PCOS/ENDO and weight loss

[Branwen]

It is hard to write this as it feels like about everything that can be wrong is wrong with me and after 3+ years of trying I finally dared to get a referal sorted this January, but boy did that not go well...

First things first, I already knew I had Endometriosis and told my husband as soon as we met, because, even though it might all be fine, it could influence my ability to have kids. And as having kids is somehting I have wanted my entire life it had been a tough diagnosis for me.

We started trying and after 8 months I finally fell pregnant, but miscarried 7 weeks in, which broke both of us. The following months were hell, but we got through and continued. I gained weight because apperently all I could do was eat and cry for a while, but hey, at least I got pregant once right so it will happen again?

Cue 2 years later, still nothing. So finally asked the GP's for a referal which we got almost straight away. I was scared all they would tell me is 'loose weight', but they were nice in the beginning. Husband is all fine, but I got diagnosed with PCOS on top of the endo. Insuline resistant blood for which I now have tablets which shoul help getting my metabolism right and explains why I have been strugling with weight so much even though I do exsersize and don't eat much!
Had a scan which showed the PCOS even worse... left ovary covered in cysts, right on had several folicels, but still, things could still happen right? It just takes one of thoe folicels... Until the blood results come back and tell that I do not ovulate.

Just wanted to crawl under a table. Which doctors in their mind would give any woman such news just before their period is about to start? I turn into an emotional mess every month and now you are telling me I do not ovulate and you can do nothing for me until I loose wieght? Great...

It is hard to keep faith, but what can I do? Just gotta continue my diet and hope the pills help me loose weight faster so we can start the next course of possible treatments and maybe it works. 10kg's to go to goal 1 and and 20kg before IVF (wich is only one round where I live, can you even believe that?)
Just hope there are some of you who have got some positive results from simular situations to give me some more hope.

 

[tinselcat]

Hi Branwen

I remember a larger Welsh lady on here who discovered eventually she wasn't ovulating. She lost some weight and On the 3rd clomid cycle she fell pregnant and had a healthy baby.

I was actually reading about pcos and insulin resistance and diet today and I would really advocate getting hold of a good book on the subject, especially as you say you're eating not much.

The books indicate that the sugar content of the food you eat is really key so white carbs like white bread and most rice and pasta as well as normal sources of sugar, fruit juices etc are your real enemy for conception. Similarly I was reading that regular exercise improves insulin resistance and the key is to finding something you enjoy doing (eg might not be the gym! I like dancing to the radio in my house). However fruit and especially veg can be a real ally in terms of healthifying your body and getting it back to conception ready and feeling full and not hungry after meals. Only took me several years to learn all this, so I'm hoping I'm sparing you some effort here...

I would strongly advocate a diet balanced across macro nutrients (complex carbs, healthy fats and proteins) as our bodies were not intended to be deprived of food groups, and really encourage as much whole food plant based meals (plus multi vitamins and a source of omega 3 and vitamin D) as you can tolerate. Eggs after good too

Good luck with everything xx

 

[Princess81]

Can I suggest you research the ketogenic way of eating? It is what I found for treating pcos and has changed many peoples lives.

 

[Princess81]

Dietdoctor.com will teach you the basics

 

[phonixgirl]

Hi Branwen

PCOS is such a bitch. I don't have the weight issue but they always say it can be easier to sort if you do and don't ovulate on your own.

PCOS and endo kind of go hand in hand and are usually the result to over exposure to fake oestrogen in our environment.

My tips:

Diet: cut out sugars, including white carbs (switch to brown, complex) - swap normal potatoes for sweet potatoes. Try and avoid reheating in plastics if you can. Don't eat anything that contains 'soya' or 'soy' (usually chocolate bars) - this can really mess up your hormones.

Exercise: High intensity interval training is great but even walking and yoga or Pilates are good

Medication: if you can get prescribed with metformin (if you're not already on it) it could really help, especially with your weight loss. Clomid should help you ovulate but make sure they monitor you - people with PCOS can over-respond (my left ovary always goes craaazzyyy).

Supplements: Myo-inositol and chromium do similar jobs to metformin and have really helped me in the past. Maca is a good general herb for balancing hormones. Soy isoflavones and agnus castus could make things worse because of the oestrogen, so be careful with these two. I've got mixed opinions about evening primrose oil... it hasn't helped me (I used to have really bad period pain before the metformin) but I know someone with endo who takes it. I think evening primrose oil and starflower oil are good for endo - you can get them combined - but you'd need to be careful with the evening primrose oil as you shouldnt take after ov if youre ttc (if youre not ov then carry on taking it). Maybe take omega 3s too and of course something like Pregnacare Conception.

Also, PCOS can affect egg quality so I've been taking CoQ10 100mg once a day (although I know some people on here have been taking a lot more). This is one of the few things actually recommended by my consultant lol (age has never been an issue).

PCOS can also affect progesterone so you might need some support. I'm currently on injections and suppositories...

I know this is a lot but I hope it helps

Katie xx

 

[Branwen]

Thank you all, I'm very grateful for your advice and suggestions.

I'm on Metformin at the moment (just started it a month ago and only a few weeks on the full dose) so hopign that will help a bit. I hope they will start me on chlomid once I show I am loosing weight...

Diet and eating is always difficult for me as I do a lot of shift works and never have the same hours and I often ended up not eating all day and than eating too much when I got home before going to sleep. Now I keep it a lot more balanced with a lot of meal replacements and depending on my shifts I will eather have a small breakfast, lunch or dinner and nothing past 7pm. It is hard having to eat more to be healthier, but it makes me feel a lot better. Going to the gym a lot as well, especially love swimming and try to get at least half an hour a day in the pool.

I did not know Soya milk is to be avoided as well, which is annoying because I'm not good with normal milk s oI do use this a lot, but guess I could switch it our for Almond milk again. Thanks so much for pointing this out and I do hope that such a small change can make a good difference.

Will look into all diets some more as well to see if anything might work better around my life.


Katie, all the information is great and I guess the more the better as I'll do anything that migth work t this point.
It is just so frustrating having to go through every cycle with al lthe pain and it not even working properly. I have always said once I'll have kids I'll have it all out and be done with it and now this is the final attempt. No more than three more years from now. It is time to make plans other than fmaily after that...

 

[tinselcat]

There's lots of different alternatives to soya these days. I've always been a fan of Oatly oat drink/milk but it's not for everyone.

If you have a sweet tooth then xylitol is about the best sugar substitute.

My nutritionist is recommending protein with every meal, so if you snack then to do it with hummus or nut butter or anything that helps keep the sugar levels more stable. Watch out for fruit juices! But again if you must have one, tomato juice is less sugary with good nutrients.

I am also taking inositol and coq10 (amongst other things!)

Another supplement on my radar is PQQ although as I don't like capsules/tablets I've not managed to start my batch yet.

 

[Branwen]

Just wanted to thank you all for the advice and unforunately I have just had a laproscopy and some bad news.

They did a dye test to see if my tubes were open and it is all negative. Will have a full consult with my doctor still, but looks like IVF will be the only way forward and we only get 1 cycle funded down here.

So all I have to focuss on now is weight loss and recovery. Just wish I could laugh without pain already, but guess patience is importnt now.

 

[WinterWolf]

You might think "only one cycle" but it amazes me that the NHS will fund even one round of IVF! In the rest of the world you pay a lot of cash for IVF. Here it's between $10-20k per cycle. For a lot of people, one cycle is all they need. I really hope it works for you, you've been through a lot by the sounds of it x