Acne...

Becca was always lucky that she had beautiful clear skin all through middle school when her friends were starting to break out. However, her senior year, all of a sudden, she developed acne. Not something you want to worry about your senior year when you have pictures and all kinds of things you want to look good for!

She's been doing some checking to see what kind of products that she thinks will work best for her. She found a product called Murad Acne that looks like it offers the products that she would need to clear up her skin. Acne is one of the most common side effects of PCOS. Of course that doesn't mean that all girls with acne have PCOS... it's just one of the side effects of having PCOS.

Murad is a 3 step acne complex that includes products that will cleanse, treat and hydrate the skin. It says that it is gentle enough to use every day, however it is powerful enough to fight even the worst cases of acne. Becca's acne seems to go in a cycle where she'll go for a while with just a minor breakout, then suddenly, she has a major breakout, and it's usually right before a big event...

She's planning to give Murad Acne Complex a try and see how it goes. She starts college in just under a month and wants to look her best for her first days! I'll post back and let you know how it goes!

Tomato and Mozzarella Pockets

Here is a great recipe that is PCOS Friendly

Tomato and Mozzarella Pockets

Ingredients:

2 whole wheat or soy pita bread rounds, cut in half to make 4 pockets
4 ripe tomatoes, sliced
4 tablespoons of olive oil
4 (1 oz.) pieces of part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup of fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper


Warm up the pita pockets. Place tomato, mozzarella, garlic, and basil in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and drizzle with olive oil. Place all ingredients in warmed pita pockets. Makes 4 servings.

Hair Loss in Women

Hair loss in women who have PCOS is a very common problem. The reason that women don't grow new hair is not totally understood, but in the case of women with PCOS, excessively high levels of androgens (male hormones) are thought to be primarily responsible.

A male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is converted from testosterone, binds to sites on hair follicles and appears to make the follicles go into their "resting" phase sooner, which in turn starts to cause the hairs produced by those follicles to become thinner and thinner with each growth cycle.

Women with high or increasing levels of androgens, such as women with PCOS or who are menopausal, may find that the hair on the head is thinned, while facial hair is coarser. Although new hair is not produced, the follicles remain alive, suggesting the possibility of new hair growth.

So what can they do about it? One option for treating hair loss is with the use of medications. The only drug or medication approved by the FDA to treat female pattern baldness is Minoxidil, used topically on the scalp. Minoxidil was discovered before the 1980's but was used to treat high blood pressure, not baldness. However, those that tried the product found they had an unusual side effect.... hair growth!

Another medication that is not recommended for women, but does work well with men is Finasteride (Procerin).

You can read more about hair loss and check out the discussion board for those that suffer from hair loss over at publichealthforums.com.

Support group for PCOS!

Finally! A support group for those with PCOS!

I've been a member of an online support group called MDJunction.com for Becca's headache problems. It has been a wonderful source of information and comfort to know that others are going through the same thing she is. They have over 600 different support groups available!

I noticed that they didn't have one for PCOS, so I wrote to the owner to ask about it. He told me that several other people had asked about it as well, so they've recently added it!

So, you can go to PCOS Support Forums and join in on the discussions there! Hope to see you there!

What a week...

Once again another crazy week in our household... yes, it was nice to have a long weekend over Labor Day, but it made things at work even more crazy than usual....

Becca has had a pretty crappy time of it lately healthwise.... She complained last week of having pain in her lower back, and we were afraid that it was her kidneys because she's on a pretty high does of motrin for her abdominal pain. Luckily, it wasn't that.... but it was a lower lumbar strain. Our pediatrician referred her to a massage therapist and she felt that that might help. So, we made an appointment with a woman that a friend recommended. She went on Wednesday. She spent over an hour working on her back and her head.

We gave her Becca's whole medical history (boy did that take some time!) from her daily Headaches which are going on almost 3 years now, to her abdominal pain since last October, to them finding her bladder cancer in November, being diagnosed with PCOS in January, to the continued abdominal pain.... anyway, she tried several types of deep massage that she hopes may help her. She worked on her back, abdomen (because there are back muscles that actually can cause pain in the abdomen) and her neck and head.

She warned us that she'd feel like she got hit by a Mack truck 24-48 hours after she worked on her, and she was right.... Becca came to my office after work Thursday in tears. Her head pain was about 8 and she couldn't even think straight. She was supposed to go to work, but she called in sick and went home... she couldn't make it to school the next day either because the head pain was so bad. She also could barely move her neck. Luckily by Friday afternoon, things started to ease up and she started feeling better.

