PCOS

[boomska]

Honestly, if you can afford it - mounjaro has changed my life with weight loss

I have thought about it but I just don’t like the idea of the side effects and the mounjaro droopy face look they all seem to have (no offence to anyone who takes it!)

I’m going to be starting doing the keto diet next week and I’ve been reading the thread and there’s a lot of PCOS women on there who said it’s helped! X

 

[anonesk223]

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 20, luckily I suffer fairly mildly compared to others - a bit of chin hair, and persistent acne. I do have regular periods but they’re very heavy. My biggest thing is the bloating, and also I have excessive thirst all the time.

I do have cysts as revealed by an ultrasound, however they’re apparently not worrying.

I got referred to endocrinology and all he said was “there’s nothing we can do”, “you look healthy” and “you’re not diabetic”. Yes I am aware 🫠

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 20, luckily I suffer fairly mildly compared to others - a bit of chin hair, and persistent acne. I do have regular periods but they’re very heavy. My biggest thing is the bloating, and also I have excessive thirst all the time.

I do have cysts as revealed by an ultrasound, however they’re apparently not worrying.

I got referred to endocrinology and all he said was “there’s nothing we can do”, “you look healthy” and “you’re not diabetic”. Yes I am aware 🫠

Same, I was 19. I have a few chin hairs and I've always been a bit overweight. I'm going through perimenopause now though and it's been horrendous and I think that's partly due to genetics and partly due to PCOS. I think I'm nearing the end now and all peri symptoms seem to be wearing off. I do get bloating now and I never got that before

 

[bbbbbbb123]

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 20, luckily I suffer fairly mildly compared to others - a bit of chin hair, and persistent acne. I do have regular periods but they’re very heavy. My biggest thing is the bloating, and also I have excessive thirst all the time.

I do have cysts as revealed by an ultrasound, however they’re apparently not worrying.

I got referred to endocrinology and all he said was “there’s nothing we can do”, “you look healthy” and “you’re not diabetic”. Yes I am aware 🫠

If your periods are really heavy go to the gp, I take tranexamic acid when mine are bad and it helps loads x

 

[shadawayo]

Hi Ladies!

I’m looking for some insight from those who might be in the same boat. I have PCOS and work in an office, and lately, the physical discomfort has been overwhelming.

My main issue is extreme bloating and gas—it usually hits right after my 'healthy' lunch (typically chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato). By mid-afternoon, my trousers are so tight it’s painful to sit at my desk.

Beyond the bloat, my biggest struggle is weight loss. Even though I’m trying to eat 'clean,' the scale isn't moving, and I feel constantly inflamed. Has anyone else found that certain 'healthy' foods actually made their PCOS symptoms worse? What helped you get the scale moving and keep the bloat down during the workday?

 

[RandomAlpaca22]

Hi Ladies!

I’m looking for some insight from those who might be in the same boat. I have PCOS and work in an office, and lately, the physical discomfort has been overwhelming.

My main issue is extreme bloating and gas—it usually hits right after my 'healthy' lunch (typically chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato). By mid-afternoon, my trousers are so tight it’s painful to sit at my desk.

Beyond the bloat, my biggest struggle is weight loss. Even though I’m trying to eat 'clean,' the scale isn't moving, and I feel constantly inflamed. Has anyone else found that certain 'healthy' foods actually made their PCOS symptoms worse? What helped you get the scale moving and keep the bloat down during the workday?

Probably not the answer you're looking for but the only way I've managed to lose weight is mounjaro. Prior to that I would lose 3/4lbs in a few months, and it would slowly creep back on. I've been taking MJ since Jan 2025 and have lost 4 stone over that period, only really bloat now if I eat something I'd deem a treat meal, like pizza etc.

 

[Carefree]

Sugar and carbs have always been an issue for my PCOS though but I also have a lot of allergies and intolerances, as well as issues with textures. (Apparently that's the ADHD part of my life, yay!) So swaps have been difficult but I do go for brown sugar and try to avoid too much pasta or potatoes. Fewer fizzy drinks and beer is a rare treat, due to the wheat and/or malted barley.

Also, I went down the surgery route as my weight just kept going up and up and it was a lot more distressing than I could cope with. Since then, food I can take or leave a lot of the time and I'd rather have a bit of good bread than worry about it, even if it takes me forever to eat.

Maybe try sipping still water more frequently? Especially after you've had your lunch. A lot of hunger signals sent out from our brains are actually thirst ones.

I realise this isn't practical advice but getting a dog made the biggest improvement in my life with this ducked up syndrome. Every day she makes me go out, interact with people, and exercises me in a steady and less guilt prone manner than the gym or classes.

And if you're not already on metformin, you can go with chromium supplements. Holland and Barretts sell them, usually on sale, and it helps keep blood sugar levels steady.

 

[bbbbbbb123]

I struggle with bloating too! For about a week after my period I’m ok then I’m bloated until my next one 🥲🥲

 

[RandomAlpaca22]

Have you tried peppermint tea or the capsules if you don't like tea?

 

[pecan]

Ginger tea helps me with gas more than anything else. I drank peppermint daily for years but then it started causing issues with my GERD. I cba faffing with fresh ginger so I got Handpick brand ginger teabags from Amazon - steep for a few mins and squeeze really well. Natural Health Market has some too that are really punchy but they’re about double the price. Helps a lot with getting some burps out!

Unfortunately, having to sit crunched over after eating really won’t help. Obviously you probably can’t sit and let rip at the desk at work lol but could you go to the loo and massage your stomach? Use the heel of your hand and move in a sweeping motion from right to left and down - always right to left. Sort of from below your right ribs to your left hip. Apply a good amount of pressure. For what it’s worth chicken and broccoli are two foods that cause me terrible gas, and potato skin if you’re eating that too.

