17 yr. old daughter with PCOS

[luvnaz]

Hi,I've known for over a year that she has PCOS but her Dr. wouldn't agree with me. I wish I had taken her to a specialist instead of wainting until now. Now her Dr. believes me!
We started on the LC WOE Monday 2/9/04. So far so good! I also want to do the Watercure sea salt that a lot of people have had sucess with.

If anyone here has had PCOS and can give me advice for my dearest daughter I'd appreciate it. I feel rotten that I haven't helped her with this problem until now. She is a beautiful girl, but needs to lose around 100 pounds. She is 5'5" 250#.

Thanks, Mary

PS this site is terrific!

[jackiep]

what's POCS? I don't reconize the abbreviation.

Jackie

[jackiep]

whoops I mean PCOS?

Jackie

[Albertine]

The best thing you can do for your daughter is what you are doing right now . She needs to watch her carbs, and you doing the LC WOE with her is the greatest help she can get. Make sure she understands that this is not just a diet, something she has to do for a short period of time, it has to be a way of life. A quick search on the internet will provide you with thousands of articles on PCOS, telling you that women with this syndrome tend to have problems getting pregnant, and if she manages to lose the weight now her insulin and hormone levels will normalize and dramatically increase your chances of getting grandchildren.

I have PCOS too, and need to lose about 100 lbs. I started low carbing 18 months ago, and after only one month I got pregnant. A huge miracle! I'm starting again next month and this time it's coming off!!!

Don't hesitate to ask if there's something you want to know. Good luck to you and your daughter.

Liz

[Lawbooks]

Mary, I see that you have already read and replied to the PCOS topic in the Woman's Forum: HERE so you have already read my story and know the books I recommend.
Feel free to email me privately if you want further info: lawbookskelly@netscape.net

Jackie, PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

[jackiep]

Thanks Summer!

Jackie

[reneed70]

I suspect that I have PCOS too. No doctors confirmation but according to what I've read I have many if not all of the symptoms.
Starting your daughter, if she is willing, on this WOE can possibly save her from a lifetime of heartache. I believe PCOS is what has kept me from having a baby and I wouldn't wish that heartbreaking feeling on anyone. I say nip it in the bud now!
Best of luck
Renee

[snoesr]

Hey reneed70!

Don't feel too bad. It is easy to ignore the symptoms of PCOS or think they are something else. Also PCOS has not gained too much attention until the past couple of years, and there are still some doctors who don't acknowledge it.

If you see Women's Day Magazine for February 2001, you will see that PCOS is listed amongst the "Top 12 Diseases Doctors Miss Most".

I did not find out I had it until I changed gynos because the one I had didn't believe in it. He was older and I switched to a younger dr. I had been told I had endometriosis by the other dr., but this one ran an insulin resistance test and we went through the other symptoms and found out this was really the cause. I found out I had this 2 years ago, and spent alot of time researching it.

Anyway, I have not been doing everything I have been told to do , but I'm trying to now. This includes taking the medications. I don't know if your daughter has the PCOS w/ IR (insulin resistance) or just the PCOS. I am supposed to take glucophage everyday (for insulin resistance) and spironolactone (for hirsutism caused my hormonal irregularies due to this disease) and my dr. says if I will do the LC WOL and lose weight, then I will probably be able to drop the meds. If not, the IR WILL (not maybe) lead to diabetes.

So it is very important to lose that weight! If she is not IR, then she is at GREAT risk of becoming that way if she does not lose the weight. My dr. and I have figured out that I probably had PCOS for a few YEARS before the IR happened and I actually sought answers for what was going on in my body.

My dr. says that if I lose the weight, chances are I will have no more symptoms of PCOS (kind of a remission so to speak) and should be able to get pregnant. Now, I have gotten preganant with the PCOS but miscarried. The miscarriage was most likely due to all the medications I had been taking before I realized I was pregnant and not due to the PCOS. So tell her not to automatically assume she cannot have children.

Try these two websites to begin with: www.pcosupport.org
www.pcos.net

I am sorry this is so long, but this is one of the few things I know something about! In fact, when we got to the reproductive system in my Anatomy and Physiology Class, (I'm going to nursing school) my instructor actually had me lecture on this!!

Let me know if I can help anymore!
Shawnda

"Don't dwell on dreams and forget to live" (Professor Dumbledore)

[misty]

After almost seven years of trying to have a baby, including fertility treatments, I gave up. I finally had a baby at age 35, but developed gestational diabetes, a common occurance of PCOS. LCE has regulated my periods and now they aren't so heavy. My blood sugar is also normal. I have discovered that the only way I can lose weight is LC--it will be difficult for a teen faced with friends snacking on high carb junk, but you daughter must stick with it to avoid much heartache later on.

