PCOS

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RandomAlpaca22 said:
No but funny you mention this as I just got off the phone with my GP who suggested I try a TENS machine and I was coming here to ask before I take the plunge an order one 😅 any medication they fob me off with doesn't even touch the sides.

I do however have a friend who swears by her TENS machine she has for her migraines so I am tempted
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What a coincidence! I know what you mean, when I do take meds and suffer the consequences with reflux, they don’t help the pain anyway! 😣 There’s so many when I’ve had a google. Some with multiple individual pads, some wireless, some units with a heat function too marketed specifically for menstrual cramps - but I noticed those ones seem to have a higher price 🙄 I think I’ll do some more research and then order something. Even if it doesn’t help with cramp I have a dodgy shoulder I could use it on haha
 
pecan said:
Does anyone have experience with using a TENS machine for pain relief? Over the weekend I had some of the worst cramping I’ve ever dealt with, it was unbearable. I really struggle to take medications due to reflux disease and I’m at my wits end being in so much pain every month.

Do they actually work?
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I have a MYOOVI, I tried it once and haven’t tried it again as it didn’t make a difference
 
pecan said:
Does anyone have experience with using a TENS machine for pain relief? Over the weekend I had some of the worst cramping I’ve ever dealt with, it was unbearable. I really struggle to take medications due to reflux disease and I’m at my wits end being in so much pain every month.

Do they actually work?
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i used to use one years ago for general chronic nerve pain, but found i was more sensitive / easier to irritate when on my period funnily enough. it helped when cramps were less intense but i'm sure if you were using it for the cramps rather than alongside them (if that makes any sense) it'd be fine.

on that note would also suggest not putting the pads directly where the pain is (this was my issue, pads on lower back for knee pain, but cramps in the same place made everything too intense). anywhere along your spine will interrupt signals from nerves below, so maybe around waist height?
 
ChampagneBox said:
Please can someone tell me what is classed as high testosterone?

I’ve done a private blood test through hertility and it’s flagged up high testosterone at 1.97, but when I look at nhs ref ranges it’s not in the high range 🧐

however, now I’m connecting the dots on some other issues ive been having and thinking I possibly could have mild PCOS? I’m having a few dark thick hairs on my chin, been there for about a year, I did mention to the dr last year and she asked what my periods are like and they’re absolutely regular, cycle length varies plus/minus about 4 days but pretty regular, and so she wasn’t worried. Before I was on the implant for 7 yrs was a different story though..

also got high cholesterol and although blood tests show my fasting blood sugar is okay, I do often get low blood sugar symptoms at certain times of day
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Quoting myself but drs has got back to me and I have to have another period blood test and a scan 🥲
it might not even be anything but obvs the dr thought my answers to his qs were relevant
 
ChampagneBox said:
Quoting myself but drs has got back to me and I have to have another period blood test and a scan 🥲
it might not even be anything but obvs the dr thought my answers to his qs were relevant
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I had to have a transvaginal scan for my diagnosis, along with blood tests / general explaining of all my symptoms. A scan is very normal, so try not to let it worry you too much. I hope all will go well for you ❤
 
pecan said:
I had to have a transvaginal scan for my diagnosis, along with blood tests / general explaining of all my symptoms. A scan is very normal, so try not to let it worry you too much. I hope all will go well for you ❤
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Thankyou! Does it hurt? I find smear tests a bit painful/uncomfortable
 
ChampagneBox said:
Thankyou! Does it hurt? I find smear tests a bit painful/uncomfortable
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I struggle with smear testing too as my anatomy is tilted. I have to lift my hips off the bed to make it easier, so I empathise with you there. I actually think female nurses can be quite uncaring when performing them. At my last one, she was basically shouting at me to relax and then saying “okay, okay I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna go for it” in a sort of manic tone…it was quite bizarre and unprofessional.

My scan was 10+ years ago now but as I recall, it was not painful. Slightly uncomfortable yes but not painful. I had a male practitioner doing the scan and I was asked if I wanted a female nurse present as a chaperone, which I accepted. Thankfully it was a positive experience for me overall. Always advocate for yourself.
 