Also when in bed at night or any time you can lay down, lay on your left side and bring your knees up slightly. Again applying some pressure to your abdomen.

Really sorry you’re dealing with this. I get awful bloating too, really potbellied. I can’t wear anything with a waistband unless it’s loose.

My main issue is extreme bloating and gas—it usually hits right after my 'healthy' lunch (typically chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato). By mid-afternoon, my trousers are so tight it’s painful to sit at my desk.

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

I've only really suffered with bloating since peri menopause but honestly, the only thing that stops bloating for me is limiting the amount I eat. It doesn't seem to matter if the food is healthy or not but if I eat 3 meals a day I bloat. Now, I only eat breakfast and evening meal, giving both meals a substantial time to digest is the key

 

[boomska]

I’ve recently gone on a low carb diet over the past 2 months and that’s help with bloating and passing wind,

Yesterday I had a bad day so broke my health kick and I had some chocolate donught things from co-op.

All this morning I have been farting like there’s no tomorrow and got stomach pains lol so if you can, cut out carbs or limit them

 

[Carefree]

We've got a new name for this, hooray.

https://www.archive.is/oldest/https...polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos

Do I believe anything will change or improve for us? Absolutely not but then again, I was told in my mid 20s, by an endocrinologist no less, that I'm very unlikely to have kids without intervention and lots of it, I'm just looking forward to menopause.

The fact it's always tied to fertility is infuriating and frustrating. Never mind what it has actually done to my body and mind, let's focus on non existent children or a man I've never met and his parental aspirations.

Good luck to the future generations but I'm tired. Just so bloody tired.

 

[Elsie1988]

Hi Ladies!

I’m looking for some insight from those who might be in the same boat. I have PCOS and work in an office, and lately, the physical discomfort has been overwhelming.

My main issue is extreme bloating and gas—it usually hits right after my 'healthy' lunch (typically chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato). By mid-afternoon, my trousers are so tight it’s painful to sit at my desk.

Beyond the bloat, my biggest struggle is weight loss. Even though I’m trying to eat 'clean,' the scale isn't moving, and I feel constantly inflamed. Has anyone else found that certain 'healthy' foods actually made their PCOS symptoms worse? What helped you get the scale moving and keep the bloat down during the workday?

I have severe PCOS and the best things that helped me lose weight was Metformin combined with gluten and dairy free diet (which naturally lowered my sugar intake wasn’t eating cakes biscuits etc) and daily steps of 10k or more. In a year I managed to lose 20kg but did take commitment and consistency. Anything else I haven’t managed to stick to really. I have a huge sugar craving so I cut sugar out and started eating ice lollies (usually ‘sugar free’ and lower in calories than a chocolate bar) and I halved everything then waited and if I was hungry I’d have the second half. I had to be extreme in ways as nothing was happening for me but I did find it easier as it went on and I was happier in myself as I was losing weight. I’ve always been quite down and self-conscious so I started to get a little confidence as time went on.
Try doing one thing at a time so it’s less pressure on yourself. Like increasing your steps.
The other way I tackled it was PCOS is similar to diabetes so I sort of followed a type two diabetes diet and walks after a meal help stop spiking after eating, fruit and sugar first thing in the morning spikes your insulin so I’ve tried to rearrange how I eat and do things rather than cutting back completely.
Hopefully that all makes sense. But take it gradually and manageable and remember you have a condition which is not helping you so don’t be too hard on yourself xx

 

[sleepflowers]

I have seen people say it's called PMOS = pissing me off syndrome which seems about right

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

I'm happy about the name changing but I didn't want ovaries mentioned in the name at all. I'm a bit tee'd off about that. I found out recently that they've discovered that men get a form of it, which affects testosterone levels and insulin production. It'll be interesting to see how much research goes into it now, with the name change and the revelation that it affects men too

 

[Luckycorr13]

I was recently diagnosed at 35 after not being able to conceive for almost 2 years.
The symptoms that affect me most are bloating, chronic fatigue and night sweats.
I am so tired and just want a good sleep but the sweats are so bad I find it impossible to sleep.
Anyone any tips on what can help?

 

[RandomAlpaca22]

I was recently diagnosed at 35 after not being able to conceive for almost 2 years.
The symptoms that affect me most are bloating, chronic fatigue and night sweats.
I am so tired and just want a good sleep but the sweats are so bad I find it impossible to sleep.
Anyone any tips on what can help?

I suffered with night sweats for ages after going cold turkey from SSRI's. Either menopause vitamins OR sage capsules. I owe my life to the pharmacist that recommended this to me, I haven't suffered with night sweats in so long now

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

I was recently diagnosed at 35 after not being able to conceive for almost 2 years.
The symptoms that affect me most are bloating, chronic fatigue and night sweats.
I am so tired and just want a good sleep but the sweats are so bad I find it impossible to sleep.
Anyone any tips on what can help?

To help with my sleep pattern, I took melatonin for 3 months. It worked as a reset. You can get a rebound from it so when I stopped taking it I took two magnesium bisglycinate a night. My sleep has improved so much. Up to December I was rarely getting even 4 hours, now I get 8 or 9 hours

 

[Redline]

Honestly, if you can afford it - mounjaro has changed my life with weight loss

How does it stack up with other symptoms of PCOS? I'd love to lose weight, but does it help with inflammation and the sugar cravings? I'd love to just be able to eat a chocolate bar and not have to want the other 4 in the pack once I've finished it.