This morning, she said her head is pretty much back to normal (normal meaning pain but tolerable) but that her abdominal pain was actually a bit better and the back pain was gone! So I guess it was worth it, besides the two days of hell she went through.....

Unfortunately, her therapist had emergency gall bladder surgery Saturday morning! Can you believe it??? Not sure what we are going to do now.... We were supposed to call her Monday and let her know how things were going.

Please keep Becca in your prayers on Tuesday as we head to the Urological Oncologist for Becca's second bladder scope since her surgery. We needs lots of prayers that there is no sign of the cancer returning!!!!

Hope you all have a great week!

The PCOS Diet Cookbook

I've been looking for a diet cookbook that would be good for Becca's PCOS. I found it! It's called The PCOS Diet Cookbook by Nadir R. Farid and Norene Gilletz.

This book is filled with over 300 recipes and variations for women with PCOS and ones that need to follow a low glycemic index diet. It includes introductory chapters about PCOS and shopping and meal planning.

If you have PCOS, it would definitely be a great addition to your kitchen! Check it out!

Prayer Improves IVF Pregnancy Rate

Even though at this stage in my daughter's life, we aren't concerned about pregnancy and her PCOS, I know that it is something she'll have to think about in the future when she is married and wants kids.

I read an article about how prayer has helped improve the pregnancy rate in women who are undergoing IVF! Well duh! Of course it helps! lol! Anyway, here's the article. You can read it right from the website by clicking here.

By the way, I love this picture of a woman's pregnant belly and the little foot imprint!

Prayer Improves IVF Pregnancy Rate

ARTICLE: Does prayer influence the success of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer?, Cha, KY et al, J Reprod Med, 2001; 46(9):781-7

ARTICLE SUMMARY: 219 South Korean women (age 26-46) undergoing in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One group received intercessory prayer; the other group did not. The intercessory prayers were carried out by groups in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Those receiving prayers experienced a pregnancy rate of 50% vs. 26% in the no-prayer control group. These results were independent of any other clinical variables.

DOCTOR'S COMMENTS: Regardless of whether you believe in prayer, this article does demonstrate that you can benefit from outside support, in whatever form it may take. Whether your goal is to become pregnant, lose weight, stay on a healthy diet, or be consistent with your exercise, support from other people will help you to get where you want to go. Or possibly you're experiencing emotional pain because of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). It's important to find others who can understand how you feel.

10 Fatigue Fighters

All of us battle with fatigue at times, but those with PCOS seem to have an even harder time getting the energy to do what they know they need to do.

Here is a great article about fighting fatigue that I found at LHJ.com. You can read the whole article by clicking on the link at the bottom.

A Well-Rounded You

When you're feeling run-down and exhausted, try one of these methods for an energy -- or attitude -- boost.

You know you haven't run a marathon, climbed a mountain, or even done much more than slog through a giant stack of paperwork -- so why do you feel exhausted at the end of every day? That's the tricky thing about stress: it can make you feel mentally and physically exhausted. If you're so pooped you can't socialize, enjoy hobbies, or participate in activities that make you happy, it's time to reassess. Find the fatigue fighter that leaves you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and invigorated.

1. Exercise. It may seem counterintuitive -- you're so tired you can barely drag yourself home at the end of the day, so why would running a few miles help? The fact is, exercise is one of the best ways to combat fatigue. More movement, not less, boosts energy levels. And you can exercise without leaving the comfort of your own home. To read more, click here.

Obesity Linked to Early Development and PCOS in Young Girls

Here is an older article that suggests that childhood obesity has led to an epidemic of young girls developing early and suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Left undiagnosed, it can lead to serious complications, including metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Newswise.com

Random Acts of Fitness

I’ve been seeing this title a lot lately. Too many people think that if they don’t have 30-60 minutes to put into a fitness program each day, then they aren’t doing enough to make any kind of a difference in their body, so they don’t even try.

That is totally false! One of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to get your body into shape, or at least shape-up your health, is to think “there’s not enough time in the day.” What about when you were at the mall this week and took the escalator rather than the stairs? That was a moment when you could have made a choice to make your body work a little harder, and when you make choices like that over and over again throughout the day, those little spurts of fitness will add up.