ChampagneBox said:
Thankyou! Does it hurt? I find smear tests a bit painful/uncomfortable
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Just had one in July. It takes longer than a smear test but for me it was only uncomfortable when they had to move the probe a bit to get images of certain areas but there was no pain. There is no being held open with a speculum and there obviously isn’t the weird scrapy feeling of a smear test. I would say I don’t find smear tests painful myself, just a bit weird. Prior to my endometriosis treatment years ago I had to have a physical examination by the gynaecologist, and that WAS painful. I’m really glad I’m not his wife 🤣
 
My scans been arranged for next week, that’s quite quick 🥺 I can’t see the referral docs on my NHS app, but by the questions I had to answer I don’t think they think it’s something serious? No questions about bloating/unexplained bleeding etc…But it is quite quick for an NHS scan and I think technically it’s within the 2 week wait 😰 do you think they think something else is wrong?
 
abeautifullife said:
I can't stand how all the PCOS accounts seem to forget about tuberous breasts as a symptom (which I have) WTF.
For what what it's worth, reiki for pcos would be something to look into. There's some for free on Youtube x
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I’m sorry, I know this is a really old posts, what do you mean by tuberous breasts? Do you mean like fibrocystic/fibroadenomas?
 
I’ve got an actual face to face appt with a female GP to talk about my results from my ultrasound (I’ve requested it rather than them calling me in). I want to see if there are treatment options. Are there treatment options? Is there something I should specifically be discussing?

I’m reasonably lucky in that my periods have, touch wood, not been too painful (my painful periods were, I think, due to endometriosis). I do get twinges where I suspect my ovaries are from time to time and often feel very uncomfortable the the pain is usually manageable. My periods have mostly settled but into a really long cycle, 35-38 days. My skin is a disaster in acne terms. I’ve started tretinoin which in some respects is making my skin look so much better and clearer and fresher but the hormonal spots persist so whilst my skin feels and looks smooth, there are also all these random spots. My body hair is outrageous, particularly facial hair but it’s bloody everywhere. I’m overweight and I really struggle to shift my weight. When I was on the mirena coil I managed to get down to a size 14 which was quite petite for me. I’m currently a 20 and feel enormous.

We are sort of TTC, we were taking it a bit more seriously then had to scale it back for various reasons. Now we’re just not taking any preventative precautions and I keep half an eye on my cycle tracking apps (but don’t test anything or take my temperature etc). As I approach my 40th year I’m mindful that time is against me. I guess any referral for fertility investigations would take ages so I should just accept something if it’s offered?

Should I try metformin to see if it helps me?
 
ThisIsMyDragName said:
I’ve got an actual face to face appt with a female GP to talk about my results from my ultrasound (I’ve requested it rather than them calling me in). I want to see if there are treatment options. Are there treatment options? Is there something I should specifically be discussing?

I’m reasonably lucky in that my periods have, touch wood, not been too painful (my painful periods were, I think, due to endometriosis). I do get twinges where I suspect my ovaries are from time to time and often feel very uncomfortable the the pain is usually manageable. My periods have mostly settled but into a really long cycle, 35-38 days. My skin is a disaster in acne terms. I’ve started tretinoin which in some respects is making my skin look so much better and clearer and fresher but the hormonal spots persist so whilst my skin feels and looks smooth, there are also all these random spots. My body hair is outrageous, particularly facial hair but it’s bloody everywhere. I’m overweight and I really struggle to shift my weight. When I was on the mirena coil I managed to get down to a size 14 which was quite petite for me. I’m currently a 20 and feel enormous.

We are sort of TTC, we were taking it a bit more seriously then had to scale it back for various reasons. Now we’re just not taking any preventative precautions and I keep half an eye on my cycle tracking apps (but don’t test anything or take my temperature etc). As I approach my 40th year I’m mindful that time is against me. I guess any referral for fertility investigations would take ages so I should just accept something if it’s offered?

Should I try metformin to see if it helps me?
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Metformin has helped me in terms of helping with appetite I have started to lose weight on it. Slowly but it is coming off. I also got pregnant naturally in June and all I can put it down to is the tiny bit of weight loss and being consistent with the metformin. I did sadly miscarry, but I had clomid for my first baby so to even get pregnant on my own was a shock! In terms of facial hair I haven’t noticed a difference but other people do. It’s worth asking for. I know some GP’s can be funny prescribing it but mine was ok with it
 
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