pcos and saw palmetto

Hi saralou,

Saw Palmetto acts as a anti-androgen, meaning it can lower the levels of testosterone in the body, and so yes could be helpful in PCOS. I'm surprised to hear your G.P. is still prescribing Dianette ?? The front line treatment for PCOS today, is Metformin. This is a type II Diabetic medication which helps with insulin resistance .... many women with PCOS have a pre-disposition to developing Type II diabeties if left untreated. Metformin can stabilise the blood sugars and helps regulate hormone production .... stabilise your cycle (if its wonky). It can help with weight loss, energy levels, acne etc. The only thing it's not good with is hirstutism. I'd maybe do a bit of a google on metformin/PCOS ... print it off and talk to your G.P. If i'm not mistaken the risk of developing a stroke/blood clot with Dianette is fairly high !!!

If you wanted to try the natural way i'd advise : Chromium (helps with sugar metabolism/blood sugars, Dong Qui (chinese Angelica Root, blood tonic, good with all things relating to periods) Saw Palmetto (balances out the testosterone, can help with hirstutism) and eating as close to a Type II diabetic diet as possible. You've really got to keep an eye on your carb intake.

Reflexology is fantastic for speeding up the rebalance.

Hope this helps

Meridianmoon xx

Wow, Meridianmoon that was fast, i didnt expect a response that quickly. That's great advice, thank you so much i will talk to my doctor about metformin. I have never had reflexology and didnt realise it could help with something like this but ill look into that too.
Thanks again

Saralou

Hi there,
I also have PCOS and went to see a homeopath. This and a change of diet which she advised me on has had an amazing effect and I now don't take any medication. I have totally sorted out my blood sugars, managed for the first time in years to lose some weight and have regulated my periods.

I honestly can't recommend it highly enough. She did food intolerance testing as part of it and I have cut out certain foods and eat the ones which suit my body and this has also been amazing! I was on metformin and it's carbs in particular which I have had to look at- just choosing different ones. For me it;s rice not pasta for eg.

If you want to know any more please just ask me!

Hi Flowingflower, glad you found something that works for you, can i ask what effect did the metformin have, my periods are actually quite regular its the other things that are getting me down, the excess weight, hair and thinning hair on the head, plus i can be a bit moody at times ( oh ok then very moody). Also are homeopaths regulated at all so i know what to look out for when searching for someone qualified.

Saralou

Hi Flowingflower,

You're absolutely right !! I've also got PCOS and making changes to my diet helped massively. Like you i've managed to ween myself off the Metformin (after 3 years) and all is well and stabilised. I keep taking the Dong Qui, Chromium, and Ginseng, (as i do feel better when on them !!)

But diet is huge !!!! Interesting to note that PCOS is much more common in the West and in particular, America !! The high carb, low goodness diet !!!!

Meridianmoon xx

Hi Saralou,

Ah the thinning hair .... for me that was the worst !! Mine has completely grown back now thankfully.

The metformin helped me lose weight, my hair stopped falling out, my skin got loads better and my periods regulated !! Also my energy levels went through the roof !! Within 4 weeks I noticed a big difference.

Meridianmoon xx

Thanks again flowingflower and meridianmoon for all the advice ive got lots to look into now so fingers crossed i can sort this out and start making some progress with my symptoms now. I definitely want to try the natural route so it seems there is a lot out there for me to try.

Saralou x

Meridianmoon you are a superstar and youve cheered me up no end. i feel a lot more positive about things now.

Saralou

🙂 Bless you hun !! You're very welcome !! Let us know how you get on !! xx

Hi Flowingflower, glad you found something that works for you, can i ask what effect did the metformin have, my periods are actually quite regular its the other things that are getting me down, the excess weight, hair and thinning hair on the head, plus i can be a bit moody at times ( oh ok then very moody). Also are homeopaths regulated at all so i know what to look out for when searching for someone qualified.

Saralou

Them metformin helped regulate my blood sugar as I found I was constantly hungry and would get really horrendous if I didn't eat. It helped me lose a small amount of weight just as I wasn't eating so much. However without it I was back to the same old same old. It also helped me not feel quite so tired all the time.

Like you I wasn't happy taking prescribed medication and just felt there had to be another way... Changing my diet has been a major thing and does all that the metformin did but a million times better! I'd been vegetarian for years and so I have started eating chicken and fish again and have totally cut out pasta, bread, potatoes, cereal etc. So having fish and veg for tea for eg. To begin with I thought I was never going to last but have been amazed how quickly it has become the norm! I no longer nap after tea, have so much energy and have lost almost a stone so far!

I'm ok hair wise but know of someone who has used homopathy to treat this successfully.

Homeopaths are regulated. Where about are you?

im in Liverpool

maybe google homeopath and liverpool?

Can any one help?

Heyy everyone, just wondered weither anyone could maybe give me some advice, so here goes....

I recently found out i have got pcos, I have been suffering for the past 3 years and only just found out thru avin keyhole surgery, I suffer with all the symptoms ( hair growth, weight gain, depression, No periods).... But unfortunately the hospital have told me that i can only take paracetamol for the pain, Which i think is ridiculous. They advised me to go bk next year and that if i still have the pain i have got to have my ovaires out? Basically i just want to know if any one thinks that there could be another solution other than that one.. ?

Replies to this would be grateful.. Thanks!! xx:o

I also have PCOS. My Gyni put me on metformin as I am Insulin Resistant. Really helped with the hunger thing and regualting blood sugars.

PCOS has made my life hell, I was a size 8 and ballooned up to a size 14. This might not sound alot to most people but when your only 4ft 11" it really makes a big difference. I went from weighing just under 8 stone to over 11 stone whilst eating healthy and exercising regualry.

I had my ovaries drilled 2 years ago and weight just fell off, within a couple of months I was 9 stone and wearing size 10 clothes, my periods were back regular (still hurendously heavy but back). Only down side anemia. Still on Metformin and xenical.

The Gyni said the result of the drilling would only last about 2 years, and he was right, now the periods are comming about every two months, I have piled weight on ten and half stone now, in a size 14 again and miserable. Preparing to have my ovaries drilled again, Im so gald I have Private Medical Insuarnce as I found the NHS to be poor.

One of the worst things is alot of people dont understand this disease, especially my partner, he seems to think it will go away and I just make up the symptoms. I feel so exausted sometimes, my hormones are up and down like a yo yo. I have to remember to eat at regualr times or feel dizzy and dread when the period does come because its hell and more meds to take to slow it down.

Wish there was a magic injection we could get to cure us