What about your family? Are you uncomfortable talking to your kids or spouse about their health or weight loss? You can help them lead a healthier life by practicing “random acts of fitness” without them even realizing it! There are many, many small things you can do every day that will make healthy living easy. And, you may even help them create good habits without them even realizing it!

Here are some ideas on how you can share some random acts of fitness and health:

- Cook healthy meals for the whole family. Add in an extra serving of veggies.

- Stop buying junk food! If you don’t have it in the house, they can’t eat it.

- Be honest with them and let them know you’re concerned about their health.

- Make it a habit to play outdoor games together.

- Give lots of praise and positive attention when changes are made.

- Give gifts such as personal training packages, bicycles, roller blades, etc.

- Park farther away from the store entrance and walk the extra distance.

- Start a garden that you can work on together.

- Ask them to walk the dog, then offer to go with them.

- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

- Use exercise as an excuse to spend time together.

- Plan a walk or hike.

- Take the kids to the park.

- Suggest walking instead of driving.

- Maintain an upbeat attitude

- Turn off the TV and hide the remote!

- Get physical and urge them to do the same.

- Plan an activity after dinner each evening.

Exercise is Essential...

Exercise is an essential key to managing PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). While there is no scientific proof that exercise helps those suffering with PCOS more than it helps the average person, common sense does tell us that since such a large number of women with PCOS are obese, exercise is vital to long-term health.

Our bodies were made to move. For thousands of years, human beings were nomadic, following or seeking out the food supply. Once we learned how to create our food supply, we were able to stay in one place. As time passed, we began to enjoy the benefits of advancing technologies, which provided us with more leisure time. We used our minds more and more, while using our bodies less and less.

Today we find ourselves in a modern life that actually demands very little of us physically. Although our bodies are still hard-wired for movement, most of us no longer honor the very real need of the "natural self" to get up and move about.

A number of studies have demonstrated that women with PCOS or insulin resistance can greatly benefit from regular exercise.

For example, a study conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia showed that a six month program of diet and exercise helped 18 overweight PCOS women normalize their hormones.(1) They experienced an 11% reduction in central fat, 71% improvement in insulin sensitivity, 33% fall in insulin levels, and a 39% reduction in LH (luteinizing hormone) levels. The women in this study achieved surprising results with a combination of diet and exercise in just six months. This study is relevant because insulin resistance and chronically high insulin and LH are reasons why PCOS women don't ovulate and why they have a number of other troubling symptoms.

The best way to keep exercise fun and to help make sure that you stick to it is to get an exercise buddy, whether it's a friend or family member. This way, you can set goals and try to help each other achieve them. You can do tandem exercises like playing basketball or even a spirited game of catch. You can make a list of fun things do to so that every time you exercise, you’re doing something different and things don’t get repetitive and boring. Also, listen to your body. Don’t overdo things, and if you come back from a day out and you’re sore, it’s ok to take a day off until you feel better.

Don’t be afraid to try unorthodox methods of exercise. Going for a hike in the woods counts just as much as doing a workout tape in front of the TV. Ice skating is a fantastic aerobic workout and can be substituted for a long run. A night out dancing at a club instead of a bike ride works just fine. Don’t be afraid to try new things and keep your exercise routines fresh and exciting. Getting into a rut of doing the same few things over and over is the number one cause of people giving up on their exercise. The most important thing to remember is to just stay active, no matter what. Since PCOS sufferers are prone to obesity, you have to be extra vigilant with diet and exercise to stay in shape.

Frustration...

I took Becca back to Magee last night, to the ER....The CT scan she had last week showed 2 - 2 cm cysts on each ovary, so we are assuming that is what is causing the pain. My Pediatrician seemed to think these cysts were something that needed to be taken care of (removed ?) since she's still in so much pain. So, after a long weekend of her suffering and being in pain, I left a message for her gyne at Magee first thing Monday morning. They finally called me back at 2:30 to tell me the gyne was out of town for 3 weeks and that I really needed to call her Endocrinologist about the cysts anyway! So... I called that office and had to leave a message. They finally called me back about 3:00 to tell me that the doctor was out of town until Friday!