"I'm a great beliver in luck, and I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. " Thomas Jefferson

[luvnaz]

Thanks to everyone for your answers. My computer was down for a few days due to Qwest connection. Will do all the follow up you all suggested!

Thanks, Mary

[luvnaz]

Good news, my daughters ketostix was dark purple (while mine was only a pinkish salmon color...booo....and I didn't cheat like her...she had a chocolate chip cookie Friday night!!)

We had our week weigh in and she has lost 7 pounds. I lost only four and hubby lost 5. I am so proud of her. And so happy that she is losing!! This is terrific!

She said that eating this way is better than eating the old way!! So I am glad she is happy eating this way!

But....Why am I losing less? I'm not cheating! I need to exercises or something maybe? I'm 139# and have the least to lose of anyone in the family so maybe I lose slower? I don't know.

I'm off to find out more about the Watercure2!

Thanks everyone! Mary

[Lawbooks]

Mary,

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure that your daughter is drinking adequate water!!
I'm not saying that purple ketostix are a *bad* thing, but often it indicates a level of dehydration (especially if there was a high carb/high sugar cheat like a chocolate chip cookie!). You see, if she is not drinking enough water, the ketones will be more concentrated in her urine and this will give a stronger reader on the ketostix.
It will also put an unnecessary strain on her kidneys. The current consensus seems to be that we should drink NO LESS than half our body weight in water each day. I, personally, drink 128 oz. (1 gallon) of water/day. But make sure she does not go over this amount either (too much of a good thing...).

Congratulations to both of you on doing this together!

Yes, if you don't have that much to lose it will take you longer as the body is reluctant to give up those last few extra pounds.
Also, please remember that your daughter has age and a faster metabolism on her side. We ALL lose slower as we get older. Just a sad reality...

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

[luvnaz]

Thank You Summer.

I wondered also if the birth control pills the Dr. had her on for ten days may have an effect on the ketostix? And good news, she did get a period after finishing the pills!!

I am on her daily (and doesn't she just love it!! LOL!! NOT!!) about drinking her water. I have the amount she needs to drink measured out for her in a water bottle. But I think you are right that she is not drinking it all. I will tell her that this is why her ketostix was dark.

I will have her read this post and then maybe she will be serious about drinking her water!
She is about 250# so needs to drink 4 quarts.

I haven't seen any good Sea Salt in the stores. Where do I get it? Also can't find Thicken Thin/Not Starch.

Thanks for all your help!

[Lawbooks]

Mary,

I honestly don't think the birth control pills would affect this... but that is great that she is responding to the hormones/diet!

Thanks for taking my warning seriously; so many people don't.
My mother has worked with the National Kidney Foundation for a number of years and this water thing is NO JOKE.
I realize that *all* teenagers think they are invincible (I did, too) , but I would hate to see kidney damage added to your daughter's list of health problems.

You know, I find it VERY difficult to stress the need for water on this forum without coming across as an alarmist.
Do I think this woe (way of eating) is DANGEROUS? NO! -- NOT IF YOU DRINK ENOUGH WATER!
That said, I'm always worried that I am going to scare someone off with my warnings...

The point is, if I truly thought eating this way was unhealthy, I would not do it myself. It's VERY healthy, but no one should underestimate the importance of water intake (even a teenager!).
Besides, if she will get serious about the water, the weight is likely to come off even faster!

Ok, I'll stop preaching now...

As for the Sea Salt, the *good stuff* is usually only available in health food stores or online. I have never seen it in a regular grocery store. I have no idea on the "Thicken Thin/Not Starch" as I have never used it, but Sharron Long (found most often in the cooking forum on this site) might be able to point you in the right direction.

You're very welcome and I wish you and your daughter much luck!
Summer

[Law1]

Thanks for all the great information everyone. I was so amazed to see a teenager with this diagnosis because my daughter (who will turn 15 this week) was just diagnosed with PCOS.

Fortunately, it is early enough that she hasn't yet suffered the side effects like weight gain, etc. She is a vegetarian and I told her she may have to start to eat meat/cut out sugar. We have an appointment with the gynocologist in March. I was frustrated that the endochrenologist simply told us she has PCOS and then said "go see a gynocologist". Isn't this an endochrene(sp) disorder?

I appreciate all of the connections to the websites. I will check them out.

Amazingly, she was diagnosed by a very alert primary care pediatrician who noticed the lack of periods and no gain in height for a number of years. I am very grateful to her for her diligence. I had no idea!!

Law1
Lowcarb since July 2001
296/211/150