tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post8663546859196690075..comments2024-03-17T10:07:53.205-07:00Comments on The Well-Rounded Mama: Sixth Annual Turkey Awards: PCOS Isn't a Real DiseaseWell-Rounded Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-16389842272852453702013-12-01T13:36:01.436-08:002013-12-01T13:36:01.436-08:00Oh, forgot to address the metformin part of your c...Oh, forgot to address the metformin part of your comment!<br /><br />Metformin is an amazing drug and helpful to so many, BUT there are those who simply cannot tolerate it. It's certainly not a miracle drug for them! If it's not for you, it's not for you.<br /><br />The point is to explore all the other options as well. You might be able to tolerate the inositols better than metformin, for example. Lots of people find good results with d-chiro-inositol. Or some of the "alternative" stuff, like herbs (vitex/chasteberry etc.) or cinnamon or apple cider vinegar. Exercise is also key in lowering insulin levels as well. Going gluten-free seems to make a lot of difference for some with PCOS too.<br /><br />Some people simply cannot tolerate metformin and they don't need to feel bad if it's just not an option for them. But it may be helpful to explore the alternatives to see if they help.<br /><br />In the meantime, I'd also check those thyroid levels (get the actual levels, not just "normal" or "abnormal," and do some research on the best cutoffs to use for diagnosis. Thyroid may not be the issue for you that it has been for me, but whenever I hear people talk about the boils, I encourage them to take another look at their thyroid levels. Too many people have subclinical disturbances that go untreated, when many might actually benefit from a trial of meds.Well-Rounded Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-60829660588047494982013-12-01T13:27:05.881-08:002013-12-01T13:27:05.881-08:00Mich, thanks for your comment. I'm sorry you&#...Mich, thanks for your comment. I'm sorry you've been through so much and your care providers haven't taken your symptoms seriously!<br /><br />I do think there is a celiac/gluten connection for many women with PCOS. When I do the post on Lifestyle Treatment Options, we'll be covering that. I'm beginning to wonder how much of PCOS is connected to autoimmune issues, which includes things like gluten intolerance, Hashimoto's, and other fun things.<br /><br />I had the awful boils too; totally normal blood sugar so that's not it. I think it's a sign of strong insulin resistance more than blood sugar, and subclinical endocrine imbalances. Mine substantially disappeared when I got my Hashimoto's treated finally; my results were always "subclinical" but doing a trial of meds and treating to symptoms made a HUGE difference in so many of my symptoms. Didn't make the PCOS go away, and I can still get some of these symptoms sometimes, but getting the thyroid in an ideal range for ME was key in lessening my PCOS symptoms to more tolerable levels. Well-Rounded Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4738062031052371885.post-85725175791491209082013-11-30T20:37:56.753-08:002013-11-30T20:37:56.753-08:00I read the link you provided from Sleepy Dumpling....I read the link you provided from Sleepy Dumpling.<br /><br />I will say that when I was 11 I had surgery with what they thought was appendicitis, but turned out to be a cyst the size of a grapefruit that had twisted over twice. The ovary and fallopian tube were nearly dead. I had been in pain since I was a baby, constantly sick with stomach bugs or due to changes in my body (I've had many yrs to think about it now). After the surgery, I never got another stomach bug. (Which leads me to believe they were not stomach bugs or maybe it was due to compromised immune system).<br /><br />I did experience the massive weight gain in late teens-early 20s, which was blamed on me "sneaking" food and being a lazy bum (I was anorexic for the most part and walked everywhere, I also had next to no muscle due to not eating). I had horrific pains during menstruation that continued to last outside of the bleeding (most of this pain was due to lactose intolerance which I had to self diagnose) so I thought I had another cyst (the surgery at age 11 removed the right ovary and tube, so I only have 1 of each now). I begged for an ultrasound and on the sheet I took to my new doctor said they couldn't see anything due to my "habitus" which I figure was a sciency-snark way of saying I was "so damn fat".<br /><br />Well, after treating the LI most of the pain, diarrhea and weight gain went away (stabilized at the higher weight), but the bleeding continued. I started developing these huge boils on my breasts, armpits, and hips about 7 yrs ago too. When I was younger (early-mid teens) I got pimples all over the genitals, especially where the panties rub. One doc said these boils come from being so fat that my skin rubs and gave me some antibiotics (which did zero). I was away from home at that time, and I had spent 3 hrs at a medicentre in Edmonton on the last day of my drug coverage (my plan dropped drugs in favour of adding chiro and physio).<br /><br />I had been taking a prescrip. drug to help with the PMS but it only worked a few times. After I saw my own doc about the boils (it was 4 yrs from first showing) he said they were carbuncles connected to blood sugar levels. I think he said this because my mom comes from a family where almost everyone has diabetes and he wanted to diagnose "fat and stuffs her face". He sent me to a nutritionist who also didn't address the symptoms, but they both encouraged anorexic behaviours.<br /><br />After reading some stuff about wheat and celiac, I decided to switch to other grains and do all my own baking. For the first time in 5.5 yrs my breasts were boil-free, and the first time in 20 yrs the chronic "cold" I had was gone. I could breathe again!!!<br /><br />Over the last month I've had more boils but this is because I truly got lazy and bought some regular bread and buns. I thought only having 1 bun/day would be safe, but apparently not.<br /><br />I think my experience puts paid to the anecdotal evidence that PCOS women also get celiac or wheat allergies.<br /><br />Thank you so much for your blog and the PCOS series about treatment options. I'll never take metformin myself, seeing what it's done to my parents and horror stories from others.Michnoreply@blogger.com