The nurse was very supportive and understood Becca's situation and she said that if it were her daughter, she would take her to the ER at Magee and tell them that she has severe abdominal pain and that they would be able to help us.... So I call my Ped back, just to see if he thinks it's a good idea (I have a very good relationship with him) and he said that definitely, that is what I should do, he backs me on it 100%. So, at 4:00, we're heading to Magee with bags packed thinking we may have to stay...

We get there, and after a 2 hour wait (even though there were only two women in the ER waiting room!!!), we get in to see a doctor. She pretty much tells us that abdominal pain is to be expected with PCOS and Becca just has to get used to it. She said she will continue to have more cysts come and go, it's just normal with her condition.

WHAT???? There's nothing you can do??? She says just give her 800 mg of ibeprofin every 4-6 hours and she gave us a script for Vicoden. Tells us to get back in touch with our Endocrinologist and fill him in when he gets back.

I realize she's not an Endocrinologist and just an ER doctor, but this is at a woman's hospital! We were hoping they could do something for her besides give her even more drugs and send us home....

So.... is this truly what we can expect with PCOS??? Will she just have to learn to live with the pain of cysts until she gets her PCOS under control with her Metformin (which they say could take from 6 months to a year to get her levels worked out) and weight loss? or will it EVER be under control?

I don't know the answers, but these are the questions I'll be asking her Endocrinologist when we see him.... I just can't believe she has to learn to live with this pain....

Long day... long week...

For the past two weeks, Becca has had severe abdominal cramping and burning when she urinates. Because of her bladder cancer history, and the fact that she is only 16, our first fear was that the cancer had either come back or had moved to another area. Tests have shown that it hasn't, thank God! However she still had the severe cramping and now our thoughts have turned toward it being PCOS related.

So, Tuesday we headed to Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh for a vaginal ultrasound and internal exam. They again found the polycystic ovaries, but could not find anything else unusual that would lead them to the abdominal pain. They were suggesting that it was a pulled muscle and suggested that we see a Physical Therapist....

We then went back to Indiana Regional Medical Center for a CT scan on Wednesday. They found two large cysts on each ovary and thought that perhaps that was what had been causing the pain. My first question was, how come the vaginal ultrasound didn't pick them up??? They don't know.

Fast forward to today... .Becca starts her period. It actually started last night and was pretty heavy this morning. Becca normally doesn't have periods... she's had maybe a handful since she turned 12 and they have always been very, very light. She messaged me while she was at school that she had gone through several tampons already and was not feeling well. I didn't hear from her again until early afternoon when she informed me that she had gone through 8 tampons and 4 pads in a matter of hours! I called her gyn and she immediately told me to go to the ER.... she's hemorrhaging!

So, off to the ER we go. She was scared, she was cramping, her stomach was upset and she was very lightheaded. After an exam and some blood work, we're told she isn't anemic, she's given progesterone, told to take iron pills and we're sent home. She was borderline to needed a blood transfusion, but said if she took it easy and the pills helped to slow the bleeding, she'd be okay. If it continued through morning, we were told to come back.... They feel the cramping was from her body trying to ovulate. The severe bleeding is the lining of the uterus that was extremely thick and had started to shed on its own, rather than from the hormonal cycle that normal women have each month. That led to the hemorrhaging.

So, we're home. She's resting and hoping and praying the bleeding at least slows down before tomorrow, because tomorrow is the Prom! Her very first. And she doesn't want to be running to the bathroom every half hour to change!

What causes the darkened skin patches (Acanthosis Nigricans)?

What causes darkened skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) and what can be done to lighten them?

The exact cause is not known, but acanthosis nigricans is often seen in association with endocrine disorders such as insulin resistance and PCOS. This is a darkening of the skin ranging from tan to dark brown/black that commonly appears on the back of the neck, armpits, under breasts, in the groin area, and sometimes on the elbows, knees and hands. The skin is usually velvety or rough to the touch. It may look as if it is dirty and could be scrubbed off. Acanthosis nigricans cannot be cured, but individuals may see improvement if hormone balance is restored or weight loss is achieved. Some prescription medications such as Retin-A, 15% urea, alpha hydroxyacid, and salicylic acid may reduce discoloration.

Do PCOS Women Have Low Vitamin D Levels?

Vitamin D deficiency appears to occur frequently in women with PCOS, and may be a contributing factor to some of the biochemical abnormalities seen in this condition.

