Family and PCOS

[marci_kist]

:D Hello,
My name is Marci, and I'm from Lake Worth, FL. I was diagnosed with PCOS at around age 15 or 16. I'm 31 and married, but have had trouble getting preg. My husband and I are going to try adoption, so the baby issue is not much of an issue any more.

I still struggle with the other symptoms of PCOS: the bearded lady thing, weight gain, mood swings, pre-diabetes.

I try to diet and exercise, but the weight won't budge but a little. My dad, who loves me sooooo much, had his first heart attack at age 37. Dad rides me pretty hard about my weight because he doesn't want me to suffer like he did.

My mother thinks that PCOS was caused by me being on birth control pills as a teenager (God punished me with infertility for using contraception), when in fact the Doctor put me on "the pill" to regulate my periods and protect me from uterine cancer.

I've accepted that PCOS is my cross to bear, and I try to manage it and not complain because other than the PCOS, my life has been very good. However, my family hasn't accepted my PCOS because they don't understand. They think that I'm making excuses or using it as a "crutch" to justify my weight problem. Perhaps it is the constant bombardment of criticism from those who love most and have my best interest in mind that I have such a problem dealing with. Can anyone relate?

[suzyq18]

Hi Marci
I can totally relate to you. I'm 39 (40 this month) and my DH is 46. I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 20 yrs ago when no one heard of it. I had been on the pill (which has NO relationship to causing PCOS) in my late teens to regulate my period. I went off the pill at 20 and had horrible cramps, etc. MY OB did an ultrasound and "saw" these cysts.. went in and cleaned me out and put me on Prednisone (steroids) for two years. I was a total wacko, gained a ton of weight, facial hair and crazy period cycles. That was the early treatment for this. After the two years of steriods, went back on the pill since that seemed to help. Never really lost the weight and hair on my face stayed put... Got married at 30 and went off the pill at 34. TTC since then... Saw a great doc at Cleveland Clinic (he is not there anymore, he had stroke and has not come back) he put me on metformin which regulated me alot. Am still on it. I get periods about every 2 months which is better than before. Met with IVF of South Florida this past summer and am freaked out with taking all these meds. I really don't know if we can handle that and still not get preggers. We are considering adoption (again). PCOS is not your fault. It happens to more of us than anyone knows.

[debbymc4]

Marci,

I relate as well. The physical symptoms are so hard and I feel like such a freak sometimes. Nobody understands how absolutely TIRED you are and that sometimes you'd have to jog 10 miles a day and eat only celery to lose weight. It's easy for others to be judgmental with their healthy bodies. I think you just have to believe that they love you and don't realize that it makes you feel so bad.

Incidently, I'm originally from Lantana. Where did you go to high school?