Hi!

I heard through the grapevine that there was at least one other *under* weight PCOSer over here :-)

I have never met one and wanted to compare notes.

I'm not currently being treated for PCOS because my last doc didn't seem to know what to do with me (actually recommended that I *lose* weight, because "that's what the recommendation is for women with your condition <rolling eyes>) and I'm a little burnt out on trying to educate my caregivers right now ;-p

HI - i have been diagnosed w/ PCO not the full PCOS yet. I am 5 feet 2 inches and weigh 115. I am not overweight but really for my small build i should probably be 105 -110. I have the following symptoms - string of pearl like ovaries, adult acne, thin hair on my head, belly fat. I have to take that glucose test to see if i have full blown PCOS - but i think i do. Hope that helps - ask me anything you like.
Kathy

LOL, glad you made it over. Nic is the host here she is the one who is VERY underweight

__________________

Hi Kathy :-) Nice to meet you! (apologies for the long babble ;->)

My ovaries haven't been checked yet. My dx was based on hormone levels, adult acne, acanthosis nigricans (pigmented skin patches on torso), amenorrhea for up to 18 mos when not PG/BF and 6 mos of basal temping that showed no cyclical deviation in temps, no change in vaginal discharge... nothing.

I've had two healthy pregnancies, and 4.5 and 2.5 year old daughters to show for it :-) The first was conceived on the Pill, and the second about 2 weeks after having a Mirena IUD removed. When I was *not* using any BC at all, I was infertile for over 8 years. I also had a pg and early mc after a very bad experience with a depo-shot once several years ago.
I believe this is also consistent with a PCOS dx.

Since I'm not under a Dr's care for the PCOS right now, I'm going to planned parenthood for a Mirena IUD, planning to leave it in for a min. of 6 mos, and then remove it and TTC again immediately. The nurse practitioner there seems to think it's probably my best shot at this stage (my ins. sucks ;-p) The Pill is supposed to be better for this than the Mirena, but it makes me a bit psycho <heh> which was okay when it was just me and my partner, but with the kids... I'd rather not go there. And the Depo makes me bleed for weeks on end. Also not fun.

... It's just confusing why I have PCOS with *low* body weight rather than high. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one, or if my doc was *way* off base and it's really something totally different. (still a possibility in my mind)

It's hard to find accurate weight-ranges since I'm 6'1" and large-framed, (most charts are based on the MetLife charts, and recommend absurdly low weights for tall people, plus the height is supposed to be your height in 1" heels, which leaves me looking for 6'2" on charts that top out at 6' for women.... grr...) the closest I've gotten is a recommended range of 158-179, which aligns with how I *feel* at different weights, but that's still only a guess.
My BMI is 19 (but even that is questionable) I usually weigh a little under 140.
I feel very bony. My ribs, clavicles and hips protrude. I have the "big head" thing going on, too ;-p
I feel good, and have regular periods when I weigh around 165, but that's nearly impossible to maintain unless I literally sit on my butt and stuff myself on high-carb/fat foods all day. I managed this my freshman year of college ;-> but not since then. I mean, forget the freshman 15, I gained *50* that year! By the end of that year of school, I was up to 180, and I was starting to feel "fat" around 175. But at least my body *worked* right, back then.

At that stage, I moved out of the dorms (stopped eating dorm-food) and lost it all again in about 5 months without making any effort at all.

When I've looked for help in *gaining* weight, I always get stuck with eating disorder resources. Geez! Just watch me eat for a day! I have hollow legs. ;-p <LOL!> It's very frustrating.
(Wonder if Jenny Craig does weight-gain programs?)

I was hoping I might find some hints here for coping with being underweight, trying to gain weight without destroying my nutrition, and other non-medication type ideas for improving my overall functioning.

So, ya got any? ;->

Hi!

Thanks so much for the referral!

Has your thyroid been checked to rule out hyperthyroidism?

__________________

Hi -

I was misdiagnosed with PCOS b/c I have amenorrhea and an U/S revealed polycystic ovaries. But after my ObGYN consulted with an RE, they decided I have hypothalamic amenorrhea instead. The hints were: I "failed" the provera challenged -- it didn't bring on AF; I don't have the hormonal levels you'd expect with PCOS (LH/FSH ratio); and I'm thin (BMI = 22, but it used to be 20 when I was running a lot).

I would say that your doc is clueless if they told you to lose weight! It sounds like you ovulate when you're at 165, so I'd aim for that. I'm seeing an acupuncturist who is also a nutritionist. If you can afford it (and trust me I know its $$), I'd recommend acupuncture. Plus, she has me on a bunch of supplements that are supposed to be good for non-ovulators. (Fish oil, Calcium, Mg, etc). Now that my weight is normal, she wants me to eat a lot of protein (82 g per day). I think protein is a healthier way to gain/maintain weight than a lot of ice cream/junk food (which I love, but doesnt leave me feelign good). Good luck!

__________________
Catherine (33) TTC #1
dx: Hypothalamic amenorrhea
5 injectible cycles -- BFN
IVF #1 -- BFN
IVF #2 -- BFP but m/c at 5 wks
IVF #3 -- BFP but m/c at 5 wks
Aug. '07 After gaining another 10 lbs my cycles came back!!!!
2nd femara cycle BFP! 1/16/07 beta = 72, 1/18 beta = 304
1st US 2/5/07

Yes, I had a thyroid check and celiac disease screening about a year ago.
Everything came back "normal".

I was having chronic diarrhea, hair loss, severe fatigue and other signs of malabsorption, but nothing was found. I left my husband and got much better ;-> Stress, eh?

But the acanthosis nigricans, oligomenorrhea (I'm having 40-50 day cycles ATM) and lack of BBT shifts remain.

None of this convinces me that my diagnosis is correct, BTW, it's just the least-dumb-sounding diagnosis at this stage ;-p