In a study of 13 women with PCOS, five were found to have obvious vitamin D deficiency and three others had borderline-low vitamin D status.(1) All 13 women were treated with vitamin D2 at a dose of 50,000 IU once or twice a week, and also received 1,500 mg of supplemental calcium per day.

Of the nine women with absent or irregular menstruation prior to vitamin D treatment, seven experienced normalization of their menstrual cycles within two months and the other two became pregnant. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding also resolved within two months in both cases in which it had been present.

Other studies have shown that some women with polycystic ovary syndrome had sub-optimal levels of vitamin D.(2,3) Low vitamin D has been clearly linked to insulin resistance and obesity.

In other words, the heavier you are and the more insulin resistant you are, the more likely it is that your vitamin D is too low.

1 Million Steps

Becca and I are members of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support group, at our church. We were challenged by the Area Captain in February to make a goal of taking 1,000,000 steps from the beginning of February through the end of July.

Sounds impossible, doesn't it? But actually it's not at all. It's very doable if you break it down into daily goals!

I figured there are 181 days from the beginning of February through the end of July and then divided it into 1,000,000. That meant I needed to take 5,525 steps a day to reach my goal!

I started out February averaging about 6,000 steps a day. That would help me reach my goal of a million steps, but in reality, that is not burning enough calories to help me lose any weight. So, by the end of February, I was up to averaging about 8,000 steps a day. In March, I took it up a notch. I decided my goal was to hit 10,000 steps a day as many days in March that I could. I hit that goal every single day except for 5. So for 26 days in March, I had over 10,000 steps each day!

For April, I decided to kick it up another notch! My new goal for April is to take at least 12,000 steps a day! So far, I've been averaging about 13,000 steps a day!

If I would have set a goal of taking 12,000 steps a day from the beginning of February, I would be on track to take 2 Million steps by the end of July! Unbelievable, isn't it?

How many steps do you take a day?

What blood tests should be done to diagnose PCOS?

Much of the blood work that should be done in diagnosing or ruling out PCOS is the same as a basic fertility workup; however, there are a couple of additional tests for insulin resistance that should be added, as well as some cholesterol screening to evaluate general health status because of the future risks associated with PCOS. A good basic screening would include:

• Fasting comprehensive biochemical and lipid panel;
• 2-hour GTT with insulin levels (also called IGTT);
• LH:FSH ratio;
• Total testosterone;
• DHEAS;
• SHBG;
• Androstenedione;
• Prolactin and
• TSH

Who should diagnose and treat PCOS?

Any type of doctor familiar with PCOS might make the diagnosis, but the disorder is complicated and may be best treated by a specialist. If you are having difficulty getting pregnant, you should see a reproductive endocrinologist, while long-term management by an endocrinologist should be considered.

A general practitioner or an OBGYN may treat some women with the syndrome, but someone who specializes in endocrine disorders may be more familiar with treatment options and recent studies on PCOS.

With my daughter Becca, our OBGYN immediately referred us to an endocrinologist. She felt that Becca would get much better care than she could offer with someone who specializes in PCOS, which an endocrinologist does.

If you suspect you have PCOS and you are not getting the answers you want from your Primary Care Physician, make an appointment with your OBGYN.

Teens and PCOS

Here is a great website for teens that are dealing with PCOS. PCOTeen

This site has an email list for teens where they can get support and help from other girls who also have PCOS. PCOTeen's latest program is ProjectHeart (Helping Educate And Reach out to Teens). ProjectHeart is designed to let teens know that they are not alone in their fight against PCOS and its affect on a young woman's body.

These are great resources for girls who are experiencing this for the first time.

Birth of a Butterfly

PCOS can be very dark and lonely. I don't know the author of this poem, but it was shared with me by a fellow cyster.
"Birth of a Butterfly"

Locked in the dark
I struggle to see
To break the chains
And set myself free

Such a long battle
With no end in sight
I fight to break loose
I fight to see light

I scream from my prison
But nobody hears
The silence around me
Intensifies my fears

Struggling alone
In my little cocoon
I finally break free
And crawl out on my own

My heart once was locked
By my dark memory
I found a bright light
And I turned the key

I learned to love
And came to realize
How beautiful I am
In my very own eyes

What I saw outside
Was not the real me
Just a shell that held
The woman I could be

I saw my potential
My personality
I focused on ME
And I set myself free

I stretch my wings
And begin to fly
Finally I am
A beautiful Butterfly!