in IP has put through a referral.
There is a lot of different things gynae can do and as they are specialists, will have a lot more knowledge than your GP. Initially I think an appointment will be to discuss your symptoms and then hopefully they will look at the best way to manage them - which might be medication, certain types of contraceptive, weight loss [as you mentioned previously] and so on.
I had the mirena coil put in for my gynae problems and it helped me a lot which nobody except gynae had considered so although I'm not saying that's what they'll suggest for you, it just shows how they do know of more things!
I've had an appointment through for 2nd October, so not too far away really. Funny thing is, after three horrendous days where I was having to change a super tampon and a pad every two hours, my period stopped on 8th September. I guess still going to gynea is a good idea? I don't want to waste their time, but at the same time I don't want to have a repeat of the past four months.
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
My appointment is tomorrow. Part of me is glad, because my period came back after ten days and hasn't gone again. Part of me is so, so nervous. Good vibes welcome. :